BOUND BY OBSESSION|| L.HS X S.JY

E I G H T H

CHAPTER EIGHTH: THE EDGE OF CONTROL

Jaeyun had barely slept, tossing and turning in the unfamiliar, uncomfortable bed. The looming presence of Heeseung haunted his every thought. The more time passed, the more he realized that this wasn’t just about seeing something he shouldn’t have. There was something wrong with Heeseung—a darkness that lingered just beneath the surface, a cold cruelty that Jaeyun couldn’t comprehend.

As he stared out the window into the early morning mist, Jaeyun couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. He wrapped his arms around himself, hoping that today wouldn’t be as suffocating as the last few days had been. But deep down, he knew better.

When he heard the soft knock on his door, Jaeyun’s body stiffened. His first thought was that it was Heeseung again, but when the door opened, it was Sunoo, the bodyguard. His gaze was neutral, as always, but Jaeyun couldn’t read him. Sunoo never gave much away.

“Heeseung wants you downstairs,” Sunoo said, his voice calm but not unkind.

Jaeyun stood up reluctantly, knowing that he didn’t have a choice. He didn’t ask why—he had stopped questioning Heeseung’s motives. Nothing made sense anymore.

As they made their way through the grand mansion, Jaeyun’s eyes took in the cold opulence around him. The lavish surroundings felt more like a prison, every luxurious detail reminding him of how trapped he was. He had thought about trying to escape—had even planned it out in his head—but there was always Sunoo, always Heeseung, keeping him under control.

When they reached the dining room, Heeseung was already seated, his dark eyes trained on Jaeyun the moment he entered. There was an unsettling hunger in Heeseung’s gaze, the kind that sent chills down Jaeyun’s spine.

“Sit,” Heeseung said, gesturing to the seat across from him.

Jaeyun hesitated but eventually complied, lowering himself into the chair. Heeseung’s stare never left him, making the air between them thick with tension.

Heeseung leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. “You’re quieter than usual.”

Jaeyun didn’t respond, keeping his eyes on the table. He could feel Heeseung’s gaze burning into him, and it took everything in him not to flinch.

“I like that,” Heeseung continued, his voice low and almost mocking. “You’re learning your place.”

Something inside Jaeyun snapped. “I’m not your toy,” he said, his voice shaky but defiant.

Heeseung’s smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing slightly. For a brief moment, there was a dangerous glint in his expression, but it passed just as quickly, replaced by that same unsettling calm.

“You misunderstand, Jaeyun,” Heeseung said, his voice soft and dangerous. “This isn’t about what you want. You’re mine, whether you accept it or not.”

Jaeyun’s heart raced, but he kept his mouth shut. He didn’t know how to fight back against someone like Heeseung. There was no reasoning with him—there never had been.

As Jaeyun sat across from heeseung, his defiance barely masking his fear, Heeseung felt a surge of satisfaction. It was intoxicating—the way Jaeyun trembled under his gaze, the way he tried so hard to act brave when Heeseung knew better.

Heeseung had always been good at reading people. He could see past the surface, past the layers of pretense. And Jaeyun… Jaeyun was different. There was something pure about him, something fragile that Heeseung couldn’t quite put his finger on. It made him want to break Jaeyun just to see how far he could push him.

But it wasn’t just about control. No, this was more than that. Heeseung’s obsession with Jaeyun had started long before their paths had crossed in that alleyway. He remembered the first time he’d seen him—at one of those elite parties, surrounded by people who had no idea what real power looked like. Jaeyun had stood out, innocent and unaware, and Heeseung had been drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

And now, having Jaeyun here—his, entirely his—was even better than he had imagined.

Heeseung watched as Jaeyun’s hands clenched in his lap, his knuckles white with tension. Jaeyun still didn’t understand, but that was fine. Heeseung would make him understand, slowly, until there was nothing left of that defiance—until all that was left was fear and submission.

“You don’t seem to appreciate how lucky you are,” Heeseung said, his voice low as he leaned forward, watching as Jaeyun’s eyes darted toward him, wary and confused. “You could be dead right now, but instead, you’re here.”

Jaeyun’s lips parted as if he wanted to respond, but he hesitated, and Heeseung smiled. He was learning.

Jaeyun’s stomach churned at Heeseung’s words. He wanted to say something, to stand up and fight back, but he couldn’t. Heeseung had a way of making him feel small, powerless. Every word, every glance, was designed to remind him who was in control.

“I didn’t ask for this,” Jaeyun finally whispered, his voice barely audible.

Heeseung chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Jaeyun’s spine. “It doesn’t matter what you asked for, Jaeyun. This is your life now.”

Jaeyun’s chest tightened, his hands trembling under the table. He had to get out of here. He had to find a way, but every time he thought about it, the walls seemed to close in around him. Sunoo was always watching, and Heeseung… Heeseung was unpredictable.

Before he could say anything more, the door to the dining room swung open, and Sunoo stepped in, his sharp eyes scanning the room before he approached Heeseung.

“Heeseung, there’s a situation with your cousin,” Sunoo said, his voice cool and professional.

Heeseung’s eyes darkened at the mention of his cousin, and he stood, his expression shifting from cold amusement to something far more dangerous.

“Sunghoon?” Heeseung asked, his tone sharp.

Sunoo nodded. “He’s made another move. We need to handle it.”

Jaeyun’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the interaction. He didn’t know much about Heeseung’s cousin, but from what little he had overheard, it was clear that there was bad blood between them.

Heeseung’s jaw tightened, and for the first time, Jaeyun saw a flicker of rage in his eyes. Whatever Sunghoon had done, it had struck a nerve.

Heeseung turned to Jaeyun, his gaze hardening. “Stay here,” he ordered. “Don’t make me regret sparing you.”

With that, Heeseung and Sunoo left the room, leaving Jaeyun alone once again.

Jaeyun sat there, his mind racing. He couldn’t shake the feeling that things were only going to get worse. Heeseung was dangerous, unpredictable, and obsessed. And now, with the added tension between him and his cousin, Jaeyun had no idea what would come next.

But one thing was clear—if he didn’t find a way out soon, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could survive under Heeseung’s control.