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

T W E L V E

CHAPTER TWELVE: A DANGEROUS OUTING

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the sprawling grounds of the estate. Jaeyun felt a strange mix of excitement and anxiety as he stood by the door, his heart racing. Sunghoon had invited him out—just the two of them. It felt like a breath of fresh air after the suffocating days spent in the mansion, surrounded by the dark shadows of his captivity.

“Ready?” Sunghoon’s voice broke through Jaeyun’s thoughts. He looked confident and carefree, a stark contrast to the weight pressing down on Jaeyun’s shoulders.

Jaeyun nodded, a small smile breaking through his trepidation. “Yeah, let’s go.”

They stepped outside, the cool breeze brushing against Jaeyun’s skin as they made their way down the manicured path. The world beyond the mansion felt alive, vibrant. Sunghoon chatted easily, his laughter ringing out like music, easing Jaeyun’s nerves. For the first time in ages, Jaeyun felt like a normal person, free from the suffocating chains of fear.

But as they wandered further away from the mansion, Jaeyun couldn’t shake the feeling of unease creeping in. Heeseung’s watchful eyes always seemed to linger in the back of his mind. What would happen if Heeseung found out?

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Heeseung was pacing, his instincts prickling with unease. He had sensed something was off, a shift in the atmosphere that made his blood boil. Jaeyun had been unusually quiet, and Sunghoon had been acting oddly friendly toward him. It didn’t sit right.

Without a second thought, Heeseung decided to track them down. The woods surrounding the estate were thick, but he was familiar with every path and shadow. He moved swiftly, fueled by an urgent need to assert his control.

As he ventured deeper into the woods, Heeseung’s heart raced with a mix of anger and protectiveness. No one was supposed to have access to Jaeyun but him. He had claimed him, and the thought of anyone else getting close ignited a fire in his chest.

When Heeseung finally spotted them, a dark storm brewed within him. Sunghoon and Jaeyun stood close together, laughter spilling from their lips. But it was the sight of Sunghoon wrapping his arms around Jaeyun that sent Heeseung into a fury.

His fists clenched as he watched, feeling a primal rage swell within him. Heeseung stepped forward, the underbrush cracking beneath his feet, alerting the pair to his presence. Sunghoon quickly released Jaeyun, turning to face Heeseung with a guarded expression.

“What are you doing here?” Sunghoon challenged, trying to mask the tension in the air.

Heeseung’s gaze fixed on Jaeyun, who appeared startled and caught between two opposing forces. “What do you think you’re doing, taking him out like this?” Heeseung’s voice was low and menacing.

Jaeyun shifted uncomfortably, the warmth of their outing evaporating in an instant. “I—”

“Stay out of this, Jaeyun,” Heeseung interrupted sharply, his eyes narrowing on Sunghoon. “This isn’t your place.”

Sunghoon stood his ground, a defiant glint in his eyes. “Jaeyun deserves to have a life outside that mansion. He’s not a prisoner.”

The tension crackled in the air, but Heeseung was unyielding. “He’s mine, and you’re overstepping. I don’t like this, Sunghoon.”

Sunghoon opened his mouth to argue, but Heeseung cut him off again. “You don’t get to dictate what happens here. I’ll handle my own affairs.”

With that, Heeseung turned on his heel, motioning for Jaeyun to follow him. Reluctantly, Jaeyun glanced at Sunghoon, who gave him a look that held a promise of understanding, before he followed Heeseung back to the mansion.

The ride home was silent, the air thick with unspoken words. Heeseung’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white with barely contained rage. He couldn’t believe how easily Sunghoon had crossed the line, how easily Jaeyun had allowed it.

Once they arrived, Heeseung wasted no time. He guided Jaeyun into the mansion and straight to the room that had become a prison for him. “You need to learn your place,” Heeseung muttered, his tone cold and authoritative.

Jaeyun felt a surge of panic as Heeseung retrieved a set of chains from a hidden compartment in the room. “Heeseung, please—”

Heeseung ignored his pleas, attaching the chains to the bedpost with swift efficiency. “You’re not going out again. Not without my permission.”

Jaeyun’s heart sank as he realized the gravity of Heeseung’s determination. “You can’t keep me like this!”

“Watch me,” Heeseung replied, his voice firm, laced with an intensity that left no room for argument.

As the chains clicked into place, Jaeyun felt a profound sense of despair settle over him. He was back in his prison, the taste of freedom snatched away in an instant. Heeseung stepped back, surveying his work with a satisfied yet cold expression.

“Remember this feeling, Jaeyun. You’re safer here. This is for your own good.” With that, he turned and left, leaving Jaeyun bound and isolated, the echoes of their outing haunting him as he grappled with the harsh reality of his captivity.

In the depths of his heart, Jaeyun realized that the world outside was still waiting for him. But the chains that bound him were more than just physical; they were a reminder of Heeseung’s unyielding control and the darkness lurking within the man who had claimed him.

And as he lay there, trapped in silence, Jaeyun’s resolve began to grow. He would find a way out—he had to. But first, he needed to survive the darkness that loomed so closely.