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

T W E N T Y E I G H T H

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHTH: WHY?

Jaeyun’s speech ended, the applause echoing in his ears as he accepted the award. But the joy of the achievement was hollow; his thoughts were on Heeseung, who had left so suddenly. Jaeyun had seen the sadness in Heeseung’s eyes, a vulnerability that made his heart twist. Fueled by a need for answers, he slipped out of the party, following the path he assumed Heeseung had taken.

He found Heeseung leaning against his car in the dimly lit parking lot, his expression distant and unreadable. Jaeyun approached him, his steps brisk, determination in his gaze. Heeseung looked up, a flash of surprise and then resignation crossing his face.

"Why, Heeseung?" Jaeyun’s voice shook, a mixture of anger and hurt. "Why did you do this to me? If I was just a game to you, why let me get so close? Why pretend?"

Heeseung swallowed, his gaze softening as he met Jaeyun’s intense stare. "Jaeyun, I was never pretending," he replied quietly. "Letting you go was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I just… I thought it would be better for you. You deserve peace and freedom, not this mess that I am."

Jaeyun clenched his fists, his jaw tight. "You don’t get to decide what I deserve, Heeseung. You don’t get to break my heart and then walk away like it was for my own good." His voice grew steadier, colder. "I cared about you. I thought you cared too. But maybe I was just another one of your possessions, something you could discard when it suited you."

Heeseung reached out, a hint of desperation in his eyes, but Jaeyun pulled away, his gaze hard. "Don’t," he whispered, a tremor in his voice. "You made your choice, Heeseung. Now you’ll have to live with it."

Without waiting for a response, Jaeyun turned and walked away, leaving Heeseung alone in the parking lot, the ache in his chest deepening as he watched Jaeyun disappear into the night.

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Sunghoon’s office was in chaos. News had reached him that Heeseung’s recent moves in the business world had dealt a significant blow to his company. The loss was staggering, and the rage boiling inside him was uncontrollable. He swept papers off his desk, his expression dark and deadly.

"That bastard…" Sunghoon muttered, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. The room was tense, his men exchanging wary glances, awaiting his orders. "Heeseung thinks he can humiliate me, tear down everything I built? I’ll show him."

Sunghoon stormed up to Heeseung's mansion, his fists clenched and rage burning in his eyes. His voice thundered as he yelled, his words slicing through the silence of the night as he demanded Heeseung come out and face him. The guards and staff were frozen in place, watching as Sunghoon’s anger filled the air.

Heeseung finally appeared, a calm smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned casually against the doorway, seemingly unfazed by Sunghoon’s fury. "Look at you, Sunghoon," he said, his tone condescending. "You think you can just storm in here, yelling like a madman, and somehow get the better of me?"

Sunghoon’s face twisted with anger. "You think you're untouchable, Heeseung? That I’m just going to sit back and watch while you tear down everything I’ve worked for?"

Heeseung chuckled, taking a step closer, eyes glinting with a taunting spark. "You can try, Sunghoon, but we both know how this ends. No matter how hard you fight, you’ll always lose. You don’t have the strength or the cunning to beat me. You’re just… second place, as always."

Sunghoon’s jaw clenched, and his hands balled into fists, fighting the urge to strike. Heeseung’s words were like salt in his wounds, stoking his rage even more. But, knowing he’d get nowhere here, he finally turned to leave, muttering curses under his breath. As he crossed the hallway toward the exit, his gaze fell upon Sunoo, who was walking through the mansion, preoccupied with something and unaware of Sunghoon’s presence. Sunghoon’s expression hardened, but he quickly looked away, pushing down the bitter mixture of anger and regret that rose within him.

Outside the mansion, he climbed into his car, a determined fire in his eyes as he reached for his phone and dialed his second-in-command. "Get everyone ready," he commanded, voice like ice. "We’re going to war. I want every man armed and prepared—Heeseung won’t get away with this."

His mind raced with thoughts of the impending battle, of everything he’d lost, and the need to finally get the upper hand. This time, he vowed, he’d make sure Heeseung would regret crossing him. The night was about to ignite in chaos, and Sunghoon was ready to bring the fight straight to Heeseung’s doorstep.