Chapter 35
Scofield?
It could be a common surname. But among the many Scofields Hunter had encountered, there was one who’d left a particularly strong impression.
Samantha Scofield. The founder of a recently soaring IT company. She was also someone who’d achieved success through unbelievably honest methods, without using connections for fame in the petty fighting arena.
Unfortunately, because she hadn’t compromised, she had many enemies. As a promising new company, it was bound to attract vermin. Which families were they again? Hunter narrowed his eyes as he faced Taylor.
Starting with some unknown gangs, mafia organizations trying to expand from the shadows into the light had reached out to her with blood-stained hands. Surprisingly, the Gostin Family was also among them.
Of course, all were rejected.
“Nice to meet you, Taylor.”
Hunter clapped his hands lightly. Perplexed by Hunter’s suddenly brightened expression, Taylor blinked.
“You seem to be lost. Want a ride?”
“…”
“Unless you’d prefer to keep standing among these corpses.”
Taylor, who’d been glancing around, slowly approached Hunter. His legs were trembling, but his eyes bravely maintained their light. I like that. Hunter secretly smiled as he opened the passenger door.
“Don’t you need to call your parents? They must be worried with you out playing this late.”
“…I was kidnapped.”
“Oh my, then all the more reason to contact them. Tell them a kind citizen suddenly appeared and saved you from the kidnappers.”
Hunter handed his mobile phone to Taylor. Taylor just fiddled with it without turning it on, frowning as if contemplating something. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
“Or are you suspicious of me?”
“No, sir.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s common for me. Just today, I was on my way here after being suspected by my nephew.”
Hunter laughed and started the car. Taylor, who’d been glancing back and forth between the phone and Hunter’s profile, finally pressed the numbers firmly. Hunter’s alert ears could faintly hear the connection tone.
“Mother… It’s me.”
Chaotic voices erupted like a bomb through the phone. Taylor’s lips gradually formed a smile, as if the tension had been released.
Hmm. Hunter nodded slightly. Taylor, who’d been calming the person on the other end, suddenly hesitated. I should check. Hunter extended his palm to Taylor. When Taylor just stared blankly, Hunter took the phone from him directly.
“Hello, good morning, isn’t it?”
[…]
“Yes, it’s a good morning for me too. The weather’s especially nice today.”
[Who is this?]
“I’m the person who saved Taylor.”
[You saved my son?]
“Haha, I’m being doubted again. That’s three times today.”
Hunter tapped the screen to switch to speaker phone. When Hunter gestured to Taylor, he gulped and spoke.
“It’s true. This person helped me.”
“That’s what he says.”
[…]
After a moment of silence, she soon spoke in a composed tone.
[Thank you very much. If there’s anything you want, please tell me.]
“Haha, someone might think I’m the kidnapper.”
[That’s not possible. I’m just trying to show my gratitude with sincerity.]
“We all help each other, that’s all. I didn’t do a good deed expecting something in return.”
[Still…]
“I just want to return our brave Taylor to his family as soon as possible. Where would be a good place to meet?”
[Ah.]
In the brief silence, Hunter sensed small presences. Two, no, three people. Are they still discussing how to handle the situation even at this moment? They’re being extremely cautious.
Hunter’s lips curled up involuntarily. The more cautious they were, the more Hunter’s suspicions were becoming reality.
[I can’t trouble you that much. I’ll come to you. If you could just tell me where you are, right now…]
“Oh my, aren’t you busy these days? Can you come in person?”
[Pardon?]
“Everyone must be on edge with the new project. If this one succeeds too, you’ll finally be able to cleanly get rid of those scavengers who’ve been desperate to devour you. You didn’t even officially announce that your son was kidnapped, not wanting to disrupt the atmosphere of the employees who are in full swing. Indeed, you remain endlessly cool-headed when it comes to work.”
Taylor looked at Hunter with surprised eyes. The people on the other end of the phone seemed to be having the same reaction as Taylor. Silence fell again.
[Who are you.]
A highly agitated voice struck Hunter’s ears. Hunter wanted to laugh at them right then and there. What I thought was a day of bad luck was actually the luckiest day. Bringing the phone close to his mouth, Hunter answered slowly.
“It’s been a while, Ms. Samantha.”
***
Marsha was spraying water on the backyard lawn, a long hose trailing behind her. The dried blood that had been stuck in dark patches was washed away by the water, seeping into the ground.
Hyungoh, standing blankly in front of the second-floor window, observed the scene. The flower bed, which had been bumpy and raised, was now neatly flattened. Is it really possible to completely bury someone there? It would reek of decomposing flesh.
The spot where Marsha was spraying water had a particularly reddish tint to the grass. Surely they haven’t buried someone else there already? Hyungoh staggered with a nauseating sensation. What exactly are you, Marsha? A contract killer? Weren’t you just a normal bodyguard protecting this vast mansion?
“Choi.”
Michael blinked his large eyes, tightly hugging the blanket. Hyungoh, taking his hand off the curtain, gave him an awkward smile.
“You’re awake?”
Michael spread his arms wide. Hyungoh approached and naturally embraced him, helping him sit up.
“Don’t hate me, Choi.”
“Huh?”
“You yelled at me. You said you really hated me.”
“Me? Oh, did you have a dream?”
“It wasn’t a dream…”
Michael made a sad face. Must have been a dream. Hyungoh smiled slightly. While gently patting the back of the mumbling Michael, who seemed not fully awake, Hyungoh’s face gradually hardened.
The person I should hate is someone else. My uncle, who threw an ambiguous statement at me and left.
He never even mentioned anything related to my mother before, so why bring up such an unsettling story now? He wasn’t even particularly shocked about yesterday. He’s definitely hiding something.
As Hyungoh was deep in thought, he suddenly flinched. Michael’s warm palm was stroking his cool back.
“What, what are you doing?”
He pushed Michael away. Michael, who had his hands inside Hyungoh’s clothes, looked at him with round eyes.
“What’s wrong, Michael?”
“What, Choi?”
“Why did you put your hands… hmm.”
Hyungoh was about to frown in embarrassment but then froze as he saw Michael tilting his head with an innocent expression. It was an awkward situation to scold him for. He was about to tell him not to carelessly put his hands inside someone else’s clothes but then closed his mouth again, wondering if he was being too sensitive.
How should I react? The unintended silence felt extremely stifling.
“I like that Choi is cool.”
“Huh?”
Michael gently held Hyungoh’s arm.
“It’s the opposite of me.”
His warm touch began to creep up Hyungoh’s arm. Before he knew it, he was being embraced again. Fingers that had slipped between the thin garments tickled his back.
So… he likes my low body temperature. Since Michael always has a high temperature. Once he became conscious of it, Michael’s hand on his back felt as hot as a furnace. Hyungoh straightened his back at the pleasant sensation that gave him goosebumps.
“Uh, well… anyway.”
Hyungoh, his face flushed from the unfamiliar feeling, carefully pushed Michael away.
“Aren’t you getting hungry? You haven’t even had lunch.”
“Not hungry.”
“Haha, I see. But I’m hungry.”
“…”
Michael looked at Hyungoh with a blank expression. Hyungoh deliberately ignored his gaze and grabbed the doorknob. But Michael stubbornly refused to get off the bed. Come here, Michael. You need to eat something. At Hyungoh’s words, Michael shook his head.
Hyungoh sighed. Nobody ever listens to me properly. Hyungoh pressed his fingers against his head, which felt unusually heavy today.
“Michael, you have a visitor.”
Marsha shouted as the sound of the front door opening was heard. Intrigued, Hyungoh opened the door.
A visitor for Michael?
“Why am I a visitor, Marsha?”
“Because you’ve been fired as the butler.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Hyungoh paused at the identity of the visitor visible beyond the staircase railing.
That person…
“Herick?”
Michael, who’d somehow come beside him, called his name. He raised his head and met Michael’s eyes.
“Oh, Michael.”
Herick’s expression softened, and he smiled broadly. His head was no longer wrapped in bandages.
“Have you been well?”
“…”
“Seems like you like your new toy, since you’re still keeping it.”
Herick’s eyes, which had been dripping with affection, turned toward Hyungoh and began to emit a murderous aura as if he would devour him.
Haha. This is truly maddening. Hyungoh turned his head sideways and let out a hollow laugh. Just yesterday, this man was lying weakly in a hospital room, and now he’s standing perfectly fine, glaring at me. The troubles never end.
Could it be that he rushed out despite needing more treatment because of my provocation yesterday? If so, I feel sorry. Judging by Herick’s staggering approach, he didn’t seem to be fully recovered yet. Marsha lightly supported Herick as he almost toppled over.
“Remove your hand, you’ll transfer the smell of blood.”
Hyungoh perked up his ears. Smell of blood?
Marsha showed no reaction to his words. She merely glanced up at Michael. Following her cautious gaze, Hyungoh also turned to look at Michael standing beside him.
It was an expression that seemed to be smiling but was empty inside, or rather, so completely filled that its meaning couldn’t be understood. There was something imposing about the way he looked down at Herick standing on the lower floor with his large, clear eyes.
Does he like him, or dislike him? Or is he feeling some other emotion?
Love? Longing? Hatred? Resentment?
Hyungoh gulped. Perhaps today he could finally solve the mystery of that day when Michael cried profusely while calling out Herick’s name.
