Author's Note : Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well. I'm excited to share this extra chapter as a birthday bonus for you all! Thank you for your support so far; it truly means a lot to me. Please let me know your thoughts on the story and share your reviews—I'd love to hear what you think! Happy reading!
Introducing the Male Lead
Hyejin's life at university started attracting attention—not for her outgoing personality, but for her quiet intensity and eerie beauty. Among those captivated was Kang Seo Jun, a strikingly handsome, popular, and successful artist whose paintings often graced gallery exhibitions.
Seo Jun was the kind of man everyone admired. His charm, talent, and sharp mind made him stand out. But beneath the perfect exterior lay a darker obsession, one that grew stronger the moment he first laid eyes on Hyejin.But something was missing, a challenge or inspiration that could push his art to the next level. When he first saw Hyejin during a lecture, he felt it immediately: she was his missing piece.
Her silence intrigued him, her unsettling aura excited him, and her piercing gaze felt like a puzzle waiting to be solved. Seo Jun didn't just want to know her; he wanted to possess her, to unravel her mystery and make her the centerpiece of his artistic world.
"She's different," Seo Jun thought as he watched her during class, her head bent low over her sketchpad. "She hides so much behind those eyes. I need to know her."
A Growing Obsession
Seo Jun began finding excuses to be near Hyejin. Whether it was asking her opinion on a piece he was working on or sitting beside her in the studio, his presence was impossible to ignore.
One day, during a break, he approached her with his usual confident smile.
"You're Park Hyejin, right?" he asked, leaning casually against the table.
Hyejin looked up, her cold gaze meeting his. "Yes."
"I've seen your work. It's… unique. There's something raw and haunting about it."
"Thank you," she replied curtly, lowering her gaze back to her sketch.
Unfazed by her indifference, Seo Jun continued, "Maybe you could teach me a thing or two. I'd love to collaborate sometime."
Hyejin paused, her pencil still. "I work alone."
He smirked. "So do I, but sometimes, two artists can inspire each other."
Her lips curved into the faintest of smiles, one that didn't reach her eyes. "I don't need inspiration."
"Your work," he said, placing a hand on her canvas, "it's so… raw. It feels like there's a story hidden in every stroke."
Hyejin glanced up at him, unimpressed. "Every artist has a story."
"But yours feels different," Seo Jun insisted, leaning closer. "It's darker. It's real."
Hyejin's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "You sound like you're trying to analyze me."
"I'd rather collaborate with you," Seo Jun replied smoothly. "We could create something extraordinary together."
"I don't collaborate," Hyejin replied flatly, picking up her brushes.
Undeterred, Seo Jun grinned. "You'll change your mind eventually."
Meanwhile, Min Jae's Conviction
Back at home, Min Jae struggled with his growing suspicions. Though he couldn't bring himself to believe that Hyejin was directly involved in the murders, he was convinced her behavior stemmed from deep mental issues.
One evening, as he sat with his mother, Eun Bi, he voiced his thoughts.
"Mom, do you ever feel like something's..... wrong with Hyejin?"
Eun Bi looked up, startled. "What do you mean, Min Jae?"
"She's always been distant, but lately, it's different. She's colder, more detached."
"She's been through a lot," Eun Bi said, her voice trembling. "Losing your father… it's taken a toll on all of us."
Min Jae nodded but didn't say more. In his heart, he believed Hyejin wasn't a killer, but the strange coincidences were too many to ignore.
"Maybe it's just stress," Min Jae muttered to himself late one night. "She's been through so much with Dad's death. Maybe she's acting out because of that."
But deep down, he couldn't deny the coincidences: her odd hours, her lack of emotion, and the way she always seemed to avoid direct answers. Min Jae decided to observe her more closely, hoping to find proof that she wasn't as dangerous as his instincts suggested.
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