Alpha Culinary Love

As the night grew darker, our conversation slowed, and we lay in comfortable silence. Jiyeon's fingers traced gentle patterns on my arm, and I felt myself drifting off to sleep, her presence a constant source of comfort and love.

I waited until Jiyeon was deeply asleep, her breathing slow and even, before carefully slipping out of bed. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and tiptoed out of the bedroom, closing the door softly behind me. The hallway was quiet, the house settled into the deep stillness of the night. I made my way to my office, my mind already focused on what needed to be done.

Inside the office, I shut the door and sat down at my desk, dialing Soon-Min's number. He picked up after the second ring.

"Yes, Yura?" he answered, his voice steady and business-like.

"Did the police bring Karen in?" I asked, keeping my voice low. I didn't want to risk waking Jiyeon or alerting the rest of the household.

"Yes, they did. She's with us now," Soon-Min confirmed. "You can come whenever you're ready."

"Good," I said, leaning back in my chair. "I'll be there shortly."

We exchanged a few more words about the situation, then I hung up. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. I opened a drawer in my desk, pulling out a set of dark clothes. Changing quickly, I checked my reflection in the mirror to make sure I was presentable but inconspicuous. This wasn't a night for drawing attention.

I left the house quietly, slipping out the back door and into the garage. My car was parked there, waiting. I got in, the engine purring softly as I pulled out into the night. The drive to our hidden location was uneventful, the city lights blurring past as I focused on the road ahead.

The destination was a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of town, nestled among other similar-looking buildings. It was a perfect place for our operations, away from prying eyes. I parked the car and approached the side entrance, a single light illuminating the door.

Inside, the air was cool and smelled faintly of concrete and metal. The main room was large and sparsely furnished, with a few tables and chairs scattered around. In the center of the room was Karen, tied to a chair, her head slumped forward. Her face was bruised, a nasty cut above her eye still oozing blood. Her arms were covered in scratches, and her right leg was bandaged, hinting at a deeper wound beneath.

Soon-Min stood nearby, his tall, lean frame dressed in a dark suit. His sharp eyes met mine as I entered, and he gave a small nod of acknowledgment. His hair was slicked back, and he had a calm, almost cold demeanor that had served us well over the years.

"How is she?" I asked, nodding towards Karen.

"She's been through a lot," Soon-Min replied. "But she's tough. She's still alive."

I approached Karen, examining her injuries more closely. The sight of her beaten and bloodied stirred a mix of emotions in me. This woman had caused so much pain, had tried to destroy what was most precious to me. But seeing her like this, a part of me wondered how it had come to this.

"Wake her up," I ordered one of the men standing by. He grabbed a bucket of water and threw it over Karen, the cold shock jolting her awake. She gasped, sputtering as she came to consciousness, her eyes wild with fear and confusion.

"Welcome back, Karen," I said calmly, stepping closer. "Did you think you could get away with everything you've done?"

Karen's eyes focused on me, hatred and defiance flashing in their depths. "You... you think this changes anything?" she spat, her voice hoarse.

"You've left us no choice," I replied, my voice steady. "You could have walked away, started a new life. But you chose to come after us again and again."

She laughed bitterly, her voice cracking. "You don't understand. I loved you, Yura. And you chose her. You ruined my life!"

I stepped back, the weight of her words hanging in the air. "I did what I had to do. To protect the people I love. This is the end, Karen."

I took the pistol from Soon-Min, the cold metal heavy in my hand. Karen's eyes widened, realization dawning on her face.

"Yura, please," she whispered, a desperate plea in her voice.

I aimed the gun, my hand steady. "I'm sorry it had to end this way."

The sound of the gunshot echoed through the warehouse, a single, final note in the symphony of our conflict. Karen slumped forward, lifeless, the struggle and pain finally over.

I handed the gun back to Soon-Min, feeling a strange mix of relief and sorrow. "Make sure it's cleaned up," I said quietly.

He nodded. "Of course."

As I left the warehouse, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see one of the servant's names on the screen. I answered quickly.

"Yes?"

"Madam Yura, it's Hana. Jiyeon has woken up and she's asking where you are."

My heart skipped a beat. Jiyeon waking up alone and finding me gone would undoubtedly cause her to worry. "Thank you, Hana. I'll be home soon. Please try to keep her calm."

"Yes, ma'am," Hana replied before I ended the call.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. I needed a plan, a plausible lie to explain my absence. As I drove home, my mind raced through various scenarios, finally settling on one that seemed the most believable.

When I arrived back at the mansion, I entered as quietly as possible, hoping to gather my thoughts before facing Jiyeon. Hana met me at the door, her expression worried.

"She's in the living room," she whispered.

"Thank you," I replied, patting her shoulder briefly before heading in.

Jiyeon was pacing the room, her anxiety palpable. The moment she saw me, she rushed over, her eyes filled with concern and confusion.

"Yura, where were you? I woke up and you were gone! What's going on?"

I forced a calm smile, hoping it would put her at ease. "I'm sorry, Jiyeon. I didn't mean to worry you. I had to handle some urgent business matters."

"Business matters? At this hour?" She frowned, clearly not buying it.

"Yes," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "There were some issues with one of our overseas clients. It couldn't wait."

"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you wake me up?" Jiyeon's voice was tinged with hurt.

"I didn't want to disturb your sleep, especially after everything that happened today," I explained. "You needed the rest."

She looked at me skeptically, her eyes searching mine for the truth. "You sure that's all it was?"

I nodded, maintaining eye contact. "I promise, Jiyeon. It's just business. Nothing more."

Jiyeon sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I just… I hate waking up and not knowing where you are."

I stepped closer, taking her hands in mine. "I understand, and I'm sorry. Next time, I'll make sure to leave a note or something."

"Okay," she said softly, though I could tell she was still uneasy. "Just… don't keep things from me, Yura. I want to be there for you."

"I know," I said, squeezing her hands gently. "And I appreciate that. But some things I need to handle on my own. Trust me?"

She hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I trust you. I just worry."

"I know you do," I said, pulling her into a hug. "And I love you for it."

We stood there for a moment, holding each other. I hoped my lie would hold, that she wouldn't press further. As much as I hated deceiving her, the truth was something I couldn't risk sharing.

"Let's go back to bed," I suggested softly. "It's been a long night."

Jiyeon nodded against my shoulder. "Yeah, let's."

We walked back to our bedroom, and I could feel the tension in her body slowly dissipating. I held her close as we lay down, her warmth a comfort amidst the chaos of the night.

As we settled back into bed, Jiyeon snuggled closer, her head resting on my chest. "Promise me you'll always come back to me," she murmured.

"I promise," I whispered, kissing the top of her head.

She soon drifted off to sleep again, her breathing even and calm. I stayed awake a little longer, my mind replaying the night's events. The lies I had told weighed heavily on me, but I knew they were necessary. For now, Jiyeon was safe and unaware of the darker parts of my life.

Eventually, I allowed myself to relax, letting the exhaustion take over.