Episode 4

📑 Episode 4: Marked by the Devil

The morning sun rose over the city, but inside the master bedroom of the penthouse, the air felt heavier and colder than the darkest night.Ji-ah sat frozen on the edge of the massive king-sized bed. She hadn't slept a single wink since Lee Joon had carried her back upstairs like a captured prize. Her eyes were red, swollen, and blankly staring at the floor. In her hands, she clutched a heavy, worn-out medical textbook on human anatomy. It was the only book she had managed to bring with her on the night she was kidnapped. It was her last remaining link to her dreams, her hard work, and the life she once owned.The heavy double doors of the bedroom clicked open. Ji-ah didn't even lift her head. She knew the rhythm of those heavy, expensive leather shoes.Lee Joon stepped into the room. He looked immaculate, wearing a pristine slate-grey tailored suit with a black silk tie. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his face was a mask of cold, undisputed authority. Behind him walked two tall, broad-shouldered men dressed in sharp black security suits, carrying large, empty cardboard boxes.Joon stopped right in front of Ji-ah, his towering shadow completely blocking out the morning light. He looked down at her, his obsidian eyes scanning her pale face before fixing onto the textbook tightly gripped in her lap."I believe I made myself very clear last night, Ji-ah," Joon said, his voice a deep, gravelly baritone that vibrated through the silent room. "Your life as a medical student is officially over. Your records have been completely wiped from the university database. You no longer exist to them."Ji-ah’s knuckles turned white as she squeezed the book harder. A single, silent tear rolled down her cheek, but she didn't say a word. Her silence wasn't submission; it was pure, unadulterated hatred.Joon didn't care about her hatred; if anything, her defiance only seemed to fuel his obsession. He glanced at the two guards behind him and gave a slight, lazy wave of his hand. "Clear everything. Every notepad, every laptop, every medical journal she brought with her. I don't want to see a single trace of her old life in this penthouse.""No!" Ji-ah shrieked, finally breaking her silence. She jumped up from the bed, throwing her body in front of the desk as the guards began grabbing her study materials and throwing them ruthlessly into the cardboard boxes. "Stop! Don't touch them! Please, those are my notes! I spent years writing them!"She grabbed the arm of one of the guards, trying to pull him back, but the man didn't even move. However, before the guard could push her away, Joon’s voice boomed like a clap of thunder."Don't you dare touch her," Joon growled, his eyes flashing with a sudden, violent protectiveness. The guard immediately backed away, bowing his head in fear. Joon stepped closer, grabbing Ji-ah by her waist and effortlessly pulling her back against his hard chest. "No one touches what belongs to me. Not even my own men.""I am not your property!" Ji-ah screamed, twisting violently in his iron grip, trying to hit his chest. "You destroyed my future! You took away my exams! Why do you want to take my books too? You are a psychopath, Lee Joon! A sick, twisted monster!"Joon remained unmoved by her outburst. He maintained his position, his presence looming over her as a reminder of the contractual walls he had built around her career. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, intense whisper that commanded her full attention."The terms of our agreement are absolute, Ji-ah," Joon stated firmly. "The sooner you accept that your professional path is now linked with my organization, the more focus you can place on the opportunities ahead. I am moving these materials because they represent a past that no longer aligns with the trajectory I have set for you. I require your total commitment to the projects we are initiating."Ji-ah felt a chill of realization. This wasn't just about a change in career; it was a total immersion. He intended to redefine her professional identity entirely, replacing her academic goals with his own corporate ambitions.With a surge of defiant energy, Ji-ah straightened her posture and met his gaze. "You can take my books and you can redirect my career, Lee Joon. But you cannot dictate my thoughts. I may be working within your walls, but I will never truly be part of your vision."A subtle, calculating look crossed Joon’s face. He seemed to appreciate the challenge. "A strong spirit is necessary for what comes next, Ji-ah. But remember, the boundaries of this partnership are firm."He reached for the anatomy textbook she held. Reluctantly, seeing the futility of a physical struggle, she allowed him to take it. He didn't destroy it; instead, he handed it to one of the assistants. "Archive this. It won't be needed for the gala."Ji-ah watched her book disappear into a box, feeling a sense of profound loss for the autonomy she once had. She sat back, her mind racing as

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