Warning: This novel contains mature themes, graphic content, and triggering elements, including domestic abuse, mind break, rape, and gore. Reader discretion is advised (R18+).
Synopsis:
Trapped in a toxic marriage, 21-year-old Jia Eun suffers relentless abuse at the hands of his husband. Love-turned-obsession has Jia enduring brutal beatings, scars, and bruises. A fateful incident leaves him blinded in one eye, yet his husband remains oblivious to his suffering.
Enter Seo-jun, a powerful and enigmatic alpha, 28 years old and 7'4" tall, with piercing dark pink eyes. His wealth and influence are matched only by his mysterious allure.
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"God, you're such a fucking mess... clean this up."
Seo-jun's voice echoed in Jia Eun's mind as he stared blankly at the shattered glass, his vision blurry from the blood dripping into his eye. The pain was numbing, but the humiliation seared deeper.
With shaking hands, Jia began to clean the broken bottle, each shard a reminder of his husband's cruelty. Tears mingled with blood on his cheeks as he struggled to comprehend why. Why did he stay? Why did he love someone who hurt him so?
Just then, the door creaked open. Seo-jun stood in the entrance, his dark pink eyes piercing through Jia's very soul.
"You're bleeding," Seo-jun stated, his deep voice devoid of emotion.
Jia's heart skipped a beat. How did Seo-jun know? He hadn't told anyone about it..
Jia Eun hastily covered his bleeding eye with one hand, the shattered glass crunching beneath his feet. With the other hand, he swiftly gathered the broken pieces, desperate to erase the evidence of his husband's rage.
As he finished, seo-Jun stormed back into the room, expressionless. "What took you so long?" he growled, grasping Jia's chin roughly and turning his face towards him.
Jia winced, pain shooting through his injured eye. "I—" he began, but his husband cut him off.
"Did I tell you to stop cleaning?" he spat, his grip tightening.
Jia's gaze met Seo-jun's, For an instant, their eyes locked, and Jia sensed a flicker of emotion in Seo-jun's dark pink eyes.
Jia looked away, focusing on the floor. He resumed picking up shards, trying to ignore the agony pulsing through his head.
Once done, he stammered, "I...I apologize...."
Seo-jun laughter sent shivers down Jia's spine. "You're sorry? You're always sorry, aren't you?"
Seo-jun's presence seemed to grow more imposing, his silence a stark contrast to the tension building in the room.
Jia Eun's gaze dropped as Seo-jun released his chin, leaving red marks. "Apologies won't fix this mess, Jia. Or my patience."
Seo-jun glared, then headed to the kitchen. "Get cleaned up. And don't make me wait for dinner."
Jia-Eun nodded quietly, wincing at his wounded eye. In the bathroom, his reflection showed a haggard face with a bleeding eye. After bandaging it, he muttered, "It really hurts."
In the kitchen, Seo-jun snapped, "What happened now?" seeing Jia's pain.
"I-I'm fine... Just the pain from earlier..." Jia-Eun stammered, averting his gaze.
Seo-jun scoffed. "You look like a mess, Jia. If you can't handle pain without whining, how can you serve me properly?"
He grabbed Jia's chin roughly. "Finish up. I'm starving."
Later, as Jia served food, Seo-jun criticized, "Is this all you could manage? Pathetic. No wonder you're so disappointing - you're useless."
Seo-jun stood, towering over Jia menacingly. "Maybe I should find an omega who knows how to please me."
He grabbed Jia's arm and throat. "Wouldn't that be better than your incompetence every day?"
Scalding food spilled onto Jia's skin. "Ahh!"
Seo-jun laughed sadistically. "That's what happens when you disappoint me, Jia."
He dropped the dish, uncaring. "Clean this up. Do your job correctly, or face more punishment."
With a hard slap on Jia's ass, Seo-jun stormed off.
Jia stood frozen, pain and fear consuming him.
