CRIMSON LIES

A war within

Chapter 11

Seo Yuan stared at the note in her hands.

"Don't run from me."

The words haunted her.

She traced them with her fingertips, her chest tightening. Why did he leave this? Was it an order? A warning? A plea?

No matter how much she tried to convince herself that last night had been a mistake, her body refused to forget.

The way his hands had claimed her.

The way he had kissed her like he was starving.

The way he had looked at her—like she belonged to him.

And the worst part?

She had wanted it. Every second of it.

Seo Yuan buried her face in her hands.

This was reckless. Stupid. She barely knew Min Yoon-gi, and yet, she had let herself fall into his arms like she had no control. Like she wasn’t afraid.

But she was afraid.

Not of him. Of what he made her feel.

A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts.

Her heart lurched. For a brief, desperate moment, she thought—maybe it’s him.

But when she opened the door, she was met with Ji-hoon’s worried gaze.

"Are you okay?" he asked, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

She forced a smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Ji-hoon sighed, crossing his arms. "You disappeared after the party. And you didn’t answer my calls. That’s not like you."

Seo Yuan swallowed. Because she had been with Yoon-gi.

Because she had lost herself in him.

But she couldn’t tell Ji-hoon that. He wouldn’t understand.

So she just shook her head. "I was tired. That’s all."

Ji-hoon studied her. Too closely. Too knowingly.

"Be careful, Seo Yuan." His voice was quiet, but there was something heavy in his tone.

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

Ji-hoon hesitated. Then he said, "Min Yoon-gi… He’s dangerous."

The words sent a chill down her spine.

But the real question was—did she care?

Because despite everything… despite the warnings, despite the chaos, despite knowing that Yoon-gi was the last person she should want—

She still did.

God help her, but she still did.

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