Dopamine Addiction - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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57.
Childish.
The thought had just crossed Liam’s mind, and he let out a quiet laugh. It had been so long since he’d last indulged in petulance that he couldn’t even remember when.
To be honest, this wound was nothing serious. The bullet had only grazed his skin. He’d weathered far worse.
And yet he’d acted spoiled anyway—out of character entirely—because he rather enjoyed Hee-ju’s worried fussing.
He hadn’t eaten, but his stomach felt full. A languid contentment spread through his entire body.
Either his prefrontal cortex or his amygdala had to be malfunctioning.
“The bandage seems fine. There’s not much bleeding, but the wound could reopen. Let’s get you to the Hospital right away.”
“But we haven’t received our order yet.”
“The food? Now? You’re bleeding out and you’re worried about food!”
Hee-ju snapped at him, her voice rising.
Liam lowered his head, shielding his eyes with one hand. A muffled chuckle escaped him.
“Are you seriously laughing right now?”
Liam was certain he’d gone mad. The angrier Hee-ju became, the deeper that sense of fullness grew—he’d definitely lost his mind.
Moving slowly, Liam reached out and gripped her wrist.
“Sit down. I’ll tell you if it gets bad enough for the Hospital.”
“You said it’s throbbing.”
“It’s bearable.”
The food arrived just then. The server smiled professionally, noting Hee-ju standing there motionless.
Once Hee-ju sat, the plates were set down. She watched the server return to the counter, then extracted a promise from Liam.
“Are you really okay?”
If he’d said no, she would have rushed him to the Hospital without hesitation—even if it meant exposing their location.
That thought made Liam scratch his jaw with one finger. Have I crossed into her circle, too?
Hee-ju reached over and pulled his plate toward her. Before Liam could raise an eyebrow, she’d picked up the knife and sliced through his bacon.
Liam laughed silently again, covering his eyes. Anyone watching would think he had a broken arm.
“You’re going to develop bad habits.”
“What?”
Hee-ju pushed the plate back to him and asked. Liam replied, “Nothing,” and brought the bacon to his mouth.
Only then did Hee-ju begin cutting her own pancake.
“By now, Margaret’s probably filed a police report, hasn’t she?”
“If she followed our instructions.”
“She will have. Margaret seemed honorable. And Peter’s been doing what you asked, too.”
“I hope so.”
The conversation lulled. The silence between them was comfortable.
Hee-ju was studying Liam with fresh eyes, struck by the realization that somewhere along the way, silence with this man had stopped feeling awkward.
She spoke up suddenly.
“Tell me something about yourself.”
Liam, about to take a sip of coffee, glanced over at her, his eyes narrowing to slits.
“So you’re finally curious about me?”
“Just… anything would be better than this music.”
She gestured toward the counter. Some unidentifiable third-world melody was drifting from the speakers.
A record cabinet stood by the entrance, though clearly not the staff’s choice—the records inside were all mainstream titles, at least.
Liam let out a soft laugh, shielding his eyes with his hand again. Yes, she was his dopamine. The way he smiled at something meaningless proved it.
Then gradually his laughter faded, replaced by an unreadable expression.
Liam watched her intently over his coffee.
The sound of a hammer cocking replayed in his mind. Click.
The visceral terror he’d felt in that moment came rushing back, vivid and raw.
Fear.
Yes, if he was honest, it had been fear. Pure, suffocating fear had swallowed him whole before rational thought could even form.
It felt like a cold fist had seized his heart, freezing the blood in his veins.
It was a kind of terror he’d never experienced before. Even when a gun barrel had pointed at his own chest, he’d never felt anything like it.
So why?
…….
Liam stared fixedly at Hee-ju’s lips as she chewed her pancake.
But why had such overwhelming dread pinned him down? Why had his body moved before his mind?
Why had her death—the thought of it—struck him as pure terror?
Had his feelings already become genuine? Since when?
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
Hee-ju noticed his gaze and muttered flatly. With a resigned sigh, she cut a piece of her pancake and held it out toward his mouth.
“Did you want some of mine that badly?”
…….
“Just one bite.”
There it was.
Hee-ju always defied his expectations. The fact that he could misread the hunger in his own eyes as desire for pancake was proof enough.
Liam opened his mouth slowly. He took the pancake between his lips.
He didn’t release the fork. Instead, he held it there while his eyes rose to meet hers.
…….
Their gazes locked. Hee-ju’s eyes widened suddenly, her pupils trembling.
Liam drew the fork out leisurely. Then he licked his lips with his tongue, his eyes narrowing.
“It’s sweet.”
His low, gravelly voice fell like a whisper, intimate and charged. A shiver traced down Hee-ju’s spine.
She swallowed hard, a dry gulp.
Then Liam speared a piece of his omelet. He brought it toward her lips.
“Try mine.”
…….
Who spoke about eating an omelet in that tone?
Hee-ju looked away resentfully, her gaze sliding to the side.
“I’m fine.”
“Go on.”
Liam rested his chin in one hand, smiling with his eyes, and nudged the fork a little closer to her lips.
“My arm hurts.”
Liam was being theatrical. But she couldn’t bring herself to call him out on it.
And after all this, he calls me stubborn?
Hee-ju reluctantly opened her mouth. Liam stared at her lips intently. Her cheeks felt suddenly warm.
It’s just an omelet. Better to get it over with quickly.
She swallowed the bite hastily and withdrew the fork, her lips moving busily as she chewed.
“It’s good. Thank you.”
“You eat so adorably.”
“……What?”
“Nothing. Want more? How about the bacon?”
“……No.”
Hee-ju gulped down her coffee as if her chest were on fire. Liam’s smile widened with obvious delight.
***
“I’m afraid I don’t recall. The doctor says it was the shock.”
Margaret offered an apologetic smile. Anthony returned a polite nod with an equally formal smile.
“I understand perfectly, Mrs. Melphis.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”
“Not at all.”
“If you don’t mind, shall we stop here? I think I need to rest.”
“Of course. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Anthony nodded and exited the Hospital Room, gesturing to Hunter as he passed. Once the door closed behind them, the two men spoke quietly.
“What do you think?”
“She’s lying.”
“That’s what I thought too. We were told there’s no connection whatsoever between Mrs. Melphis and Hee-ju. So why is she covering for her?”
“Perhaps she’s grateful. Maybe Hee-ju solved her most pressing problem for her.”
“Her nephew?”
“Possibly.”
Hunter shrugged. Anthony, lost in thought, asked with a note of suspicion.
“So you’re saying this morning’s incident was a conspiracy between Mrs. Melphis and Hee-ju?”
Hunter paused mid-step and turned back, his eyes fixed on the closed Hospital Room door. When he spoke, his voice was low.
“At least she’s no innocent victim.”
Just then, Hunter’s phone rang. He ended the call quickly and hurried forward.
“They’ve got a signal. It’s heading east.”
“East? They’re leaving Utah, then. I’ll drive.”
Anthony opened the driver’s side door. Hunter secured his Cell Phone in its mount and pulled up the screen. A red dot moved steadily to the right.
“About an hour’s head start. Let’s hope we can close the gap. Getting there after the fact does us no good.”
The SUV exited the Hospital Parking Lot. Hunter habitually glanced at the side mirror.
“Something feels different.”
“Reinforcements, maybe?”
“Possibly.”
“Hell. We don’t even have backup to rotate in, and a government agency is short-staffed compared to a mob outfit? That’s a serious structural problem, don’t you think?”
“The target’s stopped. Probably refueling.”
“Then we need to move faster.”
The SUV accelerated. The sedan trailing them sped up as well.
***
The SUV slowed as it pulled into the Gas Station. Anthony cut the engine at the pump and glanced back at Hunter.
“Still heading east.”
“Since they stopped here too, let’s check the CCTV.”
Hunter opened his door and stepped out, casting a quick glance at the sedan passing on the road. The black sedan rolled past the Gas Station and parked on the shoulder.
They wouldn’t be visible from the pumps, but once they merged onto the highway, they’d be in clear sight. Anthony and Hunter proceeded to the office as if they’d noticed nothing.
Anthony told the approaching attendant “Fill it up,” flashing a winning smile before opening the office door.
The staff handed over the CCTV footage without hesitation at the sight of their CIA Credentials. Hunter, who had a rough sense of the timeframe, advanced the screen.
“Around here.”
But no matter how far he scrolled, Hee-ju and the unknown man never appeared. He rewound further, but the result was the same.
Then Anthony leaned forward, supporting himself on the desk.
“Wait. Stop there.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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