Dopamine Addiction - Chapter 81

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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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81.
Hee-ju turned to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise. Liam’s eyes remained shut.
“You haven’t slept?”
“Where are you going?”
“To the Living Room.”
“Why? Stay here.”
He mumbled the words, his usual crisp articulation softened into something drowsy. Sleep was plainly pulling at him hard.
“Your grandfather is out there.”
“So?”
“The door’s closed.”
“So?”
“So I thought it’d be better if I got out of the way.”
“You’re not a minor.”
Whenever Noel and Lucas went into the room together, she would yell at them to leave the door open. Even then, unease would nag at her, and she’d pace the Living Room restlessly.
Liam’s lips curved into a soft smile. Hee-ju, who had settled back onto the bed, brushed his hair back from his forehead.
“Sleep.”
“You’re planning to sneak out once I’m asleep?”
Hee-ju’s gaze dropped lower. The wound hidden beneath the blanket was devastating. The stitched gash had torn open, then shredded into ragged strips. Raw flesh gaped like a grotesque mouth.
The Doctor carefully undid the threads one by one, disinfected the wound, and began stitching it closed again. More than once, he’d glance at Liam and shake his head.
At the man’s stoicism—not a single cry of pain.
Though painkillers had been administered, he couldn’t be free of suffering entirely. Evidence of that: Liam’s body gleamed with cold sweat.
Yet the Doctor wisely held his tongue, and Hee-ju swallowed the emotion rising in her throat.
That memory would likely haunt her for a very long time. Even if he committed some grave wrong later, she would forgive him when she recalled this day.
“What am I going to do?”
Hee-ju murmured it softly. No answer came from the sleeping Liam.
But that was all right. It had been a question for herself anyway.
“I’ll cling to you like a leech. Even if you say you hate it, I’ll never let go.”
“That’s… good…”
The trailing words spilled out like sleep-talk, scattering into the air. Now he was truly asleep.
Hee-ju kissed his forehead, then opened the door and stepped out. It felt wrong to keep the door closed with an adult in the house.
“Mm?”
But the Living Room was empty. If that was the case, what was the point of coming out here at all?
Hee-ju drifted through the Living Room, her curious eyes roaming over everything.
It was nothing like the shabby Motel where she’d stayed with Liam. Refined décor, expensive furnishings, spotless cleanliness.
Yet somehow, those moments felt easier. She walked to the window and looked out. In the distance, the Golden Gate Bridge was visible.
‘There was that guy who ran off with my medicine a while back. I broke his teeth one by one. He’s sunk under the Golden Gate Bridge now, but still.’
Sergei’s voice whispered in her ear as if he were here. Hee-ju had poured kerosene on him and thrown burning logs.
‘Aaahhhhh!’
His agonized screams came vividly alive again.
Hee-ju shook her head to clear the thoughts, then spoke aloud in a deliberately light tone.
“Tomorrow I should have a meal with Noel. I can’t return to Korea without thanking my lifesaver.”
Just then, the bedroom door opened behind her. She turned to see Benjamin emerge into the Living Room.
Upon noticing her, Benjamin walked to the sofa and sat down without comment. Hee-ju turned toward him.
“I’ve heard a lot from Liam about you. He said you’ve been a tremendous help with all this. Thank you.”
Benjamin unfolded a newspaper. His voice came out flat.
“No need for such pleasantries. That boy would never have praised me.”
“Mm.”
Hee-ju’s eyes rolled slightly, bewildered, before she nodded in agreement.
“It’s true—he’s never said anything good about you.”
Benjamin remained silent, as if he’d expected as much. Hee-ju added quietly:
“But he’s never said anything bad either.”
Only then did Benjamin slowly raise his head. Their eyes met, and Hee-ju smiled.
“Really.”
Benjamin studied her with pale grey eyes buried in heavy lids. That aged gaze was sharp as a blade.
Benjamin spoke abruptly.
“I know your father left behind a Blueprint.”
Hee-ju’s smile froze at the corners. Yet she held onto it. She opened her mouth in a deliberately casual tone.
“As I mentioned earlier…”
“It’s likely an autonomous killing weapon. A remote device capable of precision strikes against enemy targets alone. The range and accuracy must be exponentially greater.”
“…”
“And Liam’s return to Utah is probably related to that. He wouldn’t go all the way there just to collect a Bag, would he?”
Right. He thought the same as she did.
Hee-ju, standing by the window, looked down at him expressionlessly. Benjamin turned back to his newspaper and read. After a brief silence, he lowered the paper and slowly raised his eyes again.
They were alike. Those pale grey eyes.
“If you give it to me, I’ll pay handsomely for it.”
Hee-ju inhaled quietly, then forced her lips upward.
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m sorry I can’t be of help.”
“What if I formally handed over a business to Liam?”
“…”
At last, Hee-ju’s smile faded.
Benjamin, who had been studying her with keen eyes, pulled the corners of his mouth up. He was an astute businessman and a cunning politician. Reading an opponent’s weakness was no great difficulty.
“Being a Second Son is like that. You live in shadow, as if dead, hidden behind the First Son. No honor, no inheritance, no Title, no Domain.”
‘I’m a spare.’
‘That’s why I went wherever Philip went. I’m Philip’s blood bag.’
The calm voice in which Liam had spoken those words returned to her now. Calm that concealed how many times it had collapsed under dashed expectations.
“The Second Son is merely a replacement. Times may have changed, but not for people like us.”
Hee-ju’s face went pale. She had never expected to hear such words from Benjamin.
It wasn’t even her own burden, yet it pierced her. She felt sorrowful, her chest caving in. She was grateful Liam wasn’t here.
Benjamin lowered his voice.
“I know how deeply that wounded Liam. How it made him go astray.”
“…”
“If you give me the Blueprint, I’ll set aside a substantial business for Liam. I can grant him a Title—if not a Dukedom, then at least a Barony. And a Domain as well. What do you say? How does my offer sound?”
Benjamin was unmistakably a businessman. He knew exactly what to stake to get what he wanted.
“For that boy—you’ll give me what your father left behind?”
“All this while…”
Hee-ju’s lips parted. Her voice trembled faintly.
“You could have done it but didn’t? The Title, the Domain, the business, your approval—you could give all of it whenever you wished, yet you haven’t given him anything?”
At her words, Benjamin’s eyes narrowed. He leaned back in his armchair and spoke.
“Breaking Household tradition is a burden I find difficult. Speculation from the press, unverified rumors, resistance from family members, dropping stock prices. And a tarnished reputation.”
“…”
“I’ve already broken it once before. When my son declared he would marry a Korean woman. Now you want me to break it again? A second breach carries far greater risk.”
“…”
“If you understand that, then to damage my Household’s honor, there must be commensurate compensation. Something like, say, the Blueprint your father left behind.”
Hee-ju said nothing. She only stared at Benjamin.
A long time passed. Or perhaps not so long at all. Finally, Hee-ju opened her mouth.
“I…”
At that moment, Liam’s bedroom door opened. He stepped out with a frown, arms crossed. Leaning one shoulder against the doorframe, his voice carried clear displeasure.
“What are you two doing over there? You’re keeping me from sleeping.”
Benjamin turned his head slowly. But Hee-ju’s gaze remained fixed on him.
“How do I sneak away while you’re asleep?”
Only then did Hee-ju look up. Her eyes met his. In an instant, his narrowed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
Hee-ju bowed to Benjamin, then walked toward the Bedroom. She entered the Bedroom and closed the door firmly behind her.
A glance. Liam’s eyes shifted from the closed door back to Hee-ju. She pushed him gently from behind.
“You said you were tired. Get into bed.”
“What happened? What did my grandfather say?”
“Nothing happened. Let’s have lunch with Noel before we go to Utah. Would today be all right?”
“Of course.”
Liam looked suspicious but obediently pulled the blanket over himself and lay down. Hee-ju sat on the edge of the bed and took his hand. He squeezed back firmly.
“Go to sleep now.”
Liam studied her face for a moment, then surrendered to the wave of exhaustion washing over him.
Hee-ju gazed out the window with a troubled expression. Her mind was churning.

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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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