Dopamine Addiction - Chapter 91

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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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91.
Hee-ju gave a light shrug of her shoulder, speaking in a casual tone.
“I was just coming back from declining Clough’s proposal.”
Anthony’s gaze shifted back to her. His eyes seemed rather confused as he tried to grasp the deeper meaning behind her words.
“If you hand this over to us, countless people will die, won’t they?”
Hunter shook his head quietly.
“Since we can carry out precision strikes remotely, civilian casualties would actually decrease. Only those who truly deserve to die would fall. Peace would come to the world.”
“Those who truly deserve to die.”
……
“Who decides that? Those whose interests conflict with America’s?”
“I’d prefer to say those who disrupt the International Order.”
Hee-ju absently fingered the USB. Her contemplative gaze drifted slowly across both their faces in turn.
Her voice grew softer.
“I don’t know what kind of person Alan Smith was. They called him one of the most brilliant weapons developers of our time, but all I ever had was a single glimpse of his face. I never even had a proper conversation with him. I thought we still had a few days left, however brief our time together might have been. I never imagined he’d be murdered so senselessly.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Alan Smith—my father—he knew he would spend his entire life under CIA surveillance. Ironically, precisely because he was a genius of that caliber. You people were always interested in what information he might leak, who he might work with, whether any of it posed a threat to America. You watched him constantly, and no doubt tapped his phones as well.”
……
Hunter couldn’t deny it. Because what she said was true.
“Perhaps my father wished for me to live an ordinary life, as your daughter might. That’s why, the moment I was born, he entrusted me to a friend. Not because he didn’t love me, but because he did.”
Liam’s gaze fixed on her face. Her expression was fragile as glass, ready to shatter at any moment, belying her calm tone.
“And yet I resented him my whole life. I thought he’d abandoned me, and I despised him bitterly—without ever knowing the weight of the burden he carried.”
A heavy silence fell over the place. In the distance, the sound of motorcycles and people’s laughter could be heard.
Yet it felt impossibly distant, as if happening in another world entirely.
Hee-ju’s gaze fell to the USB she was holding.
“So.”
She spoke each word as if chewing it carefully.
“The reason I had to be abandoned the moment I was born, the reason I had to live my entire life without ever seeing his face, the reason my father was murdered by the Russian Mafia’s hands, the reason I couldn’t be there for his death—it all comes down to this, doesn’t it?”
Hee-ju didn’t cry, yet it was as if she were crying. Hunter, groping for something to say, uttered a feeble excuse.
“Alan’s research will contribute to humanity’s peace. People will remember his name.”
“A legacy he never asked for.”
Hee-ju’s voice took on a cynical edge. Hunter fell silent.
“It’s the last thing my father left me. But knowing that this USB would rob countless people of their lives, I can’t hand it over to you. No—I can’t give it to anyone. I can’t let my own hands turn my father into a murderer. And I don’t think he’d want that either.”
Anthony, who had been quiet until now, interjected once more. He leveled a scathing rebuke at her.
“Do you know how many projects Alan Smith has participated in? By your own logic, he’s already taken countless lives. He’s rendered immense service in building a great America.”
“So a few more deaths don’t matter?”
“If this falls into the hands of our enemies, far more catastrophic things will happen.”
“The same thing will happen if it falls into yours.”
At Hee-ju’s retort, Anthony’s brows furrowed. Hunter took a step closer to her, raising both hands to chest height.
“So I’m giving it to no one.”
With those words, Hee-ju swung her arm with all her might.
The USB flew through the air, making a soft splash as it struck the water’s surface. Then it sank beneath the surface in an instant.
It had happened in a flash. Neither Hunter nor Anthony could react.
Anthony, belated in his response, dashed toward the river and spun around to face Hee-ju with an enraged expression.
“Do you understand what you just did! Do you know how much that’s worth!”
“It doesn’t matter how much. It was never meant to be my windfall anyway. And I think my father would have wanted this ending. That’s why he completed the designs but never handed the USB over to you. I’m simply honoring his wishes.”
“Damn it!”
Anthony kicked at the ground. Still burning with frustration, he glared at Hee-ju with a hiss.
Liam asked carefully.
“Are you sure about this?”
Hee-ju shrugged.
“Why didn’t you ask earlier? It’s already beyond saving.”
She clasped her cold hands together and stared at Anthony.
“Instead of just hopping around helplessly, shouldn’t you find a diver? Who knows—maybe it has waterproof protection.”
Hunter pulled out his Cell Phone. Whether he was searching for a diver or reporting to his superiors was unclear.
Hee-ju waved goodbye to the two of them with a relieved expression, then turned and walked away.
“I hope we never meet again. We were never the sort of acquaintances worth encountering twice.”
She took her steps into the everyday bustle of passing motorcycles and laughter.
As always, Liam stood by her side.
“Pity. The summons was worth it, but it’s a shame things turned out this way.”
At Liam’s words, Hee-ju turned her head. Beyond his shoulder, the sun was setting. The sky was entirely orange.
Like that day when she’d thought the world had ended and only the two of them remained.
“You wanted that USB too? Go ahead, you can have it from me.”
“No need. There’s only one thing I desire.”
At those words, Hee-ju pointed to herself with a finger.
“Surely not me?”
“You already know.”
Liam’s eyes crinkled as he broke into a brilliant smile. Brighter than the setting sun.
How could she not understand, looked at that way? Hee-ju turned away, embarrassed.
Then she opened her mouth in a flat tone. White breath rose with every word.
“When I was trapped in Sergei’s Estate.”
……
At the abrupt change of subject, Liam’s face went rigid. Hee-ju knew what he was thinking. She still had dreams about that day, now and then.
She continued, deliberately keeping her tone light.
“When Sergei was threatening me, I realized that I was lying without flinching—like an actress. Not just any actress, mind you. Oscar-level performance.”
At the unexpected comment, Liam frowned. Hee-ju paid it no mind and pressed on.
“And today, that suspicion became certainty. I think I need to take up acting.”
Liam still didn’t understand her words. His thoughtful eyes fixed on her intently.
Hee-ju slipped her hand into her pants pocket. And pulled out a USB.
“You were fooled too, weren’t you? Don’t be too upset about it. When deceiving your enemies, you have to deceive your allies first. Your reaction would have given them confidence.”
Ha.
Watching the USB in her hand, Liam finally let out a sigh. Or perhaps it was a laugh.
“So you’re saying you just deceived the CIA right in front of us?”
“An actress girlfriend—can you handle it? It’ll probably be more troublesome than being a count.”
In that moment, Liam pulled her into an embrace. Then he pressed his lips to her crown. As if unbearably in love.
Passersby glanced their way, but neither of them minded.
Liam whispered softly.
“Who cares? Whatever you are, it doesn’t matter to me.”
“I have no intention of releasing this USB to the world. It’s just something my father left me—I’m keeping it as his final keepsake. I don’t plan to make money from it or gain any fame. That’s why I can’t give it to your grandfather either.”
“Do as you wish.”
Liam replied dismissively, as if that wasn’t particularly important.
“Unless the CIA are idiots, they’ll tail you for a while. If they don’t detect any signs of contact with other arms dealers, they’ll give up.”
“I can accept that.”
Hee-ju, who had been nodding, turned her gaze elsewhere. And walked as if enchanted.
A man and woman with a guitar were singing a famous carol. Passersby gradually stopped to listen to the song.
All of them wore happy expressions. Was she wearing the same expression as them?
Probably. Hee-ju smiled confidently.
Then she slowly turned her head. Liam was looking down at her with the same expression.
……
On the day she lost her biological father, she gained a madman. Perhaps the world is neither purely taking nor purely giving.
Hee-ju leaned against Liam and wrapped her arms around his waist. And greeted him with a breath of white mist.
“Merry Christmas, Liam.”
In answer, Liam pressed his lips to her crown once more. And wasn’t that a happy ending, even for a madman?
Hee-ju closed her eyes with a genuinely happy expression.

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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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