Chapter O3: Birth by Fire

Fluttering her eyes open, she was welcomed by his sleeping figure. Every woman in the country right now would kill for that view, she thought. They might even drag her to hell for being the one next to this heart stealer. Oh well, it's not like they'd know. Anela pushed herself to stand up despite her body protesting. Jaewon Jung made sure to really enjoy their last night together. Showering before sleeping was such a good decision.

She walked her way towards the sofa where numerous paper bags sat. It's her souvenir, according to Jaewon. Apparently it's all things that he happened to buy during his two weeks stay in China. Anela almost winced at the sight of the names of known luxury brands. Something she will never afford in this lifetime. Jaewon had been giving her things for as long as she could remember.

Before he tried to mask it as something he just happened to buy or something he no longer needed and it's a waste to throw them so he's handing it to her but over time he became more blatant about it. Telling her honestly that he got them for her. He doesn't even bother coming up with petty excuses for her to accept them.

And through time, Anela learned to just accept whatever he's giving. Whether she's okay with it or not, it will not stop the guy from doing what he wanted. There was even a time that the guy went as far as offering her a new house and a luxury car. They argued endlessly but Anela stood her ground and Jaewon only accepted his defeat when she threatened him that she will never see him again because he's making her feel like some dirty cheap woman he can win over with money.

Anela pulled some clothes from the paper bags. Refusing to look at the price tag, she yanked them off, throwing it on the trash can. It's too early to stress over the number of zeroes on those tags.

Standing in front of a whole-body mirror, Anela sighed in defeat. Jaewon and his habit of leaving marks all over her body. Anela felt heat crawled her cheeks as he stared at the hickeys and bite marks peppered on her inner thighs, waist, and even her v-line. She shook her head, throwing away all her thoughts.

"What a pervert," she mumbled as she put her new clothes on.

"It looks good on you." His husky voice filled the room. Anela turned to look at the guy staring at her groggily. Jaewon was lying on his stomach, his arms cuddling one of the pillows. Anela inwardly sigh.

This guy looked way too handsome for his own good. His raven hair tousled and those beautiful eyes that perfectly go with every feature on his face. That toned body, not too muscular but nowhere flimsy. It was perfectly toned with the right curves. Not to mention that height of his and if they're talking about what's down there, he's beyond blessed. At one point, Anela was even scared the first time she saw him naked, thinking there was no way that thing could fit in her.

"You know my size so well." Anela sat on the edge of the bed, her hand gently played with his hair.

"Knowing your size is only natural," He grinned. "We've been together for quite some time."

"You make it sound like we're dating." Anela chuckled, ruffling his hair.

"Do you want to?" Anela snorted at Jaewon's reply missing the seriousness on his tone.

"Me? A nobody dating Mr. Perfect? Dating the mighty Jaewon Jung?" She pushed herself to stand up. Grabbing her phone she checked the time. "Wouldn't it be like winning the lottery if I ever dated you. You're handsome, rich, and every little bit perfect. And not to mention you're pretty damn good in bed." She ended with a genuine laugh.

As her laughter died, her eyes looked at him with gentleness. "Jaewon Jung, you can do better than me." Jaewon didn't answer. There's no point arguing with her. When she already made up her mind long ago that the two of them being together is impossible. his eyes traveled down to the phone the lady was holding.

"That phone is old, don't you want to change to a new model? You know I can give you one."

"No thanks," Anela smiled. "Besides you gave me this one. I'm a pretty sentimental person." She turned her attention to the old phone she's holding. It had been years but it still looked decent and well-taken care off.

This is one of those times in which Jaewon is completely clueless if Anela was serious or not. She was always joking or sarcastic with him that in time the line between her real feelings and her teasings blurred. And it felt like he doesn't have any way to get a glimpse of her true feelings.

Anela pushed herself to stand and started doing her routine from combing to washing her face, brushing her teeth, and every little thing in between while Jaewon watched her silently. As if he was seeing it for the first time despite the fact that they had been in that set-up for numerous times.

After 20 minutes, Anela settled down on the bed once more. The Jungs' heir automatically wrapped his arms around her waist, chin propped against her shoulder, lips inch away from the side of her neck. His warm breath fanning her against her skin. She was wearing a turtle neck to hide all the marks he left yet it felt like she was still naked against him.

"Well, I guess this is the last time we will be in such an arrangement."

"Hmm, I wonder."

"I hope you enjoyed your time with me, young master." Jaewon rolled his eyes. He always despises it when she calls him 'young master'.

"You make it sound as if I forced my employee to do some sexual deed with me." He clicked his tongue, annoyed a little bit.

"Didn't you?" Anela feigned innocence.

Jaewon let out a sarcastic laugh. "Nice try."

"Well then, I still have classes today and a date to go to." She said glancing over her phone for the time.

Silence enveloped them until Jaewon reached for her face. He gently landed a kiss on her lips. It was slow and almost unfamiliarly intimate. Everything that he refused to say transcended with that one kiss.

"Don't take too long playing outside, Anela Ahn." He smirked. Sometimes she hates when he says things like that. Anela let out an inaudible sigh, deciding that it's better to let it go.

"Don't miss the fun and play too, Jaewon Jung." She smiled, standing up. Grabbing her things, she left the room without looking back.

Was it really easy for her to turn her back on him?

Wasn't she going too far?

Was it really necessary for her to drive him to the edge? To fill him with raging thoughts of her being his?

Does Anela Ahn really think that it's fun to play him like this?

Jaewon smirked, reaching for his pack of cigarettes. He lit one and took a long drag."Oh, I wouldn't miss the fun, Anela Ahn." He relaxed against the bed's headboard, head tilted, eyes on the ceiling.

A knock echoed through the silent room. Jaewon didn't bother answering. The door opened revealing a man in his late twenties striding his way towards the bed. Hair brushed up, looking slick. Eyes framed by black thick glasses. He was dressed in a clean crisp suit. Placing one of his hands over his chest, he bowed down in respect.

"Good morning, young master." Seungyeol Gong—his butler and most trusted servant—greeted. He handed him an iPad, "Here's your schedule for this day."

Jaewon silently reviewed at his schedule which includes this semester's classes accompanied by some social endeavors such as meeting and hanging out with other heirs, dinner with his family, and other whatnots.

Don't they get tired trying to keep an appearance? Pretending to have refined tastes. Smiling as if enjoying. Desperately acting better than their actual age.

The high society got some real issues.

People think that they never had any worry because they got all the money but in reality, they were so busy worrying about petty things to even live their lives.

"Hmm," Jaewon passed the device back to Seungyeol. "Seungyeol, what would you do if your pet decided she wanted to have a different owner?"

Seungyeol was taken aback with the young master's question yet maintain his composure that it was impossible for anyone to know that he was caught off guard. Every now and then, Jaewon had a habit of asking him questions that don't make any sense sometimes. "I would probably let the pet know who's her real master." He answered tentatively.

"How?"

"The way I see it, young master, I have two ways. One is through affection and the other one is through fear. Using affection, I could shower the pet gifts and attention while in fear I could do something drastic to make her afraid of disobeying me or much more leaving my side."

Jaewon smiled at his response, "Which one do you prefer?" Seungyeol Gong had always been one of the smartest people Jaewon knew. Even though he never said it out loud but he always had nothing but praises for the guy.

"Depends on what kind of pet she is," Seungyeol answered. The butler paused for seconds before offering his young master something he had learned throughout his year of serving, "Though I always believe that loyalty will surely get you to places but fear will help you conquer the world."

"Interesting," Jaewon snubbed his cigarette on the ashtray placed on the bedside table. "Now, I wonder if you're here because of loyalty or because of fear." There was some playfulness in his tone, daring him to come up with a smart answer to a foolish question.

Seungyeol refused to answer his last statement instead threw the question back, "How about you, young master? What would you do to bring back your pet?"

Jaewon smirked, raking his black hair. "Well, I will use the new owner to make my pet realize that I am the only owner for her." In his eyes danced the lethal combination of joy and viciousness. Jaewon had always been someone who does what he said. He isn't someone who would say empty words. After all, he has always been someone who's no-nonsense.

Seungyeol didn't say anything and just looked at the younger guy, sitting on the bed, covered in darkening hickeys and bite marks together with the white comforter.

"It will fun to see my pet get hurt through the new owner's hands. And when she cries, I'll wipe her tears. When she gets hurt, I'll comfort her. And when she runs back to me, I'll welcome her with open arms." He smiled. A kind of smile that could have won the hearts of people if he was running for the presidential position. A kind of deceiving smile that offers kindness and masked such ill intentions.

Jaewon's smile died, his tone became eerily cold and serious. "She'll learn that she can't live without me. And she knows deep in her that I am the only one for her."

Jaewon rested his cheek against his propped elbow which is leaning against his thigh. "What do you think, Seungyeol?"

Ah, his cruelty reminded him of his father but colder and can effortlessly invoke fear. Seungyeol offered a timid smile, pushing his glasses in place. "It's a brilliant idea, young master." To serve such a master was an honor for him.

He had always known how he was different from everyone else even when he was young.

When he was young Jaewon Jung never find any interest in anything. He was just there because he's not dead. He was just there because he's breathing. Nothing piqued his interest and there was not a single thing he wanted. It could be because he always was given everything even when he didn't ask for it. It could be because he was born to rule an empire that was both feared and glorified.

Before he could ever greed about anything, he was given everything.

It all changed when he came back from States and studied at his family's prestigious school. For the first time, the young master who doesn't want anything felt the strange feeling of desperately wanting.

He came to know greed for the first time. It overwhelmed him. Making him lose every bit of control he has. It burned him from the inside out and he never felt so alive.

And Jaewon Jung wanted more.

Seungyeol kept his eyes through his transition. He felt like he watched an emperor be born out of the fire while he ferociously tore down his previous self.

He watched his young master came out of his old shell and it gave him a wild rush of something inexplicable in his veins. He wanted to see more of him. Watch him as he became slowly consumed by his own desires and scorched by the fire of his own greed. For the first time in his life, he witnessed something truly fascinating.

And Seungyeol Gong wanted more.

"I know, right?" Jaewon chirped happily. "And you'll do anything to help, right?" Seungyeol's answer came immediately. Firm with blind devotion. Telling the Jung's heir that he'd do anything for him. If he had to follow him to hell then be it.