While still gently massaging Heeyeon's ass, Daehyuk continued speaking.
"Actually, I saw something interesting during the holidays at the store. It was you... and Seorina from my store. You were actually having an affair. It was a huge shock."
Heeyeon's body froze at his words.
"W-What are you talking about? Seorina and I did meet during the holidays, but it was just a casual get-together with classmates…"
Without a word, Daehyuk pulled a photo from inside his coat and handed it to her.
"Really? Do you usually go to hotels with your friends?"
"…!"
The photo clearly showed Heeyeon and Seorina entering a hotel together.
'So, he really took a picture!'
Cold sweat began to form on Heeyeon's cheeks. She desperately tried to come up with a way to get out of the situation.
"People do that these days. Friends go to hotels and have hotel parties... That's right! It's a trend now. The director must have misunderstood…"
"Is that so?"
"Yes, really. Seorina and I aren't having an affair. Women don't do things like that…"
Heeyeon continued to deny his accusations, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
If she kept denying it, she thought, she wouldn't be betraying her identity as Kim Jisan's wife.
She believed that, as the daughter-in-law of the Kim Jisan family, no one would dare question her integrity.
Coming from a wealthy background herself and having married into the influential Kim Jisan family, Heeyeon was used to people from powerful families showing her respect. She knew just how much weight the family name carried.
She also believed that Cha Daehyuk, who was affiliated with the Kim family, wouldn't be able to push further without hard evidence.
But then—
"Do friends really party like this at hotels nowadays?"
He pulled out his phone and played a video.
"Ah… !"
There was no sound in the video, but it showed her and Seorina, wearing the same clothes as in the photo, kissing, taking off their clothes, and engaging in lewd behavior.
"This… this… this… !"
While she was embarrassed, he continued talking softly.
"Because I, too, am connected to the Kim Jisan family. I was concerned something serious might happen, so I made sure to secure video evidence."
"T-This… this is a crime! You can't just do something like this…!"
"Maybe. But right now, are you in any position to be concerned about whether this is a crime?"
"Ugh…!"
Heeyeon was left speechless by his sharp response.
"I haven't met him many times, but Kim Jisan is extremely conservative. If he finds out about this, he'll be furious."
"Ah…!!"
"And from what I've heard, I only have a vague idea about Kim Jisan and your relationship. But if people find out that his wife had an affair with another woman, it would be a major stain on the Kim family's reputation. It could spark enough outrage to lead to divorce."
"D-Divorce…?"
"Also, aren't your parents extremely strict? If a divorce were to happen, they would come down hard on you."
"M-My parents…??"
Heeyeon could easily imagine the scene in her mind—her strict parents scolding her mercilessly. She could see them throwing her out, yelling that she had ruined everything with her reckless behavior and disgraced the family.
"Ah… Ah…"
'Alright, time for the final blow.'
"And Seorina's life will also be destroyed."
"What!? Seorina? Why…!"
She was shocked to hear Seorina's name brought up so suddenly.
With a sly smile, he continued.
"Why? Isn't it obvious? Word will spread. This industry is small and full of whispers. If a female masseuse is known for having an affair with a customer—and on top of that, being lesbian—it would ruin her. No one would trust her again. And if I were to expose that kind of story, there's no way I'd let someone like her keep working at my store. I wouldn't want that. And besides…"
With his hand no longer massaging her ass, he reached for her shoulder.
"Our company has a strong reputation in the massage industry. I know many shop owners. If I were to give just a single word of advice…"
He paused slightly.
"There wouldn't be a single place willing to hire Seorina as a masseuse."
"Y-You can't…!"
"Even if I didn't take that step, the fact that she got involved with the Kim Jisan family is enough. Seorina doesn't deserve a peaceful life after that."
"Seorina didn't do anything wrong! She never laid a hand on Mr. Jisan…!"
"What are you saying? She had an affair with his wife, Heeyeon. That goes far beyond simply touching him—it's a complete insult to him and his family."
"Ah… ah… ah…!"
'Seorina… Her life… What's going to happen to her…?'
She stood frozen, overwhelmed by the consequences rushing toward them.
But the moment she realized that her beloved Seorina's life could be destroyed because of her, an unbearable pressure tightened around her heart.
Seorina had once protected her back in high school.
After reuniting with her, Seorina became the one who soothed her loneliness and gave her strength.
The thought of her getting dragged into this and suffering because of her was unbearable for Heeyeon.
"Director, please!"
She jumped up from the massage bed, grabbed his hand, bowed her head, and pleaded.
"Director, please! Please keep this a secret! I'll do anything—anything at all!"
Her voice trembled. The fear and tension overwhelmed her, causing her words to come out in stutters.
He looked down at her while the corners of his lips curling into a satisfied smile.
'Good. Now that I've pushed her far enough, the rest will be easy.'
He briefly glanced at the hidden cameras discreetly installed on the ceiling and walls of the massage room.
He had called in a contractor on short notice and had them set up in a single day, claiming it was for training purposes.
Since he couldn't openly record her from the beginning during her sessions, this was the solution he arranged.
"Anything? You really mean that?"
"Yes! I swear—anything! If it's money you want, I'll pay money. Just please…"
He laughed lightly.
"Heeyeon, I'm not exactly desperate for money. The store is doing quite well. But if there's something I do want…"
Using his left hand, he slipped his fingers through the neck of her massage suit and rubbed her bare shoulder.
"You understand what this means, don't you?"
"No way…"
"I felt it the first time I gave you a massage. Your body is really… tempting."
"That's not true. I can't believe you even took that picture…"
"I honestly found it by accident and saved it. Haha, I never imagined I'd get a chance like this."
"If you touch me, won't that cause serious trouble for you?"
"There's a saying, Heeyeon. If you don't get caught, you're safe. Besides, would you really be able to report me? If you try, I'll send what I have to Jisan Kim immediately."
"Ugh…!"
"But… I admit, it's terrifying to get on Jisan Kim's bad side."
He slowly pulled his hand away from Heeyeon's shoulder.
Heeyeon allowed herself a small hope that maybe he would back off.
But…
"Then I guess I'll just send these photos and videos to him now."
"What? Why?"
"Huh? Isn't it obvious?"
Daehyuk tilted his head and shrugged as he looked at her eyes.
"There's no point hiding it. I don't care about money, so the only thing left is to do what I want with your body."
He moved his hands dramatically, shaking his head like he was pretending to be conflicted.
"I mean, I can't even act on this because I'm scared you might tell Jisan Kim. Since you have nothing to offer me, I'll just be honest and report everything to him. Don't you think that's best?"
"Ah… no…!"
Heeyeon finally understood what he meant.
There was only one path left if she wanted to protect Seorina.
"I'm sure I saved Jisan Kim's number… Where is it…?"
Daehyuk pretended to scroll through his phone, searching for the contact.
"Now, just hold on a moment!"
Seeing this, Heeyeon quickly grabbed the hem of his clothes.
"Huh? Why are you doing that? Is there something else you want to say? Are you implying that you won't leave me alone this time?"
"Oh, no! That's not it… Ugh!"
'Seorina…'
Heeyeon held tightly to the hem of his clothes and squeezed her eyes shut.
"You can do whatever you want… do whatever you want with my body. Just please keep this secret about me and Seorina. Please. Please, Director…"
"Hmm. Honestly, it's hard to trust you. How can I believe you after you once threatened me using Kim Jisan's family as leverage?"
"Never! I will never tell anyone. Even if you do whatever you want with my body, I will never tell Mr. Jisan!"
"Words alone are hard to trust."
"Uh, what should I do? What can I do so you'll believe me?"
She desperately grabs the hem of his clothes and asks.
He smiled as he looked down at her face. She was cornered and had no choice but to obey him to protect Seorina.
'If I get this far, the rest will go very smoothly.'
"Heeyeon, you know what I want, right?"
"Yes…"
"Honestly, your threats scared me so much that my desire almost disappeared. To regain that fading feeling…"
Daehyuk said as he gently lifted the shoulder part of her massage clothes.
"You know what to wear again, right?"