SACCHARIN
CHAPTER 18

 

“Aren’t those two on your side?”

“For now, yes. But you never know. Just like I’m doing this behind the chairman’s back, they could be working with someone else too.”

If what Shin Chi-woo said was true and we couldn’t fully trust the two people sitting in front, then wasn’t the burly man in the driver’s seat—who kept sneaking glances at me—the more likely traitor?

Of course, this was just a gut feeling without any real evidence.

Even Shin Chi-woo couldn’t say for sure.

In fact, maybe the short-haired woman, who was acting completely indifferent, was even more suspicious.

Ugh… I didn’t know anymore.

Why was I even bothering to think about this?

This was his problem to deal with.

I turned my head to the left and quietly stared out at the deep night beyond the window.

Since Shin Chi-woo had removed my blindfold, I focused on taking in as much information as I could, trying to steady my swirling thoughts.

05. Motion Sickness
Muju

TL/N: Muju (무주) is a county in Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province), South Korea. It is known for its beautiful mountains, ski resorts, and natural scenery. One of its most famous attractions is Muju Deogyusan Resort, one of South Korea’s largest and most popular ski resorts. It is also home to Deogyusan National Park, which features stunning hiking trails and breathtaking landscapes.

When had we reached Jeonbuk? Judging by the road signs flashing past, we were heading further south.

I knew that my father’s company had factories scattered throughout different regions, but as far as I remembered, there wasn’t one in Muju. The reason was simple—since the products were manufactured for export rather than domestic use, Chairman Pyeon had built the factories near port areas.

Still, I had assumed—at least somewhere deep inside—that wherever we were headed, it would be on solid ground, connected by roads.

But my assumption was completely off the mark.

Geoje
Tl/N: Geoje (거제) is South Korea’s second-largest island, located in Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province), near Busan. It is connected to the mainland by bridges through Tongyeong and is known for its beautiful coastal scenery, shipbuilding industry, and tourism.

The car continued south.

As we passed through Tongyeong and the vehicle ascended the bridge leading into Geoje, a creeping sense of unease settled in my chest.

Not knowing was terrifying, but knowing something was just as bad.

Was that why they had removed my blindfold? To make me more afraid?

Surely, they weren’t planning to send me off to work on a fishing boat instead of a factory?

Even if they did, what use would I be on a boat? I had no strength, no skills—I’d be nothing but dead weight. Or maybe it wasn’t a fishing boat at all.

Was I overthinking this because I’d watched too many movies about smuggling?

What reason would they have to ship me off to another country?

The thought of my own absurd speculation would have made me laugh—if the situation weren’t so terrifying.

But… what if my father was already waiting for me in another country?

What if Shin Chi-woo was actually on my father’s side, deceiving Chairman Pyeon, planning to smuggle me out or even escape with me?

Anxious, I turned my head multiple times to glance at the man sitting next to me.

But he still refused to even look at me.

The more uncertain the situation became, the more my imagination seemed to run wild.

Yet, when my thoughts came full circle and landed back in reality, I began to suspect I had been completely played.

The whole act of pretending to have sex, the wasted hour in the car—

Had he just been testing me, trying to get me to reveal something about my father’s whereabouts?

If that was the case, I would never forgive him.

Maybe not even more than Chairman Pyeon himself.

Jiseopo Cruise Terminal

I had heard of places like Oedo and Jisimdo before—beautiful islands that people visited by ferry.

So when we passed the terminal where tour boats departed for these islands, I felt a brief sense of relief.

If we were passing that point, then surely, they weren’t planning to dump me on some remote island.

But that relief was short-lived.

Because, as always, my worst fears were about to be proven right.

“This place… What the hell is this…?”

The sea at dawn had a chilling blue hue, a coldness unique to that early hour.

The car had stopped in what looked like a small fishing village.

Unlike a beach with soft sand and gentle waves, the air here carried a sharp, fishy scent. Old, rickety fishing boats were loosely anchored along the shore, their worn and poorly maintained state making the place feel even more eerie.

Come to think of it, I had seen on shows like My Hometown at 6 that fishermen usually headed out to sea at dawn. But this place was completely deserted.

Or maybe… the people here were all working with them.

I scanned the village beyond the window. A few signs advertising fishing tours hung on the buildings, suggesting that this town used to cater to visiting anglers. But now, not a single soul was in sight.

The emptiness sent a chill down my spine—like I had wandered into a ghost town overrun by zombies.

“Get out.”
The moment the engine was turned off, the two people in the front seats stepped out of the car.

Then, the burly man opened my door, while the short-haired woman opened Shin Chi-woo’s.

Between the open doors, I heard the sound of a sputtering engine. A small boat was waiting for us.

I craned my neck as much as I could to get a better look. There were several people on that boat.

They were the ones who would take me… somewhere.

“Where… where are we going?”

“You’ll need to take a boat.”

“I asked where we’re taking a boat to!”

“The Maldives?”

“That’s an island nation in the Indian Ocean. You think that boat can make it there?”

“Nothing’s impossible.”

“……”

“What? Disappointed it’s not a yacht?”

The Maldives, my ass. Was this really the time for jokes?

I was terrified for my life, and yet he was making pointless quips.

Even worse, the burly man in the driver’s seat—visible through the rearview mirror—was biting his lips, trying to hold back laughter.

Was I the only one taking this seriously?

They were laughing, while I felt the blood drain from my face.

Of course I was scared—I was the only one who didn’t know where we were going.

And where the hell was my passport?

Of all my belongings, that was the one thing I was sure I had with me when I got into the car.

But after I was kidnapped, when Shin Chi-woo showed me the passports in front of Chairman Pyeon, the only one he revealed was my father’s.

“Miss Seo Wan-yi. Just tell us where Director Seo Kyoyong went.”

So he must have taken my passport separately.

And that was not good for me.

If I had my passport, I might at least have a chance to flee the country if an opportunity arose. But now? Impossible.

It was the most valuable thing they could take from me.

They could use it as leverage to force me into another deal—or as a means to use me however they pleased.

I turned to look at Shin Chi-woo, my expression asking him what the hell am I supposed to do now?

But of course, he had no intention of answering.

Instead, he simply gestured toward the open door with an impatient tilt of his head, silently telling me to get out.

“Hurry up and get out.”
“No.”

Hearing Shin Chi-woo’s voice turn cold and firm only made my frustration worse.

It wouldn’t have been difficult for him to tell me beforehand that the factory was on an island. But no—he had deliberately kept me in the dark.

I wasn’t angry because I had been tricked. I was just… tired.

I had done nothing wrong.

I was in this mess because of my father.

And even though it was unfair, I refused to board that boat like a criminal being dragged to their execution.

“I won’t run. Just take off the handcuffs. Where could I even escape to when you’re putting me on a boat?”

I held out my bound hands in protest.

Shin Chi-woo let out a small sigh, rubbing his temple like he had a headache. Then, without a word, he got out of the car, leaving me inside.

I followed him with my eyes as he buttoned his suit jacket and walked around the hood of the car to my side.

I had a feeling he had a reason for doing this—he had been sitting right next to me, so why get out of the car just to come back?

The burly man who had opened my door stepped back at Shin Chi-woo’s silent gesture.

Now, Shin Chi-woo was standing right next to me.

He leaned into the car and spoke in a sharp, irritated tone.

“Miss Seo Wan-yi. Get out.”

“I will, but take off the cuffs first!”

I pushed my hands forward again.

But instead of unlocking them, he stepped in even closer.

He smiled faintly—mockingly—and lowered his gaze to look straight into mine.

I couldn’t bear to meet his eyes, so I kept my hands extended and turned my head to the side.

“Get out first. I’ll take them off after.”

I heard the click of my seatbelt unfastening.

And just as he pulled the belt away, I heard him murmur softly—so quietly only I could hear:

“Make a scene.”

His words barely registered before he straightened up and stepped out of the car.

I turned my head in time to see him slowly blinking at me—giving me some kind of silent signal.

Following his lead, I finally stepped outside.

After sitting for so long, my legs wobbled beneath me, but I forced myself to stay steady.

“Give me your hands.”

I looked down at him as he pulled a key from his suit pocket and unlocked my handcuffs.

The skin beneath them was red and sore from the metal rubbing against it. By tomorrow, it would likely be bruised.

But more than that, I wondered…

Where will I be tomorrow? And in what condition?

For now, I could only hope that this man—standing right in front of me—was truly my last chance.

If not… then at least I would go down fighting.