Chapter 72
Owen’s gaze, which had been lingering on the child, was now directed towards Sarin and Yuri.
Since she couldn’t hear what was being said over there, he wouldn’t be able to hear what was being said over here either. Without responding to Yuri, she moved her steps towards the gaze directed at herself.
“What were you talking about?” Sarin swallowed dryly and affectionately asked Yuri.
After briefly glancing at Sarin, the child turned his gaze back to Owen. And after exchanging unknown glances with each other, they shook their heads again towards Sarin.
It meant they couldn’t speak. Although it was disappointing not to be told, she felt relieved that the child’s expression wasn’t bad. It seemed better than when Pavel was around. It was just okay if things were fine.
“I got this much candy.”
Perhaps feeling sorry for Sarin, Hayan pointed to the candies on her lap.
“Hayan must be happy.”
“Would you like some, Auntie?”
When Owen offered a candy to Sarin, he took it from the child’s hand and placed it back on the blanket on his lap.
“I’ve eaten a lot already, so it’s okay.”
Eugene immediately interpreted his words.
At the mention of eating a lot, her lower abdomen reflexively grumbled. When Sarin unknowingly touched her stomach, Owen smiled calmly. It was a word only they could understand, but she felt embarrassed as if Hayan had caught on.
“Let’s go inside.” Owen said to Yujin.
She nodded her head and exchanged eye contact with Sarin before leaving the greenhouse with the wheelchair.
Yuri, who had been standing there, hesitated for a moment before following the child’s footsteps. It seemed because of Pavel’s matter. Owen, who finally stood up from the floor, stood next to Sarin.
“Pavel…”
Unable to meet his eyes, her gaze naturally fell. At that moment, Owen’s white fingers caught her eye. Sarin tightly closed her eyes.
“Why… do you want me to even bring my fingers?”
Owen leaned his waist and pushed his face close to hers.
Even though she didn’t need to hear what he wanted to say, she could guess it. It was the first time she found it fun to read someone’s expression so clearly.
Owen’s bright smile right in front of her was so beautiful that it was almost scary. His face, speaking with his fingers, felt even more terrifying. It wasn’t funny at all, but why was he laughing so joyfully like this?
“Stop making such a face over such a thing.”
Owen’s palm covered her forehead. The contrast between her warm temperature and his cold touch made him suppress a laugh.
As Sarin felt her chilled forehead, Owen’s brow furrowed gradually. Even her breath, exhaling like frost, felt cold.
Yet, as she asked if he was okay, his gaze toward her became cold. Emotions too difficult to express in words were reflected in Sarin’s eyes.
In such a situation, Owen was glad that only emotions remained within her. Unable to answer, Owen draped his coat over her shoulders. The warmth of his coat enveloped her instantly.
“Who worries about whom now?”
Owen asked, licking his lips as he watched her hesitant to respond.
“Why do you hate yourself so much?”
“Well, maybe because my finger got cut?”
He replied indifferently, pulling Sarin closer with the coat still wrapped around her. His palm still rested on her neck. His voice sounded only above her head.
“It seems to be something older than that.”
“Pavel’s thoughts are obvious. If a finger is cut, he thinks I should suffer the same fate.”
“…I said I wouldn’t.”
It was a typical response from her. Sarin was worried about him. Worried enough to dive into the dark, cold water even in a situation where he might die.
She was a foolish woman who not only couldn’t leave him alone but also asked if he was okay. Are you okay? How many times should she say no? She wondered if Pavel and herself, despite saying dozens, hundreds of times that they weren’t in a close relationship like siblings, would ever truly understand.
Still, she didn’t bother to correct him again. Leaving it as it was felt more satisfying. Despite having such an unhealthy body, hearing his trembling breath and the end of his words was pleasant. A willing sound slipped out from the end of her lips.
“Is my suggestion more appealing?”
Hmm.
With her face buried in his chest, Sarin took a deep breath. Knowing she lacked such calculations, Owen constantly provoked and confirmed.
“…I thought I was the only one who lost my family, but it seems like you lost yours a long time ago.”
His lips, holding her, stiffened abruptly. Bleeding wasn’t the only thing painful.
Clearly, Sarin spoke of things she hadn’t seen with her own eyes, like a sigh. To him, family was an antagonistic presence, no different from strangers. He learned not to trust blood ties ever since he realized it. It wasn’t surprising to Owen that Pavel, his brother, pleaded like that since even their mother tried to kill him. It wasn’t losing a family. This was the only form of family he knew.
“It would be better to go back home.”
The word “home” he spoke sounded a bit warmer than before. Owen, ignoring Sarin’s wavering gaze, gently let her go from his embrace.
“I want to stay with the child.”
“I don’t want to worry you.”
He was prepared to send Sarin away, even forcibly, as she seemed about to collapse at any moment.
“But…”
“I’ll be there. And there are things to do.”
The relationship between Hayan and Owen seemed not bad. She felt relieved inwardly hearing that he would be there with the child. If there was one person whom Pavel couldn’t recklessly approach, it would be Nikolai and Owen.
“What were you talking about?”
Suddenly, Sarin remembered Owen and Hayan exchanging glances and conversing. Owen lightly smiled at Sarin’s question and brushed his bangs aside. Despite the greenhouse being warm, the woman was still trembling.
“So, what were you and Yuri talking about, Miss Lee Sarin?”
Her lips tightened in response to the reversed question. Owen turned his gaze with a knowing expression. Despite wearing his coat, her body continued to tremble, causing her shoulders to hunch.
As he moved away, she felt a sense of loneliness. Feeling robbed of warmth, Sarin stood numbly. When she felt him moving away but then felt her shoulder being pulled back, Owen grabbed her neck and pressed his lips against hers.
“Hmm…”
She nibbled on his tired lips. It wasn’t to revive color to them, but rather, she eagerly awaited him to accept her, sucking on his lukewarm tongue roughly, teasing the tip of his throat, leaving him with no escape. Her loosely parted lips gasped for air.
Perhaps due to the scent of candy, she melted into his sweet scent, clinging to Owen. His tongue clumsily explored, even reaching the tender mucous membranes inside her cheeks. And when their lips parted, she involuntarily swallowed the pooled saliva.
“Just wait quietly. Don’t indulge in idle thoughts. And when I return later…”
At times when she turned away, his now golden eyes blazed with intensity. Sarin, in a daze, nodded her head frantically.
“You’ll have to tell everything. All of it.”
“Uh…”
“Answer me, Sarin.”
Owen’s pleading tone was unfamiliar, like someone who had lost their restraint. The man who seemed emotionless even when discussing Pavel’s fingers was now curious about a simple conversation with Yuri.
His grip on her shoulder, holding her until she answered, felt painful. His lips were sweet, and his voice was fierce.
“I’ll wait.”
Even hearing her response, his face remained unsatisfied. Owen let go of her hand and gestured somewhere, prompting the security guards to approach and stand on either side of Sarin.
She tried to take off her coat again, but Owen quickly strode out of the greenhouse before her.
“Let’s go.”
Due to the peremptory tone, Sarin reluctantly folded the coat around her waist like a skirt and headed home.
Three dogs greeted her first as she reached the elevator. Pink, who was usually affectionate, stood on her hind legs, leaning her large frame against Sarin’s body.
When she staggered backward, Blue growled softly, warning her. While they usually got along in their hierarchy, Pink seemed to know that Sarin found her the cutest and didn’t budge, completely cornering her.
Clang!
As Blue’s growls finally turned into short barks, Pink retreated. Afraid of angering their masters further, Sarin suspected, she briefly glanced around, feeling strangely human-like. She then gently stroked Sarin’s head.
Animals were said to be keenly aware of human emotions. Perhaps Pink’s sudden change in behavior was due to sensing the turmoil within Sarin’s mind and body.
“Hayan would like you guys too, I bet.”
As she took heavy steps, the dogs followed her pace.
“Will you guys accompany me on walks later?”
Sarin tentatively spoke, but they didn’t even turn their heads. This aspect was just like Owen. Sarin quietly recalled his nickname. The notorious man, known as “the Doberman,” with three Dobermans in tow, shared this trait.
Upon reaching the living room, she saw the clock in front of her. She couldn’t know how long she would have to wait for Owen.
Before she even sat down on the couch, the dogs had already taken their places in order of hierarchy, leaving a spot for Sarin between Blue and Yellow.
