Ensnared by the Trap - Chapter 16

Kyle appeared alone in front of Se Hee and Jung Yeon, who were waiting for the two people who had finished the game.

“Hello. I’m Jin Jung Yeon. You spoke Korean well.”

The outgoing Jung Yeon greeted Kyle first, extending her hand for a handshake.

But Kyle didn’t even give her a glance.

“It seems like you have something more to say.”

Kyle’s gaze was focused solely on Se Hee.

“Huh? Oh. This is Mr. Kyle Graham. He’s on the cruise ship for a port business trip.”

As Jung Yeon looked uncomfortable, Se Hee quickly intervened to mediate.

However, Kyle remained motionless.

Rather, his brow furrowed as if displeased.

“Ah, I see. Looks like you left our Seong Jae behind? I guess I’ll go pick him up then.”

Jung Yeon, sensing Kyle’s mood, tactfully excused herself.

After Jung Yeon disappeared, Se Hee scolded Kyle.

“What’s wrong with you? Someone was greeting you.”

“Why should I accept that greeting?”

Kyle tilted his head arrogantly.

“When someone greets you, it’s polite to respond by saying, ‘I’m so-and-so’ in return. For a businessman…”

“Enough! I’d like to hear the answer to my question.”

Kyle cut off Se Hee’s words in one breath.

“Well, really! I thought long and hard about it, but I can’t remember what mistake it was. A hint? Can’t you give me one?”

Se Hee glanced at Kyle cautiously.

He snorted derisively.

“A hint, huh…”

Kyle, seated at the bar, stared intently at Se Hee as if pondering, then slowly took a sip of the punch prepared on the table.

Even when he was wearing a shirt, his neck wasn’t completely hidden, but now that he had taken off his top, his Adam’s apple moving as he swallowed seemed particularly prominent.

Feeling a strange sensation, Se Hee cleared her throat and quickly followed suit, drinking some punch.

The sweet fruit flavor spread thickly in her mouth.

“Cha Hyo Jun.”

However, the moment Kyle uttered that name, Se Hee froze like a statue, feeling chilled.

All sorts of scenarios were playing out in her head.

Surely she hadn’t acted like a jerk?

How could she have revealed even that name, and yet! Why! Remember nothing at all?

Se Hee soon became tearful.

“…I’ll admit to anything for now. Whatever it is. So… can’t you forget about that day?”

They say it’s better to take a beating quickly.

Se Hee quickly admitted her fault and pleaded with Kyle.

“If, if it’s that serious, rather than me trying to guess, it might be faster if you, Mr. Graham, just tell me what you want me to do.”

Se Hee hung her head, seemingly resigned.

“Whatever I want? Are you sure that’s okay?”

Kyle’s gaze toward Se Hee subtly intensified.

“Um… within reason?”

Se Hee said tensely.

“Name.”

“Huh? L-Lee Se Hee.”

Why is he asking when he already knows?

Se Hee looked at Kyle with a puzzled expression.

“Kyle. I allow you to call me that.”

Kyle’s leisurely gaze turned to Se Hee.

“Huh? Do I need permission for that? Ah, okay. Fine. Se Hee. I allow you to call me that.”

Se Hee playfully imitated Kyle.

“Se Hee.”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

The corners of Kyle’s mouth turned up slightly.

“Is that it? Really? Truly? Really? Oh. Your personality is better than I thought.”

Se Hee said in surprise, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“I guess… it’s too light?”

“Ah, well, it’s not so much that it’s light…”

Feeling she shouldn’t have said that, Se Hee awkwardly laughed and waved her hands.

“From now on, let’s agree to receive the next day’s schedule report during dinner time.”

“What? Schedule report? My, Lee Se Hee’s schedule report?”

Kyle nodded towards Se Hee, who was asking again.

Kyle stared intently at Se Hee.

The sight of her looking at him in surprise was very stimulating.

It kept irritating his nerves in a strange way.

He couldn’t even try to avoid looking at her.

Because if she wasn’t visible, he would end up obsessing even more.

Without realizing it, he had been desperately searching for Se Hee.

Until he could confirm her with his own eyes.

It was very difficult to adapt to this undeniable yet unfamiliar emotion.

“You’ll report tomorrow’s schedule during dinner time every day. You know Francois’ opening hours, right? You shouldn’t be late.”

“Ev-every day?”

Se Hee’s expression darkened.

If she had to report her schedule every dinner time, did that mean they would have to have dinner together from now on?

And not just at a regular restaurant, but a man who only goes to private rooms.

If it’s every day, the cost of dinners would be astronomical.

Se Hee couldn’t even imagine such an enormous amount.

But since she had committed a sin. She couldn’t refuse either.

“…Alright. But that private place, it’s too burdensome for me to treat you often. I plan to use the buffet most of the time, so please understand that much.”

“I never asked you to cover the meal costs?”

Kyle looked down at Se Hee arrogantly.

“What?”

“What I wanted was your time, Se Hee.”

Kyle’s innate arrogance seemed so natural that it even appeared elegant.

For a moment, Se Hee’s heart fluttered strangely.

With the tickling, sensual energy near her heart, Se Hee completely emptied the punch glass she was holding.

“It’s a weak drink, but you’ll get drunk if you drink it like that.”

His gesture of moving the glass aside out of concern for her only intensified Se Hee’s emotions.

The rising hot sensation was too dangerous.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Se Hee abruptly stood up.

“To-tomorrow’s schedule is shopping all day and participating in all the onboard programs. I plan to spend tomorrow and the day after so busy that I won’t have time to think about anything.”

Se Hee blurted out everything in an instant.

Because if she stayed any longer, it felt like she might do something reckless.

“Is that so?”

Kyle’s eyebrows raised at the sudden schedule report.

“Yes. Well, I enjoyed drinking today.”

“Where are you going?”

Kyle’s displeased voice stopped Se Hee in her tracks.

At that moment, Se Hee’s emotions, which she had been barely maintaining, wavered and crossed the line.

Se Hee turned back with a flushed face and looked at Kyle with a strange expression.

His attractive body, flaunting well-developed muscles, strongly provoked Se Hee’s selfish desires under the guise of intoxication.

“I’m warning you, it’s better not to hold me back right now.”

“What?”

Kyle’s brow furrowed.

Se Hee approached Kyle slowly with a subtle gaze.

She gently placed one index finger on Kyle’s smoothly shining shoulder.

The finger slowly moved, sliding down Kyle’s chest muscles to the center of his heart.

From the moment she touched his body in her drunken state, Se Hee’s heart felt like it would burst.

But if she fled awkwardly, it seemed like she would end up in an even more embarrassing situation.

So she had no choice but to finish it as if it were intentional seduction.

“…Because if you hold me back now, it might really be dangerous.”

Se Hee whispered quietly in Kyle’s ear, her moving finger pausing.

Surprised, Kyle unknowingly held his breath.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow evening. There at that time?”

Se Hee quickly turned away from Kyle and left.

“Ha.”

A small sigh escaped from between Kyle’s teeth.

To get nervous over such an absurd, clumsy touch.

An incredulous laugh burst out.

* * *

The alarm rang loudly.

Se Hee, looking tired, checked the time as she opened her eyes with difficulty.

She had vowed to do yoga impressively while overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with the fresh sunlight at her back.

But she had foolishly signed up for the early morning yoga program.

Se Hee, who hadn’t slept properly all night, couldn’t get up.

She couldn’t shake off the sensation that still lingered on her fingertips from the night before.

The moment Kyle had looked down at her intently, she wanted to touch him so badly.

That body like a marble sculpture… that luscious…

Aaargh.

Se Hee grabbed her own hair and wailed.

She had finally realized another side of herself.

Lee Se Hee, full of lustful emotions, unable to control her boiling instincts.

I, Lee Se Hee, am supposed to be a proper Confucian girl of Korea.

Kyle. It’s your fault.

Who told you to look like that?

After kicking off her blanket like that, Se Hee was finally able to leave her cabin with a haggard face much later.

She had already missed the yoga time, so after having a quick meal, Se Hee headed to the 5th floor shopping center.

Befitting the luxurious top-class Evans Line cruise ship, the shopping center was filled with luxury brand stores.

“No. I can afford it too. Let’s go in first.”

Though a bitter feeling washed over her, Se Hee decided not to be discouraged.

A luxury brand dress, I can buy one of those.

She entered a store with a famous luxury brand logo emblazoned on it with confident steps.

“Hello, ma’am. What kind of product are you looking for?”

A female employee wearing white gloves stuck close to Se Hee’s side.

“I’d like to see some dresses suitable for an event party.”

Se Hee said calmly.

“Would you come this way? You didn’t bring enough outfits, right? Many people come to buy. Our Decona Ho has quite a lot of parties. Are you enjoying your trip?”

The employee spoke kindly as she guided Se Hee.

“Yes, of course.”

In fact, she had only attended two events so far.

“How about a design like this?”

The employee brought out a silk dress with subtle silver pearls.

“It’s really pretty.”

Se Hee really liked the dress too.

But the evil price tag she glimpsed allowed her to give up her desire right away.

The employee recommended several other dress designs as well, and due to her financial situation, Se Hee chose one of them with a regretful expression.

Even this dress alone seemed extravagantly luxurious enough.

Se Hee, who had stopped by the bar for a cool drink to refresh herself, found the wedding event entry box that Jung Yeon had mentioned.

“Have you entered?”

An employee approached Se Hee with a smile as she was eyeing the entry box.

“Ah, no.”

“Then would you like to? It closes in an hour. We’re doing the draw at the midnight event today.”

Se Hee hesitated for a moment after hearing the employee’s words.

At first she wasn’t interested at all, but now there was someone whose name she wanted to write.

He said he allowed her to use his name.

So it should be okay to consider writing it as allowed too, right?

Most of the 5,000 passengers must have entered.

The chances of winning are probably almost zero.

“Okay.”

The employee brought an entry form and pen to Se Hee, who answered with a bright smile.

After writing her and Kyle’s names, Se Hee carefully folded it into the capsule given by the employee.

“Thank you. I wish you luck.”

The employee received the capsule Se Hee handed over with a kind smile.

Se Hee returned the smile and turned away.

Luck, huh.

Would such luck come to me?

As that ticklish feeling brought on strange thoughts again, Se Hee quickly moved her feet.

Se Hee had no idea that after she turned away, that capsule went into the employee’s pocket instead of the entry box.

* * *

Knowing Se Hee’s schedule, Kyle deliberately inserted a shopping center inspection into his own schedule.

Since she attended the late night event party, by now…

As Kyle had expected, Se Hee appeared at the center entrance.

Kyle quietly watched Se Hee, stopping without being noticed.

Se Hee spent quite a long time in the first store she entered, but when she came out, she only had one small shopping bag in her hand.

‘Just that?’

After Se Hee left the store, Kyle entered the same store.

“Hello, sir.”

“What items did the customer who just left purchase?”

The store employee reported in detail not only the item Se Hee purchased, but also the dress she liked the most and everything else she looked at.

“Dave. Please deliver this.”

Kyle purchased all the items the employee reported without hesitation and handed them over to Dave.

“Sigh. Sir. To go this far…”

“There are a lot of events, right? How about a special event for female customers traveling alone?”

Kyle said as if it perfectly suited the situation.

“What?”

Dave asked back, as if dumbfounded.

“Send them appropriately.”

“…Sigh. Understood.”

Dave felt his chest tightening, but he couldn’t refuse his superior’s orders.

Kyle finished inspecting the shopping center and returned to his office.

But Captain Marcus was waiting in front of the door.

“Sir.”

He called Kyle seriously.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have something to tell you.”

Marcus’s brow furrowed deeply as he let out a heavy sigh.

“Let’s go in.”

As Kyle gave permission, Marcus entered the office with him.

“I know you don’t consider superstitions. But just this once, I hope you will listen to my opinion, no, the opinion of all the crew members of our ship.”

Kyle’s head was already heavy, as he was well aware of the gist of what Marcus was about to say.

“Room 1305. That customer has participated in the wedding event.”

Marcus said with a very serious expression.

Wedding event?

Kyle looked at Marcus, startled.

“As you know, the event will be held tomorrow after the drawing at midnight tonight. Coincidentally, that day coincides with that customer’s D-day.”

“D-day?”

Kyle’s eyebrows twitched.

“Yes, the date written on the wedding invitation that customer had.”

Marcus emphasized forcefully.

Kyle recalled that Dave had also mentioned that D-day.

Cha Hyo Jun.

Was it his wedding?

“Sir. I beg of you. The customer in room 1305 must win this wedding event. So that they can have a happy day without any worries, surrounded by people’s blessings.”

Captain Marcus said with a grave expression.

“Why are you bringing up that story again at this point when even the first sailing day has passed without any problems?”

Kyle frowned as if uncomfortable.

“The first person to jump overboard from the Jeina was not because it was the first sailing day that they chose to throw themselves off that day. Sir.”

Captain Marcus said meaningfully.

Kyle’s gaze toward the captain changed sharply.

“From what I know, the day that woman threw herself into the sea was the wedding day of her former fiancé who had broken off their engagement.”

At Captain Marcus’s words, for a moment, silence fell as if cold water had been poured.

“If someone had comforted her that day, if there had been even one person with her, perhaps such a terrible thing would not have happened.”

Captain Marcus said with sincere eyes.

“The Decona’s first sailing is important, but as the captain, there is nothing more important to me than saving a passenger’s life.”

The captain approached Kyle with a determined expression.

And he carefully took something out of his inner pocket.

“I beg you. Sir.”

Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.

The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…

Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.

Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.

The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”

When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…

The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced