Debt Collector, 3.2 | Choi San
Synopsis: Choi San never chased people. He never had to.
Cold, powerful, and feared by everyone around him, San built his world on control. So when a desperate man fails to repay his debt, San takes the only thing left of value: his daughter.
Y/n's life changes the moment San walks through her front door. Torn from everything she knows and trapped inside his world, she's forced into a marriage meant to secure her family's safety.
But what begins as business quickly becomes something far more dangerous because the moment San saw her photograph, he already knew: nobody else was ever going to have her.
Taglist: @yuyu1024 , @thesanniediaries , @brown88
( A/n: This chapter has time skips! )
( A/n: Please read Part 3.1 first! )
I found myself waiting for him in the evenings without pretending otherwise. He found himself leaving work earlier than before. Neither of us talked about it, we simply noticed.
Rain tapped softly against the bedroom windows.
I sat cross legged on the bed reading while San worked beside me, several files spread across the comforter.
I looked over and said " ...You're bringing work into bed now? "
" You're a mafia leader. "
" I still have paperwork. "
I stared at him and said " The mafia has paperwork? "
" ...That's disappointingly normal. "
He looked up and said " Were you expecting more explosions? "
" There were explosions yesterday. "
I blinked and said " ...You're joking. "
I narrowed my eyes and said " You almost had me. "
I smiled despite myself, without thinking... I leaned over slightly and said " Hold still. "
He looked at me and said " What? "
I reached out, my fingers brushed the side of his jaw, wiping away a tiny smudge of black ink I'd somehow noticed from across the bed.
His eyes never left mine and said " ...Thank you. "
My hand lingered for half a second longer than it needed to. I realized it, he realized it too.
Slowly... I pulled away and neither of us mentioned it.
Weeks blended into months.
The mansion still buzzed with guards.
Meetings still lasted until midnight.
San was still feared by everyone who worked for him, but never by me.
One evening, I found myself standing on the balcony waiting for him to finish another phone call, he stepped outside a few minutes later and said " It's done. "
I nod my head, the garden below was quiet.
String lights glowed softly across the estate.
Without thinking, I stepped a little closer.
Not because I needed something.
Because somewhere along the way... standing beside him had become the place that felt most natural.
Our shoulders touched lightly, neither of us moved away. San looked out across the grounds before speaking quietly and said " You don't hesitate anymore. "
I glanced at him and said " What do you mean? "
" When you first came here... * Voice remained calm * you always made sure there was distance between us. "
I looked down at the space between our shoulders, there wasn't any now.
" I guess... * Smiled faintly * I stopped needing it. "
For the first time in a long while... San didn't answer immediately. When I finally looked up, he was already watching me, there was no triumph in his expression.
Something that looked remarkably like gratitude.
He reached for my hand slowly, giving me every chance to pull away, I didn't.
Our fingers intertwined naturally, as though they had done it a hundred times before.
He didn't tighten his grip.
I looked down at our hands, my wedding ring catching the soft light from the balcony.
Months ago, that ring had felt like a chain. Now... It felt like a promise I was finally beginning to understand.
The morning sunlight spilled through the bedroom curtains, warming the hardwood floor.
I stirred slowly, blinking against the light before turning onto my side. The other half of the bed was empty, the blankets were slightly rumpled.
His pillow was still warm.
That wasn't unusual anymore.
San almost always woke before sunrise. Some mornings he went to the gym, other mornings he disappeared into his office before anyone else in the mansion was awake.
Being the head of the Choi Organization didn't allow for slow mornings.
I slipped out of bed and pulled on one of my cardigans before making my way downstairs.
The mansion was already alive.
Guards stood at their usual posts.
Staff moved quietly through the halls.
One of the housekeepers smiled warmly and said " Good morning, Mrs. Choi. "
As I entered the kitchen, I found San standing beside the island, a cup of black coffee in one hand while reading something on his tablet.
His white dress shirt was neatly tucked into dark slacks, sleeves rolled to his forearms.
He hadn't noticed me yet, I paused in the doorway.
Sometimes... I liked watching him before he realized I was there.
Not because he was intimidating, because when he thought no one was looking..
The constant vigilance faded just enough for me to see the man beneath the title everyone feared.
He looked up, his eyes found mine immediately and said " There you are. "
" You say that every morning. "
" You always know where I am. "
I walked closer, smiling and said " Then why say it? "
" Because I like seeing you. "
The answer came so naturally that it stole every thought from my mind. Heat spread across my cheeks and said " You... "
" ...You're making it difficult to argue. "
" I wasn't aware we were arguing. "
I laughed quietly and said " No. "
One of the cooks placed breakfast on the island before disappearing again. San set his tablet aside without another glance and I said " You stopped working. "
" I'm having breakfast with my wife. "
" You've become very good at saying things like that. "
Breakfast lasted nearly an hour. Mostly because San allowed it to.
Normally his mornings were filled with meetings.
Today... his phone buzzed three separate times and he ignored every single one.
I raised an eyebrow and said " Shouldn't you answer? "
" You haven't even checked. "
" If it were urgent... * Glanced toward one of the guards standing discreetly near the dining room entrance * They'd already be inside. "
Almost on cue, the guard shook his head and said " No emergencies, Boss. "
San nod his head before returning his attention to me and said " See? "
I couldn't help smiling and said " You planned that. "
" I simply know my people. "
" You really trust them. "
" My life depends on them. "
The weight behind those words lingered, his men weren't employees, they were people willing to die protecting him because someone, somewhere... was always trying to kill the man who led the Choi Organization.
The thought tightened something inside my chest, he noticed immediately and said " You've gone quiet. "
He reached across the table.
He rested his hand over mine.
For just a second, I stared at our hands.
Months ago... I would've pulled away.
Now... my fingers curled around his without thinking.
His thumb brushed lightly across my knuckles.
Neither of us mentioned it.
That afternoon, I wandered into the mansion gardens.
Spring had finally settled over the estate.
Flowers lined the stone pathways.
The fountain sparkled beneath the afternoon sun.
I'd spent hours out here lately.
One of the guards followed several steps behind.
Not close enough to interrupt, close enough to intervene if necessary.
I'd long since accepted that I would never truly be alone.
Not while I was San's wife.
I knelt beside one of the flower beds, gently brushing my fingers across the petals and heard " They're blooming earlier this year. "
He'd changed out of his suit jacket. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up again. His tie was gone.
" What are you doing out here? " I said.
I laughed and said " I don't believe you. "
" Surprising, isn't it? "
Neither of us spoke for a while, we simply watched the breeze move through the flowers and he said " You spend a lot of time here. "
" I make it my business to. "
I smiled and said " You sound possessive. "
His honesty caught me off guard again.
" But not because I want to control you. * Looked at her calmly * I simply want to know you're safe. "
The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache and I said " I know. "
The mansion grew unusually busy.
Luxury cars filled the driveway.
Men in tailored suits walked briskly through the halls carrying folders and speaking quietly into earpieces.
I stayed upstairs, curled into the reading chair near the bedroom window.
Down below, I could see black vehicles arriving one after another.
Every visitor was searched before entering.
Every movement was watched.
Being the head of the mafia meant paranoia wasn't weakness.
Night settled over the estate.
Still... the office lights remained on.
I glanced toward the clock.
I left the bedroom and quietly made my way downstairs. The hallway outside San's office was empty except for two guards.
They both nod their heads respectfully and one of them said " Mrs. Choi. "
I frowned and said " Has he eaten? "
The guards exchanged a brief glance and one of them said " ...No. "
I sighed softly before turning toward the kitchen.
I stood outside his office carrying a tray, one guard knocked gently and said " Boss. "
The office door opened, stacks of files covered nearly every surface. Several maps were spread across the conference table.
San sat behind his desk, reading through another report.
He simply hid it better than anyone else.
His eyes lifted, the moment he saw me... something in his expression eased and he said " You should be asleep. "
His eyebrow lifted and I said " Bringing you dinner counts as work. "
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
One of the guards discreetly closed the office door behind me, I set the tray down and said " You skipped lunch too. "
" You skipped breakfast yesterday. "
" You've used that excuse three times this week. "
He leaned back in his chair and said " I've been caught. "
" You have. * Crossed my arms * Eat."
I blinked and said " ...Did you just listen without arguing? "
I narrowed my eyes playfully and said " Who are you? "
He smiled, actually smiled.
His men would've been shocked.
The feared leader of one of the country's most powerful organizations... obeying his wife because she'd told him to eat.
He picked up his chopsticks.
Satisfied, I sat down across from him. Neither of us spoke for several minutes.
He ate, I read one of the books I'd brought with me. The office settled into comfortable silence.
Eventually he looked up and said " You stayed. "
I closed my book and said " Because... * Searched for the right words * I know everyone else comes in here because they need something from you. "
He watched me quietly and I said " I wanted to be the one person who came in because I wanted to make sure you were okay. "
Silence filled the office.
San slowly stood, walked around the desk, stopped beside my chair.
For a long moment, he simply looked at me, then... very gently... he reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
The touch was careful, almost hesitant, as though he still couldn't quite believe he was allowed to.
" You've changed this house."
I looked up at him and said " I have? "
" It used to feel... * Searched for the word * efficient. "
He smiled softly and said " It feels like home. "
My heart squeezed painfully inside my chest, without thinking... I stood, only inches separated us now and said " I think... "
My voice came out quieter than I'd intended.
" It started feeling like home for me because you were in it. "
For the first time since we'd married... neither of us looked away, outside the office, guards continued their patrols.
Phones rang somewhere deeper in the mansion.
The organization never stopped.
Meetings would continue tomorrow, but inside that office...
The world narrowed until it was only the two of us and standing there... looking into San's eyes... I realized something I could no longer deny.
Somewhere between treating his wounds, waiting for him to come home, sharing quiet meals, and learning the weight he carried...
I hadn't simply grown used to my husband.
I'd fallen in love with him.
The realization terrified me, not because of what I felt but because loving the most powerful man in the mafia meant knowing that every time he walked out the front doors of the mansion...
There was always a chance he might never walk back through them again.
Three weeks had passed since the night I'd admitted the truth to myself.
Somehow... it felt too big to put into words. So instead, it slipped into the little things.
Into waiting for him every evening.
Into making sure he'd eaten before another meeting swallowed his entire night.
Into quietly straightening the collar of his shirt when it sat crooked.
Into noticing when he looked more tired than he let anyone else see and somehow... he seemed to notice every one of those things.
The mornings had become our favorite part of the day.
I wandered into the kitchen one morning still wrapped in one of San's oversized hoodies, my hair tied into a loose braid.
He was already there, reading through a report while drinking his coffee.
The moment he looked up, the report no longer seemed important.
His eyes lingered on me for a second before he folded the report closed and said " I was about to come look for you. "
I smiled and said " You knew exactly where I was. "
" Then why were you going to look for me? "
He considered the question for a moment and said " I like finding you. "
The answer came so naturally that my heart stumbled. I shook my head with a quiet laugh and said " You make it very difficult to stay composed. "
A quiet smile tugged at my lips and said " You've noticed? "
" What exactly have you noticed? "
San looked at me for a moment before setting his coffee mug on the counter and said " That you smile before you realize you're doing it. "
I blinked and said " I do? "
" I don't know, * His gaze remained on hers * but it happens almost every morning now. "
Heat crept into my cheeks and said " I wasn't aware. "
I looked away with a quiet laugh and said " You really are observant. "
" I think this goes beyond your job. "
His answer was so matter of fact that it stole my response.
He walked over to the refrigerator, taking out a carton of orange juice before grabbing another glass from the cabinet.
Without asking he poured one for me first. I leaned my elbows against the kitchen island, watching him and said " You've started doing that. "
" Making mine before yours. "
He glanced down at the two glasses and said " I suppose I have. "
" You didn't even think about it. "
" No, * Handed her the glass * it felt natural."
Something about that simple sentence warmed my chest. The word stayed with me long after he'd said it.
It wasn't just the orange juice.
It was the way he automatically reached for the chair beside him when breakfast was served instead of sitting across from me anymore.
The way he remembered I liked strawberry jam instead of orange marmalade, quietly passing it to me before I'd even asked.
The way he never left the house without telling me goodbye.
None of those things had happened overnight.
They'd simply... become us.
I took a small sip from my glass, watching him from over the rim.
He'd picked his report back up, though I noticed he hadn't actually started reading again. His eyes remained on the same paragraph for far too long.
A smile tugged at my lips and said
His eyes lifted immediately and said " No? "
I shook my head and said " You've been looking at the same page for almost a minute. "
One corner of his mouth lifted and said " Observant. "
I laughed softly and said " I learned from the best. "
For just a second, something warm flickered through his expression.
He folded the report closed again and said " I'll finish it later. "
I blinked and said " You keep doing that. "
His gaze settled on mine and said " For you. "
The answer came so simply that I almost forgot to breathe.
He rested one forearm against the kitchen island and said " Because the reports will still be there in an hour. * Eyes never left hers * But breakfast with you won't. "
My heart squeezed painfully.
How did he keep saying things like that so casually?
I looked down into my glass, trying and failing to hide the smile spreading across my face and I said " I think you're getting dangerously good at this. "
" That's the dangerous part. "
A quiet chuckle escaped him and said " I'll keep that in mind. "
" I don't think you will. "
His smile widened just enough to make my stomach flutter.
Rain had trapped us inside the mansion.
The library windows rattled softly beneath the steady storm while I searched the highest shelves for a novel I'd been meaning to read.
I stretched onto my toes.
A familiar voice sounded behind me " You're not going to reach it. "
I turned, San stood only a step away and I said " I would've eventually. "
He reached over my head, effortlessly taking the book from the shelf.
Instead of handing it to me immediately, he looked at the cover and said " You've already read this one. "
" You cried both times. "
I stared at him and said " ...How do you know that? "
" I found tissues tucked inside the last time you finished it. "
Heat flooded my face and said " You noticed that? "
" I notice most things about you. "
My heart betrayed me again.
He finally handed me the book.
Our fingers brushed, neither of us pulled away immediately.
Our fingers lingered against one another for the briefest moment.
Not intentionally, just.. neither of us seemed in any hurry to pull away.
The rain drummed softly against the library windows, wrapping the room in a comforting hush. The scent of old books and burning cedar from the fireplace filled the air.
I finally wrapped both hands around the novel, smiled and said " Thank you. "
He didn't leave. Normally, he would've returned to his office, another meeting, another report, another phone call waiting for him.
I tilted my head and said " Weren't you working? "
" I decided to take a break. "
I narrowed my eyes playfully and said " You? "
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and said " I expected that answer. "
I laughed quietly and said " You've become suspiciously responsible lately. "
" I've always been responsible. "
" I meant responsible toward yourself. "
He was quiet for a moment before replying and said " I'm trying. "
The simple honesty in those two words caught me off guard.
" ...Because I keep bothering you? "
His eyes softened and he said " No. "
He looked toward the rain covered windows before answering " Because I realized something. "
" I work as though tomorrow isn't guaranteed. "
I frowned slightly and said " And? "
He looked back at me and said " But if tomorrow does come... I'd rather not spend all of today behind a desk. "
Something in my chest tightened. He wasn't talking about paperwork, not really.
He was talking about life, about how uncertain his own was.
I swallowed and said " ...You're thinking too much. "
A comfortable silence settled between us. I wandered toward one of the large armchairs near the fireplace before curling my legs beneath me.
San remained standing for another second before surprising me completely, he sat down in the chair beside mine.
Not across the room, beside me
The fire crackled between us, I looked over and said " ...You've never sat in here before. "
" You built this library. "
" And you've barely used it. "
His gaze drifted toward the shelves and said " Because you're here. "
My heartbeat stumbled, again.
Honestly... I was beginning to lose count.
I looked away before he noticed how flustered I'd become.
" The fireplace has been lit for hours. "
He watched me with unmistakable amusement and said " You've become very creative. "
" Because you keep saying impossible things. "
I let out an exasperated laugh and said " You know exactly what you're doing now. "
I pointed accusingly at him and said " There. "
His quiet chuckle filled the room.
It was still a rare sound. Every time I heard it... it felt like discovering something precious.
I rested my head against the back of the chair, smiling despite myself and said " I don't think anyone outside this room would believe this. "
" That the man everyone fears spends his free time making his wife flustered. "
" They don't need to know. "
I smiled and said " No? "
" Because... * His eyes met hers * this part of me belongs to you. "
The words stole every coherent thought from my mind.
The room suddenly felt very small.
I stared at him, searching his face for even the slightest hint that he'd meant something else.
There wasn't one. He'd said exactly what he'd intended.
My voice came out barely above a whisper " ...You say things that make my heart forget how to work. "
His expression softened in a way I'd come to recognize.
Not the expression reserved for business.
" I'm beginning to notice. "
" Oh, that's embarrassing. "
" Because you're always so calm. "
I blinked and said " ...You weren't? "
He shook his head once and said " The first time I realized you weren't afraid to stand close to me anymore... * Gaze drifted briefly to the fire * I spent the rest of the meeting thinking about it. "
I stared at him and said " You? "
" For approximately twelve minutes. "
I couldn't help laughing and said " Twelve? "
" You actually counted? "
I covered my face with one hand and said " I don't know whether that's incredibly sweet or incredibly concerning. "
I laughed even harder and said " I think... that's the most human thing I've ever heard you admit. "
He smiled and said " So I've been told. "
The rain continued falling outside.
Neither of us reached for another book.
Neither of us spoke for a while.
We simply sat together in the quiet library, listening to the storm.
It was nearly midnight. I found San asleep.
His reading glasses rested low on his nose, one hand still loosely holding a pen while paperwork remained scattered around him.
For once... the head of the Choi Organization had lost a battle against exhaustion.
I carefully lifted the pen from his fingers before gathering the files into neat stacks.
He stirred slightly but didn't wake. The blanket resting over the office sofa caught my attention. I unfolded it carefully before draping it across his shoulders.
The movement made him open his eyes and said " ...Y/n. "
" I wasn't planning to. "
His voice was still rough with sleep and said " You stayed awake for me again. "
He looked at me for several long seconds and said " You always lie about that. "
Without thinking... he reached for my hand, his fingers wrapped gently around mine and said " Thank you. "
There was something different in the way he said it.
Even half asleep, his fingers wrapped around mine with quiet certainty, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The office was illuminated only by the desk lamp and the soft glow of the city beyond the windows. The mansion had fallen unusually quiet. Somewhere far outside, a guard's radio crackled before fading again.
I looked down at our joined hands, my thumb brushed lightly across the back of his hand without me even thinking about it.
His eyes softened and I whispered " ...You should go to bed. "
" I wasn't the one who fell asleep at my desk. "
" I was resting my eyes. "
I smiled and said " Is that what we're calling it? "
His eyebrows lifted and said " I don't snore. "
" It wasn't loud. * Teased * Just... enough to prove you're human. "
A quiet breath escaped him that sounded suspiciously like a laugh and said " I'll have to ask someone else. "
" They'd all tell you they never heard anything. "
" Because they're loyal? "
" Because they're terrified of you. "
The corner of his mouth lifted and said " ...Fair. "
I couldn't help smiling. It still amazed me sometimes...
How different he was when it was just us.
The man the rest of the world feared was somehow the same man arguing with me over whether he'd been snoring.
His gaze drifted over my face before settling somewhere just behind me and said " What time is it? "
I glanced toward the clock on the bookshelf and said " Almost midnight. "
He sighed quietly and said " I kept you awake. "
His eyes returned to mine and said " I know. "
There was that look again. That impossibly gentle expression he never let anyone else see.
He slowly released my hand, though his fingertips lingered against mine for just a heartbeat longer before letting go completely.
" I should finish these. "
I looked at the mountain of paperwork covering his desk and said " No. "
His eyebrow rose and I said " You've already worked all day. "
" You also fell asleep. "
" You were asleep for almost forty minutes. "
He looked mildly surprised and said " I don't usually sleep that deeply. "
Silence settled for a moment, then I said " Come upstairs. "
The words slipped out before I had time to overthink them.
He looked at me quietly and I said " The paperwork will still be here tomorrow. "
" And if it's truly urgent... "
" So... * Smiled softly * come to bed. "
For a second, I wondered if I'd said too much. Then he stood.
Without reaching for another file.
I blinked and said " ...You're actually coming. "
" I thought you'd insist on finishing. "
" What changed your mind? "
His answer came as calmly as ever and said " You asked. "
My heart melted a little more.
Somehow... after everything we'd been through... that was still enough.
Together, we stepped out into the hallway. The two guards outside the office immediately straightened and they said " Boss. "
San nod his head and said " We're done for the night. "
Both men looked surprised but recovered almost instantly and said " Yes, Boss. "
As we walked toward the staircase, I felt their eyes follow us for a second before they politely looked away.
" ...They're surprised. " I murmured.
" They're probably wondering why you stopped working before two in the morning. "
I looked at him and said " They do? "
His expression remained perfectly composed and said " That my wife usually wins. "
I stopped walking, he took another step before realizing I'd fallen behind. Turning back, he found me staring at him and said "....What? "
I narrowed my eyes and said " That's suspicious. "
" I thought I was persuasive. "
A hint of amusement flickered across his face and said " ...Both. "
I laughed quietly as we continued upstairs. The bedroom greeted us with familiar warmth.
I watched him loosen the cuffs of his sleeves before placing his watch on the nightstand.
His movements had become familiar to me.
The careful way he folded his jacket.
The way he always checked that the bedroom door was locked before turning off the lights.
The way he never climbed into bed until he knew I was comfortable first.
Things I'd started noticing because... somewhere along the way....I'd begun memorizing him.
I slipped beneath the blankets while he turned off the bedside lamp. Darkness settled around us. Only moonlight filtered through the curtains.
For several quiet minutes, neither of us spoke, then he said " ...Y/n. "
I turned toward him and said " For what? "
His voice was barely louder than the rain beginning outside again.
" ...that I don't always have to carry everything by myself. "
My chest tightened. I reached across the small space between us until my fingers found his hand beneath the blankets.
This time... I was the one who reached first, his fingers intertwined with mine instantly.
I smiled into the darkness and said " You don't. "
For the first time in a long time... The head of the Choi Organization fell asleep before I did and with his hand still holding mine...
I realized there was nowhere else in the world I'd rather have been.