Chapter 62: Jealous Heart

Tiny motes of blue-white light drifted between the flowers like lazy fireflies, and a sweet, cool breeze trickled down from the canopy, carrying the scent of pine, honeyed moss, and distant rain.

It should have been peaceful, but it was not.

Hyun-woo sat on a wide stone bench warmed by the living wood that grew through it. Ebonara was curled in his lap, her massive scorpion form shifted down to something more manageable—eight legs tucked close, her tail wrapped loosely around his ankle like she was afraid he’d vanish if she let go.

Her face pressed against his chest, and every few seconds a quiet, shuddering breath escaped her. A single crystalline tear slipped from one of her gem-like eyes, then another. She wasn’t sobbing loudly anymore, but the tears kept coming silently.

His arms stayed around her, one hand gently stroking the smooth white skin of her back between the chitin plates. “It’s okay, Ebo,” he whispered into her hair, his voice soft and steady. “I am not angry, and I am not hurt either.”

But she didn’t listen, and instead started to cry harder.

Beside them on simple wooden chairs grown from the same tree, Medusa sat with perfect poise, her emerald serpent tail coiled neatly around the base of her seat.

Stheno lounged next to her, her golden snake-hair twitching with restless energy as she picked at a glowing berry.

Euryale, wisely, had stayed inside the treehouse. The youngest gorgon had muttered something about “not my mess” and disappeared upstairs to play video games. The faint, electronic beep-boop of a handheld console occasionally drifted down from the upper floors, highlighting exactly how much she was ignoring the drama.

The breeze brushed across their faces again, cool and sweet, tugging gently at Ebonara’s hair and Hyun-woo’s messy black locks.

“You bitch, how long are you going to cry?” Stheno finally blurted, unable to hold her tongue any longer. Her golden eyes flicked toward Ebonara with a mix of irritation and awkward concern.

Medusa’s hand moved. A sharp smack landed on the back of Stheno’s head.

“Ow!” Stheno yelped, rubbing the spot as her snakes hissed in protest. “Hey! She’s the one acting weird!”

Medusa’s voice carried a warning edge. “Enough.”

Stheno huffed, crossing her arms and slumping back in her chair with a dramatic pout. After a moment her snakes calmed, and she fell quiet, though she still shot occasional glances their way.

She knew Ebonara better than anyone, Stheno thought bitterly. But it seemed no one wanted to listen to her.

Hyun-woo kept stroking Ebonara’s back in slow circles. He could feel the faint tremors in her body, the way her claws lightly gripped his shirt.

His chest ached for her. This was his fault. He’d broken the promise he’d made her that first night—asking permission before getting close to the others. Even if Medusa had been the one to escalate things earlier, he should have handled it better.

Medusa watched them for a long moment, her expression unreadable.

She remembered clearly now that Hyun-woo had told her he would ask permission from Ebonara before anything happened with Stheno. He had kept his word then.

So this mess was hers to help clean up.

She rose, slithering forward. The others fell silent as Medusa stopped directly in front of Ebonara.

Cool fingers reached out, cupping the scorpion queen’s face with surprising firmness, forcing those eight gem-like eyes to lift and meet her own emerald gaze.

The garden breeze continued its gentle dance, tugging at loose strands of hair and stirring the glowing flowers at their feet, but the air between the two monster women crackled with tension.

“I know you’re hurting,” Medusa said quietly, her voice steady and cold as polished stone. “And I know the reason you’re hurting… is because of me.”

Ebonara’s eyes lifted fully to her. The swirling colors slowed, uncertain.

Hyun-woo tensed in his seat, one arm still protectively around Ebonara’s waist—or more accurately, ready to stop her from pouncing on Medusa.

Stheno leaned forward in her chair, her golden snake-hair hissing softly with worry. Both of them watched with wary eyes.

They had seen Ebonara’s obsessive side unleashed before. One wrong word, and this could turn bloody. Yet Medusa didn’t flinch. She didn’t even look like she cared.

Medusa continued, her slit-pupil stare unwavering. “So I’ll make this simple. I’m going to kidnap Hyun-woo. I’ll take him somewhere you’ll never find him again. I can make it possible… keep him all to myself. You’ll never…”

Ebonara’s eyes flashed through colors at blinding speed—from blue, to violet, to a deep, furious crimson.

In a blur of motion, her clawed hand shot up and wrapped around Medusa’s throat, squeezing with terrifying force. Ebonara's voice came out in a visceral snarl.

“How dare you say that to me… when you were the one who forced him to sleep with you!”

Hyun-woo’s breath caught. Stheno half-rose from her chair, ready to intervene, but froze when Medusa lifted a single hand in warning—don’t.

Medusa made no move to stop her. No tail lash, no petrifying gaze. She simply met Ebonara’s crimson glare, even as the hot, furious claws dug deeper into her freezing emerald scales. A faint, strained smile touched her lips.

“Yes,” Medusa rasped, a strained laugh catching in her throat as the claws dug deeper. “That’s it. Become angry. Let it out. All of it.”

Ebonara’s grip trembled. Tears still clung to several of her eyes, but the rage burned bright.

She knew exactly who deserved her fury. Not Hyun-woo. Not entirely, anyway. The one who had escalated everything, who had ignored the careful promise he’d made her. The anger boiled.

For a long moment, everyone held their breath.

The wind whispered through the air.

But, slowly, Ebonara’s fingers loosened.

The crimson in her eyes fractured, bleeding into softer rose and warm gold. She released Medusa’s throat with a shaky exhale and turned her gaze toward Hyun-woo.

He met her eyes without hesitation, his soft brown eyes looking at her with deep regret and love. “Ebo…”

She climbed off his lap but stayed close, her tail curling gently around his leg once more. Her voice was hoarse, but it seemed that the anger she had held was starting to pass slowly.

“I forgive you,” she said, looking between Hyun-woo and Medusa. “Both of you. I’m still angry… but I forgive you.” A small, watery smile broke through as she wiped at one of her eyes. “But you owe me, cutie pie. You’re going to make it up to me. Tonight. And every night until I say it’s enough.”

Hyun-woo let out a relieved laugh, pulling her back into his arms. “Deal. Whatever you want, Ebo. I’m just glad you are talking to me.”

She nuzzled into his neck, then added with a firmer tone, “And I’m coming with you to the Giant Realm. No arguments. If my cutie pie is walking into that shithole, I’m going to be right there to make sure nothing tries to take him from me.”

Stheno slumped back in her chair with a dramatic groan. “Finally. The bitch finally got her way.” Just like I knew she would, she added internally, rolling her eyes.

Medusa touched her throat lightly, a faint bruise already forming against her pale skin. She would pay for this, but for now, she let the scorpion queen have her moment.

The breeze picked up again, lighter now.

Hyun-woo held Ebonara close, his heart still racing.

An Honest Confession & Life Update

Hey everyone,

Time for some brutal honesty.

sorry for not updating the stories for too long, I didn't step away because of writer's block or running out of ideas. The cold, hard truth is that this story wasn’t paying the bills, and my sorry ass has to make actual money to survive.

Because bills don't pay themselves, real life took priority. I had to get to work, and between the job and daily grind, my writing time has shrunk down to barely an hour a day. When you're running on an empty tank with only sixty minutes to spare, trying to treat an original story like a high-stakes, unpaid second job just burns you out.

That’s honestly why I ended up pivoting to fanfiction. Writing in an established sandbox took the pressure completely off. It lets me write for pure, low-stakes fun without stressing over monetization or whether the hours I put in are financially viable.

Because of that, this story is officially on pausing updates. meaning i will update the story whenever i will be able to write like today. so hopes are high atleast for original fan who wnated to read the story.

anyway.

To everyone who read, commented, and supported this project: thank you genuinely. Your encouragement meant a lot, and I hate leaving things hanging, but rent and work have to come first.