Ethan:
Ethan finally lifted his gaze, eyes dark and conflicted.
"You think I don't know that?" he replied quietly. "I stay away from every good things in this world and go closer to bad things… except her."
The confession only made the silence heavier.
Luca clenched his fists, torn between friendship and protection.
He knew the man standing before him would take a bullet for him without hesitation — yet he was also the greatest danger to his sister's heart.
"Then prove you care," luca said. "Walk away Ethan."
Ethan didn't answer immediately. His silence revealed the truth louder than words ever could.
Walking away from enemies was easy.
Walking away from her was impossible.
The silence stretched longer than either of them expected.
Ethan pushed himself away from the wall, his movements slow, controlled — the same composure he used when facing enemies.
But this wasn't an enemy standing before him.
This was the man who knew his past 6 years, his scars, and every version of him before power and blood changed everything.
"You're asking me to abandon her," Ethan said quietly.
"I'm asking you to protect her," luca replied instantly. "From your world."
A bitter smile touched the Ethan's lips.
"My world found her long before I did."
Luca's expression hardened. "Then leave before it destroys her too."
For the first time, anger flickered in Ethan's eyes — not explosive, but restrained, dangerous.
"You think I would ever let anything happen to her?"
"I know you would die for her," luca said. "That's not what scares me."
Luca stepped closer, voice lowering. "It's the fact that people would kill her just to hurt you."
The words landed heavily.
Ethan looked away for a brief second — and that small reaction was enough. Luca saw the truth he had feared.
Enemies. Targets. Revenge.
A life she never chose.
"You're my best friend," the luca continued, his voice breaking slightly. "We grew up together. You stood beside me when I had no one. But she… she's my responsibility. I can't gamble her life, even for you."
Ethan's hands slowly curled into fists.
"I tried staying away," he admitted, almost to himself.
"I will keep my distance. Ignore her calls. Avoide her eyes." He exhaled sharply. " But still would not work for both me and her, luca."
"Then make it work," the brother insisted. "End it before she falls deeper for you."
Another silence followed — heavier than before.
Finally, Ethan nodded once.
A small, almost invisible movement.
"Fine, but it would be different for me because she still can't forget about me even seeing me killhis friend 6 years ago." Ethan said.
Luca blinked, surprised by how easily the answer came.
"I'll stay away." Ethan said.
But his eyes betrayed him — dark, conflicted, and filled with something dangerously close to pain.
As he turned toward the door, his voice stopped him.
"If you hurt her or come any closr to her," luca said softly, "I won't see you as my best friend anymore."
Ethan paused without turning back.
"That's the problem," he replied quietly. "I'd rather lose you… than lose her."
And with that, ethan walked out, leaving behind a friendship standing on the edge of breaking.
Outside the room, unseen by both men, Yuna stood frozen in the hallway — her heart racing, every word echoing in her mind.
She wasn't supposed to hear any of it.
But now she knew the truth.
And nothing would ever be the same again.