The room hadn't fully emptied when Ethan felt it—that shift in the air that meant something unfinished was about to surface. His father didn't leave with the others. Instead, he remained near the head of the table, fingers resting lightly against the polished surface, his expression unreadable.
"Stay," he said.
The few remaining people exchanged glances before quietly exiting, the door closing behind them with a soft click. Only Ethan and Luca remained.
Silence stretched.
Then—
"There's another task," his father said calmly.
Ethan's gaze lifted, steady. "What kind of task?"
A brief pause.
And then the name dropped like something heavy and irreversible.
"Richard Blackwood."
For a split second—
Everything inside Ethan stilled.
His eyes sharpened instantly, lifting fully to meet his father's gaze. There was no confusion about who that was. No need for clarification.
Yuna's father.
The connection hit immediately, but Ethan didn't react outwardly—not yet.
"Why?" he asked, his voice controlled.
His father's expression didn't change. "Because he's become a liability."
Simple. Cold. Final.
Ethan's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
Behind him, Luca went still too, his eyes flicking toward Ethan, instantly understanding the weight of what had just been said.
"This isn't a request," his father continued. "It's your responsibility."
The unspoken threat hung heavily in the air.
Ethan knew it.
He had always known it.
His father didn't just give orders—he enforced them.
And there was only one reason Ethan never outright refused.
His mother.
The leverage that had kept him in line all these years.
If he disobeyed—
She would pay for it.
Ethan's hands clenched slightly at his sides, his thoughts racing for a fraction of a second before he forced them back under control. There was no space here for hesitation. Not in front of him.
"…Understood," he said finally.
The words felt heavier than anything he had said that night.
His father studied him for a moment, as if searching for resistance—but finding none, he gave a small nod.
"Good."
And just like that, he turned and walked out, leaving the room as quietly as he had held it.
The door closed.
Silence.
Real silence this time.
Ethan didn't move at first.
Didn't speak.
For a moment, the weight of everything pressed down all at once—the mission, the name, the consequences.
"How the hell are you supposed to do this…" he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.
Luca stepped forward, breaking the stillness. "Hey."
Ethan didn't look at him.
Luca's expression hardened slightly, but his voice stayed steady. "I'm with you."
That got Ethan's attention.
He turned slightly, his gaze sharp. "You know what this means."
Luca nodded once. "Yeah, I do."
There was no hesitation in him either.
"If it comes down to it…" Luca continued, his tone firm now, "we'll handle it. My way if needed."
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Your way?"
Luca exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Your father's been crossing lines for a long time," he said. "More than you admit. If this is where it's heading… then maybe it's time something changes."
The implication was clear.
Dangerously clear.
Ethan didn't respond immediately.
Because Luca wasn't entirely wrong.
But nothing about this was simple.
"Yuna…" Ethan said quietly, the name alone carrying weight now.
Luca's expression shifted slightly. "She can't be part of this."
Ethan nodded instantly. "She won't be."
His tone left no room for argument.
"She stays out of it," he continued. "She doesn't hear anything. Not a word."
Luca agreed without hesitation. "Not even a hint," he said. "We'll keep everything clean."
Ethan exhaled slowly, his mind already moving ahead, calculating risks, outcomes, consequences.
Two paths stood in front of him now.
Follow the order—
And destroy something Yuna could never forgive.
Or go against it—
And risk losing his mother.
Neither choice was a win.
Neither choice was safe.
But one thing was certain—
He couldn't let Yuna get caught in the middle of it.
"No matter what happens," Ethan said finally, his voice low but absolute, "she stays away from this mission."
Luca gave a firm nod. "She won't hear a thing."
And as the weight of the decision settled between them—
The real conflict had finally begun.
The hours after the meeting passed without either of them noticing how quickly time moved. Ethan and Luca remained at the office, the earlier shock settling into something colder—strategy. The file on Richard Blackwood lay open between them, filled with details, movements, security layers, connections. Neither of them spoke recklessly; every word was measured, every idea tested before being said out loud.
"We don't rush this," Luca said, leaning over the table, his finger tracing a route on the map. "One mistake, and everything collapses."
Ethan nodded slightly, his gaze fixed, calculating. "We won't follow his exact plan," he said. "We adjust it. Control what we can."
Luca glanced at him. "And what we can't?"
Ethan didn't hesitate. "We create an opening."
There was a brief silence after that, both of them understanding that this wasn't just another mission. This wasn't distant. This was personal in a way neither of them could ignore.
"She can't know," Luca added again, quieter this time.
"She won't," Ethan replied, his tone final.
They continued working—timelines, entry points, contingencies. Every detail mattered now. Every step had to be precise. But even as Ethan focused, a part of his mind drifted back—to the penthouse, to Yuna, to the way she had looked before he left. Something was different. He just didn't know what.
By the time evening settled over the city, the plan had taken shape—not complete, but enough for now. Enough to move forward.
"We'll refine the rest tomorrow," Luca said, straightening up.
Ethan closed the file, his expression unreadable. "Yeah."
—
The drive back was quieter than usual. The tension hadn't disappeared—it had just been buried beneath control again. The building lights came into view soon enough, familiar, almost grounding after everything.
When they stepped inside the penthouse, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Warm.
Alive.
Different.
Before Ethan could even fully step in, Yuna appeared from the living area, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw him. Without hesitation, she walked quickly toward him—and then broke into a small run, closing the distance between them in seconds.
She wrapped her arms around him.
"Welcome back," she said softly, her voice carrying something brighter than before.
Ethan stilled for a fraction of a second, clearly caught off guard by the sudden warmth. His hands hovered briefly before settling lightly against her back.
"You don't usually welcome me like this," he said, a hint of surprise in his tone.
Yuna pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a small smile. "Maybe you should get used to it," she replied. "It could become a habit."
There was something playful in her voice—something new.
Something he noticed immediately.
For a moment, Ethan just looked at her, as if trying to understand the change. But before he could question it, she stepped back, her energy shifting again.
"Go freshen up," she said, glancing between him and Luca. "Both of you. Then come downstairs."
Luca raised an eyebrow slightly. "Why? What's going on?"
Yuna's smile widened just a little. "Elena and I made something," she said. "And it's actually good."
From the kitchen, Elena called out, "Hey! It's more than just 'good'!"
Luca let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Now I'm curious."
Ethan, however, didn't move immediately. His gaze lingered on Yuna for a second longer. She looked… better. Brighter. Almost like the exhaustion from earlier had faded into something else entirely.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked quietly.
Yuna nodded without hesitation. "I'm fine."
The answer came easily.
Too easily, maybe.
But Ethan didn't push—not now.
"Go," she urged again, gently nudging him. "Food's waiting."
This time, he nodded.
As he walked past her toward the stairs, Luca followed, but not without giving Yuna a quick, knowing look—as if silently asking if everything was really okay.
Yuna just smiled.
And for now—
That was enough.
Because while they were planning something dangerous in the shadows—
She was carrying something that would change everything.