The forest felt colder.
Not because of the wind.
Because of what Kim Adrian was holding.
Han Seo-yeon's eyes stayed locked on the object in his hand, her breathing unsteady. Even from a distance, she recognized it.
That small, metallic glint.
That familiar shape.
"…No…" she whispered.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously against Kang Ji-hoon's shirt.
"That's not possible."
But it was.
Adrian tilted his head slightly, watching her reaction with quiet satisfaction. "You recognize it," he said.
It wasn't a question.
Seo-yeon shook her head slowly, her voice barely holding together. "That… that was with my father."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"It never left him."
Ji-hoon's expression darkened as his eyes narrowed at the object. He had seen it before too. Not often. Not clearly. But enough to know it wasn't something ordinary.
"Where did you get that?" Ji-hoon asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Adrian smiled faintly.
"You already know the answer," he said.
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Seo-yeon's heart began to race again.
"…No," she said, louder this time. "Don't say it like that."
Her voice trembled, but she didn't look away.
"Say it properly."
Adrian's gaze softened just slightly.
And that made it worse.
"I took it," he said simply.
The words hit like a blow.
Seo-yeon's mind went blank for a second.
"Took it…?" she repeated.
"From your father," Adrian continued calmly.
Ji-hoon's grip on her tightened slightly.
Seo-yeon felt it.
Felt the tension in him.
The anger.
The restraint.
But her focus stayed on Adrian.
"…When?" she asked.
A pause.
Then—
"The night everything changed."
Her stomach dropped.
The fire.
Her breath became uneven.
"You were there…" she whispered.
Adrian didn't deny it.
"I was always there," he said.
The calmness in his voice sent a chill through her.
Everything started connecting.
Too fast.
Too painfully.
Her father's fear.
The fire.
The deal.
Ji-hoon.
And now—
This.
"What is it?" she asked suddenly, her voice sharper now. "What is that thing?!"
Adrian looked down at it briefly.
Then back at her.
"A key," he said.
Seo-yeon frowned slightly.
"A key to what?"
Adrian's lips curved slightly.
"That," he said, "is the right question."
Ji-hoon stepped forward slightly, positioning himself more firmly between them.
"Stop playing games," he said coldly. "Give it to me."
Adrian chuckled.
"You're not in a position to demand anything right now," he replied.
Seo-yeon could feel Ji-hoon tense beside her.
She knew that look.
He was calculating.
Planning.
Waiting.
But also—
Holding back.
For her.
Her chest tightened slightly at that realization.
"Then explain," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "If it's a key… what does it open?"
Adrian studied her for a moment.
And then—
"Everything your father tried to hide."
Silence fell again.
But this time—
It was heavier.
Seo-yeon's mind raced.
"…Hide from who?" she asked.
Adrian's gaze flicked briefly to Ji-hoon.
Then back to her.
"From people like me," he said.
That answer didn't help.
It made it worse.
Ji-hoon's voice cut in again. "You're wasting time."
"No," Adrian replied calmly. "I'm giving her the truth. Something you've been avoiding."
Seo-yeon looked at Ji-hoon.
He didn't deny it.
Her heart tightened again.
"…Ji-hoon," she said softly. "What is he talking about?"
For a moment—
He said nothing.
Then—
"…Your father found something," he admitted.
Her breath caught.
"Something dangerous," he continued. "Something valuable enough that people would kill for it."
Her pulse spiked.
"And this key…" she whispered.
"It leads to it," Ji-hoon said.
Her thoughts spun wildly.
"This doesn't make sense…" she muttered. "Why me? Why involve me in this?"
Adrian answered this time.
"Because he trusted you," he said.
She shook her head.
"No… that's not enough."
"It is," Adrian replied. "Because you're the only one he believed wouldn't misuse it."
Her chest tightened painfully.
Her father…
Even at the end…
Still thinking about her.
Still protecting her.
Her vision blurred slightly, but she blinked it away.
Now was not the time.
"Then why do you have it?" she asked, her voice sharp again.
Adrian's smile faded slightly.
"Because I took what he refused to give."
Ji-hoon's eyes darkened instantly.
"You're not walking away with it."
Adrian raised an eyebrow slightly. "And you're going to stop me how?"
Silence.
Tension.
Danger.
Seo-yeon could feel it building again.
The situation was shifting.
Fast.
Her grip on Ji-hoon tightened slightly.
"…We can't fight him like this," she whispered.
He didn't respond.
But she felt it.
He agreed.
For now.
Adrian took a slow step forward.
"Let's make this simple," he said. "Come with me, Seo-yeon."
Her eyes widened.
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Firm.
Certain.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"You don't even know what you're refusing," he said.
"I know enough," she replied. "You hurt my father."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Just for a second.
Then it disappeared.
"Then you leave me no choice," he said quietly.
Ji-hoon moved instantly.
Pulling Seo-yeon slightly behind him again.
"Don't," he warned.
Adrian sighed.
Almost… disappointed.
"You're really going to make this difficult."
And then—
Everything shifted.
A sound.
Behind them.
Seo-yeon's heart dropped.
More footsteps.
Again.
But this time—
Closer.
Faster.
Surrounding.
Ji-hoon's expression hardened.
"…We don't have time."
Seo-yeon's pulse spiked.
"What do we do?"
He didn't hesitate.
"We take it."
Her eyes widened.
"What?!"
But he was already moving.
Fast.
Precise.
Before Adrian could react—
Ji-hoon lunged.
Everything happened in seconds.
Movement.
Struggle.
A sharp sound as metal hit the ground.
Seo-yeon gasped.
"Ji-hoon!"
Adrian staggered back slightly, surprised.
For the first time—
He didn't look in control.
Ji-hoon grabbed the object.
The key.
And pulled back instantly.
"Run," he said again.
Seo-yeon didn't hesitate this time.
She moved.
Adrenaline pushing past the pain in her ankle.
Behind them—
Chaos erupted again.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Shouting.
But this time—
They had something.
Something important.
Something dangerous.
They ran.
Deeper.
Faster.
The forest closing in around them again.
Seo-yeon's breathing was uneven, her legs burning, but she didn't stop.
She couldn't.
Not now.
Not after everything.
After a few minutes—
Ji-hoon slowed slightly.
Just enough.
Seo-yeon leaned against a tree, trying to catch her breath.
"…Did we lose them?" she asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He looked down at the object in his hand.
The key.
Both of them stared at it.
Silence.
Heavy.
Curious.
Fearful.
"…What now?" she asked softly.
Ji-hoon's grip tightened slightly.
"We find out what it opens."
Her heart skipped.
"How?"
He looked at her.
And for the first time—
There was something almost uncertain in his eyes.
"We follow where your father wanted us to go."
Her breath caught.
Before she could respond—
The key suddenly made a soft sound.
Click.
Both of them froze.
"…Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Ji-hoon frowned slightly.
Then—
The ground beneath them shifted.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Seo-yeon's eyes widened.
"…Ji-hoon…"
He looked down.
And his expression changed instantly.
"Move—"
Too late.
The ground beneath them gave way.
And everything collapsed.