But both of them knew—
That peace…
Wouldn't last.
The sky felt heavy again.
It's not raining.
Not storming.
Just… waiting.
Han Soo-min walked home slowly, her steps quieter than usual.
Her mind was full.
Too full.
I'll stay… but on my terms.
She had said that.
To him.
To Kang Jae-hyun.
"…What am I even doing?" she whispered to herself.
This wasn't normal.
Nothing about this was normal.
A mafia heir.
Dangerous enemies.
Being targeted.
And yet—
She didn't walk away.
Her fingers tightened slightly around her bag.
Because I don't want to run.
That thought scared her more than anything.
Meanwhile…
Inside a black car—
Lee Min-jun leaned back lazily, scrolling through his phone.
"…You're unusually quiet."
No answer.
He glanced sideways.
Jae-hyun sat beside him, staring out the window.
Expression blank.
Eyes distant.
"…You're thinking about her again," Min-jun smirked.
"…Drive."
"Touchy."
A pause.
"…You know this is bad, right?" Min-jun continued.
Silence.
"She's not part of our world."
"…She is now."
Min-jun sighed.
"That's exactly the problem."
Night fell.
Soo-min's apartment building stood quietly in the narrow alley, lights flickering faintly.
It looked fragile.
Like it could collapse at any moment.
She climbed the stairs slowly, exhausted.
Her body ached.
Her mind even more.
She reached her door.
Paused.
Something felt off.
The air was… wrong.
Her hand slowly reached for the handle.
Click.
The door opened.
Darkness.
Too dark.
She frowned.
"…Did I forget to turn the light off?"
She stepped inside carefully.
"Hello…?"
No answer.
The silence was suffocating.
Then—
A sound.
Click.
The door slammed shut behind her.
Her heart dropped.
"W-who's there?!"
A light flickered on.
And her world froze.
Three men stood inside her small room.
Waiting.
Smiling.
"…We've been expecting you."
Her body went cold.
"You're… late."
Soo-min stepped back slowly.
"…Who are you?"
One of them chuckled.
"You already met our friends yesterday."
Her breath stopped.
"…No…"
"Yes."
Another stepped closer.
"And this time…"
His eyes darkened.
"…no one's coming to save you."
Far away—
Jae-hyun's phone buzzed.
He glanced at it.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"…Speak."
A voice came through.
Calm.
Mocking.
"Your little pet…"
A pause.
"…is in trouble."
Silence.
"…Where?"
The voice laughed softly.
"You'll find her."
The call ended.
The temperature inside the car dropped instantly.
Min-jun looked at him.
"…What happened?"
Jae-hyun's eyes—
Changed.
Dark.
Violent.
"…Turn the car."
Back in the apartment—
Soo-min's back hit the wall.
There was nowhere to go.
"…Please…"
Her voice trembled.
"I don't have anything—"
"We don't want money."
One of them grabbed her wrist roughly.
"We want leverage."
Fear exploded inside her.
She struggled.
"Let go!"
But they were too strong.
"Boss said not to damage her too much."
A smirk.
"…But a little is fine."
Her heart pounded wildly.
No…
Her mind screamed.
Move! Do something!
But her body—
Wouldn't listen.
Fear froze her.
Just like before.
Just like always.
"…Pathetic."
The word hit hard.
And suddenly—
Something inside her snapped.
"…I'm not."
The man paused.
"What?"
Her hands trembled.
But her eyes—
Changed.
"…I'm not weak."
She pulled her arm sharply.
Not strong.
Not perfect.
But enough—
To surprise them.
She ran.
Straight toward the door.
"Catch her!"
Footsteps thundered behind her.
Her heart felt like it would explode.
Her fingers reached the handle—
Click.
The door opened—
And she ran out.
Barefoot.
Desperate.
Down the stairs.
Into the dark street.
"Stop!"
They followed.
Closer.
Closer.
She ran faster.
Her breathing broke.
Her legs shook.
But she didn't stop.
Don't stop… don't stop…
Tears blurred her vision.
"I don't want to die…"
Her voice cracked.
"I don't want to die…"
Then—
Headlights.
A car stopped sharply in front of her.
She froze.
The door opened.
And he stepped out.
Kang Jae-hyun.
For a second—
Everything went silent.
Relief flooded her.
"…Jae—"
But she didn't finish.
Because his expression—
Was terrifying.
Not calm.
Not controlled.
But furious.
Dark.
Broken.
"…Who touched you?"
His voice was low.
Dangerously low.
Soo-min's lips trembled.
"They—"
Footsteps approached behind her.
The men.
"Grab her!"
They didn't even realize.
Who they were facing.
Jae-hyun stepped forward.
Slowly.
Cracking his knuckles.
"…You shouldn't have come here."
One of them laughed.
"Move, kid."
Silence.
Then—
Jae-hyun moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Angrier.
A punch—
Sent one man flying.
Another tried to attack—
Jae-hyun caught his arm.
Twisted.
A scream echoed.
Soo-min froze.
She had never seen this side of him.
Not like this.
Not this brutal.
Not this… merciless.
"…Jae-hyun…"
But he didn't hear her.
Or maybe—
He chose not to.
The last man tried to run.
But Jae-hyun grabbed him.
Slammed him against the wall.
"…Who sent you?"
No answer.
The man laughed weakly.
"…You've already lost."
That was it.
The last thread snapped.
Jae-hyun's eyes went completely dark.
He hit him again.
And again.
And again.
Blood.
Silence.
Soo-min's heart raced.
"Stop…"
No response.
"Jae-hyun, stop!"
Still nothing.
He didn't stop.
He couldn't.
This wasn't control anymore.
This was rage.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
"…You're going to kill him!"
That—
Finally reached him.
His hand stopped mid-air.
Breathing heavy.
Eyes shaking.
Slowly—
He looked back.
At her.
And in that moment—
She saw it.
Not the mafia prince.
Not the powerful boy.
But someone…
Broken.
Lost.
"…You're bleeding."
Her voice was soft.
He blinked.
As if waking up.
His hands—
Were covered in blood.
Not his.
But still.
"…I…"
For the first time—
Kang Jae-hyun didn't have words.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Painful.
Soo-min stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Even though she was scared.
Even though she should run.
She didn't.
"…You came."
Her voice trembled.
"But you went too far."
He looked at her.
"…I told you."
A pause.
"…I won't let them touch you."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"…And what about you?"
Silence.
"…Who stops you?"
That question—
Had no answer.
Far away—
Someone watched everything.
Through a screen.
"…Interesting."
A slow smile appeared.
"…He's already losing control."
A pause.
"…That girl…"
His eyes darkened.
"…will destroy him."
Back on the street—
Sirens echoed faintly in the distance.
The night wasn't over.
Not even close.
And now—
Everything had changed.
Again.