Jinny was packing her things when her bedroom door suddenly slammed open. Startled, she turned to the man standing at the doorway. It was Ran—and he looked furious.
"Don't you know how to knock?" she said coldly, turning back to her suitcase. "Didn't I already tell you to stay away from me?"
Ran strode toward her and grabbed her arm. "You're leaving?"
"Yes. So what?" she shot back.
"You can't leave. You're not going anywhere!" Ran shouted.
"Why not? I decide my own life. I may be your adopted sister, but I still have the right to choose how I want to live," she snapped, yanking her arm free.
"Jin, I already told you—it was just a misunderstanding," Ran said, his voice tightening.
"Misunderstanding?" she scoffed. "So fucking another woman is just a misunderstanding now?"
"I don't even like that woman!" Ran argued.
"You never like anyone—including me. So forget everything that happened between us. I'm tired, Ran. I'm so tired of this," she said, her voice trembling with exhaustion.
"But I can't!" Ran stepped closer, desperation in his eyes. "You're mine, Jin. We promised each other! I'll change—I'll tell Mom, I'll tell everyone!"
"It's too late," she whispered. "Please… let me go. What you feel isn't love—it's confusion. It's your body that wants me, not your heart. What we had… it was just lust. And I'm done being trapped in that. I want to be free. So please… let me go. I'm begging you, for the last time."
Ran clenched his fists, his chest tightening. He couldn't lose her. He loved her.
"But… I lov—"
"Let her go, bro."
Ran's words were cut off as Shuu stepped into the room. He had heard everything. He knew Ran had already fallen for Jinny—but Shuu refused to let him have her. Not when he felt the same. And now that he had stepped forward, he wasn't about to back down.
"This is none of your business," Ran snapped. "Stay out of it."
"You really think I'd leave her with you?" Shuu said as he walked over and took Jinny's hand.
Ran's gaze dropped to their intertwined fingers, his expression darkening. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he growled. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
Shuu smirked. "Isn't it obvious? I like her. And I'm not afraid to admit it—to Mom, to everyone. The things you can't do, I can. I'm not a coward who hides behind fear of Dad's punishment."
Fury exploded in Ran's chest as he grabbed Shuu by the collar. "This isn't a game, Shuu. If you're bored, go find someone else. Jinny is different."
"Different?" Shuu let out a short laugh. "Like how you treated her? I'm not like you, bro. I'm serious about her. If anyone's been playing with feelings here, it's you. You hurt her—remember?"
"Fuck you!" Ran swung his fist, landing a punch on Shuu's face.
Shuu retaliated instantly, striking him back. Within seconds, they were exchanging blows, knocking over displays and scattering Jinny's belongings across the floor.
"Stop it! What are you doing? You're brothers!" Jinny cried, her voice breaking.
But neither of them listened. The fight only grew more intense—until the noise drew the rest of the family.
"Ran! Shuu!" Kaye gasped as she rushed in, shock written all over her face. This was the first time she had ever seen her sons fight like this. The last time had been when they were children, bickering over her attention and cooking.
"Stop it!" she shouted.
The other brothers quickly stepped in, pulling the two apart.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Rin demanded.
"Why don't you ask your brother?" Shuu spat.
"Fucking nosy," Ran muttered under his breath.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Everyone turned toward the doorway. Raon stood there, his presence commanding. Behind him were Maikell, Izak, Shin, Kyle, TJ, and Tristan.
"Dad…" Rin said quietly.
Raon fixed Ran with a cold, piercing stare. "In my office. Now."
"H-Honey…" Kaye called anxiously.
Raon gently patted her head. "This is between men. It'll be fine."
Though uncertain, Kaye nodded as the men filed out of the room, leaving only her and Jinny behind.
Silence fell.
Kaye reached for Jinny's hand. "What happened?" she asked softly.
Jinny lowered her head, her shoulders trembling. "M-Mom… I want to leave…" she whispered.
Kaye pulled her into a tight embrace, her heart heavy. She had long suspected something was wrong between the siblings—and now, it was becoming impossible to ignore.
She closed her eyes, hoping she was wrong.
But if her sons had truly fallen for Jinny…
There might be nothing she could do.
.
.
Ran and Shuu were now kneeling inside Raon's office. The other brothers stood outside, unable to enter.
In front of them sat Raon and Shin. Shin was busy reviewing documents on his tablet, though his attention was clearly divided—he was listening closely to every word. Raon, on the other hand, stared at the two boys in silence, his expression serious as he waited for an explanation.
"Care to explain why you were fighting?" Raon finally asked.
The two brothers swallowed hard.
"He provoked me first," Ran said.
Shuu rolled his eyes.
"And the cause?" Raon asked again, his tone sharper this time.
"Uncle…" Shuu glanced between the two adults. "Can I tell you something?"
Ran shot him a warning glare, but Shuu ignored him completely.
"Go ahead," Raon replied, then briefly glanced at Shin. Pretending not to care, huh?
Shuu suddenly smiled. "I like Jinny!"
Shin almost dropped his tablet. He looked at his son in shock before letting out a short laugh.
"You what?" Shin asked, struggling to compose himself.
"Dad, I like her. There's nothing wrong with liking someone, right?" Shuu said calmly.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with it, but…" Shin trailed off and glanced at Raon.
"She's your sister," Raon finished for him.
"Oh, come on. We're not blood-related. She's adopted, so there shouldn't be a problem," Shuu argued.
"Still…" Raon said firmly.
"Besides," Shuu continued, undeterred, "doesn't Mom have multiple husbands? Loving a sister who isn't blood-related isn't any different from polygamy. Let's not talk about morals."
Shin immediately grabbed a magazine, rolled it up, and smacked Shuu on the head.
"It's different," he said flatly.
"Ow!" Shuu complained, rubbing his head.
"Dad, please stop him! It's not fair!" Ran said quickly.
"Not fair?" Raon repeated, his gaze sharpening.
Ran clenched his fists. "I…"
"Don't tell me you like her too," Raon interrupted coldly.
Ran took a deep breath, ready to answer—but Raon cut him off again.
"You can't."
"What?" Ran's eyes widened.
"If Shin is okay with his son liking his adopted sister, I am not," Raon said firmly. "You should act as her older brother. Your responsibility is to protect her—not look at her with lust."
"Are you saying my son is being lustful toward Jinny?" Shin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Think about it," Raon continued. "Jinny resembles Mikhail's late daughter. Even though she isn't blood-related, Kaye and Mikhail still cherish her because they see their daughter in her. If Mikhail finds out our sons are thinking about her in that way, what do you think he will do?"
Shin exhaled heavily. Raon had a point. Jinny was Mikhail's adopted daughter, and it would not end well for anyone if he misunderstood the situation.
"Well," Shin said slowly, "you haven't touched her, right?"
"I haven't kissed her," Shuu answered casually.
"Good. Don't," Shin said immediately.
"What?" Shuu protested.
"Dare to lay a hand on her, and your Uncle Mikhail will deal with you," Shin said seriously. "Even I won't be able to help you. That man is a devil."
Shuu scratched his head.
"You heard him, Ran?" Raon said firmly.
Ran clenched his jaw. Don't touch her? He's been fucking her for months.
"I get it. Fine," Ran said, refusing to meet his father's eyes.
"Well, if you truly like her, I won't stop you," Shin added with a small shrug. "Just don't let your Uncle Mikhail catch you." He then winked at his son.
Shuu grinned faintly at his father.
Raon rolled his eyes. Stubborn, the both of them.
"You may leave," Raon ordered.
The two boys bowed and exited the room.
A heavy silence filled the office.
"Why didn't you confront your son about what you discovered between him and Jinny?" Shin asked finally. "Why go as far as stopping him?"
Raon leaned back slightly, his expression darkening.
He had found out about Ran and Jinny's secret relationship two weeks ago. He noticed the change in his son after returning from the Serolf Empire—the way he behaved differently, especially toward Jinny at home. Suspicion had grown until he could no longer ignore it, so he had someone observe Ran.
Then came the photos—Ran and Jinny leaving hotels together.
A brother and an adopted sister, never on good terms… going in and out of hotels together.
That was all he needed to know.
Raon didn't want his son dragged into something that would destroy him. It was better to stop it now—before it went any further.
It's best if Jinny goes abroad, he thought quietly. If she is far away, Ran will return to how he used to be.
And that, to him, was the only way to protect his son.
.
.
.
Matias was standing at the top of the staircase, watching Ran and Shin walk down below.
Before his mother and brothers arrived earlier, he had already heard everything—long before Ran and Shuu's fight even started. He had accidentally overheard them while walking back to his room.
So they like her too?
His hands slowly clenched into fists.
She was his. He could only have her. He got to her first.
And before those two could make their move, he would act first.