Reflections of the Past
The past is a mirror — fractured, distorted, yet impossible to ignore.
For K, every reflection revealed scars etched deep by betrayal, ambition, and sacrifice.
The man who once was Kang Seonwoo haunted his every calculated move, a ghost lurking behind the ruthless mask.
A Haunting Encounter
One rainy evening, in the shadowed corridors of Everlight, K came face to face with an unexpected figure — his former mentor, Kim Hyunsoo.
Hyunsoo's sudden reappearance was a jolt, dredging memories K had long buried.
Their conversation, laced with veiled threats and half-truths, cracked the facade K had built.
Jiho's Struggle with Identity
Meanwhile, Jiho's carefully constructed Innocent Villain persona began to fracture.
The pressure to perform, to live a lie, gnawed at his spirit.
In moments of solitude, Jiho questioned who he really was beneath the crafted image.
Was he still the boy full of dreams, or just a pawn molded by K's ambition?
Echoes of Betrayal
As K grappled with Hyunsoo's resurfacing shadows, Jiho faced his own demons.
An anonymous tip revealed a secret about Jiho's family — a betrayal that threatened to shatter his fragile sense of self and jeopardize everything K had built.
The Breaking Point
The strain between mentor and protégé deepened.
Jiho confronted K in a heated exchange — emotions raw, words sharp.
The trust between them, once unshakeable, now hung by a thread.
Secrets Unveiled
K, ever the strategist, revealed pieces of his own past, hoping to bridge the growing chasm.
He spoke of sacrifices made, of pain endured — of the cost to become the man he was.
The confession was both an olive branch and a warning.
A New Threat Emerges
Just as their fragile reconciliation began, a new threat surfaced.
A former ally turned enemy leaked damaging information about Jiho's family, setting off a media frenzy.
The Innocent Villain's image was at risk, and with it, the empire K had fought to build.
The Ties That Bind
Amidst the chaos, K and Jiho found themselves relying on one another more than ever.
Their fractured reflections became intertwined — two broken souls seeking strength in shared shadows.
Facing the Mirror
In a moment of quiet, Jiho stood before a mirror, the Innocent Villain staring back.
The question lingered: could he embrace the darkness without losing himself?