The Lee estate gates swung open as Taekyun's car roared in, tires crunching against the gravel drive. His grip on the steering wheel was white-knuckled, the sharp lines of his jaw giving away the storm raging inside him.
The car barely rolled to a stop before Taekyun shoved open his door, coming around to the passenger side. Without a word, he yanked Rinwoo out by the wrist.
"Taekyun..." Rinwoo's voice was trembling, his feet stumbling to keep up with the furious pace. "Please, I didn't..."
"Save it." His tone was like ice, cutting through Rinwoo's words before they could take form.
The front doors of the estate opened, servants bowing slightly, but their eyes followed in shock as Taekyun all but dragged Rinwoo inside. The polished floors echoed with the sound of hurried footsteps one set heavy and angry, the other scrambling, desperate.
"Taekyun, I'm sorry!" Rinwoo's breath was shaky. "Please, I'll never do it again. I swear....."
"You should've thought about that before making a spectacle in front of every camera in the city," Taekyun snapped, his voice low but dangerous.
They reached a narrow side hallway, one that the servants rarely entered, and descended a set of cold, creaking stairs. The air grew damp, and the faint smell of stone and dust filled Rinwoo's lungs.
When he realized where they were heading, his chest tightened. "No...no, please… not here," he stammered, his voice breaking.
Taekyun didn't slow. At the bottom of the steps, he shoved open the heavy basement door. The dim light inside flickered faintly against the bare concrete walls.
Rinwoo's knees gave way. He collapsed to the floor, arms wrapping around Taekyun's leg in a last attempt to stop him. "Don't...please don't look at me like that… I'm scared… I'm really scared…" His words were choked with sobs, his fingers clutching at the fabric of Taekyun's pants.
Taekyun's expression didn't waver. He pried Rinwoo's hands off, one by one, his grip firm. "You should've been scared before you let him put his hands on you."
With a final push, he shoved Rinwoo inside. The smaller man stumbled, his shoulder hitting the wall before he steadied himself, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Taekyun stepped back into the hall, his eyes hard. "Stay here." He pulled the door shut with a heavy thud, the lock clicking into place.
Turning to the servants who had followed at a cautious distance, he spoke without looking at them. "No one is allowed to open this door unless I say so. No food, no water, no excuses."
"Yes, sir," they murmured, eyes lowered.
Rinwoo's muffled sobs echoed faintly from the other side of the door, but Taekyun's footsteps were already receding, leaving nothing but the oppressive silence of the basement.
The lock clicked again in Rinwoo's mind, over and over, even though the sound had only happened once.
The room was dark not pitch black, but the weak bulb in the corner flickered like it might die at any second. The shadows stretched long and cold against the concrete walls, swallowing every trace of warmth.
Rinwoo's palms were pressed flat against the heavy wooden door, his forehead resting there as he whispered at first.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to..."
But the silence outside only made the pounding in his chest worse.
He knocked harder. "Please let me out… I'm sorry… I won't do it again!" His voice cracked.
No answer.
Panic clawed its way up his throat. He banged his fists against the door now, each hit more desperate than the last. "It's so dark here....please, please, I'm scared! I said I'm sorry!"
The servants outside stood frozen in the hallway, the muffled thuds and pleading words bleeding through the door. One of the younger maids bit her lip, glancing at the older butler.
"We… we can't just leave him like this…" she whispered.
The butler's face was unreadable, but his tone was firm. "You heard the master's orders. If we open that door, we will lose our jobs "
So they stayed. Just listening.
Inside, Rinwoo's voice was breaking apart, words spilling out in a trembling loop "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" until it was barely more than a hoarse whisper. His knees finally gave out, and he slid down against the door, curling into himself on the cold floor.
The flickering light buzzed overhead, a dull hum against the sound of his uneven breathing. Every creak in the walls, every faint shuffle of movement outside made him flinch.
His hands fisted into his own shirt as if holding himself together was the only thing keeping him from falling apart completely.
But no matter how much he begged, the door never opened.
Upstairs, the bedroom was quiet, but Taekyun's reflection in the tall mirror was anything but.
He stood there, hands braced against the dresser, staring at himself like he was trying to peel apart the layers of his own face. His jaw was tight, his chest rising and falling too fast. Somewhere below, muffled and distant, Rinwoo's voice was still calling out pleading, apologizing, begging to be let out.
Taekyun shut his eyes, but that only made another voice crawl into his head.
Not Rinwoo's.
His father's.
The way his dad used to stand over his mother, eyes sharp as glass, voice dripping with venom. That same glare the one that made the air freeze, the one Taekyun swore he would never inherit burned in his mind.
He opened his eyes again and saw it in himself.
That same glare.
It made something twist in his gut. His reflection looked more like his father than he ever wanted to admit, and the realization sat heavy on his chest.
Why… why am I doing this?
He raked a hand through his hair, pacing once, twice. But the anger, the tight knot in his chest, wouldn't go away. Every time he saw Rinwoo smile with someone else, every time he saw him being carefree in front of others it was like a tiny needle stabbing into his ribs. Not because Rinwoo had done something wrong, but because his dad had made it clear
I'm so embarrassed to have a son-in-law like him, with no father, servant mother and no education. Make sure he never cross the lines. Make sure he never forget his place.
The thought was poison. And like his father, he was drinking it willingly.
Taekyun's fingers clenched into fists. "Damn it…"
He knew locking Rinwoo up was something he shouldn't have done. That it wasn't about "teaching a lesson" it was about control his dad made sure he had
The Lee estate was heavy with tension when the main doors swung open. Mr. Lee walked in first, his steps sharp, his expression already dark. Eunjae strolled in behind him, hands in his pockets, a smug grin still playing on his lips as if the wedding disaster was just a private joke. Daon followed, looking like he was one deep breath away from snapping.
The moment they stepped into the grand hall, Mr. Lee's voice cracked like a whip.
"Eunjae! Have you completely lost your mind?! In front of the media? In front of our business partners?!"
Eunjae chuckled, shrugging as he tugged at his loosened tie.
"Relax, Daddy. I was just having fun. Weddings are supposed to be celebrations, right? Not funerals."
Daon's jaw tightened.
"Fun? You call humiliation fun?"
Eunjae shot him a sideways glance, lips curling.
"Oh please, Daon. You married me, remember? You should've known what you were signing up for."
Mr. Lee slammed a hand down on the table, making a vase rattle.
"Enough of your childish games. Do you have any idea what kind of headlines are spreading right now.."
But Eunjae just crossed his arms over his chest, looking almost bored.
"Oh, I have an idea. And I'm loving it."
Off to the side, Taemin had been lounging against the wall, scrolling through his phone and barely paying attention until one of the youngest servants tiptoed up to him.
The boy's voice trembled as he whispered,
"Young master Taemin… it's Rinwoo master… something happened. Master Taekyun...he… locked him in the basement."
Taemin's thumb froze mid-scroll. His smirk dropped instantly, eyes snapping to the servant's pale face.
"What?"
Eunjae's head perked up at the name.
"Wait. What did you just say about Rinwoo?"
When the servant hesitated, Taemin stepped forward, his voice suddenly sharp."Where is he?"
The servant pointed toward the east wing, looking terrified. Taemin didn't waste another second he strode toward the basement, Eunjae following close behind with a growing frown.
Basement door, moments later
Taemin rapped his knuckles on the wood, leaning down. "Hyung? Are you in there?"
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, from the other side of the door, came a broken, desperate voice. "Taemin? Taemin...is that you? Please....please open the door! I'm scared, it's so dark! Please!"
The sound of Rinwoo's voice..hoarse, shaking it hit both of them like a punch. Eunjae's eyes darkened instantly. "Step back, Rinwoo. We're getting you out."
Without hesitation, Eunjae and Taemin began kicking at the heavy wooden door, the frame rattling each time their shoes slammed into it.
BANG.
BANG.
"Just a little more, hyung! Hold on!"
"Move back, we're breaking it!"
The lock was starting to splinter, the hinges groaning just a few more kicks and it would give.
But then footsteps echoed behind them.
They turned to see Taekyun standing there, his face unreadable, a ring of keys in his hand. Without a word, he tossed the keys toward Eunjae.
The metal clinked against Eunjae's palm. "What the hell is wrong with you.."
But Taekyun was already walking away, not even sparing a glance back.Eunjae's teeth clenched, fury simmering as he unlocked the door himself.
When it swung open, Rinwoo was standing there, trembling in the dim light, his eyes red and swollen. The moment the door moved, he stumbled forward into the light straight into Taemin's waiting arms.
Eunjae's gaze followed Taekyun's retreating back. The cold air from the basement clung to Rinwoo like a second skin. His knees buckled the second he crossed the threshold, but Taemin caught him instantly, wrapping his arms around him like a shield. "Hey, hey… easy. You're okay now. I've got you."
Rinwoo's breaths came in ragged, uneven bursts, his body slick with cold sweat despite the chill. His trembling was so bad that Taemin could feel it through his own shirt.
Rinwoo's wide, glassy eyes lifted toward him. His voice cracked."I… I didn't mean to make him mad. He's mad again… I never meant anything… I didn't mean anything…"
Taemin's grip tightened, his jaw locking as he rubbed soothing circles into Rinwoo's back. "Shhh. Forget him hyung. You're safe now. You're with me."
Behind them, Eunjae's sigh was heavy, almost guilty. "…I'm sorry, Rinwoo. I shouldn't have dragged you up on stage… shouldn't have made you drink. I just..."
He stopped when Rinwoo's quiet sobs cut through the air. Rinwoo didn't seem to hear him, or maybe he just couldn't process it. His arms were locked tight around Taemin's waist, his entire frame shaking like a child clinging to the only safety they knew. "I was so scared… so dark… I couldn't breathe…"
Taemin bent his head, murmuring softly against Rinwoo's hair. "I know. I know, hyung. But no one's locking you up again, not while I'm here."
Eunjae's eyes flicked toward the direction Taekyun had gone, his expression sharpening with every second.
Rinwoo just kept sobbing, his fingers bunching in Taemin's shirt like he was terrified to let go. His whole body trembled so violently now that Taemin shifted his stance, holding most of Rinwoo's weight.
"Come on, hyung. Let's get you upstairs."
Eunjae nodded, moving ahead to open the way.
They eased Rinwoo into his bed, but even in his half-conscious state, his trembling hands refused to release Taemin's sleeve. Taemin sat beside him on the mattress, his free hand stroking Rinwoo's hair back from his damp forehead. "It's okay, hyung. You can rest now. I'm not going anywhere."
The door creaked open and Daon stepped in, a servant behind him carrying a tray with a glass of water and a cool cloth. Daon's usually composed face was tight with worry as he approached the bed. "How is he?"
Taemin spoke in low voice "Fever's starting. His breathing's uneven. Probably shock."
The servant set the water on the bedside table and placed the folded cloth into Taemin's waiting hand. Taemin pressed it gently against Rinwoo's forehead. Rinwoo's lashes fluttered but his eyes stayed shut, his grip on Taemin's sleeve loosening just slightly as the coolness touched his skin.
Eunjae lingered near the door, his jaw tight. The air in the room felt tense like everyone had things they wanted to say but didn't dare.
They stayed there in silence, watching over Rinwoo until his breathing finally steadied into the soft rhythm of sleep. The faint flush of fever lingered on his cheeks.
Taemin sighed, glancing at both Daon and Eunjae. "I'll stay here tonight."
"I'll stay too" Eunjae insisted
Taemin shakes his head firmly "No. More crowd will make him anxious if he wakes up. You two go. I've got this."
Daon hesitated, looking from Rinwoo's frail figure to Taemin. Finally, he gave a small nod and motioned for the servant to follow him out. Eunjae left last, his eyes still darting toward Rinwoo before he closed the door behind him.
When they were gone, Taemin adjusted the blanket around Rinwoo, leaning back in the chair beside the bed. He stayed still, listening to the sound of Rinwoo's breathing.
The hall was dim, only the golden sconces casting a warm but tense glow across the polished floors. Daon and Eunjae walked side by side, the sound of their shoes echoing in the silence. Both were quiet until a tall figure appeared from the other end of the corridor Taekyun, his face unreadable, his steps calm as if nothing had happened.
Eunjae's eyes narrowed instantly. His fists clenched. "You…"
Daon noticed the way his brother's shoulders tensed, but before he could say anything, Eunjae broke into a quick stride then a full-on rush.
"Eunjae....wait!"
Too late. Eunjae was already in Taekyun's face, shoving at his chest with both hands.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Taekyun's jaw flexed, but he didn't move back.
"You locked him in a basement like some… some criminal! Are you insane?!"
"It's none of your business." Taekyun said coldly
That answer lit a fire in Eunjae's veins. His voice rose, echoing off the walls. "None of my...? You think just because you're his husband you get to treat him like an animal?!"
Daon stepped in quickly, putting himself between them."Enough, Eunjae. Not here."
But Eunjae shoved past him again, glaring up at Taekyun with pure fury. "Tell me, in the two years you've been married to him… what else have you done? Huh? What worse things have you done behind closed doors?"
Taekyun's eyes darkened, but he didn't answer. His silence only made Eunjae's anger boil hotter. "You don't scare me. You think locking someone up makes you strong? No...you're just a coward. A monster hiding behind a family name."
Daon grabbed Eunjae's arm firmly this time, forcing him to step back before things turned physical. "Enough. Both of you."
Eunjae jerked his arm free but didn't stop glaring at Taekyun, his chest heaving. "You lay another finger on him, and I swear...I'll make sure the whole damn city knows what you really are."
Taekyun's gaze flicked between them before he simply brushed past without another word, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.
Eunjae stood there, fists trembling, breathing hard. Daon sighed heavily, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You can't just yell at him."
Eunjae didn't answer. His eyes were still locked on the spot where Taekyun had vanished, his mind already spinning with thoughts of what to do next.
The corridors were hushed again as they all parted ways.
Daon, still in his formal suit, didn't glance back once as he headed toward his own bedroom because love had never been part of this deal. His jaw was tight, the weight of the day pressing heavy, but he kept it to himself.
Eunjae, on the other hand, was still simmering. He didn't even bother going with him. Instead, he veered off toward a guest room, slamming the door behind him. His wedding day meant nothing if it was tied to this family's suffocating dysfunction.
Inside Rinwoo's room, the air was warm but heavy. The soft lamplight pooled over his pale face, beads of sweat glistening on his skin. Even in his sleep, his lips trembled, the same words spilling over and over like a broken record. "Taekyun… I'm sorry… I'm sorry… please…" Rinwoo murmured.
Taemin sat at the edge of the bed, brows furrowed as he dipped the cold cloth into the bowl and pressed it gently against Rinwoo's burning forehead. His other hand moved in slow circles over Rinwoo's hair, trying to soothe him, whispering low so only the sleeping man could hear. "Shh… it's okay now. He's not here. You're safe."
Rinwoo's breaths came in ragged waves until finally after what felt like hours his body began to settle. His fingers, which had been clenched in the sheets, loosened. The repeated apologies faded into silence.
Taemin exhaled in relief, his shoulders sagging as he set the cloth back into the bowl. Leaning back into the chair beside the bed, he reached into his suit pocket, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it with a quiet click.
The smoke curled lazily toward the ceiling, but his eyes stayed on Rinwoo's peaceful if still strained expression.
Taekyun sat hunched on the edge of his bed, a cigarette burning low between his fingers. The room was dim, the only light coming from the faint amber glow of the bedside lamp.
But Rinwoo's voice wouldn't leave him.
"I'm sorry… I'm scared… please…"
It played over and over in his skull, each repetition digging deeper, clawing at something he'd been trying to bury for years. His grip on the cigarette tightened until the paper crumpled slightly.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and squeezed his eyes shut as if he could crush the voice into silence. But instead, the sound only grew louder more desperate, more real until his breathing turned uneven.
Then
crack.
His eyes snapped open. The full-length mirror across from him split down the center with a sudden, sharp snap. The glass spiderwebbed violently before shattering outward, the pieces hanging in midair instead of falling.
Taekyun froze.
The shards floated, trembling in place as if held by invisible strings. All around him, every sharp object in the room began to rattle the scissors on the desk, the glass ashtray, even the broken edges of the mirror.
They all pointed at him.
His heartbeat slammed against his ribs. He stood abruptly, eyes wide, the cigarette dropping from his hand.
The air in the room felt charged, oppressive, as though something unseen was pressing in from all sides. The shards quivered harder, the sharp tips aligning perfectly toward his chest.
The sound in his head had stopped. Rinwoo's voice was gone. In its place was a crushing silence, broken only by the faint, ringing hum of glass cutting through the air.
Taekyun took a single step back, jaw tight ready to move.
And that's when the first shard shot forward.
The moment the first shard shot past his cheek, Taekyun felt the sting of blood. He flinched, instinctively ducking as another sliver of glass came whistling toward his neck. "What the hell.." Taekyun gritted his teeth
They came faster now sharp, silver blurs slicing through the air one by one. He twisted, sidestepped, dropped to the floor to avoid one aimed at his head. His breath grew ragged, adrenaline pounding through him as he narrowly avoided another piece that grazed his arm, leaving a thin, burning line of red.
He lunged toward the door freedom just a few feet away only to stop short. Every floating shard had gathered there, suspended in a jagged, glinting wall of blades. They hovered, tips pointed outward like a predator ready to strike.
Before he could even think of another way out, the air seemed to thicken, the sound of the trembling glass filling his ears. His muscles tensed ready for another attack.
Meanwhile in Rinwoo's bedroom
Rinwoo jolted awake, sitting up so suddenly the feverish haze hadn't even left his eyes. His chest rose and fell in sharp, panicked breaths, as if he'd just been yanked from a nightmare.
Taemin, who had been dozing lightly in the chair, snapped upright. "H..hyung what's wrong?"
He reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, but Rinwoo wasn't listening. His gaze darted toward the door urgency sparking in his eyes. "Taekyun…"
He swung his legs off the bed, but the moment his feet hit the ground, his knees buckled. He collapsed to the floor with a weak thud.
"Where are you..." Taemin couldn't finish his sentence.
And Rinwoo pushed him away, grabbing the wall for support. His breathing was uneven, his whole body trembling from fever and weakness, but he still stumbled toward the hallway. "hyung, stop! You're gonna.."
He didn't stop.
Back in Taekyun's room
Taekyun was crouched low, scanning the room for any gap in the glass blockade. His skin stung from the cuts thin trails of blood marking his arms and a slice down his cheek.
Just when another shard twitched forward..
The door burst open.
The entire scene seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. The shards that had been hovering seconds ago clattered to the floor, lifeless.
Rinwoo stood in the doorway, breathing hard, his hair messy from sleep and fever sweat. The second his eyes took in Taekyun standing in the middle of the wreckage, bleeding he gasped and rushed forward."Are you okay?!" Rinwoo asked with concern and panic.
Taekyun's eyes widened not because of the question, but because Rinwoo's hands were on him, checking his arms, brushing his cheek gently despite the blood.
Behind them, Taemin skidded to a stop in the doorway and froze. His gaze swept over the wrecked room: the shattered mirror, the scattered shards, the overturned ashtray. "…What the hell happened in here?"
Taekyun didn't answer. Rinwoo didn't even hear the question too focused on touching Taekyun's face, looking at him with worry that made Taekyun's chest tighten for reasons he didn't want to admit.