Part 30
The dining hall of the Hwang mansion was filled with the aroma of expensive spices and perfectly seared meats. It wasn't just a normal lunch, it was a grand feast. The table was overflowing with dishes every single one of Hyunjin's favorites, prepared as if for a royal guest. His mother kept piling food onto his plate, her eyes never leaving his face while his father watched with a satisfied, cold pride
Despite the luxury, Hyunjin ate with a robotic precision. The food tasted like ash. All he could think about was Felix
Once the meal ended, Hyunjin went to his room. He stripped off the formal attire and threw on a black leather jacket and loose grey trousers. He looked like a predator ready for a hunt. Without a word to his parents, he grabbed the keys to his luxury sedan and roared out of the mansion gates
"Where are you?" Hyunjin asked over the phone
"At the bar we always go to" Taejin replied
"I'll be there in a bit," Hyunjin said
When he arrived a while later, the music in the bar was deafening and the lights were flashing in a chaotic array of colors. Hyunjin hadn't been here in a long time, and the loud atmosphere felt overwhelming as he searched for Taejin. Eventually, he spotted him laughing and drinking with two girls. Hyunjin walked straight up to him
"Did you find something?" Hyunjin asked. His voice was a sharp blade, slicing right through the music. He didn't even acknowledge the women to him, they were just background noise
Taejin didn't even look up at first, taking a slow, arrogant sip of his drink "Ladies, you should leave now. I'll call you later"
The girls sighed, looking annoyed as they slipped away but Hyunjin was already sitting down. He threw his arms across the back of the leather seat, his posture commanding and restless
Taejin leaned in, a slow, triumphant smirk spreading across his face "I found him"
Hyunjin's entire body stiffened. His eyes widened, his pupils dilating in a mix of predatory hunger and genuine shock. He lunged forward, his chest nearly hitting the table, his voice a low hiss "Where is he? Tell me exactly how you found him!"
"Relax" Taejin said, enjoying the power he held for a moment "I found his number on Jae-bum's phone, A quick GPS ping later and I traced him to the outskirts of Seoul. He's hiding out with one of Jae-bum's associates. Here" He slid a piece of paper across the sticky table
Hyunjin snatched it as if it were made of gold. His grip was so tight the paper crinkled under his fingers. He stared at the address, his breath hitching as the reality set in
"I found something else too" Taejin added, his tone turning serious
Hyunjin's head snapped up, his eyes burning "What?"
"I think Felix escaped to prove his innocence"
Hyunjin's brow furrowed in confusion, a flicker of something perhaps doubt crossing his face before it was replaced by his usual coldness "What are you talking about?"
"I did some deep digging" Taejin explained, leaning closer over the music "it Looks like Felix's uncle was the one who killed Felix's family. Jae-bam found that out and that's why Felix took the risk to get out, he's hunting for the truth"
Hyunjin went deathly still. For a long moment, he just stared at Taejin, his mind a whirlwind of information
Finally, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper "Evidence? Do they have anything solid?"
"They have some but it's not enough for a court yet. But based on what I saw on Jae-bum's phone... it's clear that the evidence and recordings are all currently kept safe with Jae-bum"
Hyunjin stood up suddenly, drawing eyes from across the bar "Do something. Find that evidence and get it back"
Taejin looked up at him, his mouth agape in disbelief "Are you kidding me? You told me to find the boy, What do I care about his family drama?"
"Just do what I say!" Hyunjin roared, his fist slamming into the table with such force that Taejin's glass tipped over, splashing amber liquid everywhere. The raw fury in Hyunjin's eyes made Taejin flinch "Keep your eyes on Jae-bum. If I give the word, you detain him. You hold him until I'm finished with Felix. Do you understand?"
Taejin's face paled, then turned red with indignation "Are you insane? I don't have the authority to kidnap Jae-bum! Find someone else for your dirty work. I've done my part" He turned his head away, his jaw set in defiance
Hyunjin didn't move. He leaned over the table, his shadow looming over Taejin, his voice dropping to a low, terrifying growl."Taejin... do not make me repeat myself. Do not make me angry. Watch. Jae. Bum"
Without waiting for another word, Hyunjin turned on his heel and stormed out of the bar, leaving a trail of silence in his wake
Taejin watched him go, He picked up his spilled glass and muttered a single word under his breath "Bastard"
Felix had returned to Dong-seok's house, his body moving like a ghost. Jae-bum, seeing the shattered state of the boy's spirit, couldn't bring himself to leave him alone. He stayed close, his presence a silent anchor in the middle of a storm
Eventually, Jae-bum went downstairs. He needed to give Felix a moment of solitude but more importantly, he had to face Dong-seok. The man had been asking incessant questions, worried and confused by the raw, bleeding agony written all over Felix's face. Jae-bum sat him down in the kitchen to explain the nightmare they had uncovered at Mrs. Wang's house
Upstairs, the room was shrouded in dim shadows. Felix sat on the edge of the bed, his back pressed against the headboard, staring vacantly at the far wall. His mind felt like it was on the verge of exploding
The weight of the truth was physical. It wasn't just his father. It was his mother. It was the unborn sibling he never knew he had. His uncle hadn't just committed a crime, he had systematically erased Felix's entire world, starting years ago with a failed murder attempt that claimed his mother instead
"I'm going to kill you" Felix whispered into the empty air. His voice was weak, trembling with exhaustion but the intent behind it was sharp and cold
Slowly, his strength failed him. He pulled his legs up and lay back against the pillows, curling into himself. In the faint light, the tracks of tears were visible as they slid silently down his face, soaking into the fabric of the bed. He didn't sob, he just leaked misery, his eyes closing as he tried to block out the images of a life that had been stolen from him before it even began
Early the next morning, Jae-bum's eyes snapped open. He had fallen asleep on the sofa in the living room, his body aching from the tension of the previous night. He hadn't gone upstairs to sleep. He stood up, rubbing the sleep from his face and headed for the stairs to wake Felix up
When he opened the bedroom door, his heart skipped a beat. The bed was empty. The sheets were neatly pulled back but there was no sign of Felix
Jae-bum checked the bathroom, his movements becoming frantic. Empty. His pulse began to hammer against his ribs as he scrambled back downstairs
"Felix?! Felix!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the quiet house
Dong-seok stumbled out of his room, rubbing his eyes, still half-asleep "What... what's happened? Why are you shouting?"
"Felix is gone!" Jae-bum said, his voice laced with panic. He whipped out his phone and dialed Felix's number immediately. He waited, listening to the rhythmic ringing but there was no answer
"Maybe he went out to look for more evidence again" Dong-seok suggested, trying to stay calm
"No!" Jae-bum snapped, dialing a second time "After everything he found out... he's in a dangerous state of mind. He's going to do something reckless. I know it"
The second call went to voicemail. Jae-bum didn't waste another second. He grabbed his jacket from the rack and headed straight for the door
"I'm going to find him. If he comes back here, call me the very second he walks through that door!" Jae-bum commanded
Dong-seok nodded quickly, finally realizing the gravity of the situation. Jae-bum walked out, his mind racing. He knew exactly where Felix's rage would lead him
In the early morning light, Felix moved through the shadows of the rusted, decaying buildings of the Seun district. His hands were trembling inside his oversized jacket pockets not from the winter chill but from the weight of the stolen cash he carried
He had stolen that money from Jae-bum and Dong-seok while they slept. He needed to turn that cursed money into a weapon as fast as possible
His footsteps echoed through the narrow, suffocating alleys. The air was thick with the smell of engine oil and burnt metal. The place looked like an illegal laboratory, tangled wires and stripped computer parts hung from the walls like mechanical vines
Felix felt a thousand invisible eyes watching him from behind dark, grime-streaked windows. He knew that here, a single mistake wouldn't just cost him his money, it would cost him his life
He finally reached a slanted iron door that stood half-open. An old man with a black patch over one eye sat on a battered chair, a cigarette dangling from his lips "What do you want?" the man rasped
Felix's voice was hoarse but firm "I need a gun"
The old man didn't even bother to look up, he just blew a thick cloud of smoke into Felix's face "This market isn't a playground for kids"
Felix felt his heart hammering against his ribs, threatening to burst. He reached into his pocket and slammed a thick stack of Korean Won, bound by a rubber band, onto the table "Are you satisfied now?"
The old man's hand darted out like a snake, snatching the money. He reached under a table cluttered with gears and tools, pulling out a small wooden box. From inside, he produced a K5 semi-automatic pistol "Take it"
Felix picked up the weapon. The heavy weight of the frame and the biting cold of the steel provided a terrifying sense of comfort. As he stepped out of the room back into the alley, a blind, primal fear gripped his entire body, but he was certain of his path. He pulled his hood low over his face and vanished into the labyrinth of the city, his hand tightly gripping the gun that had now become his only means of vengeance
Jae-bum was in a desperate situation. Without his car, he had to walk briskly along the roadside, his eyes scanning for any sign of a taxi. His heart sank with every passing minute, he knew Felix was already miles ahead with a mind full of vengeance
Suddenly, a sleek car pulled over beside him. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a familiar face
"Hello? Wait... is that you?!" Taejin acted perfectly, his expression a mix of feigned shock and concern "What are you doing out here?"
Jae-bum, out of breath and frantic, looked at him "H-hello"
"Do you need help? You look incredibly stressed" Taejin asked, tilting his head with a mask of kindness
"I'm just trying to catch a taxi. I had to walk a bit to reach the main road" Jae-bum explained, his eyes darting back to the street
"Get in. I'll give you a ride" Taejin offered smoothly
Jae-bum hesitated for a second, his instincts warring with his urgency "No, it's fine"
"Come on. You helped me out earlier, the least I can do is drop you off wherever you're headed" Taejin insisted with a friendly smile
Jae-bum finally nodded, unable to turn down a faster way to find Felix, and climbed into the passenger seat
"The world is really small, isn't it? Who would have thought we'd cross paths again so soon!" Taejin chuckled as he pulled back onto the road
Jae-bum gave a tight, distracted smile "You're right"
"By the way umm, What's your name?" Taejin asked, keeping his tone casual
"Oh! I'm Kim Jae-bum" he replied
"And I'm Hwang Taejin. It's a pleasure" Taejin said. He stole a glance at Jae-bum's worried face "What brought you all the way out here? I was honestly shocked to see you"
"I... I was visiting a friend" Jae-bum lied quickly "What about you?"
"I was here surveying a site for a company project" Taejin lied back effortlessly. He then reached into the cup holder and pulled out a fresh bottle of water "Here drink this. You look like you're dying of thirst"
"Thank you so much," Jae-bum said. He cracked the seal and took several large gulps, his throat parched from the morning's panic
Taejin's lips curled into a tiny, sinister smirk as he watched Jae-bum drink. Jae-bum didn't notice the look, his mind was entirely consumed by Felix.
Evening had settled over the city, casting long, skeletal shadows across the grounds of Jun Ho's mansion. Felix had been crouching behind a massive oak tree for hours, his heart pounding a rhythmic, frantic beat against his ribs. He was a shadow among shadows, clad in a black hoodie and mask, his fingers gripping the cold K5 pistol inside his pocket
The world grew darker by the minute. Felix's patience was wearing thin "Come on, you bastard..." he hissed
Suddenly, the roar of an engine broke the silence. A luxury car pulled into the driveway. The driver hurried to open the door, and Jun-Ho stepped out, laughing loudly into his phone. He walked toward the mansion steps, oblivious to the barrel aimed at his chest
Felix raised the weapon, his vision narrowing. His finger tightened on the trigger, the cold metal biting into his skin. He was seconds away from ending it all
But before he could pull the trigger, a pair of strong arms lunged from the darkness behind him. A hand clamped over Felix's wrist and wrenched his arm back, pinning it behind him. The opportunity vanished in a heartbeat. Jun-Ho walked through the doors, and the heavy thud of the entrance closing echoed through the garden
"Are you insane?" The voice was sharp, low, and vibrating with fury
The sound sent a jolt of pure shock through Felix. He spun around, his heart nearly stopping as he recognized the man standing over him
"Wh... what are you doing here?!" Felix stammered, his breath coming in ragged gasps
"Don't worry, I didn't escape like you did" Hyunjin said with a dark, mocking smirk
Felix tried to shove him away, his survival instinct screaming at him to run, but Hyunjin was faster. He slammed Felix back against the rough bark of the oak tree, pinning him there. Even through the mask and hoodie, the sheer proximity made Hyunjin feel a sudden, violent surge of heat. He stared into Felix's eyes, the only part of his face visible
"You went all this way to do something stupid like this?" Hyunjin growled
"Let me go! Damn you! Why did you stop me?" Felix hissed, his voice cracking with a mixture of rage and despair
Hyunjin ignored the protest and gripped Felix's right hand firmly "We're leaving. Now"
"I said let me go!" Felix wrenched his hand back, his voice rising just enough to stay dangerous without being heard by the guards "I'm not going anywhere with you. I don't want to be near you for even a single second!"
Hyunjin ran his tongue over his inner cheek, a predatory glint in his eyes "Listen to me. If you don't come quietly, I'll take you by force. One way or another, you're coming with me. Choose"
"I told you, I'm not coming!" Felix spat, his eyes burning with hatred
"Fine. Then how would you feel if I destroyed every single piece of evidence you and Jae-bum worked so hard to find?" Hyunjin's voice turned low and poisonous
Felix froze. The air left his lungs "What... what do you mean? The evidence is with Jae—"
"Jae-bum and the evidence are both in my possession now" Hyunjin interrupted coldly "If you don't come with me, something very bad might happen to both of them"
"Jae-bum? You... you're lying!"
Without a word, Hyunjin pulled out his phone. He showed Felix a photo. Jae-bum, unconscious and tied to a chair, and next to him, the files and recordings that were Felix's only hope for freedom
Felix stared at the screen, his world collapsing into ash. He looked up at Hyunjin, his eyes hollow and defeated "Why? Why are you doing this?"
"Come with me" Hyunjin repeated, tucking the phone away
Felix went limp, the fight draining out of him. As Hyunjin reached for his hand again, Felix pulled back slightly
"I can walk by myself" he whispered, his voice dripping with resentment
"Don't be stubborn, Felix" Hyunjin muttered
Ignoring the protest, Hyunjin grabbed Felix's hand anyway, his fingers locking tight around Felix's as he dragged him toward the exit of the mansion