The cold fluorescent lights buzzed above as Taeho sat slouched on the waiting bench, his hands clenched so tightly they trembled. His eyes—red, swollen—were fixed on the double doors of the ICU, hoping, praying for them to open with good news.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Haru approached, slightly out of breath, followed by a tall man in black uniform—the Park family's head of security.
Haru stopped a few steps away, voice low and cautious.
"Taeho-ssi… they've begun a full-scale search for Mr. Taehyun. But…" —he hesitated— "...so far, there's no trace."
The security chief took a step forward.
"We believe he was taken from the venue—possibly across borders. We—"
SMACK!
Taeho's hand collided with the man's cheek in a sharp, echoing slap. The entire hallway went still.
"You believe?!" Taeho's voice cracked, filled with grief and fury. "You believe he was taken? Where the hell were you when that Vasilliy bastard destroyed my family?!"
He took a shaky step forward, tears clinging to his lashes.
"We pay you people millions to protect us. Millions! And yet you let this happen right under your nose! My appa's lying in there—fighting for his life. Taehyun is gone. Where were you?!"
The security chief lowered his head in silence, accepting the blow—both physical and verbal—with shame.
Haru quickly stepped between them, placing a gentle hand on Taeho's arm.
"Taeho-ssi… please. You need to breathe. This isn't helping anyone."
Taeho wrenched his arm free, not unkindly, but with deep pain lacing his voice.
"Just… get out. All of you. I'll deal with you after I get news about my father. Until then, stay out of my sight."
The security chief bowed, retreating without a word. Haru stayed back, torn between duty and his own grief.
---
Meanwhile, somewhere far from the chaos of the hospital, Park Taehyun slowly regained consciousness.
His lashes fluttered, heavy from dried tears and exhaustion. The world around him came into focus—a room so extravagantly designed it felt like the inside of a royal palace. Golden fixtures, velvet curtains, chandeliers that sparkled under dim lighting… yet none of it registered.
He was still in his wedding clothes, stained with dried blood—his father's blood.
And suddenly, like a crashing wave, memory hit him.
The wedding hall.
Gunshots.
His father collapsing.
His mother's scream.
Being dragged away.
"No… No…!" Taehyun choked out, stumbling out of bed. He rushed toward the door, pounding on it. "LET ME OUT!"
His voice was raw, trembling. His knuckles turned red as he slammed the door with his fists. He looked around, grabbed a lamp, and hurled it at the mirror. The shattering glass reflected the madness and grief on his face.
Then the door clicked.
And in stepped the man who destroyed his life.
Vasilliy Romanov.
Unbothered, calm, as if nothing had happened.
"You," Taehyun hissed, eyes blazing. "You killed him! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"
He ran toward Vasilliy, aiming to punch, to scratch, to kill if he could—but Vasilliy caught his wrist mid-air with ease. Twisting him around, he pulled Taehyun into a forced embrace.
"I saved you," Vasilliy whispered into his ear, tone disturbingly tender. "You just don't see it yet."
Taehyun thrashed against him, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Saved me?! You call that saving me?" he screamed. "You're a monster! A psycho!"
He clawed at Vasilliy's face, managing to scratch the side of his cheek. A thin line of red appeared, but Vasilliy didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled.
"You're still feisty… Good," he murmured, tightening his hold.
"Let me go! I hate you! I HATE YOU!"
"You can hate me all you want," Vasilliy said coldly, brushing a bloodied thumb along Taehyun's cheek. "But I warned you, didn't I?"
He leaned closer, their foreheads almost touching.
"No one will take you from me again, moya lyubov'," he whispered. "My love."
The words echoed in the silence, chilling and possessive.
And Taehyun could only stand there, trembling, as the door shut once more—locking him inside the golden cage.
To be continue.....