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(Seo-rin's POV)
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The room they kept her in was warm. Lavish. Safe.
But it felt more like a beautifully crafted cage now.
Especially after that moment in the study…
The photograph.
The fire in his eyes when he told her about his father.
She couldn't sleep.
She couldn't stop seeing the boy in that frame.
Or the man who'd grown from it — closed off, cruel… and painfully alone.
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So when the knock came at midnight, she wasn't surprised.
She opened the door.
And there he was.
Jae-hyun.
In black again, but without the armor. No guards. No orders.
Just… him.
"Why are you here?" she whispered.
He didn't answer at first. Just stared at her like he was trying to solve something that didn't want to be solved.
Then—
"You shouldn't have gone into that room."
Her breath hitched. But she didn't flinch.
"You left it unlocked."
A pause. His jaw tightened. "I shouldn't have."
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Seo-rin stepped closer.
"You talk like you're untouchable. But that photo — that man — he hurt you. And you're still carrying it."
"I'm not," he said flatly.
But she saw the flicker in his eyes.
"Don't lie to me, Jae-hyun."
He froze.
No one said his name like that. Not here. Not in this world.
Only she did.
And somehow… he let her.
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"You can order people around. Lock them up. Scare them into silence."
She looked straight at him.
"But you don't get to be cold with me after letting me see all that."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
But then…
He stepped forward.
Now only inches apart.
His voice was low. Rough.
"You want the truth?"
Seo-rin nodded once.
Jae-hyun leaned in — not touching, but close enough for her breath to catch.
"The truth is…"
His eyes burned into hers.
"I don't know how to be anything but cold."
And for the first time… he looked afraid of his own words.
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Seo-rin whispered, "Then maybe it's time you learned."
And somehow, that scared him more than any bullet ever had.
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