Yuna quickened her pace. Her heart felt like it would burst from her chest. The phone clutched tightly in her hand still displayed the message she had received just minutes ago. It was from one of Hwan's men: "He's really bad today. He won't talk to any of us. He only wants you."
She had left the house without thinking. As she hurried down the street, a car slowed beside her. The window rolled down. Eunwoo.
"Yuna?" he called out, his voice laced with concern. "Where are you going like that?"
Yuna looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears, yet steady. "To Hwan... I need to check if he's okay."
Eunwoo's face turned serious. "I'm coming with you," he said simply.
Yuna didn't object.
When they arrived at the mansion, the air was heavy and still. Hwan's men stood at the entrance but stepped aside quietly upon seeing them. As Yuna stepped inside, her pace slowed. At the base of the stairs, she took a deep breath. Just as they were about to go up, one of the men spoke.
"Only Miss Yuna."
She turned to Eunwoo.
He nodded. "I'm right here. Go on," he said softly, but his voice carried a fragile edge.
Yuna's fingers trembled as they gripped the doorknob. She slowly pushed the door open. The room was dim, nearly dark. The curtains were drawn; barely any air seeped in. The silence was so thick that even a leaf falling would echo.
And there he was.
Hwan.
He sat in front of the window, his back to her. His shoulders were slumped. He held something in his hand—small, metallic, glinting faintly. Yuna's breath hitched.
"I'm here..." she whispered.
Hwan slowly turned around. His eyes were vacant. His hair was disheveled, his face pale. When Yuna looked into his eyes—she saw that the Hwan she knew was no longer there. The war inside him had devoured him.
"Hwan…?" she called, stepping forward.
And then—
Hwan gently raised the gun to his chest.
"Stop!" Yuna screamed. "Don't! Please don't!"
But it was too late.
The moment he pulled the trigger, time stopped.
Bang.
Yuna's scream reverberated off the walls. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees. As Hwan slowly slumped to the side, a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Downstairs, Eunwoo's chest tightened. He recognized that scream. He bolted up the stairs, two steps at a time, his heart pounding. Hwan's men rushed after him.
When he opened the door, his eyes locked on the scene.
Yuna was on the floor beside Hwan. Blood. Silence. And a woman completely shattered.
He slowly approached. Yuna was pressing down on Hwan's chest, her hands soaked in blood. She was crying. Shaking. Whispering through ragged breaths:
"Hwan... why… why did you do this…"
Eunwoo knelt beside her and gently pulled her into his arms. Yuna leaned into his shoulder, eyes still fixed on Hwan's body. As if waiting for him to wake up… open his eyes…
But he didn't.
It was already too late.
---
ONE WEEK LATER
The café was busy as usual. After the silent days following Hwan's incident, the staff were trying to return to some sense of normal. Still, no one smiled completely. Yuna was checking the order slips when a furious voice suddenly rang out.
"Where's Yuna?!"
The café froze. The clinking of cutlery stopped. Conversations halted. That voice… it was familiar. Like a shadow from the past.
Yuna looked up. Her heart thudded against her chest. She recognized that voice but didn't want to believe it. She took slow steps forward, exiting through the kitchen door. And then their eyes met.
It was her old boss. The one who humiliated her daily, crushed her spirit, and drove her to the brink. The same man Hwan had once forced to kneel and apologize in front of the entire staff.
"I'm here," Yuna said. Her voice didn't tremble. Her eyes locked onto his. But she swallowed hard—because she realized he hadn't come alone.
Two men stood beside him. Dressed in black suits, cold eyes. And… armed.
A sinister grin curled on the man's lips. "You remember me, pretty girl? Oh, I'm sure you do… Or maybe it doesn't matter. Because you won't need those memories for much longer."
The staff looked around in confusion. Minji glanced nervously between them. Customers began to quietly stand and back away.
Then everything moved too fast.
The two men grabbed Yuna's arms from both sides.
"What are you doing?!" Minji shouted. "Let her go!"
But the flash of their guns—just for a second—was enough. No one moved. Eyes widened in fear.
Yuna didn't resist. She kept her eyes on his. "What do you want?"
"We're going to have a little chat. A long one," the man replied. Then pointed towards the door. "Take her to the car."
As they dragged her out, Minji fumbled for her phone. Her fingers shook. She quickly called Eunwoo.
"Please pick up…" she whispered. "Please…"
But there was no answer.