Two days later, the small shelter had grown quiet. Too quiet and Valerie sat on the edge of the dusty cot, phone in hand, breathing slowly. Jiyoo had left early that morning to meet with Taeyun and the other K-East members. Sally had stepped out to meet Min-jun for supplies.
The silence pressed against her, suffocating.
“I can’t just sit here anymore…” Valerie whispered to herself.
She stood, grabbed her hoodie from the hook, and typed quickly:
To Jiyoo:140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Yrj2lCwoR
“I’m just going to the town market for a few hours. Don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
To Sally:140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnftM82ovq
“I need to pick up food. I’ll come back before evening.”
She hesitated—knowing they wouldn’t approve—but she hit send anyway. She tucked her phone into her pocket and quietly slipped out into the bright morning.
The town market was lively and loud. Vendors shouted prices, children ran past her, and the smell of street food filled the air. Valerie lowered her hood and tried to blend in with the crowd. She stopped at a vegetable stand, picking out a few items, trying to calm her nerves. But someone else was watching her.
Across the street, inside a sleek black SUV with tinted windows, Tyler Kwan sat in the back seat.
He was scrolling through a tablet, tracking multiple blinking dots.
One dot blinked bright red.
Tyler froze as he zoomed in and slowly smirked slyly to himself.
“Well, well…” he murmured. “Look who decided to come out of hiding.” He tapped on the GPS screen, showing a live feed from a drone overhead. The young woman was clearly visible, walking between stalls.
One of his henchmen turned in his seat. “Sir… that’s Valerie.”
Tyler leaned back with a grin. “Indeed it is.”
The henchman spoke again, worried. “Do we proceed?”
Tyler clicked his tongue, amused. “Follow her.” He tapped the screen. “We will not strike yet. Just observe.”
The henchman nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Tyler stepped out of the SUV, adjusting his black coat. He put on a cap and sunglasses, melting into the crowd like a shadow. He watched Valerie from a distance—her nervous glances, her attempts to stay hidden, her trembling fingers as she carried a grocery bag.
“Still as predictable as ever…” he muttered to himself. He slid his hand into his pocket, pulling out a small, light device—a tracking GPS patch. He whispered into his comms. “Keep the van ready. I’m tagging her.”
Valerie crossed to another street, heading toward a small bakery. She paused at the door, rubbing her hands together, trying to steady her breathing. She never noticed Tyler pass by behind her until she felt a light tap on her shoulder—barely noticeable, like someone brushing past. She didn’t think twice.
However, Tyler had just stuck a GPS patch onto her hoodie and he spoke quietly into his earpiece. “Target is marked.”
One of the men replied. “Sir, do we capture her now?”
Tyler smiled faintly, eyes never leaving Valerie. “No. Not yet. Let her think she’s safe.” He turned away. “We’ll follow her trail back to wherever she’s hiding.” He paused, voice dropping into something darker. “And we’ll take them all in one night, but first let me have my first taste.”
Valerie sensed it first—a shift in the air behind her, the rhythm of unfamiliar footsteps syncing with her own. She paused in front of a storefront window, pretending to look at the display while scanning the reflection. Someone was following her. Her instincts sharpened instantly.
She turned the corner into a narrow alley, not to hide—but to confront. “I know you’re there,” she said, voice steady. “Show yourself.”
Tyler Kwan stepped out from the shadows with two men behind him. The GPS tracker he planted on her belongings had worked better than he expected.
“Long time no see, Valerie,” Tyler smirked, stepping closer. His intention wasn’t hard to sense—his posture was predatory, disrespectful, and threatening. Valerie’s pulse quickened, but she kept her stance grounded.
“Stay back,” she warned strongly.
Suddenly, Tyler lunged and grabbed her arm harshly, which Valerie reacted instantly—twisting, striking his shoulder, and elbowing one of the henchmen in the ribs. Her training kicked in, and she fought with controlled precision. Still, the numbers weren’t on her side. Tyler caught her by the wrist and shoved her against the brick wall, attacking and smothering her on the lips and neck, much to her shock and disgust. His grip tightened as the danger escalated.
Valerie then attempts to elbow him, but her head hits the surface hard and her vision blurred.
Tyler pressed in close, pinning her. His breath was hot and rancid against her face.
“Stop—get off!” Valerie struggled, trying to push him away.
He ignored her as his grip tightened around her waist as he tried to force her down toward the old wooden table beside them. His hand slid to her shoulder, holding her in place, his weight trapping her. His lips traveled all the way from her neck as he ripped her shirt open, revealing her bra and cleavage, leaving a trail of invasive kisses.
Before he could push the situation further, a sharp whistle cut through the alley, revealing a figure dropped down from the fire escape above—fast and silent.
It was Jungho, one of the syndicate members who had secretly disagreed with Si-woo’s orders from the beginning. He moved like a shadow, kicking Tyler away from Valerie in one clean strike.
“Get behind me,” Jungho ordered her firmly.
Tyler staggered, stunned. “You?” he spat. “Traitor.”
Jungho didn’t waste time with words. He blocked Tyler’s next move and engaged both henchmen at once, giving Valerie the opening she needed to retreat to safety. She hesitated for only a second—seeing the fierce determination in Jungho’s eyes—and then ran toward the crowded street.
Tyler shouted after her, but he was too busy fighting to chase.
And Valerie realized the truth as she glanced back.
Someone from the syndicate—someone on the inside—was protecting her.
Her tears were flowing down her cheeks, dripping silently onto the pavement as she slowly pushed herself up from her laying position. Her knees trembled beneath her, aching from the impact, but she forced herself upright. Her breaths were shaky—sharp inhales that kept breaking into sobs.
She wrapped her arms around herself instinctively, as if trying to hold together whatever was left of her strength.
For a moment she simply stood there, swaying slightly, staring at nothing. The world felt blurry, distant, echoing only with the sound of her own fast heartbeat. Her clothes were wrinkled, her hair was a mess, and her palms stung from scraping the ground—but none of it compared to the violation she narrowly escaped.
Valerie swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice, but it came out in a whisper.
She looked around, eyes darting between the shadows of the alley. Her chest tightened again as the memory of Tyler’s grip flashed in her mind. She flinched, clutching her arms tighter.
Her phone lay a few steps away.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmqjtEI65R
She stared at it, hesitant, then forced her legs to move—step by shaky step—until she reached it. She picked it up with trembling fingers and held it to her chest for a moment, breathing unevenly.
Then, with all the courage she could gather, she unlocked it and called the only person she trusted in that moment—
Jiyoo.
The call barely rang once.
Her tears fell before she realized she was crying—hot, silent streams rolling down her cheeks. She tried wiping them, but her hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
People passed by on the street, oblivious to what nearly happened just meters away. The world kept moving as if nothing had changed, but inside her, everything felt fractured.
She forced herself to stand, one hand pressed against the wall for support. Her breath hitched as she tried to regain control.
“I… I have to call Jiyoo…” she whispered to herself, voice trembling.
But her phone buzzed first.
A message from an unknown number. “Are you safe?”
Valerie froze. Her tears continued to fall, but now her heart pounded with confusion instead of fear. She stared at the screen, realizing the number belonged to the man who’d just saved her.
Jungho.
She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified.
Valerie wiped her tears with the back of her hand, but they kept falling uncontrollably. Her vision blurred as she fumbled for her phone, her fingers trembling. She opened her contacts and pressed Jiyoo’s name.
The call barely rang once.
“Valerie?” Jiyoo’s voice was sharp, tense. “Where are you? What happened?”
The moment she heard his voice, the fragile strength she’d been holding onto shattered.
“J-Jiyoo…” she choked out, her breath broken. “He… I— I was followed… Tyler—”
“Shit…” Jiyoo cursed under his breath, breath quickening. “Stay exactly where you are. I’m coming right now.”
He didn’t wait for an answer. The call ended, but Valerie kept the phone pressed against her ear, as if the lingering warmth could keep her from collapsing again.
…
In the meantime, Kain and the Narrow Squad members were gathered inside their safe space—an old repurposed studio filled with scattered equipment, maps, and discarded jackets. The tension was thick in the room, almost suffocating. Everyone was restless.
Kain paced back and forth, his footsteps heavy against the concrete floor.
“Has anyone heard from Valerie yet?” He asked, worrying, tightening his voice. He stopped in the middle of the room, looking at each member’s face.
Ava shook her head, arms crossed but clearly nervous. “No… she hasn’t responded to my last message.”
Bryan leaned forward from his seat, elbows resting on his knees. “She said she was just going out for food, right? It shouldn’t take this long.”
Byung-seok tapped his foot anxiously. “Did she take the wrong route? Or did her phone die?”
Kain’s jaw clenched. He didn’t want to voice the darker possibility, but it weighed in his eyes.
“Or,” he said quietly, “someone found her.”
Their conversation stopped abruptly when the room fell silent.
Sung-hoon stood up quickly. “If Tyler or his men caught her—”
“Don’t even say it,” Bryan snapped immediately, unable to hide his fear.
Jason exhaled sharply and pulled out his phone again, scrolling through Valerie’s last text. His voice trembled, but he tried to stay composed. “We should’ve kept closer tabs… I shouldn’t have let her go alone.”
Yuki approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not your fault. Valerie insisted. She needed space.”
Just then, Min-jun ran into the room, breathless. “Guys—Jiyoo just called. He said Valerie’s in danger.”
Everyone’s eyes widened, so Kain stepped forward urgently. “Where is she now?”
Min-jun swallowed hard. “He didn’t say.”
The room erupted into motion—chairs pushed back, weapons grabbed, jackets thrown on—as the Narrow Squad reacted with fear, anger, and determination.
On the other hand, Jungho’s back slammed against the brick wall of the alley with a brutal crack. He grunted, vision flickering, the world spinning around him. His legs buckled, and he slid halfway down the wall, struggling to stay conscious.
Tyler didn’t waste a second.
With a twisted snarl, he lunged toward Valerie, grabbing her arm and yanking her violently toward him. His other hand clamped over her mouth, fingers digging into her jaw, suffocating her.
“Stay still,” he hissed through clenched teeth, whole body shaking with rage.
Valerie gagged, panic rising—but then her eyes hardened. She jerked her head forward and bit down on Tyler’s finger with all the force she could muster.
Tyler screamed.
“AAAH—YOU LITTLE—!” He tore his hand back, blood dripping from his fingers. His face twisted in agony as he stumbled backward.
“You little bitch!” he roared, clutching his bleeding hand. “I will sue you for defamation with such false, misleading information!”
Valerie’s chest heaved as she caught her breath, but she stood her ground, chin lifting defiantly. Her voice shook, but her eyes did not.
“Oh, so you know it was me… Well, don’t worry,” she said coldly. “I won’t do anything to tarnish your reputation.”
She took a step toward him, fearless. “And don’t forget—no matter how many times a person lies, pretends, or keeps the truth hidden…”
She stared right into his eyes and said. “The truth will always come out.”
Tyler’s face went pale despite his rage. He backed away, shaking, fury boiling in his eyes—but something else too.
Fear.
…
…
…
A sharp BANG! exploded through the alley. Valerie’s instincts reacted before her brain caught up—she threw herself sideways, shoulder scraping the concrete as a bullet split the air where her head had been.
Tyler staggered back, startled, and one of his henchmen stepped forward, lowering the smoking gun.
“Boss—move!”
Valerie’s hand closed around the first object she could reach—a metal pole lying beside a pile of crates. With a sharp exhale, she swung it in a wide arc. The pole whistled through the air, missing the gunman by inches as he ducked.
The second henchman charged at her from the right.
Valerie twisted, pivoting on her heel, and slammed the pole against his forearm. The impact cracked loudly, making him drop his weapon with a hiss of pain.
The other henchman lunged. Valerie shifted her weight and used the pole as a defensive barrier—blocking, redirecting, countering. Each motion was fast, trained, instinctual. She jabbed the pole into one attacker’s stomach, then swung back upward to strike the other across the shoulder.
Still, their size and strength forced her backward step by step.
Her arms trembled from the effort, but she refused to let fear take over.
Behind her, Tyler snarled. “DON’T LET HER GET AWAY!”
Just as the second henchman grabbed the end of the pole and yanked it from her hands—
A faint voice broke through the chaos.
“Valerie…?”
She froze for a split second.
Jungho.
He blinked hard, staggering as he pushed himself off the alley wall. His hand pressed to the side of his head as he regained his balance.
“Valerie—hold on…”
His voice was hoarse but determined.
Valerie’s eyes widened with relief. “Jungho—you’re awake…?”
The henchman turned, ready to strike Jungho again.
But Jungho reacted faster this time, grabbing the gunman’s wrist and twisting with a controlled martial move that sent the man crashing to the ground with a painful grunt.
Valerie, seeing the brief opening, elbowed the remaining henchman in the jaw and yanked her metal pole back from his grip.
The two of them—Valerie and Jungho—now stood side-by-side, breathing hard but aligned in silent understanding.
Tyler’s expression shifted—from confidence to fear.
“YOU TWO—STOP THEM!” He yelled, clutching his bleeding hand.
But his underlings hesitated now. Valerie and Jungho looked like a force they couldn’t easily break.
Valerie tightened her grip on the pole.
Jungho steadied himself and nodded once toward her.
“Let’s finish this.”
Both Valerie and Jungho positioned themselves shoulder-to-shoulder, each drawing a steady breath despite the chaos around them.
Tyler Kwan backed up, wiping the blood from his bitten finger with a trembling snarl.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRaBMd5g34
“Don’t just stand there! TAKE THEM DOWN!”
Although, hesitation flickered across the henchmen’s faces now. The two who had been fighting Valerie were bruised, winded, and humiliated. The one Jungho threw to the ground struggled to rise, groaning in pain.
Jungho brushed his knuckles across his split lip and exhaled, “They’re losing their nerve.”
Valerie nodded, shifting her stance. “Good. Because I’m done running.”
One of the henchmen lunged again—desperate now—swinging wildly. Valerie ducked under his arm, spun behind him, and slammed the metal pole into the back of his knee. He collapsed with a scream, hitting the ground hard.
Jungho intercepted the second attacker, blocking a punch and countering with a sharp elbow to the ribs, followed by a knee to the stomach. The man fell back gasping for air.
The third henchman—still armed—aimed his gun shakily.
“Don’t come near me! I’ll shoot! I swear—!”
Valerie and Jungho froze only long enough to assess the angle of the gun. Then, she whispered quickly. “On my signal.”
Jungho’s jaw tightened, waiting.
Tyler barked, “SHOOT THEM—!”
But the gunman’s hand trembled.
Valerie saw the opening.
“—Now!”
She hurled the metal pole directly at the gunman. It spun hard through the air like a thrown spear, striking his wrist and knocking the gun loose. The weapon clattered across the concrete.
Jungho sprinted forward, sliding on one knee to grab it before the henchman could recover.
Tyler’s eyes widened. “No—No, no, NO—!”
Jungho aimed at him instantly. “Don’t move.”
Tyler froze, breath hitching.
Valerie, arms trembling with adrenaline, stepped forward. She was shaking—not from fear, but from fury and exhaustion. She picked up the fallen henchman’s baton, pointing it at Tyler. “You’re done.”
Tyler scoffed, masking panic with arrogance. “Do you think this changes anything? You think you can scare me—?”
Valerie cut him off, voice low and fierce. “No. But I can stop you from touching me ever again.”
Her words landed like a blow, but Tyler’s smirk cracked.
Jungho pressed the gun forward. “Turn around. Hands on your head.”
Tyler didn’t move.
Jungho stepped closer. “I won’t tell you again.”
Tyler finally raised his hands—slowly, reluctantly. But just as he began to turn, his eyes darted sideways. Valerie caught the shift in his gaze.
“Jungho—!”
Too late.
Tyler shoved one of his injured henchmen into their path and sprinted away down the alley.
“Get back here!” Jungho shouted, taking off after him.
“Jungho—wait!” Valerie called, but he was already gone, chasing Tyler toward the street.
The alley fell silent except for Valerie’s ragged breathing and the groans of the defeated henchmen around her.
Valerie’s adrenaline crashed, and her legs trembled uncontrollably. She backed up until her spine hit the wall and slid down slowly. Her tears spilled over again as her voice trembled. “I… I was so close to…” She couldn’t even finish the sentence. She wiped at her face with shaky hands, still struggling to breathe steadily.
Jungho’s footsteps echoed as he returned, chest heaving—Tyler had escaped. He knelt in front of Valerie, cupping her shoulders gently. “Valerie… look at me.”
She lifted her eyes, wet and trembling.
“You’re safe,” he said quietly. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”
And only then did she let herself collapse against him, sobbing into his chest as he held her tight.
As Valerie clung to Jungho’s shirt—her breaths uneven, her body trembling—a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. It was as if the world around her blurred and collapsed into a single tunnel of light.
The sound of Jungho’s voice softened, echoing far away.
“Valerie…? Valerie, stay with me—”
But she couldn’t as soon as her mind pulled her backwards—years, then decades—into memories she hadn’t touched in a long time.
…
FIRST FLASHBACK:
It was sunny, warm, and peaceful in the playground.
A young Valerie was about eight years old as she sat on the swings alone, kicking her legs gently, staring at the dirt beneath her feet, whereas a young Jiyoo, a shy boy with messy dark hair, approached her timidly holding a bandaid in his small hand.
“Valerie… um… you’re crying again.”
Young Valerie sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her wrist. “I’m not crying…”
“You are,” Jiyoo said softly, sitting on the swing beside her. “But it’s okay. I cry too.”
She peeked at him. “Really?”
He nodded seriously. “Only when I miss my mom.”
Valerie’s eyes widened. “Where is she?”
“In another town,” he murmured. “But it’s okay. Because I have you.”
Valerie blinked, stunned. “Me…?”
Jiyoo smiled awkwardly. “Yeah. You’re my best friend.”
Her tears stopped, which surprised even her.
He held out the bandaid toward her knee, which had a small scrape. “Can I put it here? So it won’t hurt anymore?”
She nodded shyly.
As he carefully placed it, he whispered. “Someday… I’ll protect you. Because you’re special.”
…
…
SECOND FLASHBACK:
The memory shifted again and Valerie found herself standing in a grand hotel ballroom—gold chandeliers glittering above, tables dressed in white silk, music floating softly from a live string quartet. It was a world of wealth, elegance, and social prestige.
She was eleven and beside her stood her parents—polished, well-mannered, hopeful. Across from them stood Jiyoo’s family—charming, respected, seemingly warm.
Young Valerie tugged gently on her mother’s sleeve. “Mommy… are they nice?”
Her mother smiled softly. “Yes, sweetheart. We’re here to build a partnership. For your future… and Jiyoo’s.”
Young Jiyoo ran up to her—tie crooked, cheeks flushed. “Valerie! Look, the fountain outside has lights in it!”
She giggled. “Really?”
Before they could run off, both sets of parents called them back.
Mr. Park, who is Jiyoo’s father, raised his champagne glass in declaration. “With our children showing such promise, it would be wise to secure their future paths. A collaboration between our companies could benefit everyone.”
Valerie’s father, Mr. Lockhart nodded in approval. “And with Valerie and Jiyoo both showing musical talent, we could build the next generation of artists together.”
Mrs. Park beamed with false warmth. “We’ve always admired Valerie’s potential.”
Mrs. Lockhart, Valerie’s mother, smiled politely as she was completely unaware of the impending treachery.
Later that night, while adults mingled and children played, Valerie wandered near the staircase where she overheard something.
Jiyoo’s parents speaking in hushed tones.
Mrs. Park laughed coldly. “They’re too trusting. Once the contract is finalized, the assets will transfer. They won’t notice until it’s too late.”
Mr. Park smirked deviously and said. “And by then, their company will be ours. Their daughter may be talented—but her parents are fools.”
Valerie’s eyes widened. “Steal? Assets? Ours?”
She didn’t understand everything—but she understood betrayal.
She ran back to the ballroom, tears forming, but swallowed them so no one would see.
THIRD FLASHBACK:
A few weeks later, everything collapsed where her family lost millions. Investments vanished. Several business partners backed out. Rumors spread like poison.
In the living room of their home, Valerie’s father, Mr. Lockhart shouted into the phone. “You stole from us! You manipulated the contract—this wasn’t part of our agreement!”
On the other end, Mr. Park’s laughter echoed coldly. “You were careless. Don’t blame us for your incompetence.”
Mrs. Lockhart slammed the phone down and grabbed their daughter protectively. “We’re cutting ties with them,” she said firmly. “People like them are rotten. Vile. Selfish.”
Valerie watched silently—heartbroken—not for business losses, but because she knew. This meant she could no longer see Jiyoo.
At the next public event, the gossip was vicious.
Guests whispered loudly as the Lee family walked in:
“There they are… the foolish Lockharts.”
“Lost everything.”
“Hah, serve them right.”
“They trusted the wrong people.”
Mrs. Park walked by smugly, pretending sympathy. “Oh dear, I hope your family recovers soon. Perhaps next time, you should consult with us first.”
Mrs. Lockhart pulled Valerie closer, shielding her from the mockery.
Valerie swallowed hard—tears burning her eyes—because the Parks’ son, little Jiyoo, stood behind them looking confused and devastated.
He whispered, “Valerie? What’s happening? Why are our parents fighting?”
She forced a smile but her voice cracked:
“I… I don’t know. But I think we can’t play together anymore.”
Jiyoo’s eyes widened, heart shattering.
“No… Valerie, no! You’re my best friend!”
She wiped her tears. “And you’ll always be. Even if our families don’t want us to be.”
…
…
The flashbacks ended abruptly just when Valerie snapped back to reality, gasping as her surroundings sharpened again—the alley, the cold night air, Jungho’s worried expression. Her tears flowed harder this time, not just from fear but from emotional overload. She whispered, barely audible. “Jiyoo…”
Jungho’s brows furrowed. “Valerie? What is it?”
She pressed a trembling hand over her heart, her voice cracking. “He… he always tried to protect me. Even when we were kids… even when I didn’t see it… He was always there…”
Jungho understood in an instant—and his expression softened sympathetically.
She closed her eyes tightly, letting the memories settle. Her whisper was full of pain and truth in her mind. “I still love him, but why does it still hurt?”
All of a sudden, the echo of gunshots faded into the night, replaced by heavy breathing and distant sirens. Tyler’s remaining henchmen, thinking they could regroup after the alley skirmish, suddenly froze as the sound of rapid gunfire erupted from the other end.
The Narrow Squad had arrived where Sunghoon, Woonjae, Luke, and the others moved with deadly precision, taking out the fleeing henchmen one by one. Shadows fell across the alley as each henchman fell, their attempt at escape cut brutally short.
By the time the smoke cleared, only silence remained—broken occasionally by the groans of the incapacitated. The Narrow Squad surveyed the scene, adrenaline still coursing.
Then, the rumble of a motorcycle engine turned heads. Jiyoo appeared at the entrance of the alley, helmet in hand, chest heaving, eyes scanning for Valerie.
“Valerie,” he breathed out, voice shaking slightly. “Are you hurt? Did he—”
“Stay back.” Her voice cut like ice. She steadied her breath, glaring at Jiyoo with a fury she had held in for far too long. Sweat trickled down her temple, her body trembling—yet her voice came sharp and cutting.
“Do you have any idea,” she hissed, “what you and Bong Si-woo put me through?”
Jiyoo froze. He had braced for anger, but not this. Valerie staggered a step closer, her eyes full of pain and rage.
“You want to stand here and say you’re sorry?” she spat. “After everything? After the sleepless nights, the threats, the surveillance—after watching my own future get strangled because of your CEO?”
Jiyoo stopped short. His hands lowered slowly, defensively, not in threat—but in surrender.
“I didn’t come to fight.”
“Then why are you here?” Valerie spat, gripping the metal pole until her knuckles whitened. “To pretend you care again?”
Jiyoo flinched at that. He had faced CEOs, gang leaders, and death threats without blinking—140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAWsDbi6QJ
but one sentence from her left him speechless.
“I came to take accountability,” he said quietly. “For what my family did. For what I did.”
She laughed sharply—humorless, shaking. “After all these years? After your parents destroyed mine? After they mocked us and cut us down in front of everyone?”
“That wasn’t my decision,” Jiyoo said firmly and reasoned out. “I was a kid.”
“You were a kid who benefitted from it!” she snapped, stepping toward him. “Your parents stole everything from mine. You stayed silent.”
Jiyoo’s jaw tightened. “Because I didn’t know the truth until later. And when I found out, it was already too late.”
“A convenient excuse.”
He swallowed hard. “No. A cowardly one.”
For a moment, they just stared—years of betrayal, buried affection, anger, and unresolved history hanging between them like a storm ready to break.
Valerie lunged first.
Her metal pole swung in a clean arc, but Jiyoo dodged by inches. She attacked again, and this time he grabbed the pole mid-swing, twisting it out of her hand. He didn’t retaliate. He just tossed it aside and let it clatter against the concrete.
“Fight me back!” she demanded, pushing against his chest.
He didn’t move, so she shoved again, harder. Still, Jiyoo didn’t lift a hand to defend himself.
“Is this what you want?” he asked softly. “Hitting me won’t change the past.”
“No,” she hissed, tears burning her eyes. “But it sure feels justified.”
She swung her fist at him. He caught her wrist, not harshly—gently, steadying her rather than restraining her.
“Let go of me!”
“No,” Jiyoo whispered, eyes locked on hers, voice cracking for the first time. “Not again. Not when you’re hurting like this.”
She struggled, but he held her steady—not forceful, never painful—just enough to keep her from collapsing.
“You should’ve stayed out of my life,” she cried. “You should’ve left me alone.”
“Believe me,” Jiyoo murmured, “I’ve tried. But no matter what I do… I end up worrying about you. I never wanted to hurt you.”
Valerie laughed—cold, hollow, and broken. “Hurt me? You murdered my cat, Jiyoo. The one thing that kept me sane.” Her voice dropped to a whisper of pain. “And you stood there like it meant nothing.”
Jiyoo’s breath shuddered. He had no words—only a silent agony twisting through him.
“And don’t…” Valerie’s voice cracked, “…don’t you dare act like you’re innocent.”
Jiyoo’s eyes lifted weakly to meet hers.
“You gave yourself up to them,” Valerie continued, voice sharp as glass. “You became their weapon. Their puppet. And for what? Fame? Status? Money?”
She stepped closer until they were inches apart.
“You think I’m the one who lost everything?” she whispered. Then she stabbed her finger into his chest.
“Newsflash… you lost yourself.”
The words hit him harder than any gunshot could.
Jiyoo flinched, breath tearing out of him, expression full of devastation and guilt. He tried to speak, but nothing came out—not even an apology.
Valerie’s chest rose sharply as she took a step back. The emotional weight, the physical exhaustion, the fear and trauma—everything she’d held inside—finally crashed down on her all at once.
Her knees buckled, and for a split second Jiyoo thought she would fall. Instinctively, he stepped closer, catching her by the arms. She shoved him away just enough to keep distance—but she didn’t run.
She was exhausted and he was guilty.
Their breathing echoed between them, uneven and raw.
Jiyoo lowered his gaze, voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t erase the damage my family caused… but I can fight for you now. I can protect you from Tyler. From Si-woo. From anyone who tries to hurt you.”
Valerie stared at him—hurt, confused, trembling.
“Why now?” she choked. “Why only now?”
Jiyoo finally looked up, and the emotion in his eyes was undeniable. “Because I was afraid,” he admitted. “Afraid that if I told you the truth… you’d hate me.”
Then, Valerie’s vision blurred as her legs buckled beneath her, and she crumpled to the ground without warning. Her body went limp, the adrenaline finally drained from her system. She didn’t cry or gasp—she didn’t even have the energy to breathe deeply.
Jiyoo’s eyes widened in alarm. He dove forward, catching her in his arms before she could hit the concrete. Her head rested against his chest, her body completely unconscious, trembling faintly from sheer exhaustion.
“Valerie!” he whispered urgently, shaking her gently, though carefully. “Stay with me… come on, wake up…”
Her body remained heavy, unresponsive, and Jiyoo could feel the weight of everything she had endured pressing down on him almost as much as it pressed on her. He held her close, rocking slightly, shielding her from the alley around them, desperate to keep her safe while her body recovered.
For a long moment, there was only the soft, rhythmic sound of his heartbeat and the quiet of the aftermath—the fallen henchmen, the scattered debris, and the distant sirens. Valerie didn’t move, didn’t speak; she simply rested, completely surrendered to the exhaustion that had finally overtaken her.
Jiyoo pressed a hand to her back as her body went limp, holding her tightly.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Valerie allowed herself to completely let go, her unconscious form heavy and trusting in his arms.
ns216.73.216.253da2
and then Add to home screen.