Mr. Lee's House
The house was soaked in the scent of home-spiced broth simmering in the kitchen, a soft jazz tune playing from the old speaker in the living room, and the distant clatter of dishes being set on the table.
In her room, Selen lay curled up on her side, her laptop long since dimmed on the desk. The blue light had given way to darkness, and the hum of electricity had been replaced with quiet, steady breathing.
She hadn't meant to fall asleep.
But the coding, the alerts, the mental fog-it had all caught up to her. Her chest rose and fell slowly, lashes fanned against her cheek, one hand tucked under her jaw.
The door creaked open gently.
Elira peeked in, holding a wooden spoon in one hand, her other knocking softly on the frame.
"Selen..." she whispered.
No response.
She stepped inside.
"Hey, sleepyhead. Come on, time to wake up. Dinner's ready."
Still nothing.
Elira moved closer, crouching beside the bed. The room was dim, the light from the hallway pooling around her like a halo. She placed a warm hand on Selen's arm and nudged gently.
" Nyra and Dad's waiting, you know," she murmured. "He made that stew you like-the one that takes three hours and every pan in the kitchen."
That did it.
Selen stirred, her brows scrunching slightly. Her voice came out, soft and scratchy.
"Mm... what time is it?"
Elira smiled. "Almost 8:30. You've been out for like an hour. Come on. Before Dad gets dramatic and thinks we've all abandoned him."
Selen blinked her eyes open, adjusting slowly. Her voice was quieter this time.
"He's already at the table?"
"Yep," Elira nodded, standing up. "Waiting with a full plate and one of those looks like he's about to give a speech."
That pulled a tiny smile from Selen.
She sat up slowly, brushing hair out of her face. "He's gonna guilt-trip me with the 'family bonding' line again, isn't he?"
"Absolutely," Elira grinned. "So move before he starts quoting wisdom about soup and responsibility."
Selen reached for her hoodie at the end of the bed, slipping it on with a sleepy groan.
"Tell him I'm coming. And tell him the only reason I'm getting up is because I love his stupid soup."
Elira raised a brow as she headed to the door.
"I'll let him know. But he's gonna call it 'emotional blackmail success.'"
The door clicked shut behind her.
And Selen sat on the edge of her bed for just a second longer-just long enough to close her eyes, inhale the smell of dinner drifting down the hall, and feel the smallest hint of peace settle over her chest.
If only she'd known what was coming.
____
The table was set the same way it always had been-simple dishes, warm bowls of rice, a few plates of stir-fry steaming in the center. The overhead light flickered just a little. The air was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
Selen sat at her usual spot, absently pushing vegetables across her plate. Nyra chewed in silence, eyes on her food. Elira tapped her chopsticks against her bowl like she couldn't decide whether to eat or bolt.
Mr. Lee served himself last.
He didn't speak much. He didn't have to. Instead, he watched.
Not obviously-he wasn't that kind of father. But his gaze lingered just long enough. Noticed just enough.
Nyra's sleeve covered her wrist too deliberately.
Selen's shoulders flinched ever so slightly when the soy sauce bottle clinked too loud.
Elira smiled a bit too fast, too wide, like she was covering something.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
He'd trained them to defend themselves. He taught them where to shoot, how to run, when to speak. And now? He was watching the quiet aftermath of what that training cost.
" She pulled the trigger."
He hadn't said it aloud. Hadn't asked.
But when he found the weapon last night -hidden but not well enough. He disassembled it, cleaned it, and returned it to its hiding spot like nothing happened.
Because he didn't want to corner them.
He wanted them to come to him-when they were ready.
"Did anyone fix the leak under the sink?" he asked casually, breaking the silence with a sip of water.
Elira blinked. "Leak?"
"Yeah. It's getting worse," he whispered, like the only thing that concerned him was plumbing.
Selen let out a quiet breath she didn't know she was holding.
Nyra nodded silently and reached for more rice.
He didn't mention the bruised knuckles.
Didn't mention the missing shoes they'd kicked off in panic the night before.
Didn't ask about the alley.
But his hand rested a little longer on the back of Selen's chair when he stood up.
And when he cleared the plates, he didn't let them lift a finger.
" you're still my girls. And I'll carry this weight if you can't. "
As he washed the dishes, Mr. Lee glanced out the window. The sky had darkened. Clouds rolled in heavy.
He said nothing. But his jaw was tight. Because he had already started calling in favors.
Already started moving pieces.
They thought they'd gotten away.
But he knew better.
And he was already preparing for the war they hadn't seen coming.
___
Later That Night -
Rain whispered softly against the world, painting the night in silver.
The house had fallen into sleep-everyone, except Elira.
She sat alone at the piano on the balcony, her silhouette glowing dimly beneath the golden light of a brass lamp. Barefoot, dressed in an oversized white shirt, damp strands of hair clung to her cheeks as her fingers danced gently over the keys.
The melody was soft-melancholic. Her voice, low and haunting, slipped into the rain like a secret:
"I loved you in the silence, where no one dared to breathe....
Where shadows learned my secrets,and you were all I'd need.."
She didn't care that the rain touched her skin. Maybe it felt better that way-cool, unpredictable, alive. Her fingers moved gracefully, like she was coaxing her pain into something beautiful.
Across the street, a black car sat tucked beneath the shadow of a maple tree. The engine was off. Windows misted from shallow breaths.
Someone was watching her.
His tie was loose, the top button of his shirt undone. One hand rested against his lips, like it might stop thoughts he wasn't supposed to have. She didn't know he was there. She never did.
He wasn't supposed to be there-not tonight. Not ever.
But something about the way she played drew him in like gravity. It was the way she surrendered-to the music, to the rain-with no armor, no pretense.
Just her.
And him-starving for honesty in a world built on lies.
He lit a cigarette but didn't smoke it. It just burned between his fingers, forgotten.
His eyes never left her.
She leaned into the piano, wind tugging at her hair, lashes damp. Her voice trembled as she whispered the final line:
" And I'd still choose you...even if it ruins me."
She looked up-not at him, just into the night. But for a second, her gaze hovered in his direction, like she felt the weight of being watched.
He stiffened. His body tensed like a predator caught mid-step.
But she didn't move. She just looked-and smiled faintly. Softly.
Like maybe... she wasn't alone.
Buzz.
His phone lit up in the darkness.
"Secretary, You're getting too close. She's not part of this."
He closed his eyes. Let the words settle.
His jaw flexed.
He looked back up-she was still there, now hugging her knees to her chest, chin tilted upward, tasting the storm with the quiet wonder of someone who didn't know she was already marked.
By him.
"Too late", he thought, as the cigarette burned down to ash.
" I already walked in."
And in the silence, he whispered to the rain:
"I'll walk away...
when I forget the sound of her voice."
But he knew he never would.
___
The Next Morning - Kim Enterprises, CEO Office
The office was sleek. Professional. The kind of room that breathed quiet authority.
Kim Taehyung sat behind a polished mahogany desk, scanning a document with practiced focus. The faint ticking of the wall clock echoed in the silence. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the paper.
A knock broke the stillness.
The door opened. Jimin stepped inside-sharp as ever in a crisp black suit.
"Boss, Mr. Kim from the board is here. Says it's about the merger. Should I send him in now, or after your legal call?"
Taehyung looked up slowly, eyes steady. Unreadable.
He let the silence breathe a little before replying.
"Bring him in... and cancel the call with Legal. Reschedule it."
Jimin bowed slightly and exited without another word.
From the leather couch, Eunwoo looked up from his laptop. "Think this time he's bringing good news?"
A low chuckle escaped Taehyung.
"Good news? From him? That man's so crooked, he limps in a straight line. He's spent a lifetime perfecting the art of saying nothing useful."
" well , well . Apparently, I'm everyone's favorite topic literally. "
A voice echoed from the doorway, laced with sarcasm.
Kim Soojin strolled in like he owned the place, Jimin trailing behind him with a smirk.
"This office," Jin sniffed, "smells like money and unresolved trauma."
"You say that every time you show up to ruin my day," Taehyung replied without missing a beat.
"And yet I keep coming back," Jin quipped.
"Like a cursed cat," Eunwoo murmured.
"Let him in," Jimin added, "He needs the warmth."
Taehyung raised a brow. "Still delivering bad news, I see."
"Hide the liquor," Eunwoo muttered. "The bearer of doom has arrived."
"I'll alert security," Jimin said dryly, flashing a wicked grin at Jin.
Jin smirked. "Hey, stob it. I actually brought good news this time."
Taehyung nearly choked on his drink, eyes narrowing. Even Eunwoo paused.
Taehyung gestured toward the couch. "Sit. Before I start believing you actually came to socialize."
Jin flopped dramatically onto the couch and tossed a file on the table.
"Relax. I come bearing smiles. Your entire branch is thriving. Numbers are up. No sabotage. No lawsuits. I know-you're stunned."
Eunwoo gave a dry clap. "Miracle. We should mark this on the calendar."
Jimin nodded. "Already did. Titled it 'Jin Didn't Ruin Everything Day'. Wrote it in gold."
For once, laughter echoed in the office. Even Taehyung's expression softened-just a little.
Jin pointed at Eunwoo's leg. "Wait-what happened there? Finally tripped over all those secrets?"
"Slipped on Jimin's ego," Eunwoo lied smoothly. "Takes up too much space."
"At least I don't get beat up by stairs, old man," Jimin shot back.
Taehyung added calmly, "He won't say it, but it was a surveillance chase. Two men jumped him. One didn't get back up."
" Men, my ass. One bitch shot at me." Eunwoo thought internally. " One. And she didn't miss."
Jin leaned forward. "Damn. Still sexy and deadly?"
Eunwoo grinned. "Just doing my job. Collecting stylish injuries."
Jimin deadpanned, "Already ordered a commemorative coin. Gold-plated."
"How thoughtful," Eunwoo replied. "Does it come with a pre-dug grave for you?"
Taehyung leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk, eyes sharp again.
"The company anniversary event is in two days."
Jin groaned. "Great. Speeches, suits, and pretending we like investors."
Eunwoo muttered, "More like analyzing threats. Reviewing alliances. Pretending we don't have enemies in the room."
Jimin added with a grin, "Letting them sip our champagne while they plot to stab us. Classic."
Taehyung's voice dropped to a deadly calm. "We need flawless optics. No mistakes. That night, we remind Seoul-and everyone else-who we are."
Jin's smile faded. "And if someone tries to make a move?"
Taehyung walked to the window. The city skyline reflected against his suit like armor.
His voice was low. Icy. Final.
"Then we crush them... with elegance."
Silence settled like a loaded gun.
"I'll double-check the guest list," Jimin confirmed.
"I'll re-vet the security firms," Eunwoo added.
"And I'll bring the charm," Jin said, then grinned, "Or the chaos. Depends on the wine."
Taehyung turned, smirking faintly-dangerous, deliberate.
"Either way... let's give them a night they won't forget."