Signed in Blood: The Price of Secrets

Pt~5 2/2 Took up choices

The club pulsed with deafening music, neon lights flashing across the sea of bodies moving in drunken rhythm. Amidst the chaos, a crowd had gathered around a single table, their chants nearly swallowed by the surrounding noise.

"Chug! Chug! Chug!"

At the center of it all sat Caleb and Ronan, locked in a drinking competition. While Ronan seemed indifferent, Caleb was pouring his frustration into every sip, his expression rigid with unspoken turmoil. He was the only one taking this seriously, his emotions bubbling beneath the surface, threatening to spill over.

Noah's POV

Bringing everyone to the club had seemed like a good idea, especially for Caleb. I knew how much Mira's death had affected him, but Ronan's sudden departure had only deepened the wound. Caleb had been closer to Mira than any of us, and Ronan leaving without a word only made things worse.

I understood why Ronan had left, though he never explained it to anyone—not even Adrian. I only knew part of the story thanks to Nicolai hyung. Whatever the full truth was, Ronan had kept it to himself. Maybe he was waiting for the right moment. Maybe he was just avoiding it.

I had hoped that after a few drinks, Caleb and Ronan would finally talk things out, but it was clear now that wasn't going to happen. The tension in the air was suffocating, and things were quickly spiraling out of control.

Lilith's POV

I prided myself on reading people well, but Ronan was an enigma. He changed too quickly, too unpredictably. Our first meeting had gone horribly, thanks to our clashing personalities—me, someone who refuses to tolerate disrespect, and him, someone who made no effort to conceal his arrogance.

But it was clear that these men had once been family, and something had broken them apart.

Noah, Caleb, and Ronan all carried an awkward tension between them, something unspoken yet heavy. Meanwhile, I had grown unexpectedly close to Leo despite his outgoing and flirtatious nature. Adrian and Eric Nam, on the other hand, seemed unaffected by Ronan's presence.

I knew I shouldn't pry. Relationships formed naturally, not by force. But I couldn't help myself—curiosity had taken hold of me.

"Why?!" Caleb's voice, though weak, cut through the noise, drawing all eyes to him. His grip tightened on Ronan's collar. "How could you?!"

His hoarse words carried the weight of years of pain and unanswered questions.

"Caleb," Leo murmured, trying to pull him back to reality, but Caleb was too far gone, drowning in alcohol and emotion.

Ronan, however, looked... guilty.

"You don't know anything," Ronan muttered, struggling to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

Even with the deafening club music, the tension at their table was suffocating. The air was thick, almost tangible.

"Then tell me! Please, I can't take this anymore!" Caleb's voice cracked as he weakly struck Ronan's chest, his tears finally escaping. After Mira's death, joining The Effects with Noah had given him a sliver of normalcy, but now, with Ronan's sudden return, it all felt like it was slipping away again.

Adrian stepped toward Ronan, while Leo grabbed Caleb from behind, trying to restrain him. The alcohol had taken full control, and he was ready to throw punches at the man he once considered a brother.

"Let me go! Mira died alone, without her loved ones beside her, because of him!" Caleb shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Ronan.

Lilith watched the scene unfold in shock. She barely registered Ronan leaning in and whispering in her ear, "This is going to escalate quickly. Stay back."

His sudden concern threw her off. Why the change? Why was he suddenly trying to protect her?

Flashback – Ronan's Office

"Come in," Ronan called out at the knock on his office door.

A bulky man with a friendly smile stepped inside. "Good evening, sir. I'm Armand. Mr. Nicolai from Block A asked me to deliver this to you."

Ronan took the file, his mood lifting at the mention of Nicolai's name.

Flipping it open, he read the letter:

Hey! Eric told me you were asking about me. I'm still working as your mother's secretary, so don't worry.

I hope you're doing well. After our last talk and after you left, I stopped meeting with the others. They tried reaching out countless times, but I couldn't risk them getting involved in this mess. Please make sure they never find out. You know why I can't see them.

By the way, I assume your mother didn't meet you at the airport except for a quick media appearance? Don't fool yourself—nothing's changed. She's the same as always. Barely present. Bye!

Ronan scoffed at the last part, unsurprised. His mother's absence had long since stopped affecting him.

Just as he was about to close the file, his gaze fell on another document beneath it.

Ms. Hawthorne.

His entire body tensed.

Lilith Hawthorne. Her background, her history—it all matched the information he had been searching for long before he even joined the company. The shock, the disbelief, the flood of emotions—it was overwhelming.

For the first time in years, his usual indifferent facade cracked.

Shaking off his thoughts, he stepped out of his office, only to be met with the sight of Adrian and Lilith approaching. He barely registered her presence until she bumped into him, causing him to stumble back slightly, dropping his file.

They both bent down to pick it up, their hands brushing momentarily. Lilith, ever the professional, straightened up and handed it to him with an air of cold politeness.

"Be mindful of where you stand next time. And hold onto your things properly."

With that, she walked off with Adrian, leaving Ronan staring after her.

I have to get close to her, whether I want to or not. I'll do it for Mira.

End of Flashback

Leo returned from Lilith's car, tossing her the keys. "Caleb's in the backseat. He passed out after screaming his lungs out."

Lilith caught the keys effortlessly, still trying to process everything that had just happened. Seeing Caleb break down like that made it clear—Mira had meant far more to them than just a partial CEO of The Cross. But more than that, she couldn't understand why Ronan's return had shaken them all so much.

And why now, after all this time, was Ronan suddenly pretending to care?

His voice cut through the haze of her thoughts.

"I'll tell you everything. Right now."

But inside, he knew the truth.

I'm only doing this because Lilith's background could be the key to Mira's case. Nothing else can change the monster I've become.