Inferno Hearts | Xu Minghao

51. Breaking Her Wings

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"What did you just say?" Minghao managed to utter, his voice trembling with disbelief. Just when everything appeared to be falling into place, his world was shattered once more.

"Minghao..." Mrs. Park's voice trailed off, heavy with unspoken emotions.

He ran his hand through his hair and then touched his own chin, unable to comprehend the gravity of what Mrs. Park had just revealed to him.

"Why are you only saying this now?" he shouted, causing her to flinch. "Mom, I've asked you countless times if you witnessed her pushing Min on the stairs, and each time you said no. Why the sudden change?" he spat out, whining, as his anger grew uncontainable.

"Because I was terrified of what you might do to her! Minghao, please try to understand. You're like a son to me, I raised you. I can't bear the thought of seeing you locked away in prison," Mrs. Park exclaimed, her agitation evident as she witnessed Minghao losing his temper.

"Mom, do you even realize what you're telling me now?" Minghao responded, his tone escalating as he struggled to process her confession.

Deep within his heart, a lurking fear laid there. It was the fear of growing attached to her, only to later discover that she was indeed the one responsible for his sister's death.

But how is that possible? He had been so certain of Nabi's innocence. She appeared incapable of harming even an ant.

"After I grew attached to her, after I helped her and protected her from her own father, you're telling me now that she's actually the one who pushed Min down the stairs?" Minghao exclaimed, his raised voice echoing through the room, drawing the other members in, their expressions a mixture of confusion and concern. "Mom, why are you doing this to me?"

"That's exactly why I told you! Because I was terrified that if you grew even closer to her and eventually discovered on your own that she's the one who actually killed your sister, it would shatter you beyond mending," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks, her voice quivering with regret and sorrow.

"Mom!" he screamed in frustration. "Do you realize what you're doing to me now? You should have told me from the beginning that you witnessed her pushing Min down the stairs. I trusted your judgment, thinking that if you didn't see her do it, perhaps there was more to the story, a reason she's still alive! I did this because I wanted to be absolutely certain I didn't make an irreversible mistake, that I wouldn't take the life of an innocent girl. What am I supposed to do now!?" he yelled, his emotions uncontainable.

The other members froze, a palpable tension hanging in the air. It seemed that Dokyeom's earlier apprehensions, the words he had shared with Seungkwan that very morning as they made their way to Nabi's room, had ominously materialized.

Even Jeonghan stood in stunned disbelief. Just when he had finally begun to cultivate a sense of compassion towards her, he was confronted with the revelation that she had indeed ended the life of Min, his first love.

"Minghao, please don't harm her. Release her, that's all I ask. Put an end to this thirst for revenge. I fear it will bring your...end. Please, spare me this agony," she implored, tears streaming down her face as she approached him, reaching out to touch his hands, but he swiftly pulled away, his resolve unyielding.

"Let her go? Why would I even consider such a thing?" he retorted, his gaze unwavering as he stared at her.

"If you let her go, her father will track her down. And I have no doubt he will exact a cruel vengeance upon her, subjecting her to a life of torment. There's no need for you to intervene. I'm certain her father will ensure she endures an agonizing existence," she argued.