Scarlet(Red 3) JC [Revised]

26: The Court Hearing

"So why did you cover for me? If you knew all of that and were alive, you could have just told Han everything," Seungcheol questioned, his voice tinged with confusion and a hint of gratitude.

Aerin turned to face him, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous smirk. "I could have, but your happiness is Jeonghan, right? For me, seeing you happy matters the most, with or without me. I might be nothing to you, but to me, you're my world. I want to see you smile, I want to see you grow old. I know you'll still look handsome."

"Nicole, you love me that much?" Seungcheol was genuinely astonished, never having realized the depth of Aerin's feelings for him.

"You know the Mount Everest?" Aerin asked playfully.

"Yeah?" Seungcheol responded, curious.

"Forget that, I love you more."

"You know the sun?" Aerin continued.

"Yeah? It gives you allergies, right?" Seungcheol said, smiling.

"Screw the sun, I love you more."

Seungcheol couldn't hold back his smile. Seeing him happy brought tears to Aerin's eyes. She had missed this—seeing him genuinely happy.

"I hope you'll be happier, even if I'm not here, because I love you," Aerin said, her voice breaking.

"Enough of your bullshits, both of you. I swear I can just—" Jeonghan interrupted, his voice filled with frustration as he aimed his gun at Seungcheol.

"No, Yoon—" Aerin began to shout, but before she could finish, the sound of a gunshot echoed through the room. However, it wasn't from Jeonghan's pistol, which didn't even have real bullets.

"Choi Seungcheol, you just can't steal my Aerin from me again. I won't let you do that!" Keeho shouted as he pulled the trigger. Everyone assumed it was Jeonghan who fired the shot, but it was actually Keeho, driven by jealousy and rage, who aimed to kill Seungcheol. Instead, Aerin took the bullet, her lifeless body collapsing to the ground.

Seungcheol, still bound, watched in horror as Aerin fell. Turning to Jeonghan, who stood with a gun, he screamed, "You wanted to kill me? Seriously, Yoon Jeonghan?"

"Baby, I—" Jeonghan stammered, his voice filled with desperation.

"Shut up, Jeonghan. You murdered her? You murdered Nicole? How could you do this?" Seungcheol's voice was raw with pain and anger.

The gun slipped from Jeonghan's hand as he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the reality of what had happened. He never intended to kill Aerin or Seungcheol. Meanwhile, Seungcheol finally freed himself from the ropes and stormed toward Jeonghan, his eyes blazing with fury. Grabbing Jeonghan by the neck, he smashed him against the wall.

"You fucking killed her?"

"No, Cheol, I—" Jeonghan tried to explain, his voice choked with fear.

"WHY DID YOU KILL HER, JEONGHAN? SHE TRIED TO SAVE ME, AND YOU FUCKING MURDERED HER!" Seungcheol roared, his grip tightening.

"No, I—" Jeonghan mumbled, feeling a lump of terror forming in his throat. This Seungcheol was different, dangerous, and seemingly ready to kill him then and there.

"Wait and watch what I do to you, Yoon fucking Jeonghan! You're fucking dead to me!" Seungcheol's voice was filled with a deadly promise, his rage threatening to consume them both.

                                        _

Seungcheol opened the door of his apartment and found the cops standing there.