The Legacy (Underworld 1) JC

20: Take It Or Leave It

Seungcheol's words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, casting a pall of dread over the room as Yoon Junghoon's eyes widened in disbelief. The ultimatum was clear, the terms non-negotiable, and Jeonghan's heart clenched at the realization of what was being demanded of his father.

"You expect me to give up my own son?" Yoon Junghoon exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and desperation. "To never see him again, to never know if he's safe?"

Seungcheol's smirk never wavered as he leaned forward, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "That's the deal, Junghoon," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Take it or leave it."

Jeonghan's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the exchange unfold, a sense of helplessness washing over him like a tidal wave. He knew that his father would never agree to such a cruel bargain, would never sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of Seungcheol's twisted desires.

But as Yoon Junghoon hesitated, torn between his love for his son and the fear of what Seungcheol might do, Jeonghan stepped forward, his voice steady despite the turmoil raging within him.

"Appa, don't listen to him," Jeonghan pleaded, his eyes locking with his father's. Yoon Junghoon's gaze softened at his son's words, a flicker of hope sparking in his eyes. But before he could respond, Seungcheol's voice cut through the silence like a knife.

"Time's running out, Junghoon," Seungcheol said, his tone laced with impatience. "Make your choice."

"Fine," Jeonghan's heart shattered as his father made the agonizing decision to sacrifice their bond for his safety. With tears blurring his vision, he allowed himself to be escorted to the waiting car by Chan and Hansol, his steps heavy with the weight of his despair.

Despite the turmoil raging inside him, Jeonghan didn't struggle against his escorts. He knew that any resistance would only lead to more pain and suffering for both himself and his father. Instead, he walked with bowed head and silent resignation, his heart breaking with each step he took away from the only family he had ever known.

_

The air in the dark room was heavy with a suffocating silence, broken only by the sound of Jeonghan's ragged breathing as he sat huddled in a corner, his mind swirling with a maelstrom of emotions. It had been three days since he had been brought back to Moon Palace, the Daegu farmhouse that served as the headquarters for the Midnight gang, and yet there had been no sign of Seungcheol.

The familiarity of his surroundings only served to intensify Jeonghan's sense of despair, reminding him of the last time he had been held captive in this very room. The memories of that time were still fresh in his mind—the fear, the uncertainty, the desperate longing for escape. But unlike before, there was no flicker of hope to cling to, no promise of salvation in the form of Seungcheol's presence.

Jeonghan had grown accustomed to the darkness, to the oppressive weight of his solitude. Time seemed to blur together, the days stretching into an endless expanse of loneliness and despair. He had lost track of how many meals had been pushed through the slot in the door, untouched and unwanted. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, but it was nothing compared to the ache in his heart.

In those quiet moments of solitude, Jeonghan's thoughts inevitably turned to Seungcheol—the man who had once been his lover, his confidant, his everything. The memory of their time together haunted him, a bittersweet reminder of the love they had shared before it all fell apart. But now, Seungcheol was nowhere to be found, leaving Jeonghan to wonder if he had ever truly cared for him at all.

As the days dragged on, Jeonghan's despair deepened, his hope dwindling with each passing hour. He had resigned himself to his fate, to the endless cycle of captivity and isolation. But even in his darkest moments, a small part of him clung to the belief that somehow, someway, Seungcheol would come for him—that their love was not lost to the shadows of the past.

And then, just when Jeonghan had begun to lose all hope, the door to his prison creaked open, flooding the room with blinding light. Squinting against the sudden brightness, Jeonghan shielded his eyes as a figure stepped into the room, silhouetted against the glare.

"Jeonghan," a familiar voice called out, sending a jolt of recognition through him. It was Seungcheol.

Jeonghan's heart leaped in his chest, a rush of conflicting emotions flooding through him—relief, anger, longing. He struggled to find his voice, to form the words that had been trapped in his throat for so long.

"Seungcheol," he finally managed to whisper, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Where have you been?"

Seungcheol's expression was unreadable as he approached, his eyes searching Jeonghan's face for any sign of weakness. "I had matters to attend to," he replied, his voice cold and distant.

Jeonghan felt a pang of hurt at Seungcheol's dismissive tone, but he pushed it aside, focusing instead on the urgency of the present moment. "Why did you bring me here?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion.

Seungcheol hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering away before returning to meet Jeonghan's eyes. "There are things you need to know," he said cryptically. "Things that will change everything."

Jeonghan's heart raced at Seungcheol's words, a spark of hope igniting within him despite his better judgment. "What things?" he pressed, his eyes pleading for answers.

But before Seungcheol could reply, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway outside, signaling the arrival of others. With a fleeting glance at Jeonghan, Seungcheol turned and strode towards the door, leaving Jeonghan alone once again with more questions than answers.

As the door slammed shut behind him, Jeonghan was left to grapple with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. But amidst the darkness and despair, a flicker of hope remained—a glimmer of possibility that maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for redemption, for reconciliation, for love.

As the days turned into weeks, Jeonghan found himself sinking deeper into the suffocating silence of his confinement, the absence of Seungcheol weighing heavily on his heart. Each passing moment felt like an eternity, each day stretching into an endless expanse of loneliness and despair.

But just when Jeonghan had begun to resign himself to his fate, Seungcheol returned, his presence a jarring interruption to the monotonous rhythm of Jeonghan's existence. Yet, there was something different about him this time—something distant and cold that sent a shiver down Jeonghan's spine.

"Jeonghan," Seungcheol's voice cut through the silence, pulling Jeonghan from his thoughts. "Would you like to roam around the house? This room must be suffocating for you."

Jeonghan blinked in surprise at the unexpected offer, his mind racing with a mixture of confusion and suspicion. What game was Seungcheol playing now? And why the sudden change of heart after a month of silence?

Despite his misgivings, Jeonghan couldn't resist the temptation of freedom, however fleeting it might be. "Yes, please," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seungcheol nodded in acknowledgment, his expression unreadable as he motioned for Jeonghan to follow him. With cautious steps, Jeonghan rose from his spot on the floor and followed Seungcheol out of the room, his heart pounding with a mixture of apprehension and anticipation.

The house was eerily quiet as they made their way through its shadowy corridors, the echoes of their footsteps the only sound to break the silence. Jeonghan couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over him like a heavy shroud, the sense of being watched from the shadows.

But as they reached the main living area, Seungcheol stopped and turned to face Jeonghan, his gaze piercing and intense. "You have one hour," he said, his voice cold and distant. "Make the most of it."

With that, Seungcheol turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jeonghan alone once again. As he stood in the empty room, the weight of his isolation pressing down on him like a physical force, Jeonghan couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden within the walls of this house—and what role he was destined to play in the unfolding drama that awaited him.