The Empire (Underworld 3) MW

24: Father And Son

It was a quiet evening in their penthouse, the soft glow of the setting sun casting a warm light through the large windows. Wonwoo sat on the couch with a book in his hands, engrossed in the story. Mingyu, on the other hand, lounged nearby, flipping through channels on the TV with a bored expression.

"Pup, why don't you read with me?" Wonwoo asked, glancing up from his book. "It's a really good one. I think you'd like it."

Mingyu groaned, dropping the remote onto the couch. "Woo, you know I'm not into reading. It's just... boring."

"Come on, just give it a try," Wonwoo insisted, holding out the book. "Please? You can't just keep watching tv! Get a hobby and trust me, reading is literally the best hobby out there."

Mingyu sighed, seeing the hopeful look in Wonwoo's eyes. "Alright, fine. But just for a little bit."

Wonwoo's face lit up with a smile as he handed the book to Mingyu. "Thank you. I promise, it's worth it."

Mingyu reluctantly took the book and started reading. The first few minutes were slow, his eyes glazing over the words without really absorbing them. He kept glancing back at the TV, clearly disinterested.

"You're not even trying," Wonwoo said, poking Mingyu's arm. "Focus, Pup."

Mingyu rolled his eyes but gave a small nod. He took a deep breath and started over, this time putting more effort into understanding the text. Slowly but surely, the story began to draw him in. The characters came to life, and the plot thickened, catching Mingyu's interest.

Wonwoo watched with a satisfied smile as Mingyu's expression changed from boredom to intrigue. He leaned in closer, pointing out a particularly exciting passage. "See? Isn't it great?"

Mingyu nodded, now genuinely engaged. "Yeah, I guess it is. You were right, Wonu. This is pretty good."

Wonwoo's heart swelled with affection. "I knew you'd like it. Sometimes, you just need to give things a chance."

As the evening wore on, they sat side by side, immersed in the story. Mingyu's initial reluctance had melted away, replaced by genuine enjoyment. It was a rare moment of tranquility and connection, one that Wonwoo now cherished more than ever.

                                        _

Wonwoo walked briskly toward the penthouse he shared with Mingyu, his mind racing with the impending confrontation. When he entered, he found Mingyu sitting on the couch, a drink in his hand and a pensive expression on his face. He was reading a book, which was rare. Mingyu never read books—it was always Wonwoo who had been the bookworm.

"Mingyu," Wonwoo began, his voice steady, "we need to talk."

Mingyu looked up, his expression softening when he saw Wonwoo. "What is it, Wonu? You didn't return home last night. I was worried—"

Wonwoo took a deep breath. "I know about Seokmin and Joshua's plan. Seungcheol hyung has given me permission to end this marriage. It's best for both of us and for our gangs. You and I, we never wanted this alliance, and it's time we put an end to it."

Mingyu's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you know about us?"

"That Seokmin and Joshua came to meet you to ask for your help in their mission to knock Seungcheol's empire down. Well, I'm not a betrayer like Joshua, so I would never go against Seungcheol hyung. He brought me up; he's practically my father. So I guess it's better if we—"

"And what about us?" Mingyu looked up at Wonwoo, hurt evident in his eyes. "We were married for whatever reason, but we were married, right? I tried my best to be there for you, and now, all of a sudden, you come to me and say let's end this? Am I one of your fucking computers, Wonwoo?"