The Empire (Underworld 3) MW

32: Letters Back & Forth

Wonwoo sat at the small desk in their Italian villa, the setting sun casting a warm glow over his workspace. He had been working on this letter for days, carefully choosing his words to convey his well-being without disclosing too much. He didn't want to risk their peace by revealing their location or any details that could jeopardize their safety. With a deep breath, he finished the letter, sealed it in an envelope, and handed it off to a trusted courier, ensuring it would reach Seungcheol without a traceable return address.

A few days later, the scene at the Midnight gang headquarters was tense. Seungcheol was going over some reports in his office when he noticed an unmarked envelope on his desk. The handwriting was unmistakable, and as he tore it open and began reading, his heart sank. The letter was from Wonwoo, written in his familiar script, but the words felt like a distant echo of the person he once knew.

The letter read:

Seungcheol,

I'm writing to let you know that I'm safe and well. Please don't worry about me. I had to leave to protect myself and to ensure that I could start fresh away from the chaos. I didn't want to put anyone at risk, and I couldn't face the possibility of dragging you all into danger.

You have always been like family to me, and I cherish every moment we spent together. I hope you can understand that this was the only way. Please take care of yourself and everyone else.

Yours, 
W

Seungcheol's hands trembled as he finished reading. The words felt like a betrayal, a stark reminder of the sudden, unexplained departure of someone he considered a brother. The letter offered no real explanation, just a cold reassurance that he was safe. Seungcheol felt a mix of anger and hurt, the betrayal cutting deeper with every passing moment.

"Cheol, what's that in your hand?" Jeonghan noticed Seungcheol sitting alone, looking at the blank with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Wonwoo sent a letter," Seungcheol replied coldly.

Jeonghan's gaze fell on the piece of paper Seungcheol was holding, his expression shifting from curiosity to concern. He noticed the way Seungcheol's fingers were gripping the letter, as if holding onto it for support. "A letter? From Wonwoo? What does it say?" Jeonghan asked gently, trying to gauge the situation.

Seungcheol's voice was flat, betraying none of the turmoil he felt inside. "It's a short note. He says he's fine and starting over somewhere else, but he doesn't explain why he left or why he couldn't say goodbye properly."

Jeonghan moved closer, peering at the crumpled letter. The words seemed to have left Seungcheol emotionally drained, his eyes scanning the paper repeatedly. "I can't believe he just left without saying anything to us. I thought... I thought we meant more to him."

Seungcheol's face hardened with a mix of anger and sadness. "It's like he didn't even consider what it would do to us. It's not just the absence; it's the way he vanished without a trace, leaving us to pick up the pieces."

Jeonghan's eyes softened with empathy as he took a seat beside Seungcheol. "Cheol, this is really painful, I know. But maybe there's more to this than we realize. He might have had his reasons, even if they're not clear to us right now."

Seungcheol shook his head, his frustration evident. "It doesn't change how abandoned I feel. He was supposed to be part of this family, and now it feels like he just... discarded us. He was a key part of our lives, and now he's just gone."

Jeonghan reached out, placing a hand on Seungcheol's shoulder. "I understand you're hurt. It's a blow to lose someone we trusted so much. But we can't let this destroy us. We need to focus on what's ahead and keep our team united."