The Shadows (Underworld 4) JH

16: Life in Dublin

As the days in Dublin passed, Yulan's recovery progressed steadily, but there was a lingering tension between her and Minghao that neither could ignore. She knew she couldn't keep him in the dark any longer. The weight of her secrets had grown too heavy to bear alone, and Minghao deserved to know the truth—no matter how painful it might be.

One evening, as the sky outside her hospital window turned a deep shade of twilight, Yulan decided it was time. She called Minghao to her bedside, her voice soft but filled with determination. Minghao entered the room, concern etched on his face as he took a seat beside her.

"Yulan, you should be resting," Minghao said, his voice filled with gentle worry.

"I know, but there's something I need to tell you," Yulan replied, her tone serious. "Something I should have told you a long time ago."

Minghao's brow furrowed as he leaned in closer, sensing the gravity of her words. "What is it? You can tell me anything."

Yulan took a deep breath, steadying herself for the confession that was about to unfold. "Minghao, my life is far more complicated than I've ever let on. I've been involved in things—dangerous things—that you need to know about. Things that have put you in danger, even though I tried so hard to keep you away from it all."

Minghao remained silent, his heart pounding as he braced himself for whatever she was about to reveal.

"I'm part of the mafia," Yulan began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was born into it, raised in it. My family has deep connections in organized crime, and I was drawn into that world from a young age. What started as a means of survival became my way of life."

Minghao's eyes widened, shock rippling through him. "The mafia...?"

"Yes," Yulan confirmed, her gaze unwavering. "For years, I've been a key figure in our operations. Smuggling, trafficking, taking down rival gangs—it's all part of the life I've led. But it's also a life filled with enemies, people who would stop at nothing to see me destroyed."

Minghao's mind raced, trying to process this new reality. "And the Midnight gang?"

Yulan's expression hardened. "They're our biggest rivals. The Midnight gang, led by Seungcheol, has been after me for years. We've fought over territory, power, resources—you name it. The recent attack that put me in the hospital was their doing. They want me out of the picture, permanently."

Minghao felt a chill run down his spine. "So all of this... the injuries, the secrets, the danger... it's all because of this fight with the Midnight gang?"

"Yes," Yulan admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "And I kept it from you because I didn't want you to get involved. I wanted to protect you from this world, to keep you safe from the violence and betrayal that comes with it. But I see now that keeping you in the dark only made things worse."

Minghao's heart ached with a mix of anger, sadness, and confusion. "Why didn't you trust me, Yulan? Why didn't you let me help you?"

Yulan reached out, taking his hand in hers. "Because I didn't want to lose you. I've lost so much in this life, Minghao, and the thought of losing you too was unbearable. But I see now that I can't do this alone. I need you, and I need your trust if we're going to get through this."

Minghao squeezed her hand, his resolve strengthening. "I'm here, Yulan. I won't leave you, not now, not ever. We'll face this together."

Yulan nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and sorrow. "There's more, Minghao. The man you met at the hotel—the one who's been helping you, Junhui—he's not who you think he is. He's deeply involved with the Midnight gang. He's dangerous, and he's been manipulating you to get closer to me."