The Shadows (Underworld 4) JH

38: Building & Collapsing Bonds

Jun and Minghao flew back to Korea, returning to the Midnight gang's stronghold. The atmosphere in the private jet was tense, a heavy silence hanging between them. Minghao kept glancing at Jun, his mind a whirl of confusion and unanswered questions. Jun, however, remained focused, his expression unreadable as they neared their destination.

As soon as they landed, they were met by several members of the Midnight gang, who escorted them directly to the main mansion where Seungcheol was waiting. The mansion, with its imposing architecture and heavily guarded perimeter, was a stark contrast to the opulence of the ballroom they had just left behind. The weight of what had just happened hung over them, and Minghao could feel the apprehension building inside him.

When they entered the grand hall, Seungcheol was already there, seated at the head of a long table, his expression dark and foreboding. Jeonghan and a few other key members were present as well, their eyes flickering with curiosity and concern as they watched Jun and Minghao approach.

Seungcheol's gaze was icy as he locked eyes with Jun. "What the hell did you do, Jun?" he demanded, his voice low but dripping with anger. "You barged into a wedding, nearly got yourselves killed, and brought him back here? Without consulting anyone?"

Jun met Seungcheol's glare with his own, his stance unwavering. "I did what I had to. Minghao was trapped in a life he didn't choose, with a woman who was using him. I wasn't going to stand by and let that continue."

"And you think dragging him into this mess is the solution?" Seungcheol shot back, his voice rising. "Do you have any idea what you've just done? Yulan won't let this slide. You've put all of us at risk!"

Minghao flinched at the harshness of Seungcheol's words, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. But Jun didn't waver. "I'm not afraid of Yulan, and neither should you be. This is bigger than her."

Seungcheol leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he studied Jun. "You've always been reckless, Jun. But this... this is different. You didn't just defy Yulan; you defied me."

Jeonghan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "Seungcheol, let's not make any rash decisions. We need to assess the situation, understand what's really going on before we do anything drastic."

Seungcheol shot Jeonghan a look but didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze back to Minghao, who had been standing quietly beside Jun, his unease growing by the second. "And you," Seungcheol said, his tone sharp. "What do you have to say for yourself? You've been dragged into this, but are you prepared for what comes next?"

Minghao swallowed hard, feeling the intensity of Seungcheol's scrutiny. "I... I didn't ask for any of this," he admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "But I don't want to go back. Not to Yulan, not to that life. I just want to be free."

Seungcheol's refusal to allow Minghao into the mansion created a palpable tension within the Midnight gang. Despite Joshua's and Jihoon's persistent pleas, Seungcheol's distrust of Minghao was unshakable. The fact that Minghao was connected to Yulan, their most formidable enemy, made him a potential threat in Seungcheol's eyes, one he wasn't willing to take lightly.

Minghao could feel the coldness in the air as he stood outside the mansion, knowing that he wasn't welcome. He had hoped that once they returned to Korea, things would settle down, that he could find some semblance of peace away from Yulan's influence. But it seemed that no matter where he went, he was viewed with suspicion and fear.

Jun, who had been silently fuming beside him, finally spoke up, his voice low but firm. "If Seungcheol won't let you in, then we'll find another way. You're not going back to Yulan, and I'm not leaving you alone."