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"Welcome back, petal."
Chan's gaze swept over the grand mansion, unchanged and as imposing as ever. With a gentle but firm arm around Jeongin's waist, he drew the young man snugly to his side. The cool breeze kissed their faces, a stark contrast to the sun's warm embrace overhead.
The three men exited the car, with Changbin, Jisung, and Hyunjin falling into step just behind them. The underboss moved ahead, his hand landing on the boss’s shoulder, causing the older man to flinch slightly in surprise.
“My bad,” he chuckled softly, giving the tense muscle a reassuring squeeze. “Come on, let's head inside. This mansion hasn’t felt like home without you.”
The boss gave a nod in response and moved forward, with the others trailing closely behind. The air inside carried a hint of tension after the recent incident and fight, but the overall mood was one of relief—everyone was glad to have him back. Staff members and those passing by bowed respectfully as they entered, the sound of their shoes echoing crisply against the polished marble floor.
The days spent in the hospital were far from easy, but having Jeongin and the other boys by his side made it bearable. He had never felt this kind of dread before—the paralyzing fear of losing his life. He knew that Changbin and Jisung were more than capable of carrying on the legacy without him, just as he had done in the past. But since Jeongin had entered his life, he had come to understand the true meaning of fear.
The fear of losing his life had never felt so real, especially now that he understood how much it could hurt those he cared about. The fear of leaving his petal alone in this cruel world gripped him tightly. Chan suddenly halted in his tracks, his thoughts pausing for a few seconds as a sharp realization pierced through his mind. “Jisung, take Jeongin back to his room,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I’ll be back...”
The consigliere complied, and the boss released his hold on Jeongin’s waist. The young man hesitated, his eyes lingering on Chan for a moment before he softly murmured, “Okay,” and turned away, following Jisung as they disappeared down the hallway.
The boss turned to Changbin, who met his gaze and immediately understood. With a silent nod, Changbin stepped aside as Chan began his deliberate walk towards the basement door—the place where all their darkest dealings took place. His eyes narrowed as the heavy gate creaked open, the sharp, grating sound making him cringe and heightening his awareness of the dull throbbing pain in his head.
Trying to push through the pain, his mind returned to the thoughts that had been haunting him. "I've grown afraid of losing my life, and I hope... Jeongin fears the same. Both his and mine." A quiet sigh escaped his lips. "And if death ever comes for us, I pray it takes me first."
With that, he pressed on, the silence amplifying the feeling that not much was happening... or was it? As he moved past the torture rooms and investigation chambers, he finally reached the cell area. All the doors were securely locked, and his eyes scanned for the specific cell he was seeking.
