The Villianess's Redemption (HYUNJIN ff) ✓

28.The Unmasking

Chapter 28: The Unmasking
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Felix’s POV

The weight of what I was about to confess hung heavy in the air, pressing down on my chest like a boulder. I could feel every eye in the room on me, and the expectant silence was almost too much to bear. But I had to do this—for Eliza, for myself, and for whatever shred of integrity I had left.

I took a deep breath and glanced at Eliza. Her eyes were wide with confusion and fear, and I knew my next words would shatter her trust completely. But she deserved the truth.

“I’ve been keeping in contact with Donghyuk and Changbin,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “Ever since Changbin approached me…”

Flashback

It was a quiet afternoon at the stables. I was brushing down one of the horses, letting the repetitive motion calm my thoughts, when I felt a presence behind me. I turned, and there he was—Changbin, leaning casually against the stable door with his hands in his pockets and a smirk playing on his lips.

“Felix… just the man I was looking for,” he said, his voice smooth and confident.

I frowned, confused and immediately on guard. “What are you doing here, Changbin?”

His smirk widened as he pushed off the doorframe and stepped closer. “You know, I’ve been watching you for a while. It’s quite interesting, really. You’ve got this whole ‘good guy’ persona, but deep down, there’s something darker, isn’t there?”

I didn’t like where this was going. “Get to the point, Changbin.”

He chuckled, completely unfazed by my cold tone. “You’ve got a crush on Eliza, don’t you? It’s obvious to everyone but her. She’s so dense, she probably doesn’t even realize it.”

My jaw clenched, irritation flaring up inside me. “That’s none of your business.”

“Maybe not,” he conceded, raising his hands in mock surrender. “But how much does she mean to you, Felix? Enough to do whatever it takes to protect her?”

The question caught me off guard. I stared at him, trying to gauge his intentions. “What are you getting at?”

Changbin’s expression turned serious, his eyes gleaming with something dark. “Have you noticed how much drama and danger Eliza has been dragged into since she got involved with Hyunjin? It’s like she’s a magnet for trouble, and all because of him.”

A frown creased my brow as I thought about it. I hated to admit it, but he wasn’t wrong. Eliza had faced countless threats, and every time, it seemed like Hyunjin was somehow at the center of it all.

Changbin stepped closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Hyunjin doesn’t mean much to you, right? Not as much as Eliza does. So why not work together to eliminate the problem?”

My eyes narrowed. “What are you suggesting?”

“I’m saying,” he continued, his voice silky smooth, “that we can get rid of Hyunjin. It’s a win-win situation. You protect Eliza from the danger he brings, and I get rid of a threat to our Seo family business. Simple.”

I was torn. I didn’t like Hyunjin, but this… this was something else entirely. It felt wrong, but at the same time, I couldn’t ignore the growing feeling that this might be the only way to truly keep Eliza safe.

“Think about it,” Changbin said, his voice almost hypnotic. “If you agree, come to the Seo residence. We’ll talk more.”

The days that followed were filled with turmoil. I couldn’t get Changbin’s words out of my head. The idea of eliminating Hyunjin felt wrong, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I was willing to do for Eliza. She was everything to me, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her to the chaos that surrounded Hyunjin.