𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀

chapter-3

   Departure and Destiny

{ITALY}

[AUTHOR POV]

The evening air in Italy felt unusually heavy inside the Hwang family’s grand dining room. The room, with its tall windows, crystal chandeliers, and antique furniture, glowed in the fading sunlight, casting warm shadows across the polished wooden floors. The Hwang family was seated around a massive oak dining table, which was adorned with silverware, crystal glasses, and dishes that reflected their wealth and refined tastes. Yet, tonight, the conversation at the table was far from routine.

Luna sat at the head of the table, her posture poised, though an invisible weight pressed against her chest. Her father, Mr. Hwang, sat at the other end, his sharp eyes glancing at his children, then locking onto Luna’s. His face betrayed little, but Luna could feel the urgency in the air.

“Luna,” he began, his deep voice breaking the quiet chatter of her step-siblings, “there’s been an urgent attack on one of our bases in Korea. It’s more serious than we initially thought.”

The room fell silent. Luna’s heart rate quickened slightly, but she kept her expression calm. Years of training in the mafia world had taught her to mask her emotions, especially when facing critical moments like this. Her mind, however, began calculating—running through all the possibilities.

Her mother, Mrs. Hwang, with her flawless grace, looked at Luna with a mixture of concern and strength. “This attack involves the trafficking of girls and children,” she said softly, but with an edge in her voice. “The deal is larger than we anticipated. You’ll need to leave for Korea tonight.”

Luna’s breath caught for a moment, and she gripped the edge of the table. She had always been brave, always been ready for whatever the mafia world threw at her. But this was different. This time, she would be heading into the heart of danger—alone.

Beomgyu, her brother , leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a small smirk, trying to lighten the mood. “Come on, Luna, you’ve taken down bigger threats than this, right?”

But Soobin, the calmest of the siblings, placed his hand on Beomgyu’s arm. “Don’t joke about it. This is serious. Luna’s never gone on a mission like this without us.”

Luna smiled faintly at their contrasting reactions. Even in moments of stress, they still tried to protect her in their own ways. The rest of her siblings—Yeonjun, Taehyun, Huening Kai, and her sisters stayed silent, but their eyes told her everything. They were worried, but they trusted her.

She glanced at her father, who was watching her carefully, his hands clasped tightly together. “I’ll go,” Luna said firmly, her voice unwavering. “I’m ready.”

●●●

Dinner continued, but the usual lively conversations were replaced by heavy silence. Each sibling glanced at Luna with mixed emotions, from pride to worry. Huening Kai, always the most gentle, reached across the table to touch Luna’s hand. “You’ll come back safe, right?”

Luna nodded, though she could feel the weight of his question. This mission was dangerous, but she had to go. There was no other choice.

After dinner, they moved to the living room, an opulent space with high ceilings, plush velvet sofas, and the warm glow of a fireplace. The family gathered around in a circle, their expressions serious.

“We’ll join you in Korea in five days,” Mr. Hwang said, his tone commanding. “But you must leave tonight. The attack is too severe to wait.”

Mrs. Hwang stepped forward, her movements graceful but filled with purpose. She placed a hand on Luna’s shoulder. “Remember, Luna, you’re stronger than you think. But strength doesn’t mean you have to be alone. If anything goes wrong, call us.”