Living Inferno

Seven

Jungkook stood in the center of the dark, cold room, surrounded by his father's men. The weight of their stares bore down on him like a suffocating fog, but it was nothing compared to the fury radiating from his father, Jeon Sang-hyun. Jungkook's heart pounded in his chest, his body tense, knowing that this meeting was going to be far worse than any punishment he had received before. His father's temper was legendary, but this—this felt like a storm brewing, a tempest ready to explode.

Jeon Sang-hyun sat at the far end of the room, his eyes like cold steel as he stared at Jungkook. His men stood like statues along the walls, silent and imposing. On the table before him lay a gun, gleaming under the dim light, and the sight of it made Jungkook's blood run cold. His father's anger was palpable, the air thick with tension that threatened to snap at any moment.

"Do you have any idea," his father began, his voice eerily calm, "the disaster you've brought upon this family?"

Jungkook remained silent, his jaw clenched, but his heart hammered in his chest. He had faced his father's wrath before, but this was different. This was about more than just his usual mistakes. The article—that damned article—had exposed everything. His actions, his crimes, the family's influence. Everything was out in the open now, and his father was furious beyond reason.

Sang-hyun's cold, calculating eyes never left Jungkook's face as he stood up from his chair, his movements slow and deliberate. "I've spent my entire life building this family's power. I've destroyed anyone who stood in my way, buried scandals, controlled politicians, bribed police—all so you could live the life you've had." He walked closer, each step echoing ominously in the room. "And this... this is how you repay me?"

Jungkook swallowed hard, his mind racing. He knew what was coming. There was no point in trying to defend himself, no point in begging for mercy. His father was beyond that.

Without warning, Sang-hyun's fist collided with Jungkook's face, sending him staggering backward. The blow was brutal, but Jungkook didn't try to defend himself. He had been here before—he knew better than to fight back. His father's beatings were just another part of life, but this time, they carried the weight of more than just anger. They carried the weight of disappointment and fury over the threat to the family's name.

"You're a disgrace," Sang-hyun spat, hitting Jungkook again, this time knocking him to the floor. "Everything I've built is falling apart because of you. Because of your stupidity."

Jungkook groaned as he hit the ground, pain shooting through his body, but he stayed down, bracing himself for what he knew was coming next. His father's men didn't move, didn't flinch. They stood still, watching without emotion as Sang-hyun unleashed his fury on his son.

"Do you have any idea how much this is going to cost me?" Sang-hyun hissed, grabbing Jungkook by the collar and hauling him up to his knees. "Do you know how many people I've had to pay off just to keep the police from launching an investigation?"

Jungkook winced, blood dripping from his split lip, but he didn't respond. He knew nothing he said would matter.

Sang-hyun's hand tightened around Jungkook's collar, his voice lowering into a dangerous whisper. "You've put me in an impossible position, Jungkook. And if I can't fix this..." His eyes flicked toward the gun on the table. "Then I'll have no choice but to clean up this mess in a different way."

Jungkook's breath hitched, his eyes darting toward the gun. For a moment, pure fear coursed through him. He knew his father was capable of anything, knew that his life meant little in the grand scheme of the Jeon empire. But this—this was different. This was a real threat.

Sang-hyun released his grip on Jungkook and turned toward the table, his fingers brushing against the gun. He picked it up slowly, the metal glinting in the low light as he turned it over in his hands. The room was deadly silent, the tension unbearable as he stared at the weapon, as if contemplating what to do next.