The Conquest (Underworld 5) SH

54: My Precious Ruby

Seungcheol leaned back in his seat as the hum of the plane filled the space around him. The private jet was comfortably silent, except for the low whirring of the engines as they flew over the Pacific, heading toward New York. Beside him, Jeonghan was flipping through a magazine, looking as graceful and calm as ever. Seungcheol glanced at him, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"You know," Seungcheol began, breaking the quiet between them, "I've been thinking about the past a lot lately. Especially about Jihoon and Chan."

Jeonghan lowered the magazine, his eyes curious as he turned to face Seungcheol. "What about them?" he asked, his voice soft but laced with interest. He could sense that something important was about to unfold.

Seungcheol exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window, though his mind was far from the clouds. "Not many people know this, but Jihoon and Chan... they're actually brothers. Biological brothers."

Jeonghan's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Really? I never would have guessed. They don't act like brothers at all."

Seungcheol nodded. "They've kept it hidden for years, much like how Hansol and I have kept our connection under wraps. It's safer that way, considering where we come from."

Jeonghan frowned slightly, leaning forward. "You mean... they're hiding their family ties for the same reason you and Hansol did? Because of the Yakuza?"

Seungcheol's expression darkened slightly at the mention of their shared past. He nodded. "Yes. Jihoon and Chan are originally from a prominent Japanese Yakuza family. Their mother was the daughter of one of the most infamous Yakuza bosses in Tokyo. The blood in their veins ties them to that world, just like Hansol and I."

Jeonghan looked at Seungcheol with a new understanding, the weight of his words settling in. "I had no idea," he murmured. "But why do they keep it hidden? I mean, I understand why you and Hansol did, but Jihoon and Chan... why hide it so completely?"

Seungcheol ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening as he recalled the events that had led to Jihoon and Chan's decision. "Their mother was disowned by the Yakuza after she fell in love with a man outside the syndicate. Their family cut all ties with her, but even though she was cast out, her children were still seen as part of that world. Jihoon and Chan grew up in the shadow of the Yakuza, even though they never wanted anything to do with it."

He paused, his voice lowering as he continued. "When their mother passed away, Jihoon and Chan decided to leave Japan. They wanted to start over, somewhere far from the reach of their family. But the truth is, no matter how far they run, they're still bound by their bloodline."

Jeonghan remained quiet, processing the information. "So that's why they prefer to stay under the radar. To avoid being dragged back into that world."

Seungcheol nodded. "Exactly. They've done a good job of keeping it hidden, even from most of the Midnight gang. But in a way, it's not too different from how I kept Hansol a secret for so long. I didn't want him to be connected to that world either."

Jeonghan reached out, placing a hand on Seungcheol's arm. "You've done a good job protecting Hansol. And I'm sure Jihoon and Chan are grateful for the way you've shielded them, too."

Seungcheol gave a small, appreciative smile. "I hope so. But it's a heavy burden for all of us. No matter how hard we try to escape it, the past has a way of catching up."

Jeonghan leaned back in his seat, his expression thoughtful. "Family... it's never easy, is it?"

Seungcheol shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping him. "No. Especially when your family comes with a history like ours."