Embers of Hope// Hyunlix

Chapter - 36

Felix was again sitting beside Hyunjin in the hospital room, talking to him about their childhood memories. 

"You looked so pretty like that, with a flower crown on your head. I just couldn't take my eyes off of you. Even now you still are pretty. Maybe even more." He said, brushing his thumb against Hyunjin's cheek.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Felix quickly wiped his eyes as Seungmin and Jisung entered the room. Their faces were grim but determined, and Felix immediately sensed they had news.

Felix straightened up, his heart racing. "What is it? Did you find something?"

"Felix," Seungmin started, his voice steady yet tinged with urgency. "We have news about Eunji."

Jisung stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "We need to talk, now."

Felix straightened, a sense of dread creeping into his gut. "What is it?"

Seungmin exchanged a glance with Jisung before continuing. "Minho already spoke to Mr. Lee. He knows everything about Eunji and your mother. They're planning something, and we need to act fast."

Felix's pulse quickened. "What do you mean? What are they planning?"

"From what we gathered," Jisung said, "Eunji is targeting you and Hyunjin again. She wants to finish what she started. And Mrs. Lee... she's been in on it the whole time. It's all about control for them."

Felix felt the world tilt on its axis, anger bubbling within him. "We can't let that happen. We have to stop them."

Seungmin nodded, determination shining in his eyes. "We're putting a plan together to capture them. We'll need to catch Eunji off guard, and Mrs. Lee too. They can't be allowed to hurt anyone else."

Felix took a deep breath, steeling himself. "What do we need to do?"

"We need to gather information," Jisung replied. "Find out their movements, where they might strike next. Then we set a trap."

Felix looked down at Hyunjin, still lying peacefully, oblivious to the chaos surrounding him. "I can't leave his side. I won't risk anything happening to him."

Seungmin placed a hand on Felix's shoulder. "We'll be here. You're not alone in this. We'll make sure he's safe, and we'll get them."

With a nod, Felix felt the weight of responsibility settle over him. It was time to fight back, not just for Hyunjin but for their future together. The battle was far from over, but they would face it together.

The tension in the air was palpable as Felix, Jisung, Seungmin, and Minho gathered in the hospital hallway, their expressions grim but determined. They had waited long enough; it was time to take action.

"We need to confront them before they have a chance to strike again," Minho said, his voice low and intense. "We can't let them hurt Hyunjin any more than they already have."

Felix nodded, gripping Hyunjin's pendant that hung around his neck—a small token that connected him to his husband. "I won't let them get away with this. I'll do whatever it takes to protect him."

Jisung pulled out his phone, showing them a message from a contact who had been keeping tabs on Mrs. Lee. "We know she's been meeting someone regularly—likely Eunji. We need to figure out where these meetings are happening."

Seungmin glanced around, making sure no one was within earshot. "We can set up surveillance. If we can catch them in the act, we'll have the evidence we need."

Felix took a deep breath, feeling a surge of adrenaline. "Let's do it. We need to move fast."

The four of them quickly devised a plan, coordinating their roles. Minho and Seungmin would handle the surveillance while Jisung and Felix would prepare to confront Mrs. Lee and Eunji if they showed up. They needed to strike hard and fast, catching the two women off guard.

A few hours later, as the sun began to set, Felix and Jisung parked discreetly near a café known to be one of Mrs. Lee's frequent haunts. Felix's heart raced, a mix of anticipation and dread coursing through him.

"Do you think we're doing the right thing?" Jisung asked, glancing at Felix.

"We don't have a choice," Felix replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "If we don't stop them now, we might lose Hyunjin for good."

They watched as Mrs. Lee pulled into the parking lot, her car glinting in the fading light. Felix's fists clenched as he recalled the call Jisung overheard. "Kill him. Then Felix is yours."

A moment later, Eunji slid into the passenger seat, her demeanor relaxed, a stark contrast to the rage simmering within Felix.

"Let's move," Felix whispered, opening the car door quietly and stepping out into the shadows, with Jisung following closely behind. They approached the café, using the bustling crowd to their advantage.

Inside, Minho and Seungmin were already in position, their eyes scanning the area for signs of trouble. Felix caught their gaze, signaling that they were ready to execute their plan.

Felix and Jisung approached Mrs. Lee's table, their hearts pounding in their chests.

"Hello, mom." Felix said, his voice steady but low.

She looked up, surprise flitting across her face before morphing into a cold smile. "Felix, dear. What a surprise."

Felix felt Jisung tense beside him. "We know what you're planning. Eunji is alive, and we won't let you hurt Hyunjin."

The smile slipped from Mrs. Lee's face, replaced by a look of anger. "You should have stayed away, Felix. You're meddling in things you don't understand."

Felix stepped closer, his voice firm. "I understand perfectly. You're using him as a pawn in your twisted game. It ends now."

Just as Mrs. Lee opened her mouth to retort, Minho and Seungmin appeared from the side, surrounding the table.

"Don't move," Minho commanded, his eyes locked on Eunji, who had risen from her seat, her expression shifting from surprise to malice.

"Felix," she said, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "You should have let this go. You have no idea what you're up against."

Felix's heart raced as he prepared for a confrontation. "You think you can scare me? You tried to kill my husband!"

"Because he stole you, Felix! You were supposed to be mine! I had loved you and I still love you!" She said out. 

"Love? You're just a psycho who's obsessed with me, Eunji. You don't know what love really is." Felix spoke calmly.

No, you're wrong! You used to love me Felix! You used to love me back then when you dated me!" She said furiously.

"I never loved you, Eunji. It was Hyunjin whom I loved. I only dated you to get rid of my feelings for him because I assumed that he would never love me back." Felix revealed.

Suddenly, chaos erupted. Eunji lunged for Felix, but Jisung quickly grabbed her arm, trying to restrain her. "Get back!" he shouted, struggling against her strength.

Mrs. Lee, seething with fury, attempted to flee, but Minho was quicker, grabbing her wrist and twisting her arm behind her back. "You're not going anywhere."

Eunji broke free from Jisung's grip and pulled a knife from her purse, brandishing it with a wild look in her eyes. "You think you can stop me? You're all weak!"

Felix's blood ran cold as he faced her, adrenaline pumping through him. "You're the one who's weak, hiding behind your threats and violence. You're done here."

With that, Felix lunged forward, ready to tackle Eunji, when suddenly Seungmin grabbed a nearby chair and swung it, knocking the knife from her hands. The blade clattered to the floor, and the tension in the air shifted dramatically.

"Now!" Minho shouted, as he and Jisung moved to restrain Eunji, pinning her against the table.

Felix's heart pounded as he stepped closer to Mrs. Lee, who was still struggling against Minho's grip. "You will pay for what you've done to Hyunjin," he said, his voice low and fierce.

As chaos unfolded around him, Felix knew this was just the beginning. They had fought back, but the battle against Eunji and Mrs. Lee was far from over. He would do everything in his power to protect Hyunjin, no matter the cost.