Choi San, a revered and feared mafia boss, reigns over Seoul's underworld with an iron fist, his influence extending seamlessly across both legal and illegal domains. But his empire is shaken to its core when his beloved daughter, Eun-ji, is kidnapp...
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I gasped for air, clutching the edge of the desk for balance as San loomed over me, his eyes blazing with an intensity I had never seen. The office seemed to shrink around us, suffocating under the weight of his fury. Every breath he took was heavy, almost feral, his chest rising and falling like he was on the edge of completely losing control.
"You think you know better than me?" His voice was low and venomous, each word dripping with an anger that felt like it could set the room on fire. He stepped closer, his face mere inches from mine, so close I could feel the heat radiating off him, each breath that escaped his lips sharp and filled with a restrained violence.
I gripped the desk harder, refusing to let him see the slightest crack in my resolve. My body was tense, every muscle coiled and ready, but I met his gaze unflinchingly. "Yes, San. I did what I thought was right," I forced out, my voice strained but unyielding. "I kept her safe while you were losing your mind, tearing through this city. I had to because you were so blinded by rage you couldn't see the danger she was in."
His hands balled into fists at his sides, knuckles white as he fought the urge to lash out again. His jaw clenched, his face twisted with rage as he leaned closer, so close I could feel the fury in each exhale. His voice was barely more than a growl. "You don't know what it feels like—knowing your child is out there, alone, taken from you. You had no right to keep her from me."
"Just move aside, San," I said, my voice as steady as I could make it, though I felt the weight of his anger pressing down on me like a storm. I pushed against him, trying to create space, but he held firm, his body unmoving, blocking my only way out. With one rough shove, he had me pressed back into the desk, and there was nowhere left to go.
"You're not going anywhere," he growled, his face inches from mine, his breath hot and charged with fury. "You're a fucking liar. Talking about protecting her, talking about not being involved with the Midnight Reapers. You think I'm stupid? I don't trust you an ounce, Wooyoung."
My hands pressed against his chest, the steady thump of his heart pulsing against my palm, hard and fast, in rhythm with his anger. Every tremor of his rage, every harsh breath he took seemed to reverberate through me, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. I swallowed hard, unable to ignore the power radiating from him, his whole frame tense and coiled. I averted my eyes, breaking the intensity of his gaze, but his hand shot up, fingers gripping my jaw, forcing me to meet his stare.
"Not much to say anymore, huh?" he murmured, his voice low and venomous, laced with a cold satisfaction as he watched me. "All those excuses about keeping her safe. All that talk about loyalty and protection." He leaned in closer, his grip tightening just enough to make me aware of his strength, his control over the situation. "Funny how quiet you get when I press you."
A flicker of defiance rose within me, and I met his gaze again, refusing to be silenced by his intimidation. "I did what I had to, San. You can try to scare me all you want, but I'm not going to stand here and let you twist this."
