The Whispers (Underworld 6) VK

51: My Dynasty

As Seungcheol lowered his glass, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, eyebrows furrowing as he saw an unknown number flashing across the display. His instinct was to ignore it, given the joyous moment they were in, but something about the timing made him feel uneasy.

Reluctantly, he stepped away from the table, leaving behind the laughter and chatter that filled the room. He pressed the phone to his ear, his voice low. "Hello?"

A raspy voice on the other end chuckled softly, a sound that sent a chill down Seungcheol's spine. "Choi Seungcheol," the voice said, drawing out his name in a way that felt almost mocking. "You look so happy. It would be a shame if it didn't last, wouldn't it?"

Seungcheol's grip on the phone tightened, his jaw clenching. "Who is this?" he demanded, his voice icy.

"Let's just say... someone who's been watching closely, waiting for the right moment," the voice replied, laced with a cruel amusement. "Enjoy your laughter, your family, your joy. Savor it, because it won't last much longer."

Seungcheol's heart hammered in his chest, a sinking dread washing over him. The voice continued, cold and steady. "The Midnight gang has gotten too comfortable. I think it's time someone reminded you that happiness is fragile, especially for people like you."

Before Seungcheol could respond, the line went dead, leaving him standing alone in the hallway, the cold weight of the threat pressing down on him.

He took a deep breath, steadying himself before returning to the table, but his mind raced, replaying the warning over and over. As he rejoined his family, plastering on a calm smile, Jeonghan noticed the tension in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Jeonghan asked, his voice low, catching Seungcheol's arm.

Seungcheol glanced at him, hesitant to shatter the joy of the moment, but he knew better than to hide something like this from Jeonghan. "Later," he murmured, squeezing Jeonghan's hand reassuringly. "Let's just enjoy this for now."

Yet, even as they laughed and celebrated, Seungcheol's mind was miles away, the ominous words echoing in his ears: "You're soon going to lose your happy family." He glanced around the table, feeling the weight of responsibility settle heavily on his shoulders, a vow forming in his mind. He would do whatever it took to protect the people he loved—no matter what was coming for them.

Seungcheol took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The laughter and cheer of the celebration echoed in the room behind him, but now, that warmth felt distant, almost surreal. His heart raced as he stared at his phone, replaying the stranger's words. The malice in that voice, the chilling certainty that his happiness was under threat—it shook him to his core. Every instinct screamed for him to keep this to himself, to protect the others from whatever dark cloud was looming over them. But he knew Jeonghan would notice if he tried to keep it hidden.

With a forced calm, Seungcheol slipped his phone back into his pocket, turning back toward the hall where his family and friends waited, laughing and basking in the joy of the day. The moment he entered, Jeonghan's gaze met his, a gentle, questioning look in his eyes. He was the only one who could see through Seungcheol's carefully constructed facade, and he was already stepping away from the group, moving closer to Seungcheol.

"What's going on?" Jeonghan asked, his voice low but full of concern, his eyes scanning Seungcheol's face.

Seungcheol hesitated, glancing around to make sure none of the others were paying attention. The last thing he wanted was to disrupt their happiness—especially on such an important day. He took a small breath and met Jeonghan's gaze, trying to keep his voice steady. "It was just... a call," he murmured. "Someone—someone's trying to shake us. To threaten what we have."