A lovely change with love|2min

chapter 23

Trigger warning
Voilence and blood
Accident

Bang Chan’s eyes widened in disbelief, his face draining of color as he stared at the man who had just entered the room. Felix, clutching the wound on his head, stumbled back in shock.

Seungmin stood frozen. Her whole body went cold, the blood in her veins turning to ice. Her breath hitched, her heart seeming to stop for a moment before it came crashing back, pounding against her ribcage. Tears welled up in her eyes, hot and uncontrollable, as every emotion she had been suppressing surged all at once.

"Minho," she whispered, her voice trembling, so faint it was almost lost in the room's tension.

Minho’s gaze swept over everyone before landing on her. His hardened expression softened the moment their eyes met. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them with deliberate steps, his presence overwhelming. Without a word, he gently cupped her tear-streaked face, his thumbs brushing away the moisture as if it pained him to see her cry. Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to her temple, lingering there for a moment before nosing at the same spot. His breath was warm against her skin as he inhaled deeply, grounding himself in her presence.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice raw and heavy with guilt.

At his touch, Seungmin’s body shuddered violently, the tension she had held onto for so long crumbling. The gun she had been clutching slipped from her grasp and landed on the floor with a dull thud. Her knees buckled as sobs wracked her body, and she threw her arms around Minho, burying her face in his chest. His scent enveloped her—familiar, safe, and achingly comforting.

Minho held her tightly, one arm wrapped protectively around her waist, the other cradling the back of her head as she trembled in his embrace. He whispered soothing words into her hair, his voice barely audible over her quiet sobs, but the effect was instant. Slowly, her ragged breaths began to even out.

After a few moments, Minho pulled back just enough to study her face. The softness in his expression evaporated in an instant as his sharp eyes flicked to the red marks marring her neck. His jaw clenched tightly, and his gaze darkened, moving to the bruise blooming on her cheek and the cut on her forehead that had dried blood smeared around it. His thumb lightly brushed over the discolored skin, but it was enough to make Seungmin wince.

"Who did this?" he asked, his tone dangerously low, each word laced with quiet fury. His grip on her waist tightened as if to shield her from the world, his entire demeanor shifting into something lethal.

Seungmin hesitated, her lips trembling as her eyes darted toward Felix. Minho’s gaze followed hers, landing on the man still clutching his bleeding head. The room seemed to drop several degrees as Minho’s eyes hardened, a predatory gleam flashing in them. His voice was calm but carried a chilling edge that made everyone tense.

"Felix," he called, his lips curling into a cold, unforgiving smile.

Minho’s gaze never wavered from Felix, his cold, calculating demeanor terrifying in its precision. He stepped in front of the man, his presence casting a long, threatening shadow over him. His voice was eerily calm, almost conversational, as he asked, “Which hand did you touch her with?”

Felix didn’t respond, his lips pressed together in defiance. Sweat dripped down his temple, and he instinctively took a step back, his movements betraying his fear. Minho tilted his head slightly, an unsettling chuckle slipping from his lips as he took a step closer, erasing the distance Felix tried to create.

“Hmm.” Minho’s eyes glinted with dark amusement. “Why waste time guessing?”

Before anyone could react, Minho pulled a gun from the holster hidden beneath his coat. Without hesitation, he fired. The first shot hit Felix square in the left arm, a loud bang echoing through the room. Felix screamed, clutching his arm as he stumbled backward, blood pouring from the wound. Minho didn’t flinch. His expression remained cold, his hand steady as he raised the gun again and fired a second shot, this time at Felix’s right arm. The second scream was louder, more guttural, as Felix crumpled to the floor, writhing in agony.