Arrange Marriage

CHAP 16

Wonwoo’s flight home was filled with an uneasy tension he couldn’t shake. He had been on countless business trips before, but something about this one had felt different, and the nagging worry tugged at his mind as he replayed the last conversation he’d had with Mingyu.

Their argument before he left was over something trivial—Mingyu’s insistence on joining him for the trip, which Wonwoo had declined, saying it would be too dangerous. Mingyu had taken it personally, feeling that Wonwoo was being overprotective. The tension between them hadn’t eased before he’d left, and the silence from Mingyu during his trip had weighed on him more than he’d expected.

When his car pulled up to their house late at night, Wonwoo felt a flicker of relief. He couldn’t wait to see Mingyu, to set things right, to hold him close again and apologize for letting something so minor come between them. But as the car drew closer, his sense of relief gave way to something darker.

The house lights were still on, but the front door hung open, just slightly ajar.

Wonwoo’s heart rate spiked, and he felt a cold dread twist in his stomach. He stepped out of the car, motioning to his guards, who followed his lead with their guns drawn, already sensing something was wrong. Wonwoo entered the house cautiously, his eyes scanning the dimly lit entryway. What he saw made his blood run cold.

The living room was in disarray—furniture overturned, shattered glass littering the floor. The house was eerily silent except for the soft hum of the refrigerator. The broken coffee table, the upturned chairs—it looked as if there had been a struggle. Fear clawed at his insides as he called out, his voice wavering.

“Mingyu?”

Silence.

He stormed further into the house, moving room by room, his heart hammering against his ribcage as he took in the destruction. His gaze landed on one of Mingyu’s bodyguards, slumped against the wall near the kitchen, his face bloodied, his suit torn. The man was barely conscious, but when he saw Wonwoo, he tried to sit up, forcing himself to speak.

“Sir... they took him,” he croaked, his voice raspy with pain.

The words hit Wonwoo like a sledgehammer. “Who?” he demanded, his voice shaking with barely suppressed rage.

The guard winced, gripping his side as he tried to catch his breath. “A rival group… they knew you were out of town. They came here looking for leverage, to send a message… Mingyu tried to fight them off, but…”

Wonwoo didn’t need to hear the rest. The realization hit him with brutal clarity—his absence had left Mingyu vulnerable. Mingyu, who had always been so carefree, so fearless, who probably hadn’t even seen the danger coming.

Wonwoo clenched his fists, a new wave of anger and fear surging through him. “Do you know where they took him?” he asked, his voice cold and deadly.

The guard nodded weakly, his gaze filled with remorse. “We managed to trace them to an old warehouse on the edge of the city... but, sir… they’re armed. They wanted you to know they have him.”

Without another word, Wonwoo turned and stormed out of the house, fury blazing in his eyes as he barked orders to his men. He wasted no time gathering his best team, his mind fixated on one thought: finding Mingyu and bringing him home.

The drive to the warehouse was silent, filled with a tension that felt like it could shatter at any moment. Wonwoo’s jaw was clenched, his hands gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. The entire ride, his mind replayed every possible scenario, every way this could go wrong, every way Mingyu could be hurt. His heart pounded with a mixture of fear and anger as he thought about Mingyu, somewhere in that warehouse, alone and afraid.

When they finally reached the warehouse, Wonwoo’s eyes narrowed. The place was heavily guarded, but that didn’t deter him. It only fueled his determination. He quickly formulated a plan with his men, his voice deadly calm as he gave out orders.

“We go in quietly. Minimize collateral damage. I want to find Mingyu as quickly as possible. They don’t leave this place standing after what they’ve done.”

His men nodded, understanding the unspoken fury beneath Wonwoo’s words.

Wonwoo moved swiftly through the warehouse, his footsteps silent as he navigated the dark corridors. Each corner he turned, he fought to steady his breath, forcing himself to stay focused. Then, he heard it—a muffled voice from one of the back rooms.

His heart leapt as he recognized the voice. Mingyu.

Pushing down the swell of emotion, Wonwoo moved toward the sound, signaling his men to be ready. He reached the door, and with a quick nod, they burst in, taking down the guards in one swift, coordinated strike.

There, bound to a chair in the center of the room, was Mingyu. His face was bruised, his hair disheveled, but his eyes were as defiant as ever, a spark of relief flaring when he saw Wonwoo.

“Wonwoo…” Mingyu’s voice was rough, a mix of exhaustion and relief.

Wonwoo crossed the room in two strides, his hands gently cupping Mingyu’s face as he examined the injuries, his own voice tight with emotion. “Are you alright?”

Mingyu managed a weak smile. “Nothing I can’t handle. But… it’s good to see you.”

Without a second’s hesitation, Wonwoo leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Mingyu’s, his voice filled with a fierce tenderness. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here,” he murmured. “I’m sorry I left you alone. I should have protected you.”

Mingyu shook his head, his gaze steady despite the pain etched across his face. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

Wonwoo’s heart ached with a rare vulnerability as he helped untie Mingyu’s bindings. He couldn’t stop himself from wrapping his arms around him, holding him close as if to shield him from any remaining threat. His anger flared anew as he thought of what Mingyu had gone through, what could have happened had he been a moment later. But for now, he focused on the relief of having Mingyu safe in his arms.

As they made their way out of the warehouse, Wonwoo kept a protective arm around Mingyu, ensuring he was steady on his feet. In the safety of the car, Wonwoo held Mingyu’s hand tightly, his gaze softening as he looked at him.

“You’re not leaving my sight again,” Wonwoo said, his voice filled with a fierce, possessive warmth. “I’m not letting anyone take you from me.”

Mingyu managed a small smile, leaning his head against Wonwoo’s shoulder. “Good, because I don’t think I could handle being away from you again.”

Wonwoo pulled him closer, pressing a gentle kiss to his temple. He vowed to himself, right then and there, that he would never let anyone harm Mingyu again, no matter the cost. Because he had realized, in the stark fear of losing him, that Mingyu was his everything—his light, his warmth, his entire world.