Bound by Shadows .jc

CHAPTER 38

A Brewing encounter 

The heavy oak door of the study slammed shut behind Seungcheol as he entered, the sound reverberating through the quiet mansion. The room was dim, lit only by a single desk lamp that cast harsh shadows across the walls. Shelves of leather-bound books loomed over him, and the faint scent of whiskey and cigars lingered in the air. He strode to the desk, his jaw clenched, every step radiating fury.

Grabbing his phone with a trembling hand, Seungcheol dialed a number he knew by heart. The call connected after two rings, and the calm, composed voice of Daniel greeted him.

"Seungcheol," Daniel said, his tone unbothered, as though he wasn't speaking to a man on the brink of exploding.

"Daniel," Seungcheol growled, his voice low and dangerous. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"Careful, boy," Daniel replied coolly. "Watch your tone with me."

"You had no right!" Seungcheol barked, his knuckles white as he gripped the phone. "No right to tell Jeonghan anything! You crossed a line you shouldn't have!"

Daniel's chuckle was soft but mocking, and it only stoked the fire of Seungcheol's rage. "I gave you a week, Seungcheol. A week to confess. You didn't, so I did it for you."

Seungcheol slammed a fist onto the desk, making the lamp wobble. "Do you even understand what you've done? You've ruined everything—"

"Enough," Daniel interrupted, his voice cutting like a blade. "I raised you to be the man you are, Seungcheol. Don't you dare talk to me like I'm beneath you. You want to lecture me? Think again, brat."

Seungcheol froze for a moment, swallowing hard as his mentor's words hit him like a slap. But his anger didn't wane. "You had no right to make that call, Daniel."

Daniel's voice turned colder, sharper. "Answer me this: why did you bring Jeonghan here in the first place?"

"To protect him," Seungcheol replied without hesitation, though his voice wavered slightly.

Daniel hummed, unconvinced. "And this was the only way? Was this really the best option, or was it the most convenient for you?"

Seungcheol said nothing, the silence damning.

"I see," Daniel said, his tone smug yet pointed. "I know you, Seungcheol. You brought Jeonghan here because you like him. Admit it. When the opportunity came to act, you didn't hesitate to take it—because it meant keeping him close."

Seungcheol's breath hitched, Daniel's words cutting deeper than he cared to admit. His grip on the phone loosened slightly as his mind spiraled.

I like him.

The thought was both terrifying and illuminating, stirring something in him that he couldn't put into words.

Daniel, sensing his silence, pressed on. "Jeonghan is fragile, Seungcheol. Innocent. If he had found out later, it would've hurt him even more. I showed him the wound now. It's your job to bandage it before it festers."

Seungcheol clenched his teeth, his mind whirling. "You think this makes it better?"

"I revealed your identity, nothing more," Daniel said coldly. "The rest is for you to tell him. But let me make one thing very clear—SVT doesn't belong to you. If your feelings for that boy make you weak, if you jeopardize the group, I will take him down myself before Viktor ever gets the chance. Don't forget the past, Seungcheol. Don't forget who you are. Good luck."

Before Seungcheol could respond, the call ended with a sharp click, leaving the room steeped in a suffocating silence.

Seungcheol slowly lowered the phone, his hands trembling as Daniel's words echoed in his mind. He sank into the leather chair behind the desk, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him like a boulder.