Don't Blame Me || Jeongcheol

Chapter 44

The two of them turned, making their way down the dim street, the distant sound of their footsteps echoing in the cool night air. The city felt different now, quieter somehow, as though the weight of the conversation with the woman had shifted the very atmosphere. There was a sense of danger in the air, a reminder that the deeper they dug into this, the more they stood to lose.

As they drove towards the headquarters, Jeonghan's mind raced with the implications of everything. The docks, Kyun, the woman's cryptic words, and the connections she was hinting at everything seemed to be connected in ways he wasn't yet able to understand. But one thing was certain: there was more to this than just a simple search for answers.

"I still don't understand how she knows all of this." Jeonghan murmured, his frustration returning. "How does she know about Seventeen? About me?"

Seungcheol's eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't know. But I don't like it. She knew too much, and there's something about the way she talks... It's like she's been watching you. Watching us."

Jeonghan exhaled sharply, his thoughts turning darker with every step. "That's what I'm afraid of. I don't like the idea of someone watching my every move."

Seungcheol gave a slight shrug, his expression unreadable. "Well, we've got to focus on what's ahead. The docks first. We'll figure out what's going on once we have the backup."

Jeonghan nodded, the resolve settling into his bones. No matter what, they had to press forward. They had a lead now, and they couldn't afford to let it slip away. The truth they sought was somewhere out there, and they were going to find it no matter the cost.

They reached the headquarters, the familiar scent of the building and the hum of activity inside greeted. As they walked through the corridors of the headquarters, the usual hum of activity was absent. Tonight, there was an eerie silence that hung over everything, the air thick with the weight of something unspoken.

Jeonghan noticed it first the tense expressions on the faces of his fellow gang members, their usual chatter replaced with focused, somber movements. Seungcheol, who had been quietly strategizing with the group, narrowed his eyes as he noticed the same thing.

"This isn't right." Seungcheol muttered, his tone low. "Something's off."

Jeonghan glanced around, his eyes scanning the faces of the others. They were all moving with purpose, but their expressions were too serious. As he moved deeper into the headquarters, he felt it a shift in the atmosphere. There was a sense of urgency, but it was mixed with an undercurrent of fear. That wasn't normal.

When they reached Jeonghan's office, his steps faltered. The sight that greeted him made his stomach drop.

Haneul was in Joshua's arms. The boy's face was streaked with tears, his tiny hands clinging to Joshua as if he were the only thing keeping him grounded in the chaos around him.

Joshua's face was tight with worry, his arms holding Haneul with a gentle but firm grip, trying to comfort the child as best he could.

Jeonghan's heart hammered in his chest as he rushed to Joshua's side, his eyes locking on Haneul, who was still trembling in Joshua's arms, his small face streaked with tears.

The sight hit Jeonghan like a sledgehammer to the chest, the weight of the moment settling heavily in the pit of his stomach.

"What happened?" Jeonghan's voice was low and raw, barely above a whisper, his breath catching in his throat.

His hands reached out instinctively, pulling Haneul into his arms as though the mere touch could erase the terror he'd seen in his son's eyes. His mind raced, but everything felt like it was moving in slow motion.