The Unveiling

Few hours ago 

The rain outside poured relentlessly, creating a rhythmic drumbeat against the large windows of the Obsidian Mansion. The dimly lit study carried an air of tension as Jeonghan sat across from Daniel, his fragile frame seeming smaller in the oversized armchair. The shadows cast by the flickering firelight danced across Daniel's sharp features, making his piercing gaze even more unsettling.

Jeonghan shifted uncomfortably under Daniel's intense scrutiny. His fingers trembled as they fidgeted with the hem of his sweater. Gathering every ounce of courage he could muster, he broke the suffocating silence.

"W-what do you mean by obsessed?" Jeonghan's voice cracked, betraying his nervousness. "A-and... who's obsessed with me?"

Daniel leaned back, a faint, unsettling smirk tugging at his lips. He crossed one leg over the other, his movements unnervingly calm compared to Jeonghan's visible unease.

"Choi Seungcheol," Daniel said, his tone deliberate and sharp, each syllable slicing through Jeonghan's composure.

The name fell heavy in the room, unfamiliar and alien to Jeonghan, who furrowed his brows in confusion. "Who... who is Choi Seungcheol?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Daniel chuckled lightly, the sound devoid of warmth. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he clasped his hands together. "You don't even know his real name, do you?" His voice carried an air of pity, as though he found Jeonghan's ignorance amusing and tragic all at once.

Jeonghan's stomach twisted, his grip tightening on the armrest. "W-what are you saying?" he asked, his voice shaking as tears welled up in his eyes.

Daniel's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, clinical expression. "I'm saying your beloved S.Coups is none other than Choi Seungcheol. The legal heir to Choi Industries—a powerful conglomerate now in his hands—and..." He paused, letting the weight of his next words sink in, "...the infamous leader of SVT. The top mafia gang in the nation"

Jeonghan's heart plummeted. The words hit him like a physical blow, stealing the breath from his lungs. "No..." he whispered, tears streaming down his face as he shook his head in denial. "That... that can't be true. Why—why are you telling me this? Why am I here?"

Daniel exhaled softly, his demeanor shifting as he stood. "That's not my story to tell," he said, shrugging into his coat with practiced ease. "It's for Seungcheol to explain. I came here to bid farewell to the team and to warn Seungcheol about the possible outcomes of his... reckless actions."

Jeonghan's tears fell faster, his voice breaking as he cried out, "Then why tell me? Why are you doing this to me?"

Daniel paused, his back to Jeonghan. His voice softened, losing its edge for the first time. "Because, Jeonghan," he said, turning back to face him, "as someone who's lived this life for years, I've seen how it ends. You're too innocent to be caught in this crossfire. If you stay, you'll either destroy him, or he'll destroy you. And I won't stand by and watch SVT crumble because of something as dangerous as love."

Jeonghan shook his head, his lips trembling as sobs wracked his frame. "I-I can't believe you. I can't..."

Daniel took a step closer, his expression softening even further. Gently, he cupped Jeonghan's face, his touch surprisingly tender. "I have no reason to lie to you, child," he said, his voice low and almost fatherly. "If I had a son, I'd want him to stay far away from men like Seungcheol. If you don't believe me, ask him yourself. Ask him where he's been tonight. Ask him what kind of work took him away from you."

Jeonghan stood frozen, his breath hitching as Daniel patted his head lightly, like a parent comforting a distraught child. "Good luck, Jeonghan," Daniel said softly, his voice carrying a weight of finality. "You're going to need it."

With that, Daniel straightened his coat, grabbed his umbrella, and walked out into the storm. The sound of the front door closing echoed through the mansion like a death knell.

Jeonghan, left alone in the suffocating silence, stumbled toward the porch, his bare feet padding against the cold marble floor. Rain poured in torrents as he stepped outside, uncaring of the chill that seeped into his bones. He stood there, drenched, staring into the distance, waiting.

The storm mirrored the chaos inside his mind as fragments of the past weeks replayed, twisting into a narrative he didn't want to believe. He clasped his hands together, whispering desperate prayers to any deity who might be listening.

Please let it be a lie.

But deep down, Jeonghan knew his trust had shattered, splintered into pieces too sharp to mend. His tears mixed with the rain as he stood there, waiting for Seungcheol to come home. Waiting for the truth he feared would break him entirely.

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Present 

The rain poured relentlessly, soaking Jeonghan to the bone as he stood in the open, his fragile frame trembling from the cold and the storm brewing inside him. His tear-streaked face lifted toward S.Coups, who stood frozen just a few feet away, his dark eyes shadowed with conflict under the dim glow of the mansion lights. Around them, the team watched in stunned silence, each man processing the unfolding scene in his own way.

"Why?!" Jeonghan's voice cracked as he shouted, his words choked by sobs. His chest heaved, his breaths shallow and erratic as anger, betrayal, and heartbreak bled into every word. "From the moment you took me... w-who are you? What am I to you?!" He staggered forward, his wet hair plastered to his face, his fists clenching at his sides. "All those lies... all those sweet words... were they just to keep me here? Was any of it real?"

S.Coups stood immobile, his face pale and his jaw tight. The rain dripped off his chin, and his hand gripped the umbrella so hard his knuckles turned white. For the first time in years, he found himself at a loss for words. He had imagined this moment countless times, dreaded it in the darkest corners of his mind, but now, standing before the man whose trust he had shattered, every thought dissolved into a deafening silence.

Jeonghan's voice trembled, breaking through the rain's roar. "You... You're Seungcheol, aren't you?" His lips quivered, his words fractured by sobs. "Leader of SVT. A—a criminal. A liar. The man I trusted is nothing but a stranger hiding behind a mask!" Tears mingled with the rain as his gaze bore into Seungcheol's, filled with anguish. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you let me believe in you?"

Seungcheol swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. His lips parted to speak, but no words came. The weight of Jeonghan's accusations crushed him, the pain in those eyes cutting deeper than any blade. "It's true," he said, his voice barely audible over the storm. "Everything you've heard... it's true."

Jeonghan's knees buckled at the admission, and a broken sob escaped him. "You..." He lunged forward, grabbing fistfuls of Seungcheol's shirt and pounding weakly against his chest. "You lied to me! You made me trust you! You made me..." His words dissolved into gasps as he continued to hit him, his strength fading with each blow. "Why, Seungcheol? Why me? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

The others stood motionless, their faces grim. Dino's fists clenched by his sides, his heart aching at the sight of Jeonghan's pain. Wonwoo's jaw tightened, the fury simmering in his eyes directed at Seungcheol. Hoshi and Hansol shared a glance but remained rooted, watching as the scene unfolded like a tragedy in slow motion.

Seungcheol caught Jeonghan's wrists gently, his voice thick with desperation. "Jeonghan, stop." But Jeonghan wouldn't stop. His tears flowed freely, his cries piercing the night as he sank to his knees, his strength spent. Seungcheol knelt with him, pulling him close despite the rain and the shattered trust between them. "Jeonghan..." His voice cracked, his arms trembling as he held the smaller man against him. "I'm sorry. I—"

Before he could finish, Jeonghan's body went limp in his arms, his head falling against Seungcheol's chest. "Jeonghan?" Seungcheol's voice rose in panic as he shook him gently. "Jeonghan, wake up! Please..." His fingers brushed against Jeonghan's clammy cheek, his pulse racing as fear overtook him. "Dino!" he barked, his tone sharp as he turned to the youngest. "Call the doctor. Now!"

Without wasting another second, Seungcheol scooped Jeonghan into his arms, cradling him protectively as he rushed toward the mansion. His heart pounded against his ribs, each beat a reminder of the fragility of the man in his arms. The others followed, their expressions grim, their silence deafening.

Inside, Seungcheol carried Jeonghan to his room, laying him gently on the bed. His hands trembled as he brushed the wet strands of hair from Jeonghan's pale face. "Come on, Jeonghan," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Wake up. Please, just... wake up."

Dino rushed in, his phone pressed to his ear as he relayed instructions to the doctor. The room filled with quiet chaos, but all Seungcheol could focus on was the still figure on the bed. His calloused fingers traced over Jeonghan's cheek, his voice barely above a whisper. "I never meant to hurt you," he confessed, his words meant only for the unconscious man. "I... I never wanted this."

But the only response was the steady rhythm of the rain against the windows, echoing the turmoil within. And for the first time in years, the man who had faced countless enemies and untold horrors felt truly powerless.

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Emotional 😭 😭
I cried while writing  T_T
Anyways.... Have a lovely day fellas ❣️✨

Yours lovingly
<3 Author <3