The sky outside had long turned dark, casting the estate in cool shades of navy and silver. The grand halls of the Lee mansion were quiet again eerily so except for the muffled, broken sobs echoing from Taekyun's office.
Rinwoo was still there.
Still on the floor.
His knees numb from the cold marble tiles, his hands sore from rifling through every drawer, shelf, and stack of papers in the room. His vision was blurred with tears, hiccups rattling in his throat as he tried to choke back the sobs.
But they wouldn't stop.
No matter how hard he pressed his hands over his mouth, the noise escaped soft, pitiful sounds that no one in this house should hear. The kind of crying you do when you're not just sad you're scared. Scared because someone you love is mad. Scared because you messed up. Scared because you were never good enough in the first place.
And worst of all —
he couldn't even read.
He didn't even know what he was looking for.
All he could do was keep flipping through papers with trembling fingers, hoping something would scream "I'm the one." But nothing did.
He kept mumbling under his breath between hiccups, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please don't be mad at me, I didn't mean to, I just thought…"
He felt like a child like a stupid, useless child who had touched something precious and ruined it beyond repair.
He didn't even hear the footsteps.
Not until Daon was in the doorway, frozen.
His sharp eyes took in the scene Rinwoo crouched on the floor, sleeves soaked with tears, chest heaving, lips trembling. The office looked like a storm had passed through it.
Daon hadn't expected this.
He did not expect to find his brother's husband in shambles, crying like the world had just ended.
Rinwoo saw him and jumped up, wiping his face with the back of his shaking hands.
"D-Daon— I—I think I—I must've—" his voice cracked into sharp, panicked hiccups. "I think I replaced the wrong page or maybe it fell and I didn't see and I—I'm sorry—he's mad and I made it worse and—"
"Hyung." Daon raised a hand, his voice even but softer than usual. "Breathe."
"I-I can't—" Rinwoo clutched his chest. "I can't breathe right—he's mad—I didn't mean—please help me—"
"Sit." Daon stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Rinwoo's shoulder. "Right here. Sit down."
Rinwoo obeyed like a scolded puppy, body collapsing into the nearest chair. His hands fidgeted wildly in his lap, picking at his sleeves, wiping at his cheeks, twisting his fingers together.
Daon grabbed a bottle of water from the desk and opened it for him. "Drink."
Rinwoo took a shaky sip.
"You're not helping anyone like this," Daon muttered, turning toward the mess. "I'll find the stupid page."
"But—" Rinwoo's voice was tiny. "I made him mad at me again. He… he's already so cold to me. And now he'll hate me more."
Daon didn't reply right away.
But in his chest, something twisted something sharp.
He hated seeing his brother like this cruel and distant, always pushing Rinwoo away like he was an inconvenience instead of a person.
Daon wasn't good with emotions. He didn't know how to hold someone or say comforting things.
Rinwoo sniffled and lowered his head, shoulders still shaking.
For a while, there was just the sound of paper rustling, Rinwoo's breathing, and the soft hum of the overhead light.
Then something.
Daon paused.
A thick book was half-buried under a pile of open folders. Its pages were uneven one was clearly sticking out.
Daon narrowed his eyes. He flipped the book open carefully.
Tucked neatly inside almost invisible unless you were looking for it was a single sheet of printed notes, crumpled slightly along the edges. Like someone had dropped it while cleaning, and accidentally closed the book over it without noticing.
He held it up.
"Found it."
Rinwoo's head shot up, eyes wide and red.
Daon handed him the page.
Rinwoo stared at it like it was gold. "T-that's it? Are you sure?"
Daon nodded. "I hope so"
His fingers gently smoothed the page down, cradling it like it was alive. "T-thank you. Thank you, Daon. I—please don't tell him I was crying. Or that I couldn't find it. Or he'll think I'm stupid and use—"
"I won't," Daon cut in. His tone was clipped, but not unkind.
Rinwoo looked down again, biting his lip, whispering, "I just wanted to make him happy…"
Daon didn't answer.
But this time, he didn't walk away either.
He just stood there in the wrecked office, arms folded, watching Rinwoo carefully wondering why no one in this house ever seemed to protect him. Wondering when exactly his brother had become so cold.
And wondering why, no matter how hard Rinwoo tried…
He always ended up crying alone.
Rinwoo stood at the threshold of Taekyun's room, heart clenching like it always did when he had to face him after a mistake no matter how small.
He'd taken a moment outside the door to calm himself, palms pressed flat against the cold wood, forcing his breath to steady. His eyes still burned from all the crying, and his throat felt like sandpaper, but he held the paper tightly in his hand the one Taekyun had yelled over.
He gently pushed the door open.
Taekyun stood by the balcony, a cigarette burning between his fingers. His back was toward Rinwoo, tall and rigid like a stone wall. He didn't turn around, didn't acknowledge the door opening. Just stood there in the early light, shoulders pulled back like he was trying to hold up the weight of the whole world.
"I… I found it," Rinwoo whispered, voice cracking mid-sentence.
Taekyun didn't move.
"Place it on the bed," he said quietly. "And never touch my things again."
Rinwoo flinched like he'd been slapped. His lower lip trembled, but he swallowed the tears down again. Always again.
He walked in on quiet feet, placed the paper carefully on the corner of the bed like it might burn through the sheets, and then turned around without saying another word. His body screamed to apologize again, to explain, to say he only wanted to help but he bit his tongue.
He bowed his head slightly, then left.
The door clicked shut behind him.
And the ache in his chest doubled.
The next morning came with no rest.
Rinwoo hadn't closed his eyes once. Instead, he sat curled on the floor beside his balcony plant, watching the sky shift from deep blue to gray. The air was chilly, biting at his bare arms, but it helped keep him awake.
Taekyun's voice wouldn't stop repeating in his head don't ever touch my things again over and over, until it burrowed into his chest like a nail.
The household was already buzzing with soft footsteps and muffled chatter. The driver stood outside, straightening his coat in the rearview mirror. Daon was packing up snacks. Breakfast was being set.
And Taemin?
Still asleep. Like a rock. Fully dressed from last night's clubbing spree, lips parted in a snore.
Rinwoo stepped into Taemin's room and sighed quietly. "Taemin," he called softly, nudging his shoulder. "Time to wake up. We have to leave."
Taemin groaned dramatically, turned over, and pulled a pillow over his face.
"Taemin-ah," Rinwoo said again, shaking him slightly. "Please."
Nothing.
He knelt beside the bed, hands folded in his lap, thinking. Then something sparked.
He leaned in a little and said, teasingly, "Should I go get Taekyun-hyung? I'm sure he can wake you up."
Taemin's eyes shot open like a bolt of lightning. "NOPE! I'm up! I'm awake, please don't—!" He sat upright so fast he almost headbutted Rinwoo.
Rinwoo burst into a quiet chuckle, hiding it behind his hand. "You really are scared of him."
"Hyung You think it's funny?" Taemin groaned, rubbing his eyes. "He's terrifying. That man could glare a soul out of my body."
Rinwoo stood, already moving to grab a towel and a clean shirt. "Come on. Wash up. We're leaving in twenty minutes."
Taemin followed like a lazy puppy, muttering complaints. "You know you'd make a really good nanny, right?"
Rinwoo just smiled, folding a jacket neatly and placing it on the bed.
Downstairs, Daon was already sipping tea, reading something on his tablet. The driver stood by the car door, glancing at his watch every now and then. Fog still lingered on the driveway, curling around the tires.
Rinwoo ran down the stairs with Taemin trailing behind, half-dressed and still buttoning up his shirt. In the rush of getting everyone ready, Rinwoo hadn't touched his own breakfast. He didn't even realize his stomach was empty until they were slipping into the car.
"Got the snacks?" Daon asked.
"Yes," Rinwoo nodded, holding up the paper bag. "And the first aid kit, and extra water."
"Perfect," Daon muttered, already texting someone.
The car doors shut with a soft thunk. The engine hummed to life.
As the car rolled forward, Rinwoo glanced out the window just for a moment back toward the estate, hoping… maybe someone would be there.
Watching.
Waiting.
But the balcony was empty.
And Taekyun hadn't come to say goodbye.
The car hummed steadily down the winding mountain road, tires kissing gravel, engine purring low like it was trying not to wake the world around it. Rain tapped gently on the windshield, soft at first, a whisper of water dancing against glass.
Rinwoo leaned his head against the cold window in the back seat, eyes half-lidded. His breath fogged the glass as he stared out into the gray sky and mist-kissed trees. His body felt heavy, like every muscle was still grieving yesterday.
Beside him, Taemin had knocked out again limbs sprawled carelessly, mouth slightly open, his hair falling over one eye. He looked peaceful. Or maybe just completely drained from staying out all night.
Daon sat in the front passenger seat, one leg crossed over the other, silently reading through a file on his tablet. Occasionally, he'd glance out the window, tapping his fingers against the armrest in quiet thought. The driver, an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and sharp focus, Driving with practiced ease.
The air was calm. The road ahead, although narrow, was clear. And though the main road would've taken nearly nine hours, they'd agreed to take the shortcut a risk, sure, but six hours instead of nine felt like a gift.
The soft hush of rain lulled Rinwoo into drowsiness. His eyelids fluttered closed.
But then—
A screech.
Sudden.
Violent.
The car lurched forward as if yanked by invisible hands.
Rinwoo's eyes shot open. Taemin jolted awake beside him, a muffled yelp escaping his lips. Daon dropped his tablet, and the driver cursed under his breath, both hands gripping the wheel tighter.
The vehicle was speeding up.
"W-What's going on?" Rinwoo asked, heart slamming into his ribs.
"The brakes," the driver said, eyes wild. "They're not working—!"
The rain had thickened, turning from a drizzle to sheets that blurred the road. Trees flashed by like ghosts, the guardrails just thin lines between them and the edge.
"Oh my god—" Taemin gasped, looking around in panic. "I DON'T WANNA DIE YET! I haven't even kissed anyone this year!"
"Taemin-ah," Rinwoo reached for him, his hand trembling. "It's okay. We're gonna be fine. Just hold onto something—!"
Even as Rinwoo spoke, his voice cracked.
Even as he tried to calm Taemin, his own breath was quickening, chest tightening.
The tires screamed as they skidded on the slippery curve.
The car spun.
Daon slammed one hand against the dash, shouting to the driver. "Try the handbrake—!"
"I DID!"
The vehicle veered wildly, cutting too close to the bend.
Then—
SNAP.
The front tire slid past the guardrail.
Rinwoo's scream caught in his throat.
They were airborne.
For a split second, the car floated like time had paused, just to let their hearts beat in unison.
Then—
CRASH.
The impact slammed them into the woods.
A sickening crunch echoed through the trees as the car collided with a thick tree trunk. Metal groaned. The airbags didn't deploy. Glass cracked like spiderwebs.
Rinwoo was flung forward, His vision blurred from the jolt.
Taemin's head hit the side window with a sickening thud.
"Taemin—!"
"Ugh… what the hell…" Taemin groaned, blinking as blood slowly trailed down from his temple. A deep purple bruise was already forming.
Daon, despite the crash, was conscious panting hard, eyes darting to check on everyone. "Is everyone okay?! Hyung?!"
"I–I'm okay," Rinwoo managed, pushing his bangs away from his face with a trembling hand. His whole body shook. His fingers were cold. "I think so—"
"Taemin?" Daon asked again.
Taemin gave a weak thumbs-up and groaned. "I hope so."
The driver was knocked out against the wheel, blood trickling from his forehead. Rinwoo leaned forward and placed two fingers at his neck.
"He's breathing," he exhaled shakily. "We need to get help."
Rain poured harder now, like the sky was punishing them.
Like the curse hadn't had enough.