Just after midnight, we finally arrived home. I cut the engine of the Rolls-Royce Phantom and sat in silence, staring at the mansion in front of us—our monument to excess, towering and cold under the moonlight.
"You should've killed her," Kang said flatly from the back seat.
I peeled the mask from my face and glared at him in the rear-view mirror. "You're the reason we're in this mess. Do me a favour and shut the fuck up."
"Suí nǐ, (Whatever) " he muttered. "But just know—if this shit blows up, I'm not going down with you."
He got out and marched up the cracked path toward the house, his footsteps crunching against loose gravel.
Chen sighed and shook his head. "Father won't like the fact that you left a witness alive."
I turned to him. "And you're going to tell him, are you?"
"I won't say a word. But don't count on Kang keeping quiet. You know he lives for the drama—especially when it means Father's attention isn't on him."
I clenched my jaw. "If he knows what's good for him, he'll stay quiet."
Chen scoffed. "This is Kang we're talking about. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. But...he's right about one thing. You should've killed her."
He unbuckled and stepped out, leaving me alone in the stillness.
"Gàosù wǒ yīxiē wǒ bù zhīdào de shìqíng," I muttered under my breath. (Tell me something I don't know.)
I opened the door, and the cold air hit me like a wave. The layers I wore didn't help—the chill still sank into my bones.
The walkway leading up to the house was cracked and wild, with weeds forcing their way through stone. Clusters of white roses bloomed stubbornly near the gate, glowing eerily in the moonlight. Vines had crept up the mansion's walls, climbing higher every year, like the place itself was trying to pull away from the ground it was built on.
A guard at the front door opened it as I approached. The hinges groaned in protest.
I nodded. "Xièxiè." (Thanks)
Inside, the house sprawled like a palace—two levels of luxury built more for pride than comfort. The main level held everything: an expansive open-plan living-dining-kitchen space, Father's office, the master suite, garage, laundry, and enough polished wood to make a forest weep. The kitchen alone was all glass and walnut, with views that brought the outside in.
Upstairs, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, surround sound, and decks for every mood. Downstairs, game rooms, leather recliners, wet bars, entertainment centres, and more bedrooms than we ever used. Every corner was built to impress. But to me, it was just...hollow.
This mansion meant more to me than any of the others we owned—not because of what it was, but because of who had died here. My mother. She'd been murdered—collateral damage in one of Father's many wars. If I was being honest, I wished it was him buried six feet under instead of her.
"I heard you left a witness alive."
Fucking Kang.
I turned slowly, hands in my coat pockets. "I did."
Father didn't hesitate—his hand whipped across my face, the slap ringing out like gunfire.
His nostrils flared. "Why, Yuta?"
"Shèmiǎn?" (Pardon?) I said softly, buying time.
"Why did you let the fucking girl go!?" he barked. "Did our conversation tonight mean nothing? We protect this organisation at all costs!"
I hesitated.
A mistake.
"I asked you a question!"
"I don't know," I murmured.
"You don't know?" he mocked, voice thick with venom.
I shook my head. "No, sir."
He squinted. "Do you care about her?"
"No, sir."
"Do you love her?" he spat.
"Absolutely not, sir."
"Then why, Yuta?!"
"I don't know," I repeated. It was the only truth I had.
He stared at me, disappointment plain on his face. "Not once have you let me down...until now. And all because of a girl."
"Duìbùqǐ," (I'm sorry) I said.
He didn't acknowledge it. Just turned and walked into his office, where Chen and Kang were already waiting by the fireplace. I followed.
Kang smirked as I passed him. I ignored it.
Father sat down at his desk, fingers laced together.
"What do we do with witnesses, Chen?"
Chen cleared his throat. "Kill them, sir. If they're women, sometimes they're given the option to work as part of our organisation. That courtesy doesn't extend to men."
Father nodded, satisfied. "So. Who is she?"
We stayed silent—until Kang opened his mouth.
"She's our neighbour, sir."
Father raised a brow. "Zhēn?" (Really?)
"Yes, sir. Jae Hwa's daughter."
That piqued his interest.
"The Korean model?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
He chuckled—cold and calculated. "Perfect. If she looks anything like her mother, that works to our advantage."
He stood, adjusting his suit. "I want you three to bring her in. Take her to the hideout. That's an order."
"You want us to kidnap her?" Chen asked.
"Is that a problem?"
"No, sir."
"Then get it done."
We bowed in unison and exited. But in the hallway, Chen pulled me aside.
His voice was low. "Are we really going through with this? She hasn't done anything wrong."
I shrugged. "Who gives a fuck?"
"She's not some random girl, Yuta. People will notice she's gone."
"No, they won't."
He stepped in front of me, blocking my way. "Yuta, don't do this."
I glared at him. "Sounds like you want to disobey Father."
Chen hesitated. "I just... I don't think this is right."
"And I don't give a shit what you think."
"Yut—"
I leaned in. "I'm going to forget this conversation ever happened. Because if I don't, it sounds a lot like treason. And nobody disobeys the boss. Not even us."
"I would never—"
I cut him off with a look. "Good. We have orders. We follow them."
A pause.
I tilted my head. "So what's it going to be, brother? Come with me, or risk getting whipped for insubordination?"
He looked away, jaw clenched. "I'm coming."
I patted his shoulder. "Wise decision."
As I turned to go, he asked, "Are you going to tell Father what I said?"
I smirked. "If it was Kang, he'd run to Father in a heartbeat. But it's me. Be grateful for that."
He bowed. "Thank you, brother."
"But don't make this mistake twice. I don't give second chances. To anyone."
"Understood."
Outside, I lit a cigarette and stood under the moonlight, exhaling smoke into the crisp night air.
I began planning.
Kidnapping the girl next door shouldn't have excited me. But it did. She had fire in her eyes—defiant, untamed. And I loved a good fight. Especially from someone who didn't have a submissive bone in her body.
I smirked to myself.
This was going to be fun.
And I couldn't wait to get my hands on her.