Chapter 6 - {Evidence Or Temptation?}

He opened his drawer. The locket was still there. Evidence, yes but also temptation. Proof that Carlos remembered everything. His phone buzzed. Unknown Number: "I told you. You'd come back to me. One way or another." Soo-jin stared at the screen. He didn't delete it. Soo-jin wasn't sure what he was doing there. He kept telling himself it was for the case. For the investigation. That was the excuse. But when the guard let him through the heavy metal door and into the stark, cold room, he knew it was more than that. Carlos was already sitting at the table, his hands cuffed, but his smile wasn't restrained. It was a slow, knowing smile that made Soo-jin's stomach twist. "I didn't expect you tonight," Carlos said, his voice too soft. Too comfortable. "I thought you were a man of your word. You said you'd arrest me. But here you are, asking for more." Soo-jin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he sat down across from him, a gulf of silence between them. "I told you, I'm not like you," Soo-jin said, trying to steady his voice. He could feel Carlos's gaze heavy on him, burning like it always did. Carlos leaned in, his smile never faltering. "But you want to be." Soo-jin flinched, even if he didn't show it. "I'm here to talk about Mi-young's murder." Carlos's eyes flickered, but he didn't look surprised. "Ah, yes. The girl who never mattered." His voice dropped. "She never understood you the way I do." Soo-jin felt the words hit him harder than he expected. He clenched his fists, feeling the heat rise in his chest. "You're still trying to twist this. You're not fooling me." Carlos's laughter was low and dark. "You think you're so different from me, Soo-jin. But you came here alone. You keep coming back. You want the answers. You want the truth." He paused, eyes sharp. "But it's not the truth you're looking for, is it?" Soo-jin's breath caught. He hated how it felt like Carlos could see straight into him, like there was nothing he could hide. "You're wrong." His voice cracked slightly. He hated how weak it sounded. Carlos smiled again, a soft, dangerous thing. "Am I?" He tilted his head, like he was studying a piece of art. "Tell me, Soo-jin… What's the real reason you're here?" Soo-jin leaned forward, eyes fierce, trying to regain control. "You're not playing with me anymore. I'm taking you down." But Carlos only chuckled, like he already knew something Soo-jin didn't. "You're not ready for that. And deep down, you know it."