The black SUV moved smoothly through the rain-soaked streets of Seoul. Inside the car, silence filled the space heavily. Only the sound of the rain hitting the windows and Lee Joon's uneven breathing could be heard.
Lee Hyun gripped the steering wheel tightly. His sharp eyes kept glancing toward his younger brother sitting quietly beside him. Lee Joon looked broken.
Not the kind of sadness caused by failure. But the kind that came after being betrayed by people he trusted with his entire life.
"Who did this?" Lee Hyun finally asked, his voice low. Lee Joon lowered his head. His fingers clenched tightly around the sleeves of his soaked hoodie.
"Everyone." Lee Hyun's jaw tightened.
"The members?" A bitter laugh escaped Lee Joon's lips.
"The people I protected the most." The car fell silent again.
Lee Hyun already knew how hard Lee Joon had worked to debut. Even though their family owned one of the biggest conglomerates in Seoul, Lee Joon insisted on building his own name without relying on the Lee family.
He rejected luxury. Rejected protection. Rejected the easy path. All because he genuinely loved music. All because of his promise to Hyunwoo. And now those people had destroyed him like he was nothing.
The moment the SUV entered the private road leading toward the Lee family estate, Lee Joon slowly looked outside the window. The giant mansion stood proudly on the hill, glowing under the rain like something untouchable. This was the place he once ran away from because he hated the pressure of being born into power.
But tonight…
This was the only place left willing to accept him. The large gates opened automatically. Several staff members immediately rushed forward the moment the car stopped.
"Young Master Joon—"
"Prepare the guest wing. Call the family doctor now." Lee Hyun ordered coldly before the staff could finish speaking. Lee Joon stepped out slowly from the car. The moment his injured foot touched the ground, pain shot through his ankle violently. His body nearly collapsed. Strong arms caught him immediately.
"Careful." Lee Joon looked up weakly. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to lean on his older brother without resisting.
Inside the mansion, the atmosphere instantly turned chaotic. Servants rushed around anxiously after hearing the youngest son of the Lee family had returned home in terrible condition. The family doctor quickly treated Lee Joon's swollen ankle while Lee Hyun stood beside the bed with crossed arms.
"The ligament is strained badly. He needs proper rest for at least several weeks," the doctor explained. Lee Hyun nodded shortly.
"Leave us." The room became quiet after the doctor left. Lee Joon stared blankly at the ceiling. His eyes looked empty. Lee Hyun sat down beside the bed.
"You still love that group?" Lee Joon froze. After several seconds, he finally answered softly.
"I loved them like family."
"But they don't deserve it." Lee Joon's expression trembled slightly. Lee Hyun leaned back against the chair, his gaze turning colder.
"I already saw the articles. Those rumors were professionally arranged. Edited evidence. Paid media movement. Coordinated public attacks." His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"This wasn't random hate. Someone planned your destruction carefully." Lee Joon slowly closed his eyes.
"I know."
"And Hyunwoo?" At that name, Lee Joon's breathing became uneven again.
"He left me." Lee Hyun stayed silent for a moment before speaking again.
"No." Lee Joon frowned weakly.
"What?"
"Park Hyunwoo didn't leave voluntarily." Lee Joon immediately looked at his brother. Lee Hyun pulled out a tablet before placing it on the bed. A blurry airport photo appeared on the screen. In the picture, several staff members surrounded Hyunwoo aggressively while one of them grabbed his phone.
"He was forced onto a flight to Japan 6 months ago. One of my people at the airport sent this to me earlier." Lee Joon stared at the screen with shaking eyes.
"He… didn't leave me?" Lee Hyun's expression darkened.
"Star Entertainment cut all his communications completely. Which means someone desperately wanted the two of you separated." Something inside Lee Joon shattered all over again.
But this time—
It wasn't sadness.It was a rage. Pure rage. The memories replayed violently inside his head. The sabotage during filming. The fake scandal. The silence of the members. Hyunwoo disappearing overnight. Everything connected perfectly now.
"They used me…" Lee Joon whispered. Lee Hyun's eyes turned sharp.
"No." He leaned closer.
"They underestimated you."
For the first time since leaving Star Entertainment, something dangerous slowly appeared in Lee Joon's eyes. Not fear. Not weakness. But anger. Cold and terrifying anger. Lee Hyun stood up before loosening the sleeves of his expensive suit.
"You know what the funniest thing is?" he said calmly. Lee Joon looked at him quietly.
"Those idiots think they destroyed an ordinary idol trainee." Lee Hyun's lips slowly curved into a cold smile.
"They still don't realize they touched the youngest son of the Lee family. I don't know who still dare to touch the heir of Lee family. If Minjae found out about this, what do you think he will do?"
Suddenly—
BZZZZT.
Lee Hyun's phone vibrated loudly. He glanced at the screen before immediately answering with a loud speaker.
"What is it?" The voice on the other line sounded panicked.
"Young Master… there's breaking news from Japan regarding Park Hyunwoo." Lee Joon's body froze instantly after hearing Hyunwoo name being mentioned. Lee Hyun's expression darkened.
"What happened?"
"There was an incident at his apartment building in Tokyo about thirty minutes ago." Lee Joon slowly sat up from the bed.
"What incident…?" The man on the phone hesitated for a second.
"Park Hyunwoo reportedly fell from the top floor of his apartment building."
Silence. Complete silence. Lee Joon's face turned pale instantly.
"No…"
"The Japanese media are currently assuming it was suicide due to depression and pressure from his solo career preparations." The tablet nearly slipped from Lee Hyun's hand when he saw the look on his brother's face.
"No…" Lee Joon whispered again, shaking violently.
"No, no, no—" He grabbed the tablet with trembling hands and immediately searched for the news. Every headline stabbed through his chest mercilessly.
[BREAKING NEWS: Korean Idol Trainee Dies in Suspected Suicide]
[Park Hyunwoo Found Dead Outside Tokyo Luxury Apartment]
[Police Suspect Mental Pressure and Depression]
Lee Joon's breathing became unstable. His vision blurred completely.
"That's impossible…" his voice cracked horribly.
"He promised me…" The tablet fell onto the bed. Lee Joon suddenly struggled to stand despite his injured ankle.
"Joon—"
"He wouldn't do that!" Lee Joon shouted for the first time. Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.
"He hates high places! He can't even stand near railings because he would get dizzy! Hyunwoo hyung would never jump!" Lee Hyun immediately caught his brother before he collapsed again. Lee Joon grabbed onto his brother's shirt desperately.
"Why…" he whispered brokenly.
"Why does everyone keep leaving me…?" Lee Hyun's expression darkened painfully. He had never seen his younger brother this shattered before. At this moment, neither of them knew the truth behind Hyunwoo's death. Is it really suicide or something else?
To them, it was simply another cruel tragedy. Another person taken away from Lee Joon. Lee Joon slowly sank onto the floor beside the bed. His eyes stared emptily ahead like all the light inside him had disappeared completely. The room became silent except for the sound of his uneven breathing. After a long moment, Lee Joon finally spoke again.
"I'm done, hyung." Lee Hyun frowned.
"What do you mean?" Lee Joon lowered his head weakly.
"I don't want to debut anymore." Lee Hyun froze slightly.
"Joon—"
"What's the point now?" Lee Joon laughed softly but it sounded completely broken.
"My dream started because of him." His trembling fingers tightened against the fabric of his pants.
"Hyunwoo hyung was the one who stayed beside me when training almost killed me. He was the one who kept telling me we would stand on stage together someday." Tears slowly fell onto his clenched fists.
"He promised me, we would debut together no matter what." Lee Joon's voice became quieter and quieter.
"But now he's gone." The emptiness in his eyes became even deeper.
"The group betrayed me."
"The company destroyed me."
"And the person who gave me a reason to keep going… is already dead."
Lee Hyun silently watched his younger brother curl into himself like someone who had completely lost the will to fight anymore.
"I'm tired, hyung…" Lee Joon whispered.
"So tired."
For the first time since entering Star Entertainment, Lee Joon finally let go of his dream with his own hands. Not because he's failed. But because the person waiting for him at the finish line no longer existed anymore.