POV Emylia
I sat across the large glass table in Jihoon's office, organizing some financial report documents. Jihoon, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, his face slightly pale. His eyes were fixed on the laptop screen, but I noticed he had been rubbing his temples frequently, as if trying to relieve pain.
"So, for this week, the net profit from the main casino increased by 12%," I started, trying to grab his attention. "But there are some issues at the Macau branch. Some VIP customers are bringing in illegal money and—"
"Emylia." Jihoon interrupted in a hoarse voice.
I stopped and looked at him. His forehead was creased as if he was holding something in. He seemed exhausted, more than usual.
"Are you okay?" I asked, a little worried.
He didn't answer. His breath was heavy, his hand gripping the armrest of the chair tightly. In an instant—
THUMP!
"Jihoon!" I screamed softly as his body suddenly slumped forward, falling from the chair onto the floor.
I rushed over to him, lifting his head onto my lap. His body felt hot, but his face was extremely pale. His breath was rapid, and suddenly—
Cough! Cough!
He coughed, and blood poured from his mouth.
Panic started to set in. I grabbed my phone and quickly dialed Jihoon's personal doctor.
"Dr. Han! I need you right now! Jihoon—he passed out and coughed up blood!"
"I'm on my way! Don't let him move too much!" The doctor's voice sounded urgent on the other end.
I held Jihoon's hand, my heart pounding in my chest. He had been looking unwell since yesterday, but I didn't expect it to be this severe.
---
20 minutes later
Dr. Han arrived with his medical assistant. He immediately began checking Jihoon's condition, taking blood samples and observing his symptoms. I stood by, unable to say anything except waiting anxiously.
A few minutes later, the doctor took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"His condition is very serious," Dr. Han said, his tone heavy. "Based on the symptoms, he has been poisoned with something very dangerous."
"Poison?" My forehead furrowed. "What do you mean, doctor?"
The doctor looked at me before answering seriously, "Hydrofluoric acid."
I was stunned. "What?"
"Hydrofluoric acid is a very dangerous poison. It can seep into the skin, into the bloodstream, and start 'eating' the body from the inside," Dr. Han explained. "It's not just any poison. It attacks the calcium in the body, causing organs to slowly fail."
My blood ran cold. I looked at Jihoon, still unconscious. "How did he get exposed to this poison?"
Dr. Han shook his head. "I'm not sure. But based on its spread rate, he might have been exposed several hours ago—maybe yesterday."
I gripped Jihoon's cold hand. "Can he be saved?"
The doctor paused before speaking softly. "We will try our best. But this poison... the effects are very quick, and it's hard to treat once it's entered the body's main systems."
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tremor in my chest.
Who did this to Jihoon?
And... am I going to lose him?
---
I sat at Jihoon's bedside, my fingers tightly gripping his hand, which was growing colder. The medical equipment around him beeped softly, offering a little hope that he was still alive—even though his body was growing weaker.
Dr. Han stood beside me, his face serious. "We've tried to stabilize his condition, but the poison has spread into his bloodstream. His internal organs are beginning to fail. If we can't neutralize this poison quickly..."
I turned to him sharply. "Don't say that, doctor! Jihoon won't die! He's strong!" I raised my voice, trying to reassure myself more than anyone else.
Dr. Han took a deep breath before speaking quietly. "We'll do our best."
I shifted my gaze back to Jihoon. His face was pale, his lips slightly blue. His breathing was slow, as if he was struggling to keep going. I bit my lip, fighting back tears that threatened to fall.
"Jihoon... who did this to you?" I whispered, my fingers tightening around his hand.
---
A few hours later
I sat in the casino office, my mind still overwhelmed by Jihoon's condition. Jihoon's men came to me, waiting for orders. I knew I had to act now.
A man in a black coat approached. "Miss, what’s the next move? Master is still unconscious, and we need to decide our course of action."
I looked up, taking a deep breath. Jihoon had told me before—if something happened to him, I would need to continue running the business. I would be the one to replace him.
But I never imagined things would get this bad.
I hardened my resolve. "Find out who did this to Jihoon. I want to know who is behind this."
The man nodded and left.
I exhaled deeply, trying to calm myself.
Jihoon, hold on... I won't let this end without answers.
---
This room felt empty. Even though Jihoon had regained consciousness, his body was still weak. Every time he tried to move, pain shot through him. The poison was slowly killing him from the inside, and he knew he wouldn’t fully recover.
But more than the physical pain, there was something heavier on his chest—a feeling of guilt.
Jihoon turned his head to the side, seeing Emylia sitting in a chair, her eyes filled with concern. She didn’t speak, but Jihoon knew she had sacrificed a lot for him these past few days.
Jihoon coughed lightly. "You're still here?"
Emylia didn’t answer, just nodded slightly.
Jihoon chuckled softly, but his voice was hoarse. "You should hate me, Emylia."
Emylia remained silent, but her eyelids fluttered slightly.
Jihoon took a deep breath, gathering the strength to confess something he had kept hidden for a long time. "I was the one who told Jackson to kill your father."
Emylia's eyes widened, but she didn’t seem shocked. It was as if she had already suspected it.
"I knew," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Jihoon's chest felt heavier. He swallowed hard, struggling to accept the reality that Emylia didn't show the hatred he had expected.
"Why are you still taking care of me?" Jihoon asked in a quieter voice. "Why don't you just let me die?"
Emylia sighed deeply before speaking. "I don't know, Jihoon. I should hate you... But I can't."
Jihoon closed his eyes for a moment, trying to hold back the emotions rising within him. "I'm sorry, Emylia..." His voice trembled. "I'm truly sorry."
He opened his eyes again and saw tears welling up in Emylia's eyes.
Jihoon laughed bitterly. "Ironically, the person I've hurt the most is the one who's still by my side."
He tried to raise his hand, his fingers trembling. He placed his hand on Emylia’s hand, gently.
"I’m not asking you to forgive me," Jihoon whispered. "But I’m asking for one thing—don't become like me."
Emylia gripped his fingers, this time tightly. "I'm not you, Jihoon."
Jihoon smiled weakly. "Good... Don't become like me, Emylia."
And for the first time in his life, Jihoon truly felt the weight of everything he had done.
•••
Jihoon knew he wouldn’t live much longer. The poison in his body was slowly killing him, and even though the doctors were doing their best to manage it, he could feel it—his time was almost up.
Tonight was quiet, only the ticking of the clock on the wall accompanying him. Emylia was still by his side, as always. Her eyes looked tired, but she remained.
Jihoon took a slow breath before speaking. "Emylia."
Emylia lifted her head. "Hm?"
"I want you to find Taehyung."
Emylia's expression changed. The calmness in her face darkened. She shook her head slowly. "Don’t start, Jihoon."
Jihoon chuckled. "I’m serious. I know you still think about him."
Emylia shot him a sharp look. "Taehyung hates me. He said it himself—he's forgotten about me. What’s the point of finding him?"
Jihoon let out a deep sigh, turning his gaze to the ceiling as he searched for the right words. "I’ve made too many mistakes, Emylia. I know I can’t fix everything. But if there’s one thing I can make right before I die... I want you and Taehyung to be okay again."
Emylia let out a bitter laugh. "It’s not that simple, Jihoon. Do you know how he looked at me that day? As if I meant nothing to him."
Jihoon stayed silent for a moment. "Do you really think Taehyung has truly forgotten you?"
Emylia pressed her lips together. "What I think doesn’t matter anymore. He said his feelings are dead."
Jihoon shook his head. "Trust me, Emylia. I know Taehyung. He’s not the type to forget someone just like that."
Emylia stared at the floor, her fingers clutching the blanket tightly. "I’m scared, Jihoon," she whispered. "I’m scared that if I go looking for him, I’ll just get hurt again."
Jihoon gave her a faint smile. "It’s better to be disappointed because you tried than to live with the regret of doing nothing."
Emylia’s eyes glistened slightly. She bit her lip, hesitation written all over her face.
Jihoon closed his eyes for a moment. His body was growing weaker, but he still forced himself to speak. "Listen to me, Emylia. I might not have much time left. But before I go... I want you to try one more time with Taehyung."
Emylia didn’t answer. She just sat there, her mind battling with itself.
And Jihoon hoped that before he took his last breath, he would get to see Emylia and Taehyung together again.
—
That morning, Taehyung sat in his office, his sharp eyes scanning the latest business reports on his computer screen. His fingers tapped against the desk, his thoughts drifting far away.
"Boss, our people in Thailand have sent the latest report," said a broad-shouldered man standing before him, handing over a file with utmost respect.
Taehyung took the file without a word. He opened it, reading through every detail carefully. Jungkook was still there. With Mirae.
His chest felt heavy. Every time he thought about Mirae, the guilt weighed down on him. He wasn’t a good brother. He had never been a protector for Mirae. In fact, he was the one who destroyed her.
Taking a deep breath, he shut the file harshly. "Keep watching them. Don’t let Jungkook do anything suspicious. I want to know his every move."
"Understood, boss." The man bowed before leaving.
Taehyung leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. The guilt over Mirae wasn’t something he could erase easily. He knew he could never atone for his mistakes. But at the very least, he could ensure Mirae’s safety—from afar.
Not long after, he stood up and grabbed his coat. He needed to meet with Ray and Haesong.
—
In a luxurious restaurant, Ray was already waiting with Haesong. The three of them sat in a private room, far from prying eyes.
"You’re late," Ray teased, crossing his arms with a smirk.
Taehyung merely raised an eyebrow, uninterested in entertaining him. "What’s the latest update?"
Haesong leaned back in his chair. "Our casino is expanding, but there are still some issues. Jihoon has started loosening his control because of his health. Some of his men are looking to switch sides."
Ray added, "The market in China is tightening. We need a new plan if we want to expand further."
Taehyung thought for a moment before speaking. "I don’t care about Jihoon. If he can’t control his people, that’s not my problem."
Haesong frowned. "But you have to consider this—Jihoon has a lot of influence. If he falls, who do you think will take over?"
Ray grinned. "Maybe Emylia."
Taehyung remained silent. That name again. He hated how just hearing it could still make his chest tighten slightly.
"I don’t care who takes over," he finally said. "Our focus now is ensuring our business remains stable. I want all our investments secure, and I won’t let anyone tear down what we’ve built."
Haesong and Ray exchanged glances before nodding. They knew Taehyung wasn’t someone who played around with words. Once he made a decision, it was final.
But deep down, Taehyung knew—no matter how hard he tried to push the past away, the shadows of it would always follow him.
Taehyung was sipping his coffee, listening to Ray talk about new investment opportunities in Hong Kong, when Haesong suddenly spoke, his tone more serious than usual.
"There’s something else you need to know," he said quietly.
Taehyung looked up, impatience flashing in his eyes. "What?"
Haesong stared at him for a moment before leaning back in his chair. "Jihoon is sick."
Taehyung froze. The fingers gripping his cup suddenly felt stiff. His gaze sharpened as he studied Haesong’s face, searching for any sign that he was joking.
"Sick with what?" His voice was cold, but inside, he felt unsettled.
Haesong exhaled. "He was poisoned. Hydrofluoric acid. From the reports I received, someone sprayed the poison on him while he was dealing with a debtor."
Taehyung’s heartbeat quickened. He knew that poison. It wasn’t something that could be easily cured. "How bad is it?"
Ray interjected, "You already know the effects, Taehyung. That poison eats away from the inside. His organs are slowly failing. Jihoon might look like he can still stand now, but you know how this ends."
Taehyung stayed silent. Jihoon was sick. Jihoon was going to die.
He didn’t know why his emotions were conflicted. Shouldn’t he be happy? Wasn’t Jihoon the one who caused all the destruction in his life? The one who made Emylia suffer? The one who manipulated everything?
But hearing that Jihoon was slowly rotting away, there was something... hollow inside him.
"Who did it?" he asked, gripping the armrest tightly.
Haesong shook his head. "No confirmation yet. Even Jihoon’s people are still investigating who hired the debtor to poison him."
Taehyung leaned back, closing his eyes briefly. Jihoon wasn’t someone who could be taken down easily. He was cunning, careful. But now, he had been struck.
Ray suddenly chuckled. "Why are you so quiet, Taehyung? Don’t tell me you actually feel sorry for him."
Taehyung opened his eyes, staring at Ray sharply. "I don’t feel sorry. I just think... the world is ironic."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "How so?"
Taehyung smirked. "He used to control everything. Thought he’d never lose. But now? He’s dying. And I’m sure—suffering like that, he knows he’s already lost."
Haesong nodded slowly. "Maybe. But I think he still has something he wants to do before he goes."
Taehyung frowned. "What do you mean?"
Haesong sighed. "My sources say Jihoon is still managing the casino despite his condition. And the most interesting part? The person staying by his side the most... is Emylia."
A heavy weight settled in Taehyung’s chest. He clenched his jaw, suppressing the emotions bubbling inside him.
"She’s an idiot," he muttered. "Still with Jihoon. Still trusting him."
Ray laughed. "Don’t tell me you still care about her?"
Taehyung’s gaze was cold. "I don’t care about her. I just want to make sure Jihoon doesn’t leave a mess before he dies."