Taehyung’s POV
The sound of a car engine rumbled outside the house. A few minutes later, Ray walked in with a serious expression. The restlessness I had been holding in made me stand up immediately.
"What did you find?" I asked without wasting time.
Ray took a deep breath before speaking. "I've been tracking Emylia’s movements for the past week. She hasn’t stepped foot in the casino at all. Her people are handling everything."
I froze. "What do you mean?"
"She hasn’t left her office. Only her subordinates interact with the outside world," Ray added.
I clenched my fists. That was unusual.
"I sent people to spy on her office," Ray continued. "But so far, we still don’t know what she’s planning."
I fell into deep thought. Something didn’t feel right.
Why did Emylia suddenly change? She wasn’t the type to hand over all responsibilities to her subordinates.
I furrowed my brows. Something was off.
But then, a possibility crept into my mind.
I slowly lifted my gaze to Ray and Haesong. My voice was heavy with tension.
"...Do you think she ran away with Jungkook?"
Ray remained silent for a moment, as if considering the possibility. Haesong pressed his lips together, his expression dark.
"Don’t make stupid speculations, Taehyung," Haesong said.
"But think about it," I shot back, my tone laced with anger I didn’t fully understand. "She suddenly disappears from the outside world. Jungkook vanishes without a trace. It’s not impossible that they’re together."
Ray slowly shook his head. "I’m not sure. But if it’s true…" He sighed. "Then Emylia has sided with the enemy."
My blood boiled.
Emylia, don’t tell me you really betrayed me.
I clenched my jaw, trying to contain the fire raging in my chest. If she really ran away with Jungkook, that meant she had turned against me. But… something inside me rejected that idea.
"It doesn’t make sense," I said firmly.
Haesong narrowed his eyes at me. "What do you mean?"
I shook my head. "I know Emylia. If she wanted to side with the enemy, she wouldn’t hide like this. Emylia isn’t a coward."
Ray leaned back on the sofa, exhaling a long breath. "I thought the same thing. There’s something we don’t know about what’s happening to Emylia."
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to piece together all the information we had.
Jungkook is missing. Black Fox has disappeared. Emylia hasn’t shown herself to anyone.
Something is wrong.
"If she really ran away with Jungkook," I spoke slowly, "why hasn’t she left Korea? Why is she still in her office?"
Ray and Haesong fell silent.
I continued, my voice filled with certainty. "I don’t think she ran away with Jungkook. I think she’s in trouble."
Ray looked at me sharply. "If she’s in trouble, why hasn’t she asked us for help?"
I let out a heavy sigh. "I don’t know. But I’m going to find out."
I got up from the sofa and grabbed my jacket. "I’m going to see Emylia."
"Taehyung," Haesong called out before I could leave. "If she really sided with Jungkook, what will you do?"
I paused. My heart pounded.
"...I still want to hear it from her own mouth."
Ray sighed before standing up. "I’m coming with you."
I only nodded, and without another word, I stepped outside. I didn’t care what I would find. I only knew one thing—I had to face Emylia.
I stood in front of Emylia’s headquarters, my emotions burning inside me. Ray was beside me, scanning the surroundings with suspicion. The place was still well-guarded, but something about it felt different.
One of Emylia’s top men approached us.
"I want to see Emylia," I said coldly.
The man shook his head without hesitation. "She’s not here."
I let out a sharp laugh. "Not here? Or are you people hiding her?"
"I can’t say," the man replied firmly.
My fists clenched. My frustration peaked. Emylia had disappeared. She was gone without a trace, and now her own people were keeping secrets from me.
I shook my head, suppressing the bitter laughter rising in my throat. "I should’ve known from the start… She’s a traitor."
Ray tried to calm me down, but I couldn’t control my anger.
"Where is she? With Jungkook?" I glared at the man. "Speak!"
The man remained silent.
I stepped closer, my voice sharp and venomous. "She sold herself to Black Fox, didn’t she? She followed Jungkook? What did she gain from betraying me?"
At last, the man spoke, his tone unwavering. "Boss never betrayed anyone."
I let out a small, bitter laugh. "Never betrayed anyone? Then what is this?"
Ray placed a hand on my shoulder, signaling me to stop. But I had already lost my patience.
"If she shows up," I said in a low but furious voice, "tell her—I will never forgive her."
I turned and walked away, my emotions in turmoil.
Emylia… Did you really choose to be my enemy?
---
Emylia’s POV
I sat on the bed, my head resting against the wall. My tears had dried, but my heart still ached. I didn’t know how many times I had cried since I returned to this house, but the pain never lessened.
"I’m an idiot…" My voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.
I gripped the blanket tightly, frustration and despair twisting inside me. I listened to Black Fox, believed in their games, and now I had lost everything. My sight. My kidney. And I still didn’t know what had happened to Taehyung.
Naeun entered the room, her steps careful. I heard the sound of a tray being placed on the small table beside the bed.
"Master, you need to eat," Naeun’s voice was soft, filled with love and concern.
I shook my head. "I’m not hungry."
Naeun sighed quietly before sitting beside me. Her hand reached for mine, offering warmth against the coldness I had felt since that day.
"But… how long are you going to be like this?"
I stayed silent. I had no answer. I didn’t know how long I would feel this way.
"Taehyung…" I whispered his name with deep regret. "I don’t know if he’s safe, Naeun. I… I did all of this to save him. But I got tricked."
Naeun squeezed my hand tighter. "We’ll find a way, Master. I’ll help you."
I let out a small, bitter laugh. "Help me? How, Naeun? I have nothing left. I’m blind. I’m nobody now."
Naeun inhaled deeply. "You’re still our boss. Your people still respect you. You still have power."
I shook my head slowly. "What’s the point of power if I can’t even see this world anymore?"
Silence.
I felt Naeun tighten her grip on my hand. I knew she wanted me to fight, but I was too weak. Too broken.
Black Fox… I will never forgive them.
And Taehyung… If I ever get the chance to speak to him again… I only want him to know one thing.
I never betrayed him.
No matter what happens, I have to find him. Before it’s too late.
•••
A week later...
Taehyung sat in front of the memorial he had set up for Jihoon. Jihoon's ashes were kept in a black ceramic urn, placed on a wooden table with several burning candles surrounding it. A small portrait of Jihoon, wearing his usual subtle smile, was displayed in the center, as if he were still watching Taehyung like he used to.
He took a deep breath, trying to hold back the lump in his throat. His trembling hands rested on the table's surface, searching for the strength to speak.
"I never got the chance to do anything for you, Jihoon..." His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "I said I wanted to protect everyone, but I couldn't even protect my own brother."
His eyes were bloodshot, tears falling uncontrollably. He clenched his fist and pounded his chest, but the pain wasn’t enough to make up for what had happened.
Haesong stood behind him, silently watching. He knew this was something he couldn’t interfere with. Jihoon and Taehyung had their own history—and now, all that remained were painful memories.
"If you were still here… maybe I wouldn't feel this lost, Jihoon." Taehyung wiped his face, but the tears kept falling. "I want to say that I'll get revenge for you, but… you never believed in living for revenge, did you?"
Taehyung let out a bitter laugh in the midst of his tears. The irony of it all—Jihoon, who used to be so full of schemes and manipulation, was the one who despised being consumed by vengeance. Jihoon only wanted to enjoy life, in his own way.
He reached for a bottle of alcohol beside the table, intending to take a swig, but Haesong's hand stopped him.
"Not anymore," Haesong said firmly.
"Why?" Taehyung’s voice shook. "What else do I have? Jihoon is gone. Emylia might be—"
He fell silent. That name. The name he had been trying to forget.
Haesong let out a long sigh. "I know you hate her now. But I want you to think… what really happened?"
Taehyung said nothing, his mind in turmoil.
Haesong and Ray stood up. "Ray and I have to go now. If anything comes up, meet us at my place."
Taehyung just nodded.
•••
Emylia sat in the car, gripping her hands tightly. Her heart pounded, her breath uneven. Ever since Naeun had told her she found Taehyung’s location, Emylia couldn’t sit still. She needed to see him, to confirm with her own senses that Taehyung was still alive.
Naeun, sitting in the driver’s seat, glanced at her with concern. "Emylia, are you sure about this?"
Emylia nodded, swallowing her fears. "I have to see him."
Naeun sighed but eventually nodded as well. "I'll wait in the car. If anything happens, get out of there fast. I don’t trust Taehyung."
Emylia didn’t respond. She slowly opened the door and stepped out. Carefully, she walked toward the area, relying on her cane to feel the path. She couldn’t see, but she could sense the heaviness in the air—like sadness lingering in the space.
The sound of the gentle breeze carried someone’s voice. Emylia halted, listening closely. That voice… the voice she had longed to hear.
"Jihoon, I’m sorry for asking you to look after Mirae."
Emylia's breath hitched. Taehyung… he was talking to Jihoon?
She bit her lip, trying to hold back the emotions surging within her. Her steps slowed as she carefully moved closer, trying not to draw attention.
"I swear, I will avenge you. The one who killed you will die by my hands. I promise."
Emylia froze behind the bushes, holding her breath. Taehyung’s voice was filled with vengeance and pain.
"And I will reclaim what’s mine, even if it’s the wrong thing to do."
She heard the rustling of fabric, as if Taehyung was pulling something out.
"I miss you, love… I will save you from that devil… I swear."
Emylia clenched her jaw. Mirae. He still spoke of her. He still loved her. A mixture of jealousy and heartbreak twisted inside her.
She wanted to run away, to pretend she hadn’t heard any of this. But her legs refused to move.
Finally, she couldn’t hold herself back anymore.
"Taehyung!"
Taehyung tensed, his body stiffening. He hadn’t even turned around before Emylia wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Y-You…"
Emylia bit her lip, nodding slowly. She could feel his shock.
But the hope in her heart shattered when his voice turned cold.
"Emylia, I told you so many times to stay out of my life… do you still not get it?"
Emylia clenched her fists, trying to hold back her sobs. "Taehyung, please… take me back."
Taehyung let out a dry, bitter laugh. "Take you back? Do you think I’m stupid?"
Tears fell from Emylia’s eyes. "Because of you… I ended up like this!"
She pulled off her sunglasses, revealing the eyes that could no longer see the world.
Taehyung stood frozen. "What happened to you? Who did this to you?"
Question after question spilled from his lips. Emylia fought against the overwhelming sadness in her chest.
"This is all because of you, Taehyung…"
Taehyung’s expression darkened. "What the hell are you talking about? I never laid a finger on you!"
Emylia took a deep breath. She wanted to explain everything—to tell him about Black Fox’s betrayal, about everything she had suffered. But she knew Taehyung wouldn’t listen so easily.
So, she chose another approach.
"I’ll tell you everything… if you have dinner with me."
She deliberately put on a sorrowful expression, even as a storm raged in her heart.
Taehyung stared at her for a long time, as if debating whether to trust her or not.
Finally, with great reluctance, he nodded.
"Okay."