The more you hide, the more it shows...
The more you deny , the more it grows...

As the dark blue car pulled up in front of the Novan mansion, twilight had settled deep across the sky, casting a violet haze over the sprawling grounds. S stepped out, her shirt damp with sweat from a day's worth of driving. The wind had tangled her hair, but her mind was more disheveled than her appearance. Tossing the keys to a guard, she watched him drive the car toward the garage—vehicles like hers were rare, tailored specifically for Ivan's inner circle, marking her as one of them.

She tried to shake off the mental fog, but her thoughts kept pulling her under. The image of Taehyung flashed again in her mind, his eyes filled with anger she'd never seen before. This wasn't the same man she'd once trusted with her secrets, the one she'd sat beside on the Titan mansion rooftop after a raid, her heart heavy but open for the first time in years.

"Good boy Taehyung?" he'd laughed, almost shyly, when she'd told him about her wish to see him return to his kinder self.

But now... Taehyung was gone, or at least the version she once loved was. The transformation was as brutal as it was inevitable, and she knew deep down that her choices had hardened him. Losing Taesoo had shattered something between them, a bond that had never quite mended, leaving only jagged edges that tore at them both.

Straightening her posture, she stepped into the Novan mansion's grand entrance. The past clawed at her, but she forced herself to focus. There was no time to waste; the Taehyung she'd met today could wreck everything she'd set in motion, and her sacrifices would mean nothing if he got in her way.

The white marble floors gleamed beneath her, cold and pristine, an ironic contrast to the dark deeds that had been plotted within these walls. "Time for the game to begin," she muttered under her breath as she approached Ivan's office, steeling herself for what lay ahead.

Inside, Ivan was lounging in his leather chair, fingers steepled as he regarded her with a sly smile. "Well, well. I was waiting for this day. How may I be of service, my friend?"

S didn't hesitate. "I need twenty of the men I personally trained. The best of them. And I'll require provisions—food, arms, and essentials. These men are going to need strength."

Ivan raised an eyebrow, looking mildly amused. "That's all?"

"It's enough," she replied, voice low and steady. "If things escalate, I'll call for backup. I'm leaving for Korea tomorrow." She leaned forward over the polished mahogany desk, casting a shadow over Ivan. Her mouth twisted into a dark, knowing smile. "Song Jongki is about to face the monster he and his people have been feeding for three years."

Ivan's grin matched her own, his fingers tapping the desk in anticipation. "This will be a reckoning to remember."

S's eyes hardened. Every step she took now was steeped in purpose. She'd crossed lines she could never uncross, but this was her final play. She would make them all pay—even if it meant losing herself in the process.

The thought of Taehyung flickered in her mind, but she extinguished it. There was no room for love here. Only vengeance.

The jet's engines roared to life, and the strong breeze at the airstrip whipped around Ivan and his small entourage. Ivan stood there, hands in his pockets, his navy blue suit perfectly pressed, every inch the picture of authority. If not for the glint of his silver revolver nestled in its holster, he might have passed for just another powerful businessman. But Ivan was no ordinary man—he was the heartbeat of an empire. And S, who was now heading to Korea, had been a crucial part of it.

As she approached the jet, Ivan flashed a rare, genuine smile. "It's a goodbye then?"

Sri returned the smile, a soft expression she rarely showed. "For now. I'll visit, though. And thank you...for everything." Her words held more weight than she could show. She'd never expected to trust anyone here, much less Ivan, but loyalty had grown between them, as unspoken as it was unwavering.

He extended his hand. "The feeling is mutual. I know you don't need it, but... good luck, Sri."

For the first time, hearing her name spoken with such sincerity made her smile openly. She reached out and grasped his hand firmly, sealing their silent pact. With one last look back, she turned and boarded the jet.

As the plane ascended, Ivan stood on the tarmac, watching it climb higher and higher until it vanished behind the clouds. A part of him felt a pang of emptiness; S had been more than just another ally—she was a force of nature within his organization. Her strategies, her strength, her resilience had set a high standard, and she'd been a fierce partner in his journey to power. But he knew, deep down, that she was never meant to stay forever.

S was a pillar, yes, but he had prepared himself for her departure. Empires endured, and he'd taught himself to hold power even in her absence.

Taehyung stepped into Jungkook's mansion and was immediately thrown to the ground, flat on his back, by something heavy above him. The doctor giggled, "Have you gained weight while I was away?"

"You were only gone for three days, Daddy. I missed you." Taesoo pouted, her big, bright eyes shimmering with innocence. Now almost seven years old, she had grown taller and sharper, with her mother's wit and her father's determination.

 "I missed you too." He pecked her chubby cheeks, feeling warmth spread through his chest.

Taehyung vowed his life to the Almighty for giving him back his daughter. Amidst all the betrayal and sorrows, she was the only light in his life, the only reason he kept going. His decision to join the Titans had been driven by a desperate need to remove the eclipse that darkened their lives and protect his daughter from the shadows of their dangerous world.

He still remembered the day he had learned she was alive. It had been another soulless day for the doctor when Jungkook called him into his mansion. Sri was reported to have left the country by then. Jk had said they had found Taesoo stuck in a log somewhere far from where she had been thrown. But it had been twelve hours since her rescue, and she remained unconscious even then. In that moment, Taehyung knew he had to succeed in the toughest treatment of his life. The girl was suffering from pneumonia and a severe lung infection. He understood that if he failed to save his own daughter, his title of "the best cardiothoracic surgeon" would be nothing but a myth. He had to make the impossible possible.

He remembered how he cried for one whole hour, holding Taesoo tightly against his chest when she finally called him "Daddy." It was a moment of pure joy, one he wished he could have shared with Sri. But she was far gone by then. Jungkook had decided to keep her out of the loop, believing she would eventually reunite with Taesoo when she returned. Since then, Taesoo had been living with them. Although the environment wasn't anywhere near perfect for a child to grow up in, Taehyung knew no one could touch Taesoo's hair inside the Titan mansion—not when she was guarded by both him and Jungkook. He had to recreate a stronger version of himself to ensure her safety.

"Why did you go?" the innocent child asked, bringing him back to the present with her soft, curious voice.

"It was an important job, my dear," he replied, forcing a smile as he stood up.

"Were you trying to find Mommie?" His heart sank at the question, anger simmering within him as he noticed the expectant glint in her eyes. How could Sri be so selfish? It felt as though she didn't even care to know about Taesoo. She was so consumed in her battle with darkness that she had failed to grasp the light of hope.

"No, dear. She will come back soon..." he said, but he saw the excitement fade from her orbs, replaced by a cloud of disappointment.

"I hope she finishes her work fast. I miss her. It's been two years," she mumbled, her voice trembling slightly, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Taesoo had been told that Sri was out for some office work. "It won't take her much time. Just wait a few more days, dear." Taehyung hugged her little frame tightly, trying to shield her from the harsh reality. "Did you complete the letter I told you to write for me?" he asked, hoping to divert her thoughts.

Taesoo flashed a gap-toothed smile, revealing her two missing front teeth. "Oops, I forgot."

"Then complete it fast. I can't wait to read it!" Taehyung playfully nudged her towards her room. Taesoo asking for her mother was the last thing he needed to hear in that moment, the ache in his heart intensifying.

"You know, if she ever remembered anything, she would shoot us all," Jungkook said, descending the stairs with a playful grin. For the first time, Taehyung knew something that Jungkook didn't. The younger man still believed Taehyung was ignorant, while in reality, he had learned the entire plot that the Jeon siblings had created. Both of them had played with his life, weaving a web of deception that threatened to ensnare them all.

Jungkook took a beer can from the fridge and opened it with a satisfying 'pop.' He was dressed in a simple t-shirt and baggy pants, looking relaxed yet undeniably captivating. As he gulped down the beer, his Adam's apple bobbed enticingly, a sight that could make anyone's heart race. A few drops of liquid streamed down from the corner of his mouth, glistening in the soft light of the kitchen. Sweat clung to the ends of his hair strands, and his tattooed arm gleamed, a testament to the workout he had put himself through earlier.

"I've been preparing my speech for that day," he said, attempting to mask his irritation with a hint of sarcasm, his tone dripping with dry humor.

But JK didn't respond. Instead, he ascended the steps, the half-drunk beer can in hand, leaving a tense silence in his wake. Just then, Sherly and Jimin entered the house, their laughter echoing through the hallway. Jungkook cast them a side-eye, an expression of mixed annoyance and indifference flickering across his face before he disappeared behind the walls of the corridor.

As long as the missions were accomplished, he should be okay with them. Shouldn't he?

Look who decided to show up?😃How are you all doing??

How do you feel to get our little hero back??