Chapter 9


It was a week later, Jeonghan was at his computer, working on some plans for his next heist, when he noticed a new message blinking in the corner of the screen. He clicked on it, expecting it to be spam or a work-related notification, but instead, he saw that it was from his old company. His eyebrows furrowed as he read the contents of the message.

Jeonghan's heart sank as he read the message. His old boss, the same one he had left under bad circumstances, was asking for him to retrieve his diamond, the very same diamond Jeonghan had stolen from the auction. Jeonghan couldn't believe it. Of all the things his old boss could have contacted him for, why was it for this?

Jeonghan's mind raced as he considered his options. He could ignore the message, but he knew his old boss wouldn't give up easily.

The man had a reputation for being ruthless and relentless. Jeonghan scowled, conflicted. He had moved on from that life, built a new one as a thief. Going back to that life, even for a short time, felt like a step backwards.

Jeonghan leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. He glanced over at Haneul, who was coloring quietly at the table. The child was blissfully unaware of Jeonghan's inner turmoil. Jeonghan's heart clenched at the sight. He had sacrificed so much for his son, and he didn't want to risk losing him by getting pulled back into his old world.

Jeonghan's mind involuntarily drifted to the memory of Haneul's mother. It was a painful and traumatic memory, one that still haunted him to this day. The woman had died soon after childbirth, leaving Jeonghan to raise their son alone. He had never known love, never felt the warmth and comfort of a family. It was just him and Haneul against the world.

Jeonghan's heart ached at the memory. He had loved the woman, in his own way, even though they hadn't been meant to be together. Her death had left a deep wound in him, a scar that would never fully heal. And now, with his former boss demanding the diamond, Jeonghan couldn't help but feel as though he was being torn between two worlds, two versions of himself.

Jeonghan looked over at Haneul again, the child blissfully unaware of the thoughts swirling in his father's mind. Jeonghan's love for his son was the one constant in his life, the one thing he could cling to when everything else was uncertain. He knew he would do anything to protect Haneul, even if it meant facing his past head on.

A month passed with no signs of Scoups or his old boss. Jeonghan was relieved at that, not wanting to face them for some time.

Jeonghan arrived at his apartment, a weary look on his face. It had been a long day at work, filled with meetings and negotiations in his normal job. All he wanted now was to see his son and relax. He unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment.

Expecting to see Haneul waiting for him like he usually did after pre-school. But the apartment was strangely quiet and empty. Jeonghan's heart skipped a beat, a sudden sense of dread rising in his chest.

"Haneul?" Jeonghan called out, his voice echoing in the silence. There was no answer. Jeonghan's breathing quickened as he scanned the room, looking for any sign of his son. But Haneul was nowhere to be seen.

Jeonghan's mind raced as panic gripped him. Where was Haneul? The neighbor usually dropped him off every day after pre-school. Had something happened to his son?

Jeonghan quickly pulled out his phone and dialed his neighbor's number, his heart pounding in his chest. The neighbor picked up after a few rings, her voice bright and cheerful.

"Hello, Jeonghan!" she greeted.

Jeonghan's voice was tense as he spoke, "Hello, sorry to bother you. Have you seen Haneul today?" The neighbor's tone immediately changed, concern creeping into her voice.

"What do you mean? I dropped him off at your apartment a few hours ago like I always do," she replied, puzzled. Jeonghan could hear the confusion in her voice.

Jeongan's eyes widened as her words sank in. "What? You dropped him off at my apartment? But he's not here. I just came back from work and the place is empty." The panic in Jeonghan's voice was unmistakable, and the neighbor's concern grew.

"Oh my god, hold on let me come over," the neighbor said, her voice urgent. Jeonghan hung up the phone and waited impatiently for the neighbor to arrive. Every second felt like an eternity, the fear gripping his heart tighter with each passing minute.

It only took a few minutes for the neighbor to arrive, her face pale and worried. As soon as she stepped inside, she began looking around the apartment, calling out Haneul's name. Jeonghan followed suit, searching every corner of the apartment, hoping to find his son safe and sound.

But no matter where they searched, they couldn't find any trace of Haneul. The apartment was completely empty, Haneul's toys and things untouched. Jeonghan's heart sank as the realization dawned on him. His son was missing, and he had no idea where he could be.

Jeonghan's mind was racing with worry and fear. He had to find Haneul, had to make sure he was okay. But where on earth was he? Jeonghan's eyes widened as a horrifying thought suddenly hit him.

Could Haneul have been kidnapped? The thought was enough to send chills down Jeonghan's spine. It made sense - the neighbor had dropped Haneul off as usual, and Haneul was nowhere in the apartment. The only logical explanation was that someone had taken him.

Jeonghan tried to remain calm as he spoke to his neighbor, but inside he was a mess of fear and anxiety. "Thank you for coming," he said. "But I'll handle it from here. Go ahead and go home."

The neighbor looked hesitant, worry clear in her eyes. "Are you sure? Do you need any help?" she asked. Jeonghan shook his head, forcing himself to keep a steady voice. "No, I'll be fine. I'll find him, don't worry."

The neighbor reluctantly nodded, her eyes still filled with concern. "Okay, but please keep me updated. And if you need anything, don't hesitate to call me." Jeonghan nodded, forcing a small smile. "I will. Thank you."

The neighbor left, leaving Jeonghan alone in the empty apartment. As soon as the door closed behind her, Jeonghan's composure crumbled. He buried his face in his hands, feeling the weight of the situation crash down on him.

"Where is he? Where is he?" Jeonghan whispered to himself, his voice trembling with fear and anger. He had to find Haneul, had to make sure he was safe. But where could he possibly start? Jeonghan's mind was blank, overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation.

Jeonghan stumbled into his office, feeling like he was drowning in despair. He needed to do something, needed to find a way to locate Haneul.

Jeonghan sat down at his desk and stared at his computer screen, but his mind was too chaotic to focus. All he could see was Haneul's sweet, innocent face, and the thought of him being in danger was tearing Jeonghan apart.

Jeonghan was still staring blankly at his computer when something caught his eye. A small piece of paper was sticking out from between the pages of a book on his desk. His heartbeat quickened – he didn't remember leaving a note there.

Jeonghan picked up the paper, his hand trembling slightly. He unfolded it, his eyes scanning the words written on it. As he read them, his blood ran cold.

"We have your son. If you ever want to see him again, come alone. Bring the diamond."

Jeonghan's heart felt like it had stopped. The message was clear - Haneul had been taken, and the only way to get him back was by delivering the diamond. Jeonghan's mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. Who could have taken his son? And how did they know about the diamond?

Below it was written "Hope you come soon 1004 or should I saw Jeonghan?"

The mention of the nickname "1004" gnawed at Jeonghan's mind.

Jeonghan's heart dropped as he put the pieces together. Scoups. The gang leader had taken Haneul as a form of revenge. Jeonghan's anger flared as he thought of the man he had teased and handcuffed to the bed two weeks ago. How dare he take Haneul?

Jeonghan clenched his fists, feeling a mix of anger and fear. He had underestimated Scoups, hadn't thought the gang leader would stoop so low. He needed to get his son back, and to do that, he had to give Scoups what he wanted. The diamond.

Seungcheol's thoughts kept drifting to the thief he had met in the warehouse a fortnight ago. He couldn't get Jeonghan out of his head. The way he had taunted him, teased him, it was infuriating. And yet... Seungcheol couldn't deny the fact that there was something about Jeonghan that had captured his attention.

Seungcheol leaned back in his chair, a frown on his face. He had never been so consumed by anyone before. Why was Jeonghan so different?

Suddenly, a knock came at the door, interrupting his thoughts.

"Come in," Seungcheol called out, his voice gruff. The door opened, and Woozi stepped inside. "We have an issue, boss."

Seungcheol's frown deepened. "What issue?" he asked, sitting up straight. Woozi closed the door behind him and approached Seungcheol's desk.

"It's Jeonghan he is firing at our headquarters." Woozi gruffed feeling irritated.

Seungcheol's eyes widened in surprise. Jeonghan? Firing at their headquarters? It didn't seem like something the thief would do. But then again, Jeonghan was unpredictable.

"What do you mean? How do you know it's him?" Seungcheol asked, confused.

Woozi shrugged. "I don't know for sure, but the description matches him. It's probably best to go check it out just in case."

Seungcheol stood up, a mix of annoyance and curiosity swirling within him. He had a feeling Jeonghan was behind this, and he couldn't let it go uninvestigated.

"Alright," Seungcheol said, grabbing his jacket. "Let's go see what's going on. But be careful. Jeonghan is not someone to underestimate."

Woozi nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "He's got guts, that's for sure."

Seungcheol rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but he's also annoying as hell."

As they made their way out of the office, Seungcheol couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement mixed with irritation. He was going to see Jeonghan again.

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