“In the ashes of what was, a spark still lingers, daring to defy the darkness.”

The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as the flickering flames of a lone candle struggled against the suffocating darkness. Y/n stood by the large bay window, her silhouette sharp against the pale glow of the moon. Her hands trembled slightly as she held a photograph, the edges worn from being held too many times. The image was of her and Taehyung, a memory she couldn't seem to erase.

Her mind wandered back to the night it all fell apart.

It was supposed to be a quiet evening—a stolen moment in a world that never allowed them peace. She could still hear the echo of his laughter as they sat by the riverside, the city lights reflected in the water like scattered jewels. His fingers had brushed against hers, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like nothing else mattered.

But happiness in their world was always fleeting.

The betrayal came swift and without warning. The sound of gunshots shattered the air that night, her father’s men emerging from the shadows like phantoms. They’d been sent to “remind” her of her place in the family. Taehyung, unarmed and vulnerable, had been left bleeding, a bullet grazing his shoulder as he shielded her. She’d begged them to stop, her voice breaking as they dragged her away.

Her father’s words from that night still haunted her. “Love makes you weak, Y/n. Weakness will destroy this family.”

She clutched the photograph tighter, her nails biting into the paper. It was easier to hate him, to blame him for the choices that had been forced upon her. Yet, no matter how much she tried, her heart betrayed her with every beat.

A knock on the door broke her reverie. Y/n turned, sliding the photo into a drawer as her brother, Jihoon, stepped inside. His presence was always a storm—his tailored suit perfect, his expression unreadable.

“Father has made his decision,” Jihoon announced, his tone as sharp as the glint of his knife. “You’re to handle Kim Taehyung.”

Her heart froze. “Handle?” she echoed, though the meaning was clear.

Jihoon’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Don’t play coy, Y/n. You know what this means. He’s a threat to the family. It’s time you proved where your loyalties lie.”

She felt her world tilt, the weight of her father’s expectations pressing down on her like iron chains. How could she kill the man she once swore to protect? The man who, despite everything, still haunted her dreams?

“Is this really necessary?” she asked, her voice carefully measured.

Jihoon stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. “You’re questioning Father now? After everything he’s done for us?”

Y/n clenched her fists, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “I’m just asking if there’s another way.”

“There isn’t,” Jihoon replied coldly. “You either end him, or someone else will—and they won’t be as kind about it.”

She nodded stiffly, her expression betraying none of the turmoil raging inside her. As Jihoon left, the weight of the task settled heavily on her shoulders.

Y/n turned back to the window, staring out at the city lights. Somewhere out there, Taehyung was alive, probably planning his next move. If she didn’t act, her father’s men would ensure he didn’t see another sunrise.

But as she reached for the gun hidden beneath her desk, her resolve wavered. Could she truly pull the trigger, knowing the cost?

Her reflection stared back at her, fractured and uncertain. And for the first time, she wondered if the price of loyalty was too high to pay.

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