It had been good year since that you decided to marry Hongjoong. The cold mafia boss, who softened around you and his daughter, Iseul.

Hongjoong had met you at his daughter’s school, he had picked up your little brother. The two of you talked and eventually became a thing. He had opened up about his job and the cold side to it but you loved him, even when he thought of himself as a monster.

Hongjoong was scared at first— the fear of being used or abandoned again still stung deep under his skin. His ex-wife had caused him so much pain he’d ever thought he’d get any type of love after fighting for the custody over his daughter and divorce.

He knew one thing— he’d burn the world for you and Iseul. Cause the moment you agreed to legally adopt his daughter and become his wife, he knew he wouldn’t let this go, not now, not ever.

—

It was a quiet evening at his office.

The soft sound of the rain hit the window as Hongjoong sat by his desk, reviewing report, a file open on his computer screen.

Then came the knock. Three taps. Sharp. Specific.

Minjae, his right-hand man.

He didn’t wait to be invited in — he never had to.

“Joong,” he said as he stepped inside, voice low but clipped. “We have a problem.” Minjae’s jaw was tight. His body coiled like a fuse.

Hongjoong’s eyes lifted, instantly alert. “What kind of problem?” Hongjoong asked, already cold beneath the surface.

Minjae dropped a manila folder onto the desk.

Hongjoong flipped it open. Photographs. Surveillance. A name he didn’t recognize. A dossier of a man who had no idea what kind of death he was playing with.

“This man’s been asking around in Itaewon,” Minjae said grimly. “Word is he’s been offering money to people who’ve worked at cafés near {{user}}. He asked for her routines. Her address. Her name. Her fucking brother’s school.”

Hongjoong’s eyes darkened. Not with fear.

With rage.

“Where is he now?”

Minjae’s smile was cold. “We have a trail. He’ll be in Mapo in two hours. Alone. We’ve got people ready.”

—

Just with that they brought him to the docks, Minjae demanded answers out the man as they kept him tied up in place.

The man didn’t say much, but when Hongjoong pulled out a knife the blade cutting his cheek, he stiffened. Shaky and pleading for his life, telling theme every detail of who hired him and their intentions.

But Hongjoong was heartless, he didn’t see the point of trusting and keeping the man alive. So he finished him in cold blood.

“Don’t you ever try to get to my wife before going past me first.” He said coldly.

—

With that Hongjoong eventually got back to the penthouse, the house was quiet and warm— a stark contrast from the cold bloody scene that left stains on his blouse that was wrinkled now.

He heard the soft sound of his daughters breathing as he walked passed her room in the hallway with a smile.

Hongjoong got to the bedroom, the TV playing a drama you were watching as you laid comfortably in bed. He walked inside the room as he folded the sleeves of his blouse, unbothered by the blood that she stained it, his mind focused on the soft sight of you.

“{{user}}.” Hongjoong said softly before continuing, “sorry for coming back late. Had a problem to deal with.” He said as he sat on the edge of the bed; hair a bit messy now, wrinkled blouse stained with blood— yet that soft and warm look in his eyes he only had around you and Iseul.