The camera flashes weren't as bright as they used to be. Back then, just stepping out of the studio would trigger a storm of shutter clicks. Back then, his name always topped the lists. Back then, he was the face of every luxury campaign in the city.

But that was then.

Now, a new name had begun to rise. A fresh face, a slender figure, piercing eyes, and a smile full of charm had started to steal the spotlight that once belonged solely to Soobin. That young girl had come too fast, and shined too brightly. In just a few short months, she had become the darling of the fashion world. Designers started chasing her, magazines featured her name, and photographers no longer turned their lenses toward Soobin like before. Soobin saw her at last season's runway show. She looked nervous but enchanting. Too enchanting for someone that new. While everyone around was busy praising the girl, Soobin sat still, expressionless. But deep within, a quiet fire smoldered. This world was his. He had stood on those stages for years. There was no space for someone just starting out.

The order was simple. All it took was someone to tamper with the brakes of the car the girl would ride in on her way to a photoshoot rehearsal. The crash was meant to be fatal. But fate decided to play a different game. The girl survived, though her body could no longer move. News of the hospital, the ventilator, the wheelchair, it flooded every social media feed. People cried. People cursed the world. They called it a tragedy. Soobin simply smiled behind the glass of his high-rise apartment. He knew the plan hadn't been perfect, but it had been enough. The modeling world had no room for someone who couldn't walk.

A week later, Soobin came to visit. He brought white flowers, a calm expression, and the kind of smile that dripped with sympathy. The hospital room was quiet, save for the beeping of machines. The girl turned her head weakly, her eyes moist, her body frozen. Soobin sat beside her, gently took her hand, that hand which could no longer return a grip. He leaned in, soft and slow, and whispered with the gentlest tone imaginable, like a needle sliding into the deepest part of the soul.

"Too bad, sweetheart. That crash was supposed to end you."

**[ WELCOME TO AU TXT! CHOI SOOBIN IS HERE! HAVE A GOOD TIME<3 ]**