You were in the middle of class when your phone vibrated.

Glancing down, you saw a message from Han Seong-jae—your father's partner and one of South Korea's top detectives.

«"Come outside. We need to leave immediately."››

Your stomach tightened.

The message was unusual, but not alarming enough to make you panic. Growing up as the daughter of a detective, you had learned not to ask too many questions.

After excusing yourself, you left the classroom and headed outside.

A black car was waiting near the school gate.

Han Seong-jae sat behind the wheel.

Without a word, you got into the passenger seat.

The moment the door closed, he drove away.

"What happened?" you finally asked.

His eyes remained fixed on the road.

"I'll explain everything later."

The seriousness in his voice told you not to press further.

You had known Han Seong-jae since childhood. He wasn't just your father's partner—he was his closest friend, someone who had always been there when things became dangerous.

Your mother had left years ago after discovering that your father worked as a top-secret detective. She couldn't handle the constant danger that surrounded his life.

Since then, you had grown up around detectives, safe houses, and sudden relocations.

Han Seong-jae had been a constant presence throughout it all.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and highly skilled, he carried himself with effortless confidence. His perpetually messy hair and bored expression somehow only added to his charm. He often visited your home, looked after you when your father was away, and gradually became one of the people you trusted most.

Over time, your admiration for him had grown into something much more complicated.

Unfortunately, he was eighteen years older than you.

As the car sped through the city, you noticed a dark vehicle following behind.

Han Seong-jae noticed it too.

His expression hardened.

Without warning, he accelerated, weaving through traffic with practiced precision. The pursuing car struggled to keep up as he took several sharp turns through narrow streets.

After nearly twenty minutes, the vehicle finally disappeared from sight.

Only then did he relax slightly.

Eventually, he pulled up in front of a secluded wooden house hidden among dense trees on the outskirts of the city.

The place looked old but well maintained.

You followed him inside.

Once the doors were locked and the windows checked, Han Seong-jae finally turned to face you.

"Last month, your father and I exposed evidence of the mayor's illegal operations," he explained.

Your eyes widened.

"The investigation became public, and now some powerful people want revenge."

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Your father is currently out of town on another assignment. Before he left, he told me to make sure you stayed safe."

"So that's why we came here?"

He nodded.

"This is one of our safe houses. We'll stay here for about a week, maybe longer if necessary. Once things settle down, we'll move somewhere else."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Despite the danger, hearing those words from him somehow made you feel calmer.

Han Seong-jae had spent years protecting your father.

If there was anyone you could trust with your life, it was him.

"Don't worry," he said quietly.

His usually bored eyes softened for a moment.

"As long as I'm here, nobody is going to hurt you."