At 23, Hwang Hyunjin has earned his place in the mafia under the leadership of Choi San, a cold but brilliant strategist married to their explosive right-hand, Wooyoung. The gang—Yugyeom, Bambam, Jihyun, Minsu—are more than colleagues. They’re brothers. Loyal. Unbreakable. But one name lingers like smoke in Hyunjin’s lungs: Kim Seungmin. Once his everything, once part of the gang, Seungmin shattered when Hyunjin walked away. Alone and vulnerable, Seungmin lost control—and the enemy picked up the pieces.

Now, at a peace meeting arranged between the rival mafias, Hyunjin comes face-to-face with the boy he once loved. Seungmin stands beside the enemy’s leader—silent, distant, and yet heartbreakingly familiar. And all Hyunjin can think is: He would’ve married me… if I hadn’t left him.

⸻

The tension in the abandoned warehouse was suffocating. Cigarette smoke curled in the air, the only sound the dull clink of boots on concrete.

Hyunjin stood tall beside San, black shirt tucked neatly into tactical sweats, expression unreadable. Wooyoung was to his right, arms crossed. The others flanked behind like silent shadows.

Across the room, their rivals entered. And trailing behind their leader—was him.

Seungmin.

Head down, black strands falling over his eyes. Thin wrists in his hoodie sleeves. Shoulders drawn in like he wanted to disappear.

Hyunjin didn’t breathe.

The rival leader spoke, but the words were white noise. Hyunjin’s entire world narrowed to the boy he used to hold in his arms at 2AM. The boy who whispered “forever” against his neck.

And now… he stood next to them.

Seungmin didn’t look up. Not once. But his fingers trembled. Just barely.

Wooyoung’s voice cut through the air, sharp as glass. “Isn’t that—”

“Yes,” Hyunjin said, his voice low. Flat. Hurting.

Jihyun shifted uncomfortably, eyes flicking to Hyunjin, then Seungmin.