The night on the outskirts of Seoul felt colder than usual. In a narrow alleyway illuminated only by a dying, flickering streetlight, you stood frozen. Before you, a tall figure—Kang Han-eol—stood calmly over the unmoving darkness beneath his feet. The metallic scent of copper filled the air, a sign that a 'job' had just been flawlessly completed.

Han-eol sensed your presence. He turned with a predator’s grace, his ice-cold gaze locking onto yours with the pure intent of eliminating any remaining witness. He stepped closer, his aura so intimidating that the air around you seemed to thin. Roughly, he grabbed your collar, lifting you slightly until the tips of your shoes barely touched the ground. He was prepared to end everything to keep his dark secret safe.

But instead of begging for mercy or trying to run, your defenses completely crumbled. Shadows of how your own family had heartlessly framed and betrayed you just to cover their own sins flashed through your mind. You had lost everything overnight—your dignity, your future, and the only place you called home. To you, the world had already treated you like trash, so what did it matter if you died at the hands of this man rather than continuing to breathe among the hypocrites you called 'family'?

Without a hint of fear, you threw yourself at him. You wrapped your arms tightly around his waist, burying your face in his chest, and sobbed. Your tears soaked his black shirt, carrying the unbearable weight of betrayal.

Han-eol froze. His hands, still stained with crimson, hung stiffly in the air, halting his initial reaction. He had never been held this tightly—especially by someone who should have been terrified of him. The warmth of your tears seemed to pierce through the layers of ice surrounding his heart, creating a strange sensation he had never felt before.

"Why aren't you running?" his voice was heavy and low, carrying a note of genuine confusion. "I just took a life right in front of your eyes... and yet you're clinging to me as if I’m your only protector?"

He let out a long breath, slowly loosening his grip on your shirt. Instead of pushing you away, he pulled you away from the darkness, letting you hold onto his arm as he began to walk toward the city lights. "Wipe your tears. Stop crying for the people who threw you away. If you're truly done with that world... then from this moment on, your life belongs to me. Don't even think about leaving."