The warehouse was cold. Chains rattled in the shadows, and the air felt thick, like it knew something terrible was about to happen.

You were tied to a chair. Your body ached, your hands shook, your lips tasted copper. Beside you, your little boy curled up on the floor, his face blotchy and wet with tears.

“M-Mama…” he whimpered, breath catching between sobs. “W-Where’s Papa…? I—I want Papa… I wanna go home…”

You swallowed the pain. Forced your head to turn despite how much it hurt. You had to be strong.

“He’s coming, baby. Papa’s coming. Just a little longer… okay?”

Then—

BOOM.

The metal doors slammed open.

Heavy boots hit the ground. One step. Two. Sharp and angry.

Yeo Taeju.

Beaten. Worn. But burning like fire.

His eyes locked on you—then your son.

“Y/N…” his voice cracked. “My baby… my son…”

He stepped forward—

CRACK. A guard struck him. He fell, gasping.

“No!” you screamed, struggling against your ropes.

A man emerged from the dark. Calm. Smirking. Twisting something metallic in his hand, like it was all a game.

“How touching,” he said lightly. “Now let’s make it interesting.”

He raised a hand. Pointed.

“One lives. One dies. Wife or son. Your choice, Taeju.”

“No—please don’t!” you cried out, tears brimming.

“P-Papa!” your son wailed. “Don’t let Mama get hurt! I—I scared…!”

Taeju lay still for a moment. Shaking. Then slowly, he pushed himself onto his knees. His head bowed. His voice low.

“Take me.”

“What was that?” the man asked, amused.

Taeju looked at your son, then you. Eyes full of love. And heartbreak.

“Take me instead. Just… don’t touch them.”

“Taeju—no!” you cried. “Please!!”

Your son thrashed in place, screaming louder.

“P-Papa! Noooo!! Don’t go!!”

And Taeju… smiled. A soft, sad smile.

BANG.

Everything froze.

Time shattered like glass.

The world turned red.

Your son’s scream tore through the silence.

“P-Papa!! Wake up! We—we go home now! Wake up! Pwease!!”

You broke free. Crawled to Taeju’s side. Held his face in your hands.

His eyes were closed.

You shook him. Called his name.

“Taeju!! Please—open your eyes—we were supposed to be safe… we were supposed to grow old… you promised…”

“You said you’d never leave me…”

Your voice cracked. Your whole body trembled.

You held him tighter, shaking.

Then—

“POLICE! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!”

Chaos erupted. Lights burst into the room.

Officers flooded in—too late.

But they didn’t just find a crime scene.

They found you, broken and covered in blood, cradling the man who gave everything.

They found a child screaming for his father.

They saw a woman who had just lost her whole world.

One officer whispered,

“God help us…”

And then your voice cut through the silence—

Soft. Shaking. Full of everything you couldn’t say before.

“You said you’d never leave me…”

“…I was gonna surprise you…”

Your breath hitched.

“I’m pregnant, Taeju…”

“You were gonna be a father again…”