Chapter 81
“Got you.”
That voice… could it be…?
Seoha shot her eyes open.
Her view was blocked by backlight, making it hard to see the person’s face, but the silhouette alone was enough to tell who it was.
“I told you I wouldn’t let you go.”
“Ethan…?”
How was he here? Seoha was both startled and relieved, her chest tightening.
She was shocked that Ethan, who should be at the airport, was here; relieved that he was an ally, not an enemy; and overwhelmed to see a face she thought she might never see again.
The gray eyes capturing this complex emotion curved into a playful smile.
“You tricked me with such a cute little act. You’re going to get it for that.”
“Everything I did was for you!”
“How is throwing me into a world without you ‘for me’? How is that helping me?”
“But that way, you’d be safe…!”
“No need.”
Ethan’s gaze hardened. The mischievous spark was gone; his eyes were terrifyingly serious.
“If you’re not by my side, living safely means nothing. Don’t ever do something like that again.”
“….”
Seoha’s heart melted, so full it almost shattered her. Her eyes stung.
Putting herself in Ethan’s position, she felt the same way, so she stayed silent, biting her lip.
Even so, Seoha didn’t regret her choice.
At that time, sending Ethan back to his home ground in England was the only way to save him. Staying in Korea was far too dangerous.
Even if she could turn back time, she would make the same choice.
“I’ll lift you up. Give me your other hand too.”
When Seoha reached out, Ethan’s hands entwined with hers like vines.
His intense gaze clamped around her like a noose, as if to never let go again.
“I’m pulling.”
Seoha silently nodded, and suddenly there was a sharp crack, slicing through the air.
Her ears rang from the sound, as if they were being torn apart.
Seoha, frowning as if she were all alone in the world, blinked as drops fell onto her face.
The smell… was that blood?
Her eyes widened instantly.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
A bright red lie. Blood dripped from where he had touched the railing, yet he gave such an obvious lie with those eyes.
Seoha’s expression twisted. Seeing him like that, on the verge of tears, Ethan gave a faint smile.
“I’m really fine.”
“….”
“So don’t worry and come up.”
The strength of his grip lifted her against gravity.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Seoha realized something shocking.
First, the sharp crack she had heard earlier was gunfire, and second, it wasn’t just one shot.
Lastly, Ethan’s body was far more bloodied than she had imagined.
“What… is this?”
With trembling hands, Seoha grabbed Ethan’s blood-soaked clothes. Even with just a light touch, her hands were instantly stained bright red.
“You said you were fine… you said you were okay… this is… what the hell…”
“Shh, calm down.”
Ethan held Seoha’s shaking hands tightly, trying to soothe her.
“I really am fine, so calm down.”
Fine? He’d been shot multiple times and was bleeding so much… fine?
It was impossible. Seoha wanted to snap at him, but she couldn’t even speak.
Her throat was too tight.
She only cried silently, staring at him, as Ethan, sweat-streaked and exhausted, smiled faintly.
His eyelids slowly lowered.
“I’m fine… just… a little tired.”
His body began to collapse. Both knees buckled to the floor.
“I’ll rest here a little… you… run.”
With those words, Ethan completely collapsed.
“Ethan…!”
Seoha screamed hoarsely and supported his collapsing body. At that moment, Ethan transformed into a wolf.
His body, sensing a mortal threat, had instinctively shifted to a more resilient animal form.
This showed just how critical his condition was.
“No, no…!”
Seoha clutched the bloodied Ethan tightly.
Knowing that he had been hurt again to save her pierced her heart like a sharp dagger. She couldn’t breathe properly.
“Stay with me!”
Tears streamed down Seoha’s face, soaking Ethan’s face.
“Please… please, stay awake…! Don’t pass out, Ethan!”
[Wow, I don’t understand a word, but this looks really desperate.]
A sudden cheerful voice froze Seoha’s expression.
She turned her stiff neck toward the source of the voice.
[And to think Ethan would show up on his own. Surprising, isn’t it? Well, that just shows how precious that girl is to him.]
It was Mikhail.
He appeared leisurely, with men who looked like they belonged to the Rhyme family, hands in his pockets, looking down at Seoha and the wolf-form Ethan.
His diamond-shaped pupils looked unusually cheerful.
Even seeing Ethan drenched in blood, he wasn’t shocked nor did he move to help; he just smiled.
[…So you were the one.]
Seoha’s suspicion solidified into certainty.
She clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms and glared at Mikhail.
[You were the one who tried to kill Ethan.]
[Yes, that’s me.]
Mikhail smiled, lighting a cigarette.
[I guess you had a faint idea, huh? No wonder you ran off even when I suggested we go together.]
“….”
[Rhyme, and you’re pretty sharp. I’ll give you that.]
Mikhail clapped mockingly. Seoha’s face twisted in rage.
[Why did you do that? Ethan thought you were his friend. Why…!]
[Why?]
Mikhail chuckled, exhaling white smoke.
[Now that I think about it, I even forgot the reason myself. It started as revenge for my mother.]
[Your mother’s… revenge?]
[Well, that doesn’t matter now. What matters is that if he dies here, my revenge is complete. If he dies, the Miller family will never rise again. No heirs left.]
His lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
Thinking back, the enemy’s true target was never Ethan—it was the destruction of the Miller family. Ethan was just a means to that end.
[…So even ten years ago, approaching Ethan was part of that plan to destroy the Millers?]
[Yes.]
Mikhail grinned, flicking his half-burned cigarette over the railing. Sparks arced to the ground.
[Otherwise, why would I be friends with that idiot? A Rhyme with a late-born power. You’ve got everything I hate.]
Seoha gritted her teeth at his harsh words.
How could he say that? Ethan genuinely thought of him as a friend, cherished their bond…
How… how… how…!
Seoha was more furious at the fact that Mikhail had exploited Ethan’s heart than that he tried to kill him.
And the shameless way he smiled while doing it only fueled her rage.
Knowing the pain of being betrayed by someone you trusted made her clench her teeth even harder.
[I will never forgive you.]
[Not forgive? And what can a mere Rhyme do?]
He was right. There was nothing Seoha could do now.
All she could do was cling to the barely-breathing Ethan and glare at Mikhail.
‘Why am I so weak?’
Why couldn’t she do anything alone?
The helplessness wrapping her body made her long lashes tremble.
[Well, then, shall we finish this?]
Mikhail pulled out a fresh cigarette and aimed his gun at Seoha and Ethan.
A scene straight out of a movie. Normally, the protagonist would unleash superhuman strength to defeat the enemy, but such a miracle wasn’t going to happen here.
‘But… I desperately wish for one.’
For a miracle.
Not a huge one, just enough to protect herself and the people she cared about. Seoha held Ethan tighter, staring at Mikhail with desperate hope.
“…!”
Suddenly, a pang in her chest blurred her vision.
Something metallic, bitter yet strangely sweet, surged in her mouth, repeatedly rising and falling.
Her heartbeat thundered audibly in her ears.
[It’s over.]
A sharp crack tore through the air.
Bullets were coming. She had to dodge.
No, dodging was impossible. She had to catch them.
Before she could finish her thought, her hands moved. She felt a slight sting, and her vision cleared.
[No… way.]
Mikhail and the Rhyme men stared in shock at her.
…What just happened?
Seoha blinked slowly and looked at her hands.
There, in her hands, was a silver, oval-shaped piece of metal.
