"Fuck! You scared me!" Andrew snapped, stumbling back a step, his pulse racing as he glared at James with a mixture of frustration and disbelief.
"Oh? Is that how you greet me, Andrew Choi?" James leaned lazily against the doorframe, a teasing smirk on his lips, as if he'd been waiting for the perfect moment to provoke. "Oops, my mistake—forgot who I was dealing with." His voice dripped with mockery, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
Andrew clenched his fists, his gaze steely. "Stupid. Don't start with me, or I'll personally drag you back to America."
James rolled his eyes, unfazed. "That's quite a warm welcome, especially coming from someone looking as miserable as you." He hoisted his suitcase over the threshold, shutting the door with a smug air of satisfaction.
Andrew's jaw tightened. "I didn't expect you to show up so soon," he muttered, stepping forward, his voice laced with irritation.
James raised an eyebrow, a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he leaned back casually. "Oh? Didn't hear about the party? That's why I came back sooner," he said, his tone teasing yet laced with a hint of provocation. He crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp and penetrating. "And besides," he continued, his voice dropping to a mockingly thoughtful tone, "pushing you to face the truth about your identity, what's got you so on edge?" James took a step closer, his movements deliberate, his smirk widening.
"What party are you talking about?" Andrew shot back, his tone sharp and incredulous. But before James could answer, a heavy knock pounded on the door.
James swung it open, revealing the Vice Chairman, his presence filling the doorway with a chilling authority. Without a word, the Vice Chairman tossed a stack of photos at Andrew, scattering them across the floor like discarded evidence.
"What the hell is this all about?" Andrew growled, swiping his hand across his face in frustration, his voice taut with anger. "What's your problem?"
The Vice Chairman's gaze narrowed as he took a menacing step closer, his voice a low growl. "Didn't you see those pictures? Why are you and your uncle both involved with the same person?"
Andrew's jaw clenched as he held his ground. "It's none of your business."
The Vice Chairman's expression twisted with disdain. In one swift, brutal motion, he slapped Andrew across the face, the sound echoing sharply. James flinched, reaching out to steady Andrew, his fingers gripping Andrew's arm with concern.
"Why are you and your uncle so obsessed with that person?" The Vice Chairman leaned closer, his tone venomous. "I'm warning you—there will be consequences."
Andrew's eyes blazed with defiance. "Keep your filthy hands off to Hyung."
"Hyung?" The Vice Chairman scoffed, his lips curling in a sneer. "You actually call him that?" He stepped back, folding his arms, the hint of a dark amusement in his gaze.
"I told you—stay away from him." Andrew's voice rose, laced with desperation as he stood his ground, his fists trembling with restrained fury.
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" The Vice Chairman's voice dripped with contempt. "Do you honestly think you have the power—or the money—to protect him?" He leaned back, watching Andrew with cold satisfaction.
Andrew's heart pounded, the weight of his father's words sinking in. A flicker of doubt clouded his face, but he held the Vice Chairman's gaze, refusing to back down.
"Don't be like your uncle, Andrew." The Vice Chairman's tone shifted, becoming more calculating. "He's being foolish, thinking what he's doing is acceptable—he's nearly throwing everything away for just one person. He's too blinded by love."
Andrew clenched his teeth. "Who are you to talk about my choices? You were never a part of my life."
The Vice Chairman sneered. "I'm telling you, if you care about that Ji-Won at all, you'll end this foolishness now."
Andrew's voice wavered, but he held steady. "No."
The Vice Chairman scoffed, closing the distance between them, his eyes burning with a simmering rage. "You think you can afford to be stubborn? I'm not the only one against this. You won't like what happens if you keep pushing this—neither you nor your uncle can stop it."
Andrew's fists clenched at his sides. "If you even think of laying a hand on Hyung, I won't hesitate."
The Vice Chairman's eyes hardened. "He'll suffer the same fate as your mother."
The words struck Andrew like a blow, his eyes widening in shock. A sharp pang twisted in his chest, and he struggled to process the revelation.
"What are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice hoarse. "I don't even get to know her. Why bring her up now?"
"She was killed," the Vice Chairman said, the bitterness in his voice softened with a hint of pain. His hand rubbed his face, hesitating. "By the Chairman's order."
Andrew's mouth fell open, a mixture of shock and horror flashing across his face. The weight of his father's confession pressed down on him, each word sinking deeper.
"Why?" Andrew whispered, his voice barely audible. "Why would a father do that to his own son's lover?"
"You don't know what your grandfather is capable of, Andrew," the Vice Chairman replied, his voice a mix of bitterness and resignation. "That's why Secretary Choi raised you in secrecy—to protect you from him."
Andrew ran a shaky hand through his hair, struggling to absorb the weight of it all. "This… this is why I grew up without you?" He looked at his father, a hollow ache in his chest but still determined to remain firm.
"Yes," the Vice Chairman replied, his gaze steady. "I couldn't risk it. If the Chairman found out about you…"
Andrew's eyes burned with a mix of hurt and resentment. "And all for what reason?"
"He's obsessed with power and wealth," the Vice Chairman admitted, his voice faltering. "Your mother didn't fit that image. I was… expected to marry someone else. I thought I could protect her, but…"
"You failed," Andrew murmured, his voice low, his hands shaking. "And you think I'll make the same mistake with Ji-Won?"
The Vice Chairman laughed coldly. "You don't have the power to protect him. You're nothing here—no power, no wealth. You're a nobody."
Andrew's eyes flashed with defiance. "So what's your point?"
"Be smart," the Vice Chairman said, his voice cold. "Think about it."
Andrew hesitated, his mind spinning with doubts. He exhaled a long, heavy sigh. "If you promise not to harm Hyung, I'll… I'll follow your lead."
The Vice Chairman sneered. "Still thinking about that bastard?"
"Then forget it." Andrew's voice grew firm, his jaw set as he turned away.
"Still as stubborn as ever," the Vice Chairman's voice grew cold as he took a step closer. "Fine. Get yourself ready—we'll be meeting your grandfather. I'll arrange the schedule. Make sure you look presentable, and maybe, just maybe, you'll make it through this mess." He turned sharply, the door slamming behind him with a force that echoed through the room, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
James stood frozen against the wall, his heart pounding in his chest as the confrontation between Andrew and his father unfolded. Every word, every revelation hit him like a blow. His hands trembled, and his knees felt weak, as if the weight of the truth had knocked the breath from him. The air around him seemed to tighten, and he couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene, his own fear merging with the intensity of the moment. When the Vice Chairman finally left the room, James rushed to Andrew, his own body shaking with a mix of concern and fear, his voice almost cracking.
"Hey, are you okay?" James asked softly, his hand hovering over Andrew's arm before gently resting there, his fingers trembling with concern. "Your face… it's bruised."
Andrew slumped onto the couch, his body heavy with the weight of everything. He pressed his hands to his face, as if trying to hold himself together, his breath shallow and erratic. The storm of emotions raged within him, a mixture of anger, betrayal, and confusion, suffocating him. He couldn't form the words to explain.
James sat beside him, his brow furrowed deeply, his worry growing with every second. He placed a hand on Andrew's shoulder, his voice a soft but urgent whisper. "What's going on with your uncle? Does he know Ji-Won, too?" His eyes were full of questions, of concern, his fingers digging into Andrew's shoulder as if trying to anchor him to reality.
Andrew's fists tightened, his jaw set with tension as a storm of anger and helplessness surged within him. His voice was quiet yet firm, laced with a deep sense of responsibility and the weight of his commitment. "I have to do whatever it takes, even if it means facing things I'd rather not accept, just to keep Hyung safe. My uncle is involved with him, and if the Chairman finds out, I know he'll be in danger."
James shook his head slowly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. His voice was laced with both fear and urgency. "Andrew… this is dangerous. We should go back to America. This can't end well." His gaze never left Andrew, his hand still resting on his shoulder, his concern for him palpable.
Andrew lifted his gaze, his eyes hardening with determination. There was no more uncertainty in him, only a fierce resolve. "No. I can't back down."
James's voice wavered, his words laced with growing panic. "Do you really think your father will let this slide? What if he's deceiving you and still doing something with Ji-Won?" He stared at Andrew, desperation in his eyes. "And the Chairman—he's far more ruthless than your father."
Despite the fear evident in James's voice, Andrew's resolve only solidified. He met James's gaze, his voice calm yet unwavering. "I'm not running. Not this time." His eyes burned with something deeper now, something unyielding.
The story doesn't end here...
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