Three years had passed.
Seoul's most elite and expensive international high school—Royal Seoul Academy.
Only the children of South Korea's most powerful elites and billionaires studied here.
A luxurious black car stopped in front of the school gate. A teenage girl stepped out—so transformed that no one would ever guess she was once the old Soha.
Soha's New Identity
She was now a beautiful nineteen-year-old young woman. Her long black hair was cut in a stylish modern shape. She wore an expensive silk blazer and short skirt—the official school uniform. Blue contact lenses hid her real eye color, and her flawless makeup completely masked the playful innocence she once had.
Her name was no longer Soha.
In the school records, she was "Maya Lee."
For the past three years, Soha had secretly trained in martial arts and hacking. She knew one thing clearly—if she wanted to defeat a mafia like Adric, she had to step into his dark world.
And this prestigious school was Adric's next target.
Because here studied the sons and daughters of South Korea's most powerful mafia dons.
As Soha entered the building, she noticed large posters lining the corridors. They displayed the names of the newly appointed trustee board members.
Her steps froze.
On the poster, it read:
"Mr. Adric — Chief Investor."
Adric was no longer just a mafia lord. He was now one of the city's biggest businessmen—and one of the owners of this school.
Soha looked at her reflection in the mirror and whispered to herself:
"Adric, the girl you thought was dead is standing right in front of your eyes.
But this time, I didn't come to be your toy.
I came to take your empire."
Just then, chaos erupted in the corridor.
The towering man—six feet four inches tall—entered the school with a group of bodyguards.
Adric.
The glasses were gone now. His gaze was sharper, colder, more ruthless.
As he walked past Soha, he suddenly stopped.
A familiar scent reached his nose—the same perfume Soha used to wear ten years ago.
Adric turned and looked at her.
Soha did not flinch. Not even a little.
She met his gaze head-on and gave him a cold, arrogant smile.
Adric didn't recognize her—but something about her eyes stirred an old, haunting pain within him. His sharp gaze searched deep into her eyes, as if trying to uncover the truth.
After three years, Soha was standing once again before the same towering man.
Despite being nineteen now, she still looked small in front of Adric's massive frame—but this time, there was no fear in her eyes.
In a low, grave voice, Adric asked,
"What's your name? You look… familiar."
For a brief moment, Soha froze. Her heart raced—but she forced herself to stay calm. She knew that even a single tremor would expose her.
She curved her lips into a mocking smile—the same devilish smile she had learned from Adric himself.
With absolute confidence, she replied in English,
"My name is Kim Ara. But everyone calls me 'Shadow.'
Mr. Investor, do you usually stop people in the middle of the hallway to ask their names?"
Adric stared at her.
Her voice was different.
Her mannerisms had changed.
Yet his subconscious refused to believe that Soha was truly dead.
He leaned closer—only a few inches separating them.
Adric:
"Kim Ara? Interesting. Your eyes remind me of someone who died three years ago… yet still refuses to let me sleep in peace.
And that perfume—so outdated, Kim Ara."
Without the slightest hesitation, Soha adjusted his tie—the one that used to have a red ribbon—and replied coolly,
"Clinging to old memories is the habit of weak men, Mr. Adric.
I live in the present.
I hope we'll meet again in class, Professor."
She walked away without looking back.
Adric stood still, watching her disappear down the corridor.
His chief bodyguard whispered,
"Boss, should we check her? Something about her feels suspicious."
Adric lit a cigar, exhaled slowly, and said,
"No. If she's Soha, she'll reveal herself eventually.
And if she's not—then this girl will become a very interesting prey.
Keep an eye on her."
When Soha finally entered the restroom, her hands began to shake as she turned on the faucet. Water splashed into the sink.
She stared at her reflection in the mirror and whispered,
"That was close.
Adric has become far more dangerous."The Return of Kim Ara
Soha's new identity is now 'Kim Ara.' Today, she arrived at school with a newfound boldness. She wore the latest trendy Co-ord Set, making her personality appear both fierce and captivating. The top was cropped, and the skirt was so short that her confidence seemed to radiate from her. She wore white knee socks, which accentuated the beauty of her long legs.
As Soha entered the classroom, every eye was on her. But she had only one target—Adrik. Today, Adrik himself had come to invigilate the exam hall.
Soha sat right on the very first bench. As she pulled out her pen, Adrik walked past her. His gaze kept drifting toward Soha involuntarily. Her daring outfit and style were making him restless deep inside.
The exam began. Soha intentionally wrote slowly, occasionally glancing at Adrik as if she were completely innocent. When Adrik came to stand by her bench, Soha crossed her legs. Her white knee socks and short dress were more than enough to distract him.
Adrik leaned down and placed his hand on Soha's desk. The massive 6'4" man brought his face close to Soha's ear. His voice sounded harsh today.
Adrik: "Kim Ara, this is an exam hall, not a fashion show. Focus on your paper, or I'll be forced to snatch it away."
Soha looked up from her paper and stared directly into Adrik's eyes. A smirk played on her lips. She whispered softly, "Sir, are you looking at my paper or something else? I can hear your heartbeat from here; it's racing."
Adrik froze. Noticing other students looking at them, he composed himself and stepped back. But his jaw remained clenched. He realized this girl was trying to provoke him—and she was succeeding. It felt like he was falling once again for the charm of that 16-year-old Soha, the one he thought was dead.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the exam. Everyone submitted their papers and left. Soha was the last to get up. As she handed her paper to Adrik, she brushed her fingers against his.
Soha: "I don't know how the exam went, Sir, but you look very disturbed today. Were you up late thinking about someone?"
With that, Soha slung her bag over her shoulder and strutted out. Adrik crumpled the paper in his hand. He muttered to himself, "Who are you? If you aren't Soha, I will destroy you. And if you are Soha... I won't let any net in this world trap you again."
The Rain and the Mercedes
Right after school, the sky turned black and a heavy downpour began. The streets of Seoul blurred instantly. Soha stood at the school gate in her short dress and white knee socks, shivering slightly because her outfit offered no protection against the cold.
Suddenly, a luxurious black Mercedes pulled up right beside her. As the window rolled down, Adrik was seen at the steering wheel. In the mist of the rain, his face looked even more somber and mysterious.
Adrik glanced at Soha's drenched clothes. His eyes lingered on her exposed legs before returning to her face.
Adrik (Heavy voice): "It's impossible to get a taxi in this condition and in that outfit. Get in, Kim Ara."
Soha hesitated for a moment, playing hard to get. She leaned toward the window and said, "Thank you, Mr. Investor, but I don't get into cars with strangers. Besides, my wet clothes might ruin your expensive seats."
Adrik gave a lopsided smile. He leaned over and opened the passenger door himself.
Adrik: "If the seats get ruined, I'll change the car. But if something happens to my student, the school's reputation will suffer. I won't ask a second time. Get in."
Soha smiled inwardly; she knew he would call her. She entered the car with a royal grace. The interior smelled of expensive perfume and Adrik's signature scent.
As the car moved, Soha began to shiver more due to the AC. Adrik watched her out of the corner of his eye while driving. Suddenly, he grabbed his dark green blazer from the back seat and tossed it toward her.
Adrik: "Cover yourself. I'm not at all fond of seeing this 'fashion' of yours."
Soha wrapped the blazer around her. Adrik's massive blazer felt like a large blanket on her small frame, still carrying the warmth of his body.
Soha: "Do you help every girl like this? Or is there something special about me?"
Adrik slammed the brakes, pulling the car to the side of the road. He turned toward Soha and touched his finger to a spot on her neck. Soha's heart skipped a beat.
Adrik (Whispering): "There is a lot that's special. Like... this mole on your neck. Someone very familiar to me had a mole exactly here. But she died three years ago by jumping off a roof."
The Confrontation
A suffocating silence filled the car. Between the cold air of the AC and the sound of the rain outside, Adrik's sudden action sent a jolt through Soha's body.
Holding the steering wheel with one hand, Adrik placed his other massive, powerful hand firmly on Soha's thigh. His hot palm against the exposed skin between her short dress and knee socks sent a shiver down her spine.
Soha looked at him in shock. Her wide eyes were fixed on Adrik's stone-cold profile. Adrik didn't look at her; his eyes were on the road ahead. His jaw was tight, as if he were suppressing a demon inside him.
Soha said nothing. She didn't move his hand, nor did she protest. She sat frozen. The pressure of Adrik's hand increased at intervals, revealing the storm brewing inside the mafia man. Was he testing her? Or was he finally trying to quench a three-year-old thirst?
The car sped up. Adrik gritted his teeth and spoke in a low voice:
Adrik: "Kim Ara... you have no idea who you're playing with. I could take this car to a deserted place right now and rip all your secrets out of you. This body, this silence—everything reminds me of that dead girl."
Soha remained quiet. She realized Adrik was losing control. Slowly, she placed her hand over his large one, lacing her small fingers through his.
Soha (Whispering): "If you really think I am Soha, then why the hesitation? Why not stop the car on a deserted road? I'm sitting right next to you."
Adrik braked suddenly. The car stopped in a dark corner of the road. He leaned over Soha, his massive frame casting a shadow over her. His hand was still gripped firmly on her thigh.
Bringing his face inches from her lips, he said, "Whether you are Soha or Kim Ara... there is no escape for you starting today. This car door will only open when I hear your real identity from your own lips."
The Breaking Point
Adrik's patience finally snapped. The three years of suppressed rage, guilt, and obsession took a violent turn.
The sound of rain against the car intensified. Adrik didn't wait for an answer. He tilted Soha's chin up with his strong hand and, without giving her a chance, crashed his lips onto hers.
Soha was paralyzed by the sudden assault. The kiss wasn't gentle or loving; it was consuming, possessive, and thirsty. Adrik seemed to be measuring her heartbeat through this kiss—trying to confirm if the taste of these lips belonged to the 16-year-old Soha.
Soha initially tried to push against his broad chest, but against the 6'4" muscular frame of Adrik, the 19-year-old was a helpless prey. Adrik used his other hand to fist her hair, ensuring she couldn't pull away.
Eventually, Soha's resistance faded. A single hot tear rolled down her cheek. Sensing she was no longer fighting, Adrik slowly pulled back. Their heavy breathing fogged up the car windows.
Resting his forehead against hers, Adrik panted, "This trembling... these tears... Kim Ara could never tremble like this. You are Soha! You've come back!"
Soha finally let out a crooked smile, though her eyes were still wet. She grabbed Adrik's collar tightly and whispered into his ear:
Soha: "If I am indeed Soha, don't you think you made a huge mistake? Ten years ago you saved me, three years ago you sent me to my death... and today? Today, you kissed your own killer, Adrik Bhaiya."
Soha pulled a small sharp blade from beneath her Co-ord set and held it against Adrik's throat. Adrik wasn't surprised; instead, a devilish grin appeared on his face.
Adrik: "If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't be a Mafia, Ira. But I must say, I quite like this version of you. Now tell me, have you come to take revenge, or have you come to share this dark kingdom with me?"