What a messy dinner

"Just… think about it, okay?" He paused, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.

Mingwa's whispered, "I'll do my best to distance myself from them," but Taewoo wasn't having it.

"No." His voice was firm, cutting through the silence like a blade. He turned fully toward her, his eyes hard and unrelenting. "You don't 'distance yourself,' Mingwa. You do it now. Cut them off, or I'll do it for you."

She stared at him, shocked by his ultimatum. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I mean, if you don't do it, I will. I'll make sure they can't reach you, can't hurt you anymore. Those people—your so-called family—they've done enough damage. And I won't stand by while they tear you apart again."