Chapter 29: Yoon Sera

Days passed, and on the surface, everything seemed normal. The chaos had settled, and life was moving forward, but deep down, I knew the storm hadn't passed. It was still there, lingering in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

My father hadn't given up.

He was still out there—hiding, plotting, waiting. He was watching, searching for the perfect moment to finally get rid of me. But Taesan wasn't letting him. Taesan was always there, shielding me like an angel, standing between me and the danger that refused to leave my life.

I knew it wasn't easy for him. It was taking a toll on him. His academic life, his office work—everything was being affected. The world saw him as the brilliant young CEO, the nation's crush, the golden boy that every high school girl admired from a distance. He was supposed to be focusing on his future, leading his company, making decisions that would shape his career.

Instead, he was spending every second worrying about me.

And he didn't deserve that burden.

If I had never shown up in his life, his life would have been so much easier. He wouldn't have to look over his shoulder every hour of the day, wouldn't have to split his time between boardrooms and police reports, business deals and security measures. He was holding everything together with unwavering strength, but I could see it. The exhaustion in his eyes, the weight he refused to acknowledge.

And the worst part?

It was all because of me.

No matter how much I loved him, I couldn't bear to watch him struggle. And so, I made a decision.

I would break up with him.

I knew it would hurt. I knew it would tear me apart. But I convinced myself that it was the best thing for him. His life would be better without me in it.

So that day, after class, when the hallways emptied and it was just the two of us, I took a deep breath and said, "Can we talk?"

He smiled softly, nodding. "Sure."

No one knew about our relationship except Jihyo, Dohyun, and Soobin oppa. To the rest of the world, we were just friends. We kept up the act effortlessly—never holding hands in public, never standing too close when others were around.

But now, standing alone with him, I felt the weight of my decision pressing against my chest.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, his phone rang.

I watched as he glanced at the screen, his pinky finger still hooked around mine. Even while answering a call, he didn't let go.

"Wait a second, Sera."

I stood there, my heart racing, as he took the call. His voice was steady, professional, the voice of a man who carried the weight of a company on his shoulders. When he ended the call, he turned back to me, his expression warm.

"Sorry about that. It was an important call." He smiled, completely unaware of the words I had been about to say. "I have to go now. What were you trying to say?"

I hesitated. The words felt too heavy, too cruel to say out loud.

So instead, I forced a small smile and shook my head. "Ahm… nothing. Let's talk later since you have to go now."

He frowned slightly, as if sensing something off, but he didn't push. Instead, he stepped closer and, without hesitation, pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Okay then. I'll call you later."

His voice was soft, filled with the quiet kind of affection that made my heart ache even more.

Before I could respond, he tilted his head slightly. "Let me drive you home."

I shook my head quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. "No. I won't go home now. It's my last cooking class today."

His brows raised slightly in surprise. "Oh, I thought it was yesterday. You'll be a chef after this, right?"

I nodded, trying to act normal.

He smiled. "Then let me take you to your last class."

"You don't have to—"

"It's my choice."

I hesitated. "You'll be late…"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry about my office. I'm the CEO, Sera. I own the company. No one can scold me. Let's go."

His mood was bright. Carefree. Completely unaware of what I had planned to say to him.

And so, I said nothing.

I simply nodded and followed him to his car, slipping into the passenger seat as he started the engine. The whole ride there, his hand never let go of mine.

When we finally reached my class, I turned to him, forcing a small smile. "Goodbye, Taesan."

He smiled back. "I'll come pick you up after class."

I should have said no. I should have told him not to come, not to wait for me, not to care. But when I looked into his eyes, I couldn't say it. Because no matter how much I convinced myself that breaking up was the right thing to do… How could I ever let go of the man I loved with everything I had? Still, I tried to be strong. Because in my mind, I had already decided—This was the best thing for him.

I was in the middle of my cooking class, carefully measuring ingredients, when I felt it—the constant buzzing of my phone.

At first, I ignored it. I had already put my phone on silent, but the screen kept lighting up, notification after notification flooding in. I frowned, quickly wiping my hands on a napkin before reaching for my phone.

And then, I saw it.

My breath caught in my throat.

Thousands of notifications. Messages. Mentions. My name was everywhere.

I quickly unlocked my phone, my hands slightly trembling as I checked what was happening. And then—my stomach dropped.

Oh my God.

Someone uploaded our photos.

My mind went blank for a second as I scrolled through the posts. Everywhere on social media—there we were. Me and Taesan.

Pictures of us together. One of them was from earlier today—when he kissed my forehead.

I gripped my phone tighter, my heart pounding. It had finally happened.

I knew it was only a matter of time. Taesan had been so protective over the past few days, always by my side, always shielding me from everything. It was impossible for people not to notice.

But I didn't expect it to spread this fast.

I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to focus, but my hands felt unsteady as I kept scrolling. Some comments were supportive. Some were shocked. Some were cruel.

"Wait… Yoon Sera and Ryu Taesan? Are they dating?"

"I KNEW IT! He was acting different lately."

"Is this real or fake? Why does this feel staged?"

"How did no one notice before??"

"He kissed her forehead… omg they're actually together."

I felt my chest tighten. I swallowed hard, my thoughts spiraling.

Taesan.

Did he know yet?

I glanced at the clock—there were still twenty minutes left of class. I needed to get out of here.

I quickly grabbed my bag, my phone still buzzing nonstop. My mind was racing with questions. Who took these photos? Who uploaded them? Was it someone from university? A stranger? A reporter?

I had always known this day would come, but now that it had, I wasn't ready.

My mind was still reeling, my heart pounding as I scrolled through the endless stream of notifications. The entire country was talking about us. About me and Ryu Taesan.

How did this happen so fast?

Just as I was about to lock my phone and try to focus, my screen lit up again.

An unknown number.

I hesitated for a second before answering. Maybe it was someone I knew. Maybe it was Taesan.

But the moment I pressed the phone to my ear, a smooth, professional voice greeted me.

"Hello, is this Yoon Sera?"

I instantly knew. A reporter.

My grip on the phone tightened, and I felt a sharp chill run down my spine.

"I'm from Star Daily. I wanted to ask you a few questions about your relationship with Ryu Taesan."

I froze.

The woman's voice remained polite, but there was an unmistakable eagerness beneath it, a hunger for information.

"How long have you two been together?"

"How did your relationship start?"

"What does it feel like to date the nation's crush?"

My stomach twisted.

They weren't just speculating. They already believed it. The photos had been enough to convince them that Taesan and I were together.

I didn't say a word.

I simply cut the call.

My hands were shaking slightly as I locked my phone and took a deep breath. Of course. Of course, this would happen.

Taesan wasn't just some university student. He was Ryu Taesan. The CEO of HoloVerse Innovations. A public figure. Cameras followed him everywhere. It was foolish to think we could keep this hidden forever.

But I still wasn't ready.

Not for the reporters. Not for the scrutiny. Not for the world to know.

The rain poured heavily, each drop cold against my skin, soaking me to the bone. But I didn't care. I kept walking, my steps unsteady, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. My mind was drowning in chaos.

Taesan told me he would pick me up. He told me to wait for him. But I couldn't. I needed to be alone.

I needed to breathe.

But how could I, when the entire world had just found out about us?

My phone had been buzzing endlessly with messages, notifications, and missed calls. I turned it to silent, but it didn't stop. News about us was everywhere. Reporters were calling. Strangers were commenting.

And the worst part? Taesan.

I was ruining him.

I wiped my face, unsure if it was rain or tears. My vision blurred as I forced myself forward, away from everything.

People around me were running for shelter, ducking under shop awnings, covering their heads, trying to escape the downpour.

But I didn't stop.

I let the rain consume me.

Then, suddenly—

A sharp sound. My phone buzzing again.

I barely glanced at the screen before my breath hitched.

Taesan.

He knew. He must have seen the news, the pictures, the endless speculations. He must be panicking, worried sick.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn't talk to him right now. If I did, I would break.

So I didn't answer.

I stuffed my phone into my pocket and kept walking, my shoulders trembling, my chest tightening with every step.

And then—

I saw him.

Running toward me.

I barely had time to react before he closed the distance between us.

His eyes were wild, filled with something raw, something desperate. It wasn't normal.

Why was he looking at me like that?

Before I could even speak, before I could move, his arms were suddenly around me— tight, firm, almost crushing me against his chest.

And then—

I heard it.

A small, sharp hiccup.

His breath hitched—an unnatural, strangled sound.

His body trembled against mine.

Something warm spread against my hand.

I frowned, my fingers gripping his back. Wet. Sticky.

I pulled my hand away slightly, blinking in confusion—

And then I saw it.

Blood.

Thick, deep red. Coating my palm.

My body went cold.

No. No, no, no—

Taesan's blood.

A choked sound left my lips, my entire body freezing in place.

"Taesan…?"

He didn't respond.

He just held me tighter.

And then, through gritted teeth, his voice barely above a whisper—

"Are you okay?"

Even now. Even now, when he was the one bleeding, when he was the one hurt—he was thinking about me.

I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe.

Before I could even register what was happening, before I could process the horror of it all, he suddenly pulled away.

And then—he ran.

Straight toward the man who had attacked me.

And when my eyes finally focused on the figure standing in the rain, the knife still in his hand, the same knife dripping with Taesan's blood—

I felt my entire world collapse.

My father.

I staggered backward. No. No, this couldn't be real.

Taesan reached him first. He didn't hesitate.

With all his remaining strength, he grabbed my father and threw him onto the ground.

And then—

He started punching.

Hard. Unrelenting.

One. Two. Three.

His fists landed over and over, each strike filled with a rage I had never seen in him before. His knuckles were covered in blood—his own, my father's—it didn't matter anymore.

The rain mixed with his tears, his cries of anger and pain echoing in the streets.

"SHE IS THE PERSON I LOVE, YOU BASTARD!"

His voice cracked. Another punch.

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER?"

His entire body shook, his strength fueled by something beyond rage—something deeper, something desperate.

"HOW DARE YOU?"

His shoulders trembled, his chest heaving. He was crying, screaming, hitting him with everything he had left.

I had never seen him like this before. Never.

I fumbled with my phone, my hands shaking violently as I dialed the number.

Officer Jihoon.

My voice came out broken. "Officer—please, hurry! He—he's here! My father—he—"

Jihoon hyung's voice was sharp, "I'm on my way. Stay with Taesan!"

I hung up and turned back to him.

Taesan's breathing was ragged, his body still trembling, his fists clenched.

People had gathered. Some were holding my father down. Others were trying to pull Taesan back.

I rushed forward, grabbing his face between my hands, forcing him to look at me.

"Taesan! Stop! Please!"

His eyes met mine.

And in that moment, I saw it.

The exhaustion. The pain. The overwhelming love he had for me.

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something—

And then—

His body swayed.

His legs buckled beneath him.

I screamed as he collapsed into my arms.

The last thing I heard before the world blurred around me was the sound of sirens approaching.

We were going to the hospital.

My father was finally arrested.

There was no more enemy lurking in the shadows, no more threats waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It was over.

And yet, it didn't feel like a relief.

Not when Taesan was fighting for his life.

I sat outside the emergency room, my fingers gripping the fabric of my dress so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. The scent of antiseptic filled the air, the faint beeping of machines echoing down the quiet hallway. The rain outside had slowed to a drizzle, but the storm inside me refused to settle.

He lost so much blood.

I kept replaying the moment in my head—him standing in front of me, his body shielding mine, the warmth of his blood seeping through my fingers as he refused to fall.

He should have collapsed immediately. He should have cried out in pain. But instead, his first instinct was to check if I was okay.

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back.

I had to be strong. For him.

The doctors said his back was cut too deep. He needed an O negative blood transfusion immediately.

Zixuan had the blood type.

But he couldn't help.

His health wouldn't allow him to donate—his heart disease made it too risky. He stood in the hallway, his hands clenched into fists, his face twisted with guilt.

"I should be the one to save him," he whispered, voice trembling. "I should be the one to help."

I reached for his hand, shaking my head. "Zixuan, it's not your fault."

But he didn't believe me. None of us could do anything.

And then—

She came.

I hadn't expected it. No one had.

But as soon as I heard the hurried footsteps, as soon as I turned and saw her standing there, disheveled and breathless, eyes wide with fear—

I knew.

Taesan's mother had returned.

The mother who had abandoned him.

The mother who had betrayed his father.

The mother who had betrayed her own brother.

She stood in front of us now, a woman who had once left everything behind, now standing in the place she swore she'd never return to.

Her lips trembled as she looked past me, her gaze locked onto the red light above the emergency room door. She had seen the news.

And now, she wanted to help.

The hours dragged on in the waiting room, each second stretching unbearably long. Taesan was still inside the emergency room, fighting to wake up. His mother had given her O negative blood, something I never thought would happen in my wildest imagination. The mother who had once abandoned him was now the reason he was still breathing.

But even after the transfusion, none of us could relax. None of us could breathe.

The hospital was filled with the low murmurs of passing doctors and the faint beeping of machines, but all of it was drowned out by the television playing in the corner of the room. I had barely been paying attention until I heard his name.

Taesan.

I looked up at the screen, and there he was. The news was talking about him.

Flashes of his past interviews, clips from university events, even footage of him leaving HoloVerse Innovations. The reporters were discussing his attack, his company, and how he had become the center of multiple high-profile cases.

But then—the segment changed.

And the moment Park Hyun Min's face appeared on the screen, the air in the waiting room turned ice cold.

The news anchor's voice rang through the tense silence.

"Breaking News: Park Hyun Min has officially confessed to the murder of Ryu Jin, the former CEO of HoloVerse Innovations. But in a shocking revelation, he has also admitted to another crime."

I felt my heart stop.

I barely had time to process the words before the next line shattered the room.

"He has confessed to the murder of Yeo Dongmin—Yeo Dohyun's father."

A sharp silence fell over us.

I turned my head slowly toward Dohyun.

He wasn't moving. His entire body had gone stiff, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful.

The reporter continued, her voice emotionless, delivering the cruel truth.

"According to the confession, when Park Hyun Min poisoned Ryu Jin's food, Yeo Dongmin witnessed the act. Mr. Yeo told him to stop. But Mr. Park blackmailed him since he knew that Mr. Yeo had a secret relationship with Mrs. Ryu Sooah, Mr. Ryu Jin's wife. So Mr. Yeo kept himself silent"

My breath hitched. No.

The room felt suffocating.

Dohyun's father knew who murdered Taesan's father.

Park Hyun Min had caught Taesan's mother and Dohyun's father together. He had seen them in a private moment, taken photos. Everyone knew about it in company but they were scared to say anything.

And in return, he had kept quiet.

"Fearing exposure, Yeo Dongmin chose to remain silent. But years later, Ryu Taesan discovered the affair on his own. When confronted, Ryu Sooah was forced to step down from HoloVerse Innovations, and the truth spread."

It all connected.

Flashback: (The day Taesan walked into his father's office and found his mother with Dohyun's father. The confrontation, the fallout—everything made sense now.)

"After his secret was exposed, Yeo Dongmin sought forgiveness from his wife and son. He wanted to confess the truth. But before he could—he was shot."

"The shooter was none other than Park Hyun Min."

A sharp, strangled breath broke through the silence.

Dohyun.

He let out a low, bitter laugh—but it wasn't amusement. It was pain. Deep, gut-wrenching pain.

He stood up abruptly, his entire body trembling.

"He was going to tell us the truth..." His voice was barely a whisper. "But he never got the chance."

His hands clenched into fists, his breathing uneven.

"Even in the end, he was a coward. He let this happen because he was scared of the truth coming out."

I swallowed hard, trying to think of something—anything—to say. But what could I say? What words could possibly fix this? There were none. Dohyun exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I need air."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the waiting room. I wanted to follow him, to tell him something—anything—to ease his pain. But I knew. There was nothing I could say. Because everything he believed in had just been shattered. And now, we were left to deal with the wreckage.