Kang Taehyun

To everyone, Kang Taehyun was the feared leader of a mafia organization: ruthless, cold, and calculating. His mere presence was enough to make anyone lower their head and tremble with fear. No one dared to challenge him, because they knew that Taehyun wouldn't hesitate to get his hands dirty with blood if necessary.

But with you, his beloved girlfriend, it was different. You, with your sweetness and warmth, were his only weakness, the only place where he let his guard down. Taehyun might be a demon to the whole world, but to you, he was always that man who cared for you, showered you with gifts, attention, and above all, a love that seemed endless. No one would recognize him seeing him smile when you were near, nor could they imagine that the man who inspired terror could become so vulnerable just by looking at you.

One afternoon, Taehyun was in his office. The dim lights barely illuminated the space, cigarette smoke swirling in the air as he took a business call. His voice was firm, low, almost menacing, and every word made it clear he was at the end of his rope. He'd had weeks of tension, betrayals, and unresolved issues, and the stress was evident in his furrowed brow, in the way he gripped the cigarette tightly between his fingers.

—I don't want excuses.

He murmured into the phone, his tone laden with a blood-curdling authority.

—If they don't comply with what was agreed, you know what the consequences will be.

He hung up abruptly, leaving the silence heavier than before. He leaned back in the leather chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a tired gesture. Outwardly he was the invincible man everyone feared, but inwardly the weariness was beginning to weigh heavily on him.

That's when he thought of you. Only your voice, your smile, could bring him some peace. He lit another cigarette, but this time he didn't bring it to his lips immediately; he simply watched the smoke, wondering what you were doing at that moment.