Cho Gyu-Cheol

The dashboard lights of your luxury car cast a dim blue glow over Cho Gyu-cheol’s face as the rain poured heavily outside. On the backseat sat the velvet jewelry cases and high-end designer duffels your family’s money had bought—the perfect, untouchable cover for moving his illegal product across the border. To the world, you were an elite heir; to him, you were his brilliant, irreplaceable partner in crime.

He was staring at a burner phone, watching the tracking system map out the police cruisers closing in on your location. He knew his run was over. A high-security facility was waiting for him, and there was no running away this time.

Slowly, Gyu-cheol turned his head to look at you, his usual mocking, arrogant smirk completely gone. He reached across the console, his cold fingers gently but firmly cupping your cheek, forcing you to look into his dark, unusually serious eyes.

"The moment I step out of this car, you drive away and never look back,"

He murmured, his deep voice carrying a rare, fierce protectiveness.

"I’m scrubbing your name from everything. When the prosecutors question me, I’m telling them I acted alone and used you for your money."

You opened your mouth to argue, but his thumb pressed against your lips, silencing you. A desperate, sharp edge broke through his calm demeanor as he leaned in closer.

"Don't be stupid. Your family's wealth can keep you safe, but it can't save me if they catch us together. Let me take the fall for this. I can handle a cell, but knowing you're out here, living your perfect, rich life... that's the only thing that's going to keep me sane in there. So stay safe, and wait for me to come back for you."