⋆ 𐙚 ̊.CHAPTER 31✶⋆.˚

🇽​​🇴​, ​🇪​​🇻​​🇪​​🇱​​🇾​​🇳

Minho held her like she was the most precious thing in the world, his hand stroking her hair as she trembled against him. His heartbeat was erratic, his mind still clouded with the rage he felt moments ago. But right now, all that mattered was Evelyn.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to cup her face in his hands. His thumbs brushed against her cheeks, wiping away the tears that had escaped. His voice was hoarse, thick with guilt and something deeper.

"Oh, princess..." he whispered, shaking his head. "I am never leaving you alone anywhere again." His jaw clenched, his eyes filled with something close to devastation. "I should've been here sooner. I should've known—"

"Minho..." Evelyn croaked, but he shook his head.

"I could never forgive myself for this." His forehead pressed against hers as he exhaled shakily. "You were scared, and I wasn't here. I wasn't here when you needed me."

Evelyn sniffled, her hands clutching onto his jacket. "You came," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's all that matters."

Minho pulled her into his arms again, holding her impossibly tighter. "No one is ever laying a hand on you again. I'll make sure of it," he murmured. His voice was a quiet promise, laced with fury but also tenderness.

A moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Evelyn flinched slightly, but Minho kept his arms around her, his presence grounding her.

Her parents arrived.

Her mother gasped, rushing toward her. "Evelyn!" she exclaimed, reaching out, but before she could say anything else, her father strode past her, his expression thunderous.

He didn't even look at Evelyn at first. His entire focus was on the chaos—the security officers holding Liam and Daniel, the way Minho still had Evelyn tucked in his arms. He took one glance at Evelyn's shaken state, at the bruises on her wrist where Liam had grabbed her—

And then he turned on his heel and stormed out of the hallway.

"Dad—" Evelyn started, her voice small.

But it was no use.

Her father was furious.

"Where's the police chief?" he barked at one of the guards. "I want every single one of these bastards locked up before the night is over!"

His rage was terrifying. The cold, calculated businessman had vanished, replaced by a man whose daughter had just been harmed.

Minho, still holding Evelyn, watched silently, his jaw set.

Evelyn's mother kneeled beside her, gently touching her arm. "Sweetheart, are you hurt?" she asked softly.

Evelyn shook her head, swallowing hard. "No, I—I'm okay."

Minho glanced down at her, his expression softening for just a second.

No, she wasn't okay. But she would be.

Because as long as he was here—he'd make sure of it.

Mr. Raven walked through the dimly lit hallway, his polished shoes echoing ominously against the marble floors. His face was eerily calm, but his eyes burned with quiet fury. He had been preparing for this moment for an entire year—ever since Evelyn had left for Korea.

The moment he entered his private office, a retinal scan confirmed his identity, and the heavy steel doors slid open with a soft hiss.

Inside, the room was bathed in a cool, bluish glow from the numerous computer screens lining the walls. The screens displayed complex crypt codes, surveillance footage, and data trails linked to some of the most powerful yet corrupt businessmen in the industry.

A massive board stood at the center, covered with photographs, red strings linking various figures to each other, and notes that detailed every illicit transaction, every bribe, every crime swept under the rug.

And at the very top of the board was him.

Charles Blackwood.

Liam's father. The man responsible for countless ruined lives. A man who hid behind his wealth and power, believing he was untouchable.

Not anymore.

Mr. Raven sat down in front of his main terminal and plugged in a secure drive. With a few keystrokes, he transferred the most damning files onto a sleek black pendrive.

A document detailing Charles Blackwood's embezzlement of government funds.
A video recording of him making deals with known criminals.

Transaction receipts proving he had bribed high-ranking officials to keep his son out of jail.

The evidence was all there—meticulously gathered, waiting for the right moment.

And tonight, that moment had arrived.

Clutching the pen-drive, Mr. Raven stood up, his movements precise and deliberate. He had no fear that Liam would walk free tonight. He expected it. But this time, the boy's safety net—the web of corruption that had protected his family for years—was about to collapse.

And Mr. Raven was going to make sure of it.

The moment Mr. Raven walked through the entrance of the police station, heads turned. Officers straightened their backs, sensing the authority that radiated off of him. He had always been a man of influence, but tonight, he was a man on a mission.

"I need to see Chief Donovan. Now," he said to the receptionist.

The woman stammered slightly before quickly making a call. Within minutes, a tall man in his late fifties emerged from an office. His graying hair was neatly combed, and though age had softened his features, his sharp eyes remained as calculating as ever.

"Raven," Chief Donovan greeted, folding his arms. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Mr. Raven wasted no time. He walked up to Donovan, his expression unreadable, and handed him the pendrive.

"I need you to do the right thing with this," he said.

Donovan raised an eyebrow before taking the device. "And what exactly am I looking at?"

"Everything you need to bring Charles Blackwood down. Everything. Embezzlement, fraud, bribery—you name it. You've wanted him for years, but he's always slipped through the cracks, hasn't he?" Mr. Raven's voice was cool, but there was an edge to it, a quiet, restrained rage.

Donovan's fingers tightened around the pendrive. "And why now?"

Mr. Raven exhaled sharply, his fists clenching. "Because his son—that bastard—tried to harm my daughter tonight. Again. And I refuse to stand by and watch it happen."

The police chief frowned, his jaw tightening. "Liam?"

Mr. Raven nodded. "You and I both know how this goes, Donovan. Liam will be out by morning. But his father? His father won't be." He leaned in slightly. "Take him down, Chief. Not for me, not even for my daughter—do it because you know he deserves to fall."

Donovan studied him for a long moment, then exhaled through his nose. "This is enough to ruin him?"

"It's enough to end him," Mr. Raven confirmed.

Donovan glanced at the officers around them, then pocketed the pendrive. His voice was quiet but firm.

"I'll see to it personally."

Evelyn lay sprawled across the couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket, her body still exhausted from the events of the previous night. The weight of everything was still pressing down on her, but at least she was safe now. Minho had made sure of that.

She reached for the remote and lazily switched on the television. A news channel popped up immediately, the headline flashing in bold red letters at the bottom of the screen.

BREAKING NEWS: BUSINESS TYCOON CHARLES BLACKWOOD ARRESTED FOR FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING, AND MORE

Evelyn's eyes widened, and she instinctively sat up straighter. The reporter on the screen spoke in a composed but urgent voice, delivering a story that had shaken the entire business world.

"In an unprecedented turn of events, Charles Blackwood, one of the most powerful and influential business tycoons, was arrested early this morning on multiple charges, including money laundering, corruption, fraud, and embezzlement. Reports suggest that authorities have been secretly gathering evidence against him for over a year. The arrest follows an anonymous tip and a critical data leak that exposed years of illicit dealings with government officials and corporate giants."

The screen then cut to a video of Charles Blackwood being escorted out of his massive mansion by officers in dark uniforms. His face, usually calm and collected in public, was now pale with barely concealed rage.

But the next part made Evelyn's breath hitch.

"In addition to Charles Blackwood's arrest, his son, Liam Blackwood, was taken into custody last night on charges of attempted sexual assault and the torture of multiple women. Authorities confirm that Liam has confessed to his actions without remorse, reportedly claiming that he did it 'for fun.' The police are now investigating several other complaints filed against him, and further charges are expected to be added."

The screen shifted again, showing footage of Liam sitting in the interrogation room, an arrogant smirk on his bruised face. Evelyn could barely breathe as she watched him lean back in his chair, speaking to an unseen officer with terrifying nonchalance.

"You think prison scares me?" Liam chuckled. "You think this is my first time here? I'll be out before you know it. My father will—"

The clip cut off, and the reporter's voice returned.

"However, with Charles Blackwood now behind bars, sources suggest that Liam might not have the protection he once did. Public outrage is growing as more victims are coming forward with their own allegations against the Blackwood family. Protesters have gathered outside the Blackwood Corporation headquarters, demanding justice, while former employees of the company have begun taking legal action against the firm, citing wrongful termination, workplace harassment, and forced compliance with illegal activities."

Evelyn's fingers trembled as she reached for her phone, her heart pounding. This was huge. This was everything. She quickly called out, her voice urgent.

"Minho!"

She heard the shuffle of his feet in the kitchen before he appeared in the doorway, a spatula still in his hand. "What happened? You okay?"

"Just—come here. You need to see this," she said, pointing at the screen.

Minho's brows furrowed as he walked over, his eyes following the news ticker flashing at the bottom. He stood silently, watching as protest footage played—former employees of Blackwood Corp standing outside the police station, holding up signs that read "WE WANT JUSTICE!" and "NO MORE CORRUPTION!"

"They're all suing," Evelyn murmured, almost in disbelief. "Every single one of them."

Minho exhaled a low whistle. "Damn. Can't say I blame them, though. It's poetic, really—Charles Blackwood spent years ruining lives, and now his own empire is turning against him."

Evelyn nodded, still processing it all. The grip that family had over her life, over so many people's lives, was crumbling before her eyes. The fear that had once felt suffocating now felt... distant.

Minho must have sensed the turmoil in her mind because he suddenly pulled her into a tight hug, his chin resting gently on top of her head.

Watching the chaos unfold on the news, Minho decided they'd had enough drama for the day. He grabbed the remote and switched off the TV, turning to Evelyn with a soft smile.

"Come on," he said, tugging her hand gently. "Let's do something normal for once."

She raised an eyebrow. "Normal?"

"Baking date. Just you, me, and some perfectly made cookies—without any unexpected crimes or life-threatening situations involved."

Evelyn chuckled, letting him lead her to the kitchen. The moment they stepped inside, she noticed the very visible change in the usual kitchen atmosphere. No maids, no extra hands fluttering around, no one to clean up after them.

"Wait," she said, narrowing her eyes at him. "Where's everyone?"

Minho smirked, casually rolling up his sleeves. "I told them to stay out today. It's just us."

Evelyn gasped dramatically. "You actually kicked the maids out? For me?"

Minho scoffed, grabbing a bowl. "No, for the cookies. But you're a close second."

Evelyn playfully smacked his arm. "Rude."

He grinned and handed her a whisk. "Now, don't burn the kitchen down, okay?"

Everything was going fine at first—Minho measured the flour, Evelyn cracked the eggs, surprisingly without getting any shell in, and together, they mixed everything with an ease that felt domestic. Comfortable. Like something they could get used to.

And then... Evelyn happened.

Just as Minho was lining up the trays with perfect chocolate chip cookie dough, Evelyn, in a moment of sheer brilliance, as she called it, decided to sprinkle cinnamon into the batter.

Minho froze.

His eyes darted to her hand, which was still hovering over the dough, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Evelyn..."

She gave him an innocent smile. "Yes, my love?"

He grabbed the cinnamon jar from her hands, staring at the crime scene she just created. "What. Did. You. Do?"

Evelyn giggled nervously and swiped at the top of the cookies, trying to brush off the cinnamon as if that would undo her mistake. "Relax, it's just a little spice! Maybe it'll be a new recipe."

Minho groaned, running a hand down his face. "You should seriously read a book on kitchen etiquette. One minute you're in here, and the next—complete disaster." He put his hands on his hips, rolling his eyes dramatically.

Evelyn pouted, crossing her arms. "That's not true. The eggs were fine!"

Minho sighed, staring at the tray with the ruined cookies. "At least I already made most of the batch before you decided to sabotage dessert."

Evelyn leaned against the counter, watching him with a soft smile as he grumbled about wasted ingredients. "You're cute when you're mad, you know that?"

Minho shot her a glare, but the blush creeping up his neck betrayed him. "And you're cute when you're not ruining my cookies."

She laughed and stepped closer, reaching up to smudge a bit of flour on his nose. "You love me anyway."

Minho exhaled through his nose, shaking his head with an amused smile. "Unfortunately for me, yeah. I do."

Evelyn leaned in and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. "This is nice," she murmured. "No drama, no running for our lives. Just us."

Minho hugged her back, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Yeah. Let's have more days like this."

She smiled against his hoodie, already thinking of all the ways she could sneak more cinnamon into his food.

ruka:

im so sorry my loves. I've been so busy with school work that I barely had time to write. the start of a new school year is no joke. I had been taking it light all this time but now when it's so near, the stress started to hit in :')  [also I tried cooking during break. that's like a HUGE achievement for me.]