The wind howled across the helipad, louder now, fiercer—like the night itself had decided to witness what was about to unfold.
Metal debris scraped across the ground. Sparks flickered. The city below continued to shine, unaware that above it, everything was about to change.
Kang Ji-hoon stood still.
Not because he was afraid.
But because something felt… wrong.
Han Seo-yeon stood beside him, her breathing controlled, her eyes locked on Adrian—but beneath that focus, there was tension. A quiet unease she couldn't shake.
And Adrian—
He was smiling.
Not the arrogant smirk from before.
Something darker.
Something knowing.
"…You've both done well," Adrian said slowly, his voice cutting through the wind. "Honestly… better than I expected."
Ji-hoon's eyes narrowed. "…Stop talking and finish this."
Adrian chuckled. "…You still don't understand, do you?"
"Understand what?" Ji-hoon snapped.
Adrian's gaze shifted.
Not to Ji-hoon.
But to Seo-yeon.
"…Tell him," Adrian said softly.
Everything froze.
Seo-yeon's heart skipped.
"…Adrian—don't," she said quickly, her voice tense.
Ji-hoon's eyes moved between them.
"…Tell me what?" he asked.
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Adrian's smile widened.
"…Tell him why you really betrayed him."
The words hit like a gunshot.
Ji-hoon's expression darkened instantly.
"…What is he talking about?" he asked, his voice low—too calm.
Seo-yeon's throat tightened.
"…Ji-hoon, I can explain—"
"Then explain," he cut in sharply.
She hesitated.
And that—
That hesitation—
Was enough.
Adrian laughed softly. "…See? That's the problem with secrets. They always show themselves at the worst time."
Ji-hoon didn't look at Adrian.
His eyes were locked on Seo-yeon.
"…Say it," he said.
Her hands clenched slightly.
"…I didn't betray you for money," she said slowly.
Ji-hoon's jaw tightened. "…Then why?"
Her voice dropped.
"…I did it to save someone."
Silence.
The wind howled louder.
"…Who?" Ji-hoon asked.
She looked at him.
And for the first time—
Fear showed.
"…My father."
The world seemed to pause.
Ji-hoon blinked once.
"…What?"
Adrian stepped forward slightly, enjoying every second of it. "…Ah, finally. The truth."
Seo-yeon's voice trembled, but she forced herself to continue.
"…He was sick," she said. "Not just sick… dying. And the only people who could help him…"
Her eyes flickered toward Adrian.
"…Were them."
Ji-hoon's expression didn't change.
But something in his eyes—
Cracked.
"…So you sold me out," he said quietly.
"No!" she said immediately. "It wasn't like that—"
"You leaked information," he continued coldly. "You put my company at risk. You put me at risk."
"…I had no choice!" she snapped, her voice breaking. "They said if I didn't do it—he would die!"
Adrian clapped slowly.
"…Beautiful," he said. "Truly. A daughter's desperation. A perfect weakness."
Ji-hoon's fists clenched.
"…You used her," he said.
Adrian shrugged. "…Of course I did. That's what people like me do."
Seo-yeon stepped forward.
"…I was going to tell you," she said, her voice softer now. "I swear I was. But every time I tried… I couldn't."
"…Because you didn't trust me," Ji-hoon said.
The words were sharp.
Direct.
They hurt more than anything else.
"…No," she said quietly. "…Because I trusted you too much."
That made him pause.
"…If I told you… you would've tried to fix it," she continued. "You would've stepped in. And they would've killed him."
Silence.
"…So I chose to carry it alone."
Ji-hoon stared at her.
Trying to understand.
Trying to process.
But the betrayal—
Still burned.
"…You should have told me," he said.
Her eyes softened.
"…I know."
Before anything else could be said—
Adrian clapped again.
"…Touching," he said. "Really. But unfortunately… this isn't a drama."
His expression turned cold.
"…This is where it ends."
The drones behind him activated instantly.
This time—
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
"…Ji-hoon," Seo-yeon said, stepping closer.
He didn't move.
For a split second—
He hesitated.
And that was all the drones needed.
They attacked.
Seo-yeon moved first.
Her body reacted instantly, intercepting the first drone before it could reach him.
"Focus!" she shouted.
That snapped him out of it.
Ji-hoon moved.
Fast.
Precise.
But something had changed.
His movements—
Were colder.
Sharper.
Less controlled.
They fought side by side again.
But this time—
There was distance between them.
Not physical.
Emotional.
Ji-hoon didn't look at her.
Didn't speak.
Just fought.
Seo-yeon felt it immediately.
That gap.
That silence.
And it hurt.
More than anything else.
"…You see?" Adrian said, watching from a distance. "That's the problem with truth. It breaks things."
Seo-yeon's eyes hardened.
"…No," she said.
She moved faster.
Stronger.
Taking down drones one after another.
"…It reveals them."
Ji-hoon glanced at her briefly.
And for a moment—
He saw it.
Her determination.
Her pain.
Her honesty.
A massive drone lunged toward him from behind.
Seo-yeon saw it.
"…Ji-hoon!" she shouted.
She moved without thinking—
Pushing him out of the way—
Taking the hit instead.
The impact slammed her into the ground.
Hard.
"Seo-yeon!"
Ji-hoon's voice broke.
He rushed to her side instantly.
"…Are you okay?" he asked, panic slipping through.
She winced slightly—but nodded.
"…I'm fine."
He grabbed her arm.
Tightly.
"…Don't do that again," he said.
Her lips curved slightly.
"…You'd do the same."
He didn't deny it.
For a moment—
Everything slowed.
The noise.
The fight.
The tension.
Just the two of them.
"…I'm still angry," Ji-hoon said quietly.
"…I know," she replied.
"…But I understand," he added.
Her breath caught.
"…You do?"
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
"…You should've trusted me," he said.
"…I will," she replied.
"…Then prove it," he said.
She nodded.
"…I will."
Adrian sighed.
"…How disappointing," he said. "I was hoping for a complete breakdown."
His eyes darkened.
"…Fine. I'll end it myself."
He stepped forward.
And this time—
The pressure in the air changed completely.
Ji-hoon felt it.
Seo-yeon felt it.
This—
Was different.
Adrian rolled his shoulders slightly.
"…Let's see what you can really do," he said.
And then—
He moved.