The grand living room of the Jeon mansion stood as a testament to wealth and power. Dark, polished wood framed the walls, and the crackling fireplace cast an amber glow over the room. Illuminating the dark and red decor with chandeliers hanging. Yet, the cold air between its occupants seemed to smother even the fire's warmth.

Jeonggukk sat with his usual air of detachment, perched on the edge of a sleek leather luxurious couch. His dark gaze was fixed on Jangfei, who sat confidently next to him, leaning against the armrest with an ease that few dared to show in his presence. Their exchange, light but layered, seemed entirely out of place in the suffocating tension of the mansion.

"You'll never admit it," Jangfei said, her voice teasing, "but I'm officially the one who resides in the place of your nonexistent heart, don't you? I'm always around you troubling you, and you probably cursing the-moment you let me under your inner walls."

Jeonggukk's lips curved into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained sharp. "You think so but the truth is ? Hardly," he replied, his tone low and measured, like a predator humoring its prey. "Still I can't deny that... choco."

"Can't deny?" Jangfei raised an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "What, you need to admit?If not what kind of best friend you are?"

Jeonggukk leaned back, a rare flicker of amusement crossing his face. "You've got a sharp tongue for someone who needed rescuing herself not long ago. Should I start keeping score?"

"I didn't ask you to come, Jeonggukk," she shot back, unfazed. "But here you are, acting like a knight in shining armor."

"Armor's too old fashioned," Jeonggukk replied dryly. "And I'm no knight. But I'm your knight choco"

The exchange was so uncharacteristic of the stoic mafia king that it unsettled the two figures standing silently near the doorway. Jungkook's dark eyes narrowed as he watched his brother-his twin-engage in this peculiar, almost human interaction. Beside him, Jiwon shifted uncomfortably, casting a sidelong glance at Jungkook's growing tension.

"She gets this version of him," Jungkook muttered, his voice a low growl, "and I get the demons bastard."

Jiwon hesitated, unsure whether to respond, but the crackling storm in Jungkook's tone silenced her. Jealousy taking all over mind as well yet she had to hide it well.

Unable to stand the sight any longer, Jungkook stepped forward, his boots striking the polished floor with a deliberate force that echoed through the room. The sound drew Jangfei's attention first, and then Jeonggukk's.

"We need to talk," Jungkook said, his voice like ice-low, cold, and laced with an unmistakable edge.

Jeonggukk's smirk faded instantly, his expression hardening. "Oh, right," he replied, his tone equally deadly, his gaze narrowing. "We need to talk about your shit behavior."

Jangfei straightened, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. She exchanged a glance with Jiwon, her playful demeanor evaporating as the unspoken tension between the brothers filled the room.

"Let's give them some space," Jangfei murmured, glancing at Jiwon.

Jiwon nodded reluctantly, following her out toward the garden. As the door closed behind them, the air in the living room grew even heavier, the flickering firelight casting long shadows across the walls.

Jeonggukk and Jungkook stood facing each other, their identical features distorted by years of hatred and unresolved conflict.

"Say what you want to say," Jeonggukk said, his tone clipped, his hands sliding into the pockets of his tailored black pants. "You're clearly dying to get it out."

Jungkook's lips twitched into a bitter sneer. "Why do you care about her?" he demanded, his voice sharp and accusatory. "You've never cared about me. Your own brother. Not once."

Jeonggukk's jaw tightened, and for a moment, he said nothing, his dark eyes boring into Jungkook's like twin black holes. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, simmering with restrained anger.

"You're questioning me about care? And how dare you hurt Jangfei?" Jeonggukk took a step closer, his movements deliberate, almost predatory. "The thing is, I did care about you, Jungkook. More than anyone. More than myself."

Jungkook flinched, his sneer faltering, but his eyes burned with defiance. "Don't lie to me Jeonggukk," he spat. "You always looked at me like I was nothing. Always judged, always controlled."

Jeonggukk's fists clenched at his sides, his control slipping. "Judged? Controlled?" he echoed, his voice rising slightly, the firelight catching the sharp edge of his features. "I tried to protect you, Jungkook. But you never listened. Not once. All I ever wanted was to keep you from destroying yourself."

Jungkook's chest heaved with barely restrained fury. "Protect me? Is that what you call it? You suffocated me. You treated me like I was your puppet."

Jeonggukk's expression darkened further, his voice dropping to a deadly calm. "And what did you do, huh? Didn't I try to stop you from falling for Kang Mi Rae?"

Jungkook's face froze, the name hitting him like a knife to the chest. Not her again he was barely able to over come and the past encounter with her during the business trip.

Jeonggukk's voice sharpened, cutting through the silence like a blade. "Look where that brought you. Look where it brought us. You trusted her, and it cost us everything. We lost our father because of her-because of you."

Jungkook staggered back a step, his composure cracking. The memories he had buried deep-the betrayal, their father's death-surged to the surface, suffocating him.

"You think I don't know that?" Jungkook's voice broke, the weight of guilt dragging his words down. "You think I don't see his face every time I close my eyes? Every single day, Jeonggukk. It's there. He's there."

Jeonggukk's anger faltered as he saw the raw emotion on his twin brother's face. For the first time, Jungkook wasn't the cold, unflinching devil king. He was just a man haunted by his own evils.

Jungkook's breathing grew erratic, his hand clutching his chest as sudden shot of panic clawed at him. His vision blurred, the room spinning as the weight of their shared pain crushed him.

"Jungkook," Jeonggukk said sharply, stepping forward, his anger replaced by concern. "What's happening? Look at me."

Jungkook stumbled back, his knees buckling as he gasped for air. As he stumbled in the shiny black polished floor.

"Shit," Jeonggukk muttered, his voice uncharacteristically shaken. He crouched down, gripping Jungkook's shoulders firmly. "Breathe, damn it. Focus on me."

Jungkook's wide, terrified eyes locked onto Jeonggukk's, his chest heaving as he struggled to pull himself out of the spiral.

"Jungkookah.... Listen to me," Jeonggukk said, his voice steady but urgent. "In. Out. You're going to be okay, Jungkook. You're fine. Just breathe."

Jungkook's trembling hands clawed at Jeonggukk's sleeves, desperate for something to anchor him. For the first time in years, the younger twin looked utterly vulnerable, completely lost.

Jeonggukk guided him to his feet, his grip strong and sure. "Come on," he said quietly, his tone softer than it had been in years. "Let's get you upstairs."

The journey to Jungkook's bedroom was silent except for the ragged sound of his breathing. Once inside, Jeonggukk helped him sit on the edge of the bed, grabbing a glass of water from the nightstand and pressing it into his hands.

"Drink," Jeonggukk ordered, his voice firm but lacking its usual harshness.

Jungkook obeyed, his trembling hands spilling a few drops as he brought the glass to his lips. The silence between them was heavy, but it wasn't hostile. It was filled with something unspoken, something fragile.

"Hyung," Jungkook said finally, his voice hoarse and unsteady. He looked up at Jeonggukk, his dark eyes glistening with something that looked dangerously close to tears. "Can you... stay? Just for tonight."

Jeonggukk froze, the word hyung striking him like a blow. It had been years since Jungkook his younger twin had called him that.

"I..." Jeonggukk hesitated, his cold mask cracking as he looked at his brother. For the first time, he saw not a rival, but the exact other half of himself-broken, just like he was.

"Just for tonight," Jungkook repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "I literally feel... out of my senses today."

Jeonggukk exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing. Without a word, he sat down on the edge of the bed, his presence steady and grounding.

"I'll stay, don't say anything and relax, I'm here." Jeonggukk said quietly, the words simple but heavy with meaning. While Jungkook laid down on the soft mattress as his eyes never left his elder twin brother who didn't looked like a demon, that mafia king who was heartless and cruel. He saw that it was just Jeonggukk his hyung who was now there beside him just like olden days taking care of him. Jeonggukk's grip was tight and assuring on Jungkook's hand, who weirdly felt comfortable having his twins hand in his own.

For the first time in years, the wall between them seemed to crack. And though neither of them said it, they both felt it-the undeniable truth that, despite everything, they were still brothers. And for tonight, that was enough.

The quiet of Jungkook's bedroom felt almost unnatural. The room was meticulously designed, exuding the cold sophistication of a mafia king-a space meant to intimidate, not comfort. Yet now, with Jungkook sitting on the edge of the bed, his face pale and his breathing still uneven, it felt stripped of all its power.

Jeonggukk remained by hi twin's side, his back straight and rigid near the beds headboard, the lingering tension between them filling the silence. He wasn't used to this-being the one to stay, to offer reassurance. It felt foreign, even wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to leave his town all alone when Jungkook needed him the most, not today atleast he can't leave.

Jungkook's trembling hand reached for the glass of water on the nightstand, his movements slow and deliberate. But Jeonggukk handed him the glass even before Jungkook could force it. Jungkook took a small sip, the cold liquid grounding him. After a moment, he broke the silence, his voice low and rough.

"I was an asshead to her," Jungkook said, his gaze fixed on the floor.

Jeonggukk didn't reply immediately, his sharp eyes studying his brother. There was no mockery in his expression, only a guarded curiosity, waiting to hear more.

Jungkook exhaled heavily, running a hand through his damp hair. "Jangfei. I shouldn't have treated her like that. She didn't deserve it." His jaw tightened, the admission clearly weighing on him. "It's just... I don't know. Everything's messed up, and I took it out on her. I'll make up for it. Somehow."

Jeonggukk leaned back slightly, his posture still stiff, but his expression softened-just enough to be noticeable. His voice was low and calm when he finally spoke. "You can't undo the damage with words, Jungkook. But at least you're not pretending she's the problem anymore."

Jungkook let out a bitter chuckle, though it lacked humor. "She never was. I know that now."

A heavy silence fell between them again, but it wasn't as sharp as before. It was as if both brothers had found an uneasy truce, though the wounds between them still ran deep.

Jeonggukk didn't say anything more, but he remained seated beside Jungkook. The gesture, small as it was, spoke volumes.

Meanwhile at The Garden

Outside, the storm had passed, leaving the air damp and cool. The mansion's sprawling garden was eerily quiet, the faint scent of rain lingering in the air. Jiwon and Jangfei stood beneath the arching branches of a willow tree, their figures illuminated by the soft glow of the garden lights.

It was the first time they had been alone together in years. And the weight of that absence hung between them like a wall neither of them knew how to break.

Jangfei, usually so full of life and chatter, was unusually subdued. She fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, her confident demeanor replaced with a quiet hesitance.

"So..." Jangfei said, finally breaking the silence, her voice softer than usual. "How are you?"

Jiwon blinked, caught off guard by the simplicity of the question. She hesitated, folding her arms across her chest. "I'm... fine. Busy, I guess. And you?"

Jangfei gave a small, hollow laugh. "Busy too. That's what we always say, isn't it? When we don't know what else to say."

Jiwon looked away, the guilt gnawing at her. She had thought about this moment many times-what she would say, how she would explain herself-but now that it was here, she felt utterly unprepared.

Another silence stretched between them, more awkward than the last.

"Why did you never look back at me?" Jangfei's voice broke the stillness, the words quiet but piercing. She turned to face Jiwon fully, her eyes searching hers. "I just need this answer. I deserve to know. After everything, after the friendship we had... why didn't you?"

Jiwon's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't expected the question to come so bluntly, so directly. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come.

Jangfei pressed on, her voice trembling slightly. "I waited for you, Jiwonie. I thought maybe, just maybe, you'd come back, or call, or write-anything. But you didn't. You just disappeared. And I..." Jangfei trailed off, her voice breaking.

Jiwon swallowed hard, her hands curling into fists at her sides. When she finally spoke, her voice was low, almost a whisper. "I was selfish."

Jangfei frowned, her expression shifting from hurt to confusion.

"I wanted to be loved," Jiwon continued, her voice trembling slightly. "I wanted a family-a real family. And when I was adopted, I thought... maybe I finally had it. But you..." Jiwon hesitated, guilt flashing across her face. "You were a reminder of everything I'd left behind. I thought if they knew about you, if they knew where I came from, they'd... take it all away."

Jangfei stared at her, stunned into silence.

"I thought you'd snatch it from me," Jiwon admitted, her voice breaking. "I thought my new parents wouldn't want me if they knew about my past. So I stayed away. I kept it all buried. And I told myself it was for the best." Jiwon looked down, unable to meet Jangfei's gaze. "But it was messed up. I know that now. I made mistakes. And I can't repair the damage I've done. I know that too."

The weight of her confession hung in the air, raw and unfiltered.

Jangfei took a step closer, her expression unreadable. "You thought I'd take them away from you?" she repeated softly. There was no anger in her voice-just sadness, deep and unshakable.

Jiwon nodded, still unable to look at her. "It wasn't fair to you. I know that. But I was scared. And selfish. And now... it's too late to fix anything."

Jangfei let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly as she clenched them at her sides. "You're right," Jangfei said after a long pause, her voice quiet. "It wasn't fair. I didn't deserve to be left like that, Jiwon whom I considered my sister. Not without an explanation."

Jiwon finally looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Jangfei let out a bitter laugh, though it lacked any real humor. "Sorry doesn't change what happened."

"I know," Jiwon said quickly, her voice desperate. "I know it doesn't. But I don't know what else to say."

Jangfei's shoulders slumped, the fight leaving her. She shook her head slowly, her voice soft. "I just wanted to know why. That's all I ever wanted to know."

The two women stood there, the silence between them heavy with everything left unsaid.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Then, tentatively, Jangfei took another step forward. She hesitated, then spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you regret it?"

Jiwon's throat tightened. She nodded, her voice breaking as she replied. "Every day."

Jangfei looked at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, without a word, she turned away, her figure disappearing into the shadows of the garden.

Jiwon stood frozen, her heart heavy as the weight of her choices settled over her once more. For the first time in years, she felt the full extent of what she had lost-and the painful realization that some things could never be mended.

So how was the chapter ?