Ep 5

The morning streets slowly came to life.

Cars passed one after another.

People hurried to work without noticing the black luxury car parked quietly across the road.

The engine had been turned off long ago.

Inside...

A tall man sat in complete silence.

His golden eyes never left the young woman walking toward the café.

Yuki.

Every step she took...

Every smile she gave...

He quietly watched from a distance.

The driver remained silent.

Even the assistant sitting beside him didn't dare interrupt.

After several minutes...

The assistant finally spoke.

"Young Master..."

No response.

"You've been watching her every morning."

Still...

Silence.

The assistant let out a quiet sigh.

"You've canceled three important meetings this week."

"...Just to come here."

His phone suddenly vibrated.

He looked at the screen.

Chairman.

He immediately answered the call.

"Good morning, Sir."

A deep voice came from the other end.

"Where is he?"

The assistant glanced at the young man beside him.

"...Young Master is busy."

The voice grew colder.

"Tell him the elders have been waiting."

"Enough is enough."

Before the assistant could answer...

Another voice interrupted the call.

A faint chuckle echoed through the phone.

"So..."

"Our perfect little brother skipped another family meeting again?"

The assistant lowered his head.

"Young Master Ethan..."

The older man's laughter slowly faded.

"I wonder..."

"What could possibly be more important than his own family?"

The call ended.

The assistant slowly lowered the phone.

He looked toward the young man once more.

"...Young Master."

This time...

The golden-eyed man finally spoke.

"Prepare the car."

The assistant blinked in surprise.

"...To the meeting hall?"

A quiet nod was his only answer.

The black luxury car slowly pulled away.

Not toward the city...

But toward a place where duty had been waiting for him.

A place he had avoided for far too long.

The private elevator came to a silent stop.

The doors slowly opened.

A long hallway stretched before him.

Men and women dressed in black suits immediately lowered their heads.

"Welcome back, Young Master."

Without a word...

He walked past them.

The large conference room doors opened.

Inside...

A dozen people were already waiting.

The room fell silent the moment he entered.

At the head of the table sat the Chairman.

To his right...

Ethan leaned back in his chair with a faint smile.

"Well..."

"You finally decided to honor us with your presence."

No reply.

The Chairman calmly folded his hands.

"Take your seat."

He quietly sat down.

The Chairman looked directly at him.

"You've missed three council meetings."

"I know."

"You've ignored every report."

Silence.

"And yet..."

"You still haven't given me a reason."

Silence.

Ethan let out a quiet laugh.

"Father..."

"Maybe our perfect Young Master Reiden has found something more interesting than the family."

He leaned back in his chair.

"Or perhaps..."

"...something worth breaking the rules for."

Silence.

The Chairman's gaze slowly lifted.

"What rules?"

Ethan only smiled.

"I think..."

"...our little brother already knows."

The Chairman looks directly at Reiden.

"Do you intend to change fate... or challenge it?"

Reiden slowly raises his eyes.

For the first time...

His calm expression changes.

Just a little.

His voice was low.

"...Neither."

The room remained silent.

He looked straight at the Chairman.

"I'm going to protect it."

No one spoke.

Even Ethan's smile disappeared.

The Chairman quietly closed his eyes.

"...Then."

"Prepare yourself."

"Because every choice has a price."

The room fell into complete silence.

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