Chapter 9 - Chapter 9

🌑 Chapter 9: The Ghost of the Past

The ballroom didn’t feel alive anymore.

It felt… frozen.

Min-ah’s smile lingered in the air like a blade.

Sharp.

Cold.

Unforgiving.

Hana didn’t move.

Her eyes shifted—

To him.

Kang Ji-hoon.

For a moment…

She waited.

For him to say something.

To deny it.

To stop it.

But—

His face didn’t change.

A mask.

Cold.

Unreadable.

“Min-ah is leaving.”

His voice dropped.

Low.

Dangerous.

Min-ah didn’t even look at him.

Her attention stayed on Hana.

“Is he still sending you black orchids?”

Her tone was soft.

Almost playful.

But cruel.

Hana’s fingers curled slightly.

“He loves that, you know.”

Min-ah tilted her head.

“Broken things.”

A pause.

“He finds them… fixes them with gold…”

Her smile widened slightly.

“…and then leaves when they don’t need him anymore.”

Hana’s chest tightened.

“Don’t get too comfortable.”

Min-ah leaned in.

Close.

“…in that silk.”

Before Hana could speak—

Ji-hoon moved.

Fast.

His hand wrapped around hers.

Firm.

Not gentle.

A command.

“Ji-hoon—”

But he was already pulling her.

Out.

Through the VIP exit.

Past flashing cameras.

Voices.

Shouts.

Into darkness.

The limousine door opened.

And then—

Silence.

Inside the car—

It was suffocating.

Hana pulled her hand back sharply.

Her wrist still warm where he held her.

“Is she right?”

Her voice was quiet.

But shaking.

“Am I just another project?”

A pause.

“…something you want to fix?”

Ji-hoon didn’t answer immediately.

He looked outside.

At the passing lights.

Blurry.

Distant.

“Min-ah…”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

“…lives in the past.”

A pause.

“Because she has no future.”

Hana frowned.

“That’s not an answer.”

Silence.

“She said there were others.”

Her voice lowered.

“Others like me.”

Ji-hoon turned.

Slowly.

His eyes met hers.

Dark.

Deep.

“In my world…”

A pause.

“…everyone wants something from me.”

“Money.”

“Power.”

“My name.”

Silence filled the car.

Then—

“You…”

His voice softened.

Just slightly.

“…are the only one who doesn’t.”

Hana’s breath caught.

“You look at me…”

A faint exhale.

“…like I’m something you refuse to accept.”

Her heart skipped.

“That’s what I want.”

Silence.

“Not to fix you.”

A beat.

“But to see…”

His gaze sharpened.

“…how long you can stay unbroken.”

The car slowed.

Stopped.

The door opened.

Cold air rushed in.

Namsan.

The city stretched below them.

Lights glowing like scattered stars.

Hana stepped out.

Her breath uneven.

“I don’t care about your past.”

Her voice steadied.

“But I won’t be your collection.”

She turned to him.

Eyes burning.

“I am Lee Hana.”

A step forward.

“And I wear black because I choose to.”

Silence.

Ji-hoon stepped closer.

Their shadows merged on the ground.

“I know.”

His voice dropped.

“That’s exactly why…”

A pause.

“…I can’t let you go.”

Hana’s chest tightened.

“Even if…”

He leaned slightly closer.

“…it destroys us both.”

Silence.

Her phone buzzed.

She blinked.

Looked down.

Unknown number.

A message.

She opened it.

A photo.

Blurred.

Dark.

A grave.

Covered in black orchids.

Her breath stopped.

Below it—

This is how his protection ends.
Run while you still can.

Hana’s fingers trembled.

Slowly—

She lifted her head.

Ji-hoon was looking at her.

His expression—

Soft.

Almost gentle.

But behind it—

Something darker.

Something endless.

An abyss.

And for the first time—

Hana didn’t know if she should run…

Or stay.