-"Aaron, bring the wine to table number 9!"
A voice called out from the bar. It was the owner of the place, a strict middle-aged woman, though not particularly unpleasant. Aaron flinched slightly before quickly nodding in response.
-"Yes, I'm coming!"
He swiftly picked up the tray of wine, weaving through the crowded tables to reach the customers.
Aaron was no longer someone who was served with utmost care. Gone were the luxurious clothes, the soft beds, and the grand mansion. Now, he was just an ordinary waiter, working hard to make a living. Though life was no longer lavish, he found it much lighter and more comfortable than when he was with Lucian.
But something was strange.
Aaron was undeniably beautiful—his delicate features easily caught people's attention. Normally, in a place like this, a waiter like him would be an easy target for teasing or harassment. Yet, ever since he started working here, no one had ever troubled him. The customers simply accepted their drinks, drank, and left.
Why?
The answer lay in a shadowy corner of the bar.
A man with an ice-cold aura sat there, slowly swirling the wine in his glass. His sharp eyes never once left Aaron.
Lucian.
Though he had spoken of letting go, he still couldn't stop watching Aaron. Every little movement, every small gesture—all of it remained within his sight.
He never stepped forward, never called out, just watched in silence. And his mere presence alone was enough to keep anyone from laying a hand on Aaron.
He was still protecting him, in his own way.
Aaron remained completely unaware of this. He continued working happily, smiling in a way that Lucian had never seen when Aaron was with him.
That smile… irritated him.
Lucian set down his glass and stood up. The bodyguards around him immediately followed as he walked away. When his figure finally disappeared through the door, another person emerged from the shadows.
Raihan.
He remained still, eyes tracking Lucian's every movement. Only after making sure that Lucian had left did Raihan step into the bar and approach Aaron.
-"Aaron, are you almost done? Let's go home."
Aaron had just finished cleaning the last table when he looked up at Raihan, his face showing visible relief.
-"Yes, I'm done! Just let me change, then we can go, okay?"
-"Alright, I'll wait."
A few minutes later, Aaron returned, now dressed in simple yet neat clothing. Raihan said nothing, only reaching out and gently taking his hand.
The two walked side by side, chatting as they left the bar.
-"How was work today? Are you very tired?" Raihan asked with genuine concern.
-"Not too bad. The bar was crowded today, but it was still manageable. It's just that… I had a weird feeling."
-"Weird?" Raihan tilted his head slightly.
-"Yeah… like someone was watching me."
Raihan tightened his grip on Aaron's hand, the corner of his lips curling into an unreadable smile. Turning his face away, he hid the fleeting coldness in his eyes.
-"You're probably overthinking. Don't worry, I'm here with you."
Aaron nodded, holding onto Raihan's hand a little tighter.
Unaware that the gaze following him had never truly disappeared.
It was merely watching… from the darkness.
————————————————
In the vast room, the dim light from the desk lamp cast a faint glow over the neatly stacked piles of documents. Everything here exuded a sense of coldness and precision—an unmistakable reflection of the man seated in the high-end leather chair.
Lucian.
Arms crossed, his sharp gaze skimmed through the reports on recent projects. It seemed he had little genuine interest in the numbers or plans before him, yet he still reviewed every detail with the patience of a predator watching its prey.
Suddenly, the office door was shoved open, and a subordinate rushed in, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he spoke in a hurried voice:
-"Boss! According to intelligence, several gangs are plotting to overthrow you!"
Silence filled the room.
Lucian neither lifted his head nor showed any hint of surprise. He simply set his pen down, his slender fingers tapping rhythmically against the wooden desk. His gaze remained fixed on the documents, as if the information he had just heard was nothing more than trivial gossip.
His subordinate swallowed hard before continuing:
-"They are secretly forming alliances, planning attacks on some of our transport routes. If we don't act, it could impact our profits and territories—should we—"
Before he could finish, Lucian cut him off with an ice-cold tone:
-"No need."
He picked up his glass of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid slowly. The dim light reflected off the surface, creating an illusion of quiet elegance.
-"Let them feel triumphant for a little longer. If we crush them too soon, wouldn't that be rather boring?"
A faint smirk played on his lips, but there was no warmth in it.
His subordinate stiffened, rendered speechless by his leader's composed demeanor.
Lucian knew.
He had known about this for a long time.
Those insignificant rats thought they could set a trap for him in secret? How laughable. They were blind to the fact that from the moment they started plotting, every step they took had already fallen into his grasp.
-"They think they can challenge me?" Lucian scoffed, his gaze filled with contempt. "Compared to me, they are nothing more than insects struggling before their inevitable demise."
His voice was low, chilling—like the sharp edge of a blade grazing against the skin.
The subordinate lowered his head, a cold shiver running down his spine despite the lack of air conditioning in the room.
Lucian rose from his seat, each step slow yet brimming with authority. He reached for a cigarette, lighting it with ease. Wisps of smoke curled through the air as he exhaled, unfazed. There was no rush—after all, the prey was already walking straight into the trap he had laid out for them.
Did they truly believe they could overthrow him?
Ridiculous.
-"Let them continue with their plans," he said, his voice indifferent, but his eyes darkened. "And when they think they've won—I'll crush them. One by one."
His words were light, almost casual, yet they sent an unmistakable chill through the room.
Lucian was not merely a killer.
He was a beast that enjoyed toying with his prey before delivering the final blow.
The cold night swallowed the room, but deep within the shadows, a storm of death had already been set into motion.
————————————————
At the bar where Aaron worked…
Aaron was still busy serving customers, completely unaware that, at this very moment, a pair of eyes had been watching him from the shadows.
Lucian hadn't come to the bar tonight, but someone else had.
A middle-aged man sat in a corner table, his cold, calculating gaze sweeping over Aaron with intent. He wasn't like the usual patrons who frequented this place for drinks or entertainment.
He observed.
He assessed.
And the moment Aaron turned his back, he pulled out his phone and spoke quietly into the receiver:
-"Confirmed. The target is still safe. He hasn't taken him away yet."
-"Keep watching. If the opportunity arises, take him."
The call ended.
A cold wind swept in from outside, but Aaron remained oblivious to the real storm still lurking ahead.
—————————————————
Ever since Aaron left, Lucian had been drinking more often.
He didn't drink to get drunk—he drank to fill the invisible void inside him. To him, alcohol had no bitterness, nor sweetness—it was merely a liquid that momentarily silenced the chaos in his mind.
His subordinates knew this well, yet none of them dared to interfere. They could only watch from a distance, worried but unable to speak.
Tonight was no different.
Lucian sat on the sofa, one hand holding a glass of wine, his deep eyes staring into the crimson liquid swirling inside. There was no drunken haze in his gaze—only a brewing storm waiting to erupt.
A hesitant subordinate stepped forward and carefully asked,
-"Boss, are you alright?"
Lucian didn't look at him. His low voice echoed through the room,
-"Am I perfect? Am I good?"
There was no emotion in his tone, yet that only made the air heavier with pressure.
The subordinate hesitated but still lowered his head and answered,
-"Boss, you are perfect. You are strong. You are ruthless. No one dares to oppose you. In this world, those who are loyal to you would devote their lives to serving you, and those who stand against you can only hate you and wish for your downfall."
Lucian smirked at that, but his smile was chilling.
He swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze unwavering. Then, suddenly—
'CRACK!'
The wine glass shattered in his grip.
Shards of glass pierced into his palm, blood dripping down, mixing into the deep red of the spilled wine. But Lucian didn't even flinch.
He flung the broken glass to the floor, the fragments scattering, wine splashing onto the subordinate standing before him.
Lucian slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes like an abyss, his voice hoarse, laced with bitterness.
-"Then why… why doesn't he want to be by my side? Why did he choose to chase after that foolish thing called love?"
Silence.
The subordinate didn't dare to answer.
He knew that nothing he said would change anything.
Lucian took a deep breath, his expression returning to its usual indifference, but deep within his eyes, a dangerous glint remained.
-"Aaron… Just because I let you go doesn't mean I don't need you. As long as you're not happy, I will bring you back to me."
His words weren't just possessive—they were a warning.
Lucian had never been the kind of man to lose something that belonged to him. He had allowed Aaron to leave in search of happiness, but the moment Aaron failed to find it—Lucian wouldn't hesitate to destroy the one who took it away.
And perhaps… he already knew very well what Aaron's current situation was.
Somewhere else…
In a dimly lit room, the soft glow of a lamp cast shadows over Raihan's composed yet calculating face.
He knew.
Lucian had never stopped watching Aaron.
That was why Raihan could never truly let Aaron slip from his grasp. If Aaron was genuinely happy, perhaps Lucian would leave him alone. But if he wasn't… Lucian would return, and when that happened, everything would collapse.
Raihan wouldn't allow that to happen.
He picked up his phone and dialed a number.
As soon as the call connected, he gave a calm order,
-"Proceed with the next step."
-"But if Lucian finds out—"
-"He will find out." Raihan interrupted, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Just not yet."
He ended the call, his sharp gaze unwavering—every move had already been calculated.
But there was one thing Raihan had overlooked.
Lucian was never a pawn in anyone's game.
He already knew everything.
Because one question had been lingering in Lucian's mind all this time—
-"Who would let the person they love work in a place so full of danger?"
-"Only someone with an ulterior motive."
A gentle breeze slipped through the slightly open window, making the curtains sway.
And in the eerie silence, a cold voice echoed—
-"Aaron's heart is in the wrong place."
EndofChapter5