Under the tranquil night, moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the small room.
Aaron was fast asleep, his breaths steady, arms unconsciously tightening around the person beside him. But then—only empty space.
The familiar warmth was gone.
His eyelashes trembled slightly before his drowsy eyes fluttered open. Blinking a few times, his hand brushed over the bed, as if to confirm he wasn't mistaken. Turning over, his gaze swept across the dimly lit room.
Raihan was nowhere to be seen.
A faint unease crept into his chest. Sitting up, his bare feet touched the cold wooden floor. A light breeze slipped through the window's crevice, making the silence feel even more profound. Aaron grabbed a thin jacket and stepped out to search.
The living room—empty.
The kitchen—still vacant.
The front door was slightly ajar, yet there was no sign of Raihan outside.
His breathing grew uneven. His fingers instinctively clutched the edge of his jacket, brows furrowing slightly. Aaron hurriedly searched for his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he dialed.
The ringing tone echoed on and on. No one picked up.
A bad feeling gnawed at his mind. At this hour… where could Raihan possibly be?
Suddenly, his phone vibrated. A message from Raihan:
"I'm busy. Go to sleep first."
Aaron let out a long sigh of relief, the anxiety from earlier seemingly dissipating. A small smile tugged at his lips—perhaps he was overthinking. Raihan probably just had something urgent to take care of… right?
Setting his phone aside, he slowly returned to bed. The cold had already seeped into the empty half of the mattress, but Aaron closed his eyes, willing himself back to sleep.
He didn't know… that another darkness was silently closing in on him.
—————————————————
In the vast mansion, the warm golden light reflected off the cold marble floor, creating an atmosphere so silent it felt suffocating.
Amidst this stillness, Lucian sat on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, one arm lazily resting against the armrest while the other held a glass of amber liquor. He swirled the liquid gently, his sharp gaze flickering over the deep red hue as if lost in profound thoughts. In the dim glow, his thin lips curled into a sinister smirk—a rare expression on his otherwise emotionless face.
Beside him, a small creature remained unbothered, as if completely unaffected by the oppressive air around it. A tiny white cat, its fur pristine and soft, its clear eyes shimmering like pure gemstones under the light.
Solace—that was the name Lucian had given it.
Solace was the only thing left of Aaron.
Lucian had taken good care of it. Under his care, the cat had grown plumper, its fur silkier, and its demeanor as carefree as it had been when nestled in Aaron's embrace. It did not fear Lucian. Perhaps because it knew that deep within this ruthless man, there still lingered the warmth of the person who once held it close.
Solace leisurely circled around him, its tail elegantly curling before gracefully leaping onto his lap. It rubbed its head against the hand holding the glass, as if seeking affection out of habit.
Lucian paused for a moment, his gaze darkening slightly. But then, his free hand moved, cold fingers gently brushing over the soft fur. A slow, almost tender caress.
-"Solace… do you miss him?"
Lucian's low voice resonated through the quiet night. There was no answer, only a soft meow as Solace nuzzled into his palm, seeking warmth.
Lucian looked down at the cat, but in his eyes, it was not Solace he saw. It was Aaron's reflection staring back at him.
He never said it aloud, but he knew—Solace had once been Aaron's greatest comfort. When Aaron was lonely, when he was exhausted, when he had no one else to rely on, Solace was the only thing that soothed him.
Lucian had seen it all. He had always known.
But he had never learned how to show care.
A faint, unreadable smile crossed his lips as he gazed at the small creature in his lap.
He would never harm Solace.
Because he knew—soon, Solace would reunite with its owner.
————————————————
The gentle morning light seeped through the cracks of the window, casting a soft golden hue across the wooden floor, bringing with it the warmth of a new day.
Aaron stirred slightly, his eyelashes trembling before slowly fluttering open. He stretched lazily, feeling the lingering warmth of the blanket wrapped around him.
But something felt… different.
It wasn't the usual sound of his alarm, nor was it the steady breathing of Raihan beside him. He turned over, only to find the bed empty. A flicker of confusion passed through his eyes, but it was soon replaced by tenderness when a pleasant aroma drifted through the air.
Aaron stepped out of the bedroom, and the sight before him made him smile unconsciously.
The dining table was already set, the dishes simple yet neatly prepared. Raihan stood by the counter, skillfully making a cup of warm milk. He seemed focused, the corners of his lips slightly curved up, his expression reflecting something Aaron had always believed to be love.
Aaron approached softly, his voice carrying the gentle joy of the morning.
-"You're up early. Why didn't you wake me? I could've helped."
Raihan looked up, noticing Aaron was awake. He immediately smiled, the same familiar, affectionate smile that seemed to overflow with warmth.
-"I can handle these things. No need to trouble you. Come, have some milk."
He placed the cup on the table and reached out, ruffling Aaron's hair. That warmth made Aaron tilt his head slightly, grinning before settling into his seat.
The two of them began breakfast in what seemed like a peaceful atmosphere. But then, Aaron suddenly recalled last night.
-"Oh… Raihan, where did you go last night?"
Aaron's casual question was like a needle piercing through the quiet air.
Raihan stiffened for a brief second, his hand gripping the fork slightly tighter. But it was only momentary—he quickly regained his composure, his voice calm and soothing yet concealing something beneath.
-"I had to go out for some extra work. Just earning a little more money… so you wouldn't have to struggle as much."
Aaron's eyes flickered with emotion. A wave of sympathy surged through him. If they had more money, maybe Raihan wouldn't have to work so hard.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but gaze at Raihan with soft affection, his voice laced with sincerity.
-"You've worked so hard… I'll try to earn more so you won't have to go through this anymore."
His words carried pure trust and love, his eyes shimmering with the light of someone who had placed their entire heart into the person before them.
Raihan smiled again, that same gentle smile. He reached out, stroking Aaron's hair in a gesture of comfort and affection.
But Aaron didn't know…
That smile wasn't purely tenderness.
Beneath the warmth, deep within Raihan's gaze, lay a glint of cruelty.
A smile not of love—but of disdain. A silent mockery of Aaron's blind trust.
Aaron had never doubted Raihan. To him, Raihan was everything—the only one he relied on, the one he placed all his faith in.
But one day… would that trust shatter into pieces?
————————————————
At the highest office of the building bearing the name L.K Group, Lucian sat behind a grand desk, his sharp gaze sweeping over each line of text in the documents before him. The room was so silent that even the faint sound of flipping pages echoed in the air.
Standing in front of him, a subordinate bowed his head, his voice low but unable to conceal his unease.
-"Boss, they're getting stronger by the day. If we keep letting this slide, they'll soon become a real threat."
Lucian didn't respond immediately. Instead, he tapped his fingers rhythmically against the walnut desk. The slow, steady cadence created an invisible pressure within the space. His eyes remained cold, razor-sharp, as if he could see through every scheme hidden behind the lifeless numbers on the contracts.
At last, he spoke, his voice indifferent.
-"Not for much longer…"
His words were light, almost dismissive, yet they sent a chill down his subordinate's spine. Lucian had a way of instilling fear without ever raising his voice.
-"Yes, but we should still remain cautious."
The subordinate spoke carefully, but Lucian merely cast him a fleeting glance before waving his hand, signaling him to handle it as he saw fit. He never concerned himself with trivial matters—his subordinates were free to act as they pleased, as long as they remained loyal.
Lucian understood the rules of the underworld well.
The loyal ones would kneel at his feet.
The enemies would despise him to their very core.
He was the King.
And a King had no need for fear.
Yet, no matter how powerful he was, even a King could not foresee everything.
Not every move he made would be flawless.
Because sometimes… even a King could make a mistake.
————————————————
The following nights, Raihan continued his habit of leaving the house once Aaron had fallen into a deep sleep.
At first, Aaron didn't think much of it. But no matter how naive a person was, they couldn't ignore the strange forever.
He began to doubt.
Tonight, Aaron only pretended to close his eyes, waiting until Raihan left before quietly slipping out of bed, following him through the shadows.
The farther he went, the colder his spine felt.
The dark alley stretched endlessly, filled with the damp scent of decay mixed with something disturbingly familiar. Suddenly, an old memory rushed back—those nights when Lucian returned after dealing with someone, his clothes unstained yet still carrying the faint stench of iron, gunpowder, and death.
And now, at this very moment, Aaron could smell those exact same scents lingering in the path Raihan had walked.
His hands trembled as he clenched them tightly.
No… No, it couldn't be…
Aaron still believed in Raihan.
So foolishly, blindly believed.
He told himself that he was overthinking things, that maybe Raihan was simply working an ordinary job…
But then—
'Smack!'
Aaron's footsteps froze.
Before him, a horrifying scene unfolded.
An old warehouse, dimly illuminated by flickering yellow lights. Surrounding it were men with hardened, ruthless expressions. On the table lay rows of sleek, black guns, their metallic sheen reflecting coldly beneath the faint glow.
And standing in the midst of it all—Raihan.
He held a gun in his hands, his gaze chilling as he meticulously inspected every detail. There was no trace of the gentle man Aaron thought he knew.
-"Everything is about ready?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.
-"All set, no problems at all. But… he hasn't suspected anything yet, has he?" Another man asked, his tone rough.
Raihan let out a quiet chuckle, the corner of his lips curling into a cold, almost cruel smirk.
-"Aaron? That idiot's still as clueless as ever."
His eyes gleamed with mockery.
-"Still trusting me with his whole heart. What a fool…"
'Boom!'
Aaron's heart shattered.
Those words cut into him like merciless blades, each syllable crashing against his mind, tearing down every ounce of trust he had ever held.
His eyes burned, hot tears spilling uncontrollably. His body wavered, barely able to remain standing.
It hurt.
It hurt so much that he couldn't even breathe.
Why?
Raihan…
The Raihan he trusted…
The Raihan he once saw as his everything…
Aaron clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms so hard that blood seeped out. His lips trembled, unable to hold back anymore. His voice escaped, choked and broken—
-"…Raihan…"
The sound was small, but it crashed through the silence like a thunderclap.
Everything came to a halt.
All heads snapped toward the entrance.
Raihan's eyes widened as he spotted the small figure standing at the door. A fleeting trace of shock crossed his face.
-"Aaron?"
EndofChapter6.