Beneath the Starlit Shadows."

themselves living in a pocket of peace. The shadows of The Obsidian Circle lingered, but for now,

over simple things-her attempts to teach Jihoon how to cook, his half-hearted grumbling as she o

the inevitable question: when wou

couch in Jihoon's apartment. Hana leaned against him, her hea

easing, "if we're serious about this, you'r

his chopsticks hovering

ce him. "You know, the person who raised me? The perso

expression serious. "You're re

ad, studying him.

quickly, but the way he shi

out to touch his hand. "He's

g slightly. "Alright. But if I'm meet

e faltered.

ng. "He's... different. But if we're

asn't asking for a favor-he was sharing a piece of himself,

om the chaos of Seoul. Jihoon's nerves were hidden well beneath his usual

ana teased as they approached the

u haven't seen me in a fight,

father stood in the doorway-a tall, broad-shouldered man with

mbraced her. Then his gaze shifted to Jihoon, h

respectfully. "Kang Jihoon. It'

r a moment before stepping a

ns about his job, his intentions, his background. Jihoon answered as honestly as he could wi

na left the room to grab dessert, tha

ssman, are you?" her father

"I'm not sure wh

w your kind. And I know when someone's hiding somethi

ut resolute. "I'll do whatever it tak

ation could go any further, oblivious to the

eeting Jihoon's father. Jihoon had been vague about the

aid as they approached the large,

ezing his hand. "

ng. A servant ushered them into a lavish sitting room, where an older man sat in a high-backed chair. His s

oon said, bow

at Jihoon, then at

n said, his

ing politely. "Seo Hana.

embling a smile. "You're brave to be with my

is gaze without flinching. "

dened slightly. "Good. Y

was testing her, weighing her worth. But it wasn't until she overheard a

father really is, does s

d. "What are yo

s father said with a smirk. "An ex-mafioso. And

h caught. "Tha

one mocking. "The past has a fu

ex-mafioso? Jihoon's father's enemy? She felt her world