070

JEON

Two more weeks...

Two more weeks, love.

Our baby will be here. Crying. Breathing. Alive between us-

And still-

Still you're staring at those gates?

A drag.Smoke curls up-gray thread unraveling into morning air.

I see it all from the shadow of office balcony's archway-—the way she hold her back when she rise, how she flinch when Lucas jumps too close...

Another drag..

Then exhale- hand clench in pockets.Watching her.On the swing.Hair loose. Bare feet brushing grass. Lucas asleep on her shoulder, small body rising and falling with every breath.

She looks.. peaceful.

But her eyes?

Always drifting to those gates.Iron teeth biting sky.Locked not to keep people out-But to keep her in.

"Why?"—The word leaves low- rough.

Why are you so desperate to get away from me?

From us?

What is it? What's incomplete here?

No one touches you without losing fingersNo one speaks your name without fearing deathThis world bows because I made it kneel-for you.

You have everything,

Gold? Given.Safety? Guaranteed.Power?— You have me.

So what's there outside?

The air that doesn't smell like money? Roads with no cameras watching where my wife walks?

Is it freedom?That word... always on your lips... but never defined.I flick— the ash fall like dying star.

Do they give love out there?-Raw. Unshakable. That kills for quiet breaths just so you can sleep?

Because I do.

And yet... You look at those gates like they spell hope.

While all I see is danger wrapped in open sky.When all I ever wanted... you to look at me... even once... like I'm enough.

Another drag.

The smoke burns deeper this time-into lungs, into chest, into the hollow place where your name lives rent-free.

Outside the weather is dull. Sky flat gray blanket pressing down on world.window glass hazy with morning breath of rain that never fell.

But she?

She's clear.

So damn clear even from here.

On that swing.Bulging with my child.Exhausted-from me?From this life?From hating someone who loves like war?

Her feet drag through dew-laced grass-—slow sway and Lucas sleeps on her shoulder, tiny fingers curled in her hair like he knows no world beyond her.

And still-

Her eyes drift to those gates again.

Like they hold answers.Like they whisper promises I can't give.

A beat .

Another inhale-burns all the way down-

I know...I could never control you...

Never could cage that fire in your chest-even when I tried. Even when I locked every door, silenced every voice that called for help...

But now?

Now you control me.

You own every breath I don't take when you flinch.Every prayer you whispered into silence while crying alone and think I don't hear.

My life?Yours.My thoughts?Full of how to fix what I broke so badly even love can't glue it back.My heart?Already handed over-from the first day you call me "monster" like it's truth carved in stone...

And still you looked away with my ring on your finger.

With my child growing inside.

With Lucas learning "ma-ma" while guards watch his every step-

Because even this hell built in home...It builts around you.

So yes...You control everything now.

Another drag.

The flame bites my fingers-deliberate.Let it burn.

Because pain?Pain is honest.

Unlike love.

You will never love me.Not once.Not in court, when I stood before you like your monster. Not in bed, when I touched you like salvation and you turned your face to the wall.Not now-when your body swells with my child, when your breath mingles with my air, your tears fall on grass that grows from my blood...

And yet-

You stay.

Sleep in my bed. Wear my ring. Carry my name. My children.

God... you're even feeding Lucas with milk drawn from bones tired because of me-

And that?That makes me love you more than ever before.Twisted?

Maybe.

But pain tastes sweet when it comes from you.

I ripped my heart open and placed it on your pillow...

And you?

You didn't even look at it.

Didn't scream, curse, or tear it to shreds like I expected...No-worse-you ignored it.Left it there like something beneath notice...

And That silence?

It carved deeper than any blade ever could.

Makes me want more.Crave harder.Love fouler.

I flick the burning stick away-

She wipe tears again?Does she feel this pain?Or we see different things?Am I the only fool burning alive while watching paradise stand twelve feet away wrapped in a thin sweater?

Because we're not seeing the same thing...

No.

You see freedom-the gates, the sky beyond trees,A world without shadows dressed in black suits,Without rings forged in fire and force...

But me?All I see...is you.

Just you.

Your breath on cold air.lips whispering "baby" to our son.Body curves under morning light while carrying my future inside-

That's all I want.

I don't dream of power anymore- but to waking up beside a woman who doesn't flinch when I touch her bump from behind...One who lets me kiss her neck without holding her wrist first as if afraid what might come next...

Is that so much to ask?

You look at those gates-and see freedom...

I look at you-

And see mine.

My palm press against cold glass separating us-— teeth grits—

You want to go out?

Fine.

You want to run?

Fine.

Let my queen test her wings.

Let her see how far you can fly when the cage door finally opens.

A beat.

I reach in pocket take the phone out.

Click.One tap.

Ring goes once.

Twice.Thrice-

"Boss."

"Open the gates."

Silence follows- then sharp yes.

And then-

It happens.

One by one, the black iron gates begin to move-creaking as they swing wide for the first time in years.

Rust flakes fall like dried blood.

The guards near rose hedges step back-one by one disengaging from their posts.Melting into shadows beneath trees, hands away from holsters but eyes still sharp, tracking every inch of lawn... every breath she takes...

Free?

Not really.

The world outside is not kind to women who walk out on kings-even if that king just opened hell's gate for her sake...

The swing creaks below her-–one slow sway after another unaware what has changed.Lucas sleeps on her shoulder, small hand fisted in sweater, face tucked against her neck like he knows only this warmth exists...

Come on see it.Believe it.

One step all it takes.

Just stand up.Walk forward with Lucas and no one will stop you this time—I gave order myself-

My plams press against glass window separating us.

Breathing only when you do...

Run then.Go-if that's what your heart wants so badly.Go ahead...Test me.

I light another cigarette.

Flame flickers-brief-Smoke curls up slow... dark... twisting like thoughts in skull.

Outside-

The swing still sways-—One lazy creak after another.

Unaware.

She's still there–—palm gently patting Lucas's back, his little body rising and falling with each breath.

Until-

The main gate groans—

Her body tenses.

The black iron jaw of this estate creaks open for the first time in years-Wide. Final.

she...freezes.

body stiffen-Swing stopped in mid-rock. Grip on Lucas tightens.

Slowly- She turns her head—

eyes lock onto the open gates.Empty space where guards once stood like statues carved from shadow.N

o one near the rose hedges now.None by the archway or villa wall.All gone.

Just wind brushing through grass... birds calling beyond trees...

But she don't move—-just glance around with stunned face-

One breath...Then another...Chest heaves-gulp, eyes wide scanning.Left? No one.

Right? Empty path leading out?Forward-

Freedom-

Yes... Her face crack between disbelief and instinctive fear...

Yes, get up.

Show your husband how much you want this...

My fingers crush the burning cigarette-—the ash bites into skin.

Then-

Slowly... so damn slowly-

A shift in weight...

One foot slips down from swing base...Then the other touches dewy grass bare toes curling slightly at cold touch...

Slowly... painfully slow-she rise,Body heavy, Legs shaky beneath weight.

Eyes not blinking as they stare at that long gravel path where world begins with no guarding

Come on... Take one step forward... Prove that everything I feared.No matter what chains I break for you... you'll always walk away when given chance...

Step step toward freedom...

Let me see what losing truly looks like.Let me watch my wife takes her first real step toward leaving me...

But she stands.

Lucas curled against her chest-sleeping, unaware.One arm around him. The other cradling the bump—-the swell of me growing inside her.

And then-—She moves.

One step.Then another.

Slow.

Trembling.Bare feet pressing into dew-wet grass. Each step quiet... deliberate... Toward the gate.Closer.

Dew clings to ankles-but she doesn't stop.

Eyes locked on that open gate-—

"Boss-"Footsteps rush in behind."Boss!–Mrs. Jeon-" I raise one hand.

Silence drops.

No one speaks.Not a breath.

Only sound?Her footsteps.My jaw clenches-Her each step heavier than last- every inch closer to those gates,her body fights:bump low,back strained,breath shallow...

But she walks anyway.

The gravel path splits before her feet-she reaches edge...One more step...And you'll be outside my walls...Outside my law...Outside my world...

One step.

Then another.

She waddles forward-slow, unsteady,Each motion is painful to watch-raw with effort, trembling with fear...

And then-

Her bare foot lands outside the gate, outside my kingdom.

My teeth grit—taste blood.

Her bare feet beyond the estate, On foreign soil.

She moves -doesn't look back.No final glance.No hesitation.

And then- runs.

Not fast-how could she? Belly pulling forward, Lucas bouncing against her chest, legs weak-breath ragged–-but she runs anyway.Toward the tree line. Away from iron gates, away from my villa. Away from everything I built just to keep her warm at night...

My hand trembles at side.

Run as far as your legs carry you...Carry our children with you... Let them feel cold wind against their cheeks..But remember-Even when you're outside my walls...

You're still breathing my air..

"Boss–-"

"Re-Start the operation."

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