⇢ ˗ˏˋ 14 ࿐ྂ

༘♡ ·˚꒰What Remains After War꒱ ₊˚ˑ༄

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Six Years Later

The morning sunlight filtered through the large windows of the bungalow, casting golden streaks over the polished wooden floors. The house sat quietly amidst a lush, well-tended garden, where soft petals of blooming flowers swayed under the gentle breeze. A stone pathway led to a small wooden swing set, where a few children's toys were scattered across the grass forgotten in favour of more exciting adventures.

On the wide porch, Taesik stretched his arms behind his head, exhaling with contentment. "Man, I could get used to this life."

Chanwoo snorted. "You're already too comfortable. If you laze around any longer, you'll start growing roots."

Jimin leaned back on the porch railing, shaking his head. "You two talk like you're the ones who own this place."

Taesik reached for his pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. "Yeah, yeah whatever. Let me have one before we-"

Before he could even finish his sentence, a swift smack landed on the back of his head.

"Fuck! What the hell?!"

Chanwoo and Jimin both glared at him.

"You idiot!" Chanwoo hissed. "Not in front of the kids!"

Jimin nodded, crossing his arms. "Last time you did this, In Ho nearly skinned you alive. You wanna risk it again?"

Taesik groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Fine."

But before he could say more, a loud wail pierced the peaceful morning air.

A small figure sat on the grass near the porch, tiny fists rubbing at her tear streaked face, Ha Rin.

The two-year-old's cries grew louder as she clutched her scraped knee, fat tears rolling down her chubby cheeks. Beside her, Ha Neul, her four-year-old brother, crouched down, his little hands patting her shoulder.

"Don't cry, Rin-ah," he murmured, his small voice filled with concern. "It's okay."

But his attempts to comfort her only made her wail harder.

"Oh no," Jimin muttered. "We're dead."

The trio rushed toward the crying toddler, panic setting in as they all hovered over her, unsure of what to do.

"Shhh, don't cry, little one!" Chanwoo whispered desperately, patting her head.

Taesik crouched beside her, his voice tense. "H-Hey, it's okay, right? You're fine, it's just a little scratch-"

Jimin wiped her tears with his sleeve. "You want some candy? I'll get you some candy, okay? Just please stop crying."

But Ha Rin only sobbed harder, her cries echoing through the garden making the trio looked at each other.

"We're dead," Taesik said again, his face paling.

A chill ran down their spines as they remembered the last time they were left in charge. In Ho had gone on a business trip and left the kids with them for one day. ONE DAY and Ha Rin had gotten a mosquito bite. In Ho was so mad and they were still traumatized from the scolding.

As if on cue, the front door swung open. Hwang In Ho stepped out, his sharp gaze instantly landing on the scene.

A deep, terrifying silence fell upon them.

In Ho's eyes locked onto his crying daughter, then snapped toward the three men standing uselessly around her.

"You three," he said, his voice dangerously low. "What the fuck happened?"

Chanwoo opened his mouth, but no words came out, Taesik raised his hands in surrender, and Jimin gulped.

"She..She fell," he stammered. "Just a little fall- normal kid stuff"

"A fall?" In Ho's voice was eerily calm, but his gaze darkened. "You let my daughter fall?"

The three men flinched.

"I knew I couldn't trust you idiots," In Ho muttered, crouching down to gently pick Ha Rin up in his arms. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his usual cold expression melting into one of deep concern. "Daddy's here, baby. It's okay."

The little girl sniffled, her tiny hands gripping his collar as she buried her face into his shoulder.

Just as In Ho was about to resume his lecture, a voice interrupted him.

"In Ho," Hae In called from the doorway.

She stepped outside, arms crossed, her gaze unimpressed.

"Don't scold them too much," she said with a sigh. "Kids fall all the time. It's normal."

In Ho shot her a glare. "Not my kids."

Hae In rolled her eyes, walking over to ruffle Ha Neul's hair. "They're just kids, In Ho. They get hurt, they cry, they get back up." She turned toward the trio. "And you three, stop looking like you're about to be executed. She's fine."

The three men exhaled in relief.

"You're too soft on them," In Ho grumbled, rubbing Ha Rin's back as she sniffled against him.

Hae In smirked. "And you're too soft on your kids."

In Ho said nothing, just tightened his grip on his daughter, unwilling to let go. With Ha Rin still sniffling in his arms, he walked back inside the house without sparing the trio another glance.

Hae In chuckled, shaking her head as she picks Ha Neul up and adjusted him on her hip. The four year old was resting his head against her shoulder, watching his father with big curious doe eyes.

As soon as In Ho disappeared inside, the trio immediately swarmed around her.

Chanwoo let out a low whistle. "Damn, look at him. The cold blooded Hwang In Ho? Reduced to a complete softie."

"Right?" Jimin snorted. "I swear, the way he looked at Ha Rin, it's like she got hit by a truck instead of just scraping her knee."

Taesik crossed his arms. "I don't blame him. Remember the last time Ha Neul slipped in the bathroom?"

Hae In burst out laughing. "Oh my god, don't remind me!"

Chanwoo leaned in. "Wait, what happened?"

Jimin grinned. "Oh, you weren't there? Bro, it was the funniest thing. Ha Neul was taking a shower, right? And he slipped. Just a little fall, nothing serious but when In Ho saw him crying, he lost his damn mind," Taesik finished, shaking his head. "He was pissed at Hae In."

Hae In giggled. "He looked at me like I personally threw our son on the floor!"

Chanwoo snorted. "I can picture that. 'How could you let this happen, Hae In?!'" he mimicked In Ho's deep voice dramatically.

Taesik nodded. "Exactly! And then he spent the next three days researching non slip bathroom mats."

Jimin smirked. "And installed six of them."

Hae In laughed, holding Ha Neul closer. "Yeah, and now Ha Neul refuses to shower without supervision because his dad scared him into thinking he'll die if he slips again."

The trio laughed, shaking their heads.

"Man," Chanwoo sighed. "He used to be feared by everyone. Now? He's scared of a mosquito bite and bathroom floors."

Hae In smiled, looking towards the house. "Yeah. But that's what makes him a great dad."

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And yes, Hae In is still alive.

That night, when In Ho stabbed her, he left without a second glance, his footsteps heavy as he walked away from her motionless body. He told himself he had no choice, that betrayal could not be forgiven, that this was the only way. But deep inside, something clawed at him, something he refused to acknowledge. Myeongju still needed him. The war against Baekdo had left them bloodied, but standing. His men looked to him for leadership, for direction, and he gave them exactly that.

Baekdo collapsed soon after. Without a leader to guide them, their men scattered like dust in the wind. Some, lost and without purpose, bent the knee to Myeongju, seeking refuge in the empire they had once tried to destroy. Others disappeared entirely, choosing to abandon the life of crime rather than face the wrath of the enemy they had underestimated. In Ho moved forward, ensuring Myeongju's strength remained untouched. The battles were over, but the business remained. He still had territories to manage, allies to negotiate with, and threats to eliminate.

But no matter how much he worked, no matter how much he distracted himself, there was an emptiness that never left him.

Meanwhile, Hae In never stopped looking for him. Even after everything that had happened, after he turned his back on her, after he made it clear she was no longer a part of his world, she refused to disappear.

At first, she had nothing. No connections, no allies, no way to reach him. The moment she tried, Chanwoo had made it clear that she was not welcome. He was the first to meet her at Myeongju's door, gun in hand, pressing the cold metal against her temple without hesitation. His voice had been steady, devoid of mercy, as he warned her to walk away before she was carried out in a body bag. She never listen.

Jimin was the only one who ever wavered, the only one who hesitated whenever she showed up. He never encouraged her, never promised her anything, but he also never pushed her away as harshly as the others did. When she had nowhere else to turn, he was the only one who answered her calls, even if it was only to tell her to stop. Still, she never gave up.

She pursued her career, finally stepping into the life that had once been stolen from her. She became a lawyer, throwing herself into cases, using her sharp mind in court instead of on the battlefield. It was the path she had once dreamed of, the life she should have had before her uncle forced her into the world of crime. But no matter how much she succeeded, no matter how many cases she won, her mind was always elsewhere.

She searched for In Ho in every way she could. She brought lunch to his office, even when she knew he wouldn't accept it. She sent messages, even when they were left on read. She called, knowing he would never pick up. She asked about him whenever she saw Jimin, though his answers were always brief. And when all else failed, she waited outside his house, sometimes for hours, hoping he would finally open the door. For an entire year, he never did.

But slowly, things changed. He began to glance her way instead of ignoring her completely. He stopped deleting her messages without reading them. He didn't send Chanwoo to chase her off anymore. The small shifts gave her hope, and she clung to it with everything she had.

Then one day, after everything, he let her in. It wasn't sudden. It wasn't a grand moment of forgiveness. It was slow, painful, filled with hesitation. But in the end, he chose to love her again.

They made amends. They rebuilt what had been broken, piece by piece. And when he finally asked her to marry him, she had only one request.

"In Ho," she had said softly. "Leave the mafia."

And this time, he didn't hesitate. He was ready.

At first, he thought about passing Myeongju down to Chanwoo, but he was met with an unexpected response. Chanwoo, Jimin, and Taesik refused. Not because they wanted to stay, but because they wanted to follow him. They had spent years by his side, through blood and fire, through victories and losses. It wasn't just about the mafia, it was about In Ho. Wherever he went, they would go too. They had fought for him, killed for him, and now, they wanted to live for him. If In Ho was leaving this world behind, then so were they. So, together, they walked away from the life that had once consumed them.

Years later, In Ho and Hae In built a new world for themselves, one without violence, without bloodshed. A world where they could be at peace and in that world, they have two beautiful children.

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The house is finally quiet.

After what felt like an endless battle to get Ha Neul and Ha Rin to sleep, the children had finally drifted off in their room, their soft breathing filling the space. The trio had taken on the bedtime duty tonight, with Taesik reading a dramatic bedtime story while Jimin and Chanwoo acted it out in the most ridiculous way possible. It took a while, and a lot of exaggerated performances, but in the end, the children caved to exhaustion, their tiny fingers gripping onto their blankets as they dozed off.

Hae In stood by the doorway for a moment, watching them. Their peaceful faces, the way Ha Neul clutched his stuffed toy and Ha Rin curled into a little ball, it made her heart swell. These were her children. Her life and somewhere behind her, standing in the dim light of the hallway, was the man who made this life with her.

She turned around and saw In Ho leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching her in silence. The glow from the hallway light cast shadows over his face, making his sharp features look even more defined. But his eyes are softer now, warmer. This was the same man who had once nearly thrown her away, who had nearly killed her, and yet, here he was, standing in their home, the father of her children, the man who had finally chosen peace over war.

She stepped towards him, resting a hand on his arm. "They're finally asleep," she whispered with a small smile.

In Ho exhaled, shaking his head. "That took forever."

"Well, you weren't the one getting scolded for reading too slowly," Taesik grumbled as he passed them in the hallway, rubbing his temples. "Your daughter is demanding as hell. She made me re-read the same page three times because I 'wasn't doing the voice right.'"

Chanwoo snorted. "You deserved that."

Jimin yawned, stretching his arms. "I still can't believe we got them to sleep without casualties. I was sure Ha Rin was gonna demand a snack halfway through."

She reached for In Ho's hand, intertwining their fingers. "Come to bed with me."

His eyes flickered down to her, something unreadable behind them. Then, without a word, he let her pull him towards their bedroom.

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The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting golden hues over the sheets. Hae In sat at the edge of the bed, pulling her hair loose from its ponytail, shaking out the waves. In Ho stood by the doorway for a moment, watching her, like he always did. There was something about her that captivated him still, even after all these years.

He took slow steps toward her, his presence always so strong, so commanding, even when he wasn't trying to be. He stopped in front of her, lifting a hand to brush his fingers through her hair. "You never stopped chasing after me."

She looked up at him, their eyes meeting. "You never stopped running."

His lips twitched, as if he wanted to argue, but couldn't. Because it was true. He had spent years trying to push her away, even when every part of him wanted to pull her closer.

Hae In reached for his wrist, pressing a kiss to the inside of it. "I love you, In Ho. I loved you then, and I love you now. And if you ever try to leave me again, I will hunt you down and drag you back myself."

He smirked, but there was a rawness in his gaze, an unspoken emotion that made his grip on her tighten. He tilted her chin up, brushing his thumb over her lips. "I'd like to see you try."

And then he kissed her.

It wasn't soft or even hesitant. It was the kind of kiss that burned, that carried the weight of everything they had been through. His fingers tangled into her hair, pulling her closer, deeper, as if he was afraid she'd slip away again. She gasped against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him.

He lifted her, pressing her down onto the bed, their bodies molding together, fitting in a way that felt inevitable. His lips trailed down her jaw, her neck, the warmth of his breath sending shivers down her spine. She arched into him, gripping onto his shirt, desperate to feel every inch of him.

"I missed you," she whispered, running her hands down his back, pulling at the fabric between them. "Every day..every night."

His forehead pressed against hers, his breath heavy. "You have me now."

And with that, he kissed her again, sealing every promise, every unspoken word, with nothing but the way he held her, the way he touched her.

The past no longer mattered.

Tonight, there was only them.

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