Lines We Cross ||Front Man x Reader||

Chapter 50

I let out a slow, shaking breath and closed my eyes.

In-ho? He smiled. Not wicked. Not triumphant. Just... soft.

And in that moment, I couldn't tell if I had just made the best decision of my life—or the one that would finally destroy me completely.

All I could say was...

"Okay."

I could feel Jun-ho's eyes burning into me. Disappointment. Shock. Maybe even betrayal. But I wasn't doing this for In-ho. Not entirely.

I was doing it for Jun-ho. For keeping him alive. For ending this fucking nightmare, once and for all.

I lifted my head and locked eyes with the man I once loved. The man I might've hated. The man I wasn't sure I could ever understand.

In-ho.

"I agree," I said, quietly at first, but loud enough that every guard in the room froze. My words echoed between the walls like a final bell before the plunge.
Jun-ho tried to lunge forward again, but the guards held him tighter.

I didn't look at him this time. I couldn't.

"But," I said, swallowing the lump in my throat, "on one condition."

In-ho tilted his head, a slow curve forming on his lips. "Go on."

"You let Jun-ho go," I said, firmer now. "Untouched. Unharmed. You release him from this place and make sure no one lays a fucking finger on him. Ever again."

That smile faltered. Not completely. Just the faintest crack. His eyes flicked over to his brother. For a second, something unreadable flashed across his face. Guilt, maybe. Pain. Or just annoyance at the cost of what he wanted.

Jun-ho's chest rose and fell violently. "Y/N, no. Don't—"

"I'm not doing this for him," I cut in sharply, finally turning to face him. "I'm doing this for you, Jun-ho. So that you can get out. So you can live. So you can keep fighting this place from the outside."

His mouth opened, but nothing came out. Not right away. I could see the war happening behind his eyes. He didn't want to leave me. But he knew if I was setting this condition, it was because I knew there was no other way out.

"I'm serious," I said to In-ho, facing him again. "You want your shot? Fine. But you let him walk out of here untouched. Or the deal is off, and you'll lose whatever scraps of humanity you have left in my eyes."

In-ho didn't flinch.

He just stared at me. Not with malice. Not even with amusement. This was different. He was studying me like he used to—back when we were something real. Something fragile. Something before all of this.

He finally exhaled and gave the smallest nod.

"Done," he said.

"No games," I added quickly.

"No games," he echoed, softer this time.

The guards hesitated. In-ho turned his head slightly toward them. "Let him go."

They didn't move right away. He looked again, colder now. "I said let him go."
Jun-ho grunted as the guards finally loosened their grip. One of them stepped forward and undid the cuffs from his wrists. He stumbled forward, breathing hard, sweat sticking to his neck. His eyes never left mine.

"I'm not leaving you," he said, voice cracking.

"You have to," I replied. "For me. For the world. Someone has to live to tell the truth."

He looked between me and his brother, pain all over his face. "Y/N..."

"Please," I said. "Go."

In-ho crossed his arms. "I'll have him escorted to the edge of the island. By someone I trust."

"No tricks," I warned.

He held up both hands, the first real show of surrender I'd ever seen from him.

Jun-ho took a step toward me. He looked like he wanted to hug me. Or pull me away. Or punch In-ho one more time. Probably all three. But instead, he just nodded.

"I'll come back for you," he said, voice low and deadly serious. "I swear to God, Y/N. I'll burn this whole place to the ground if he hurts you."

Jun-ho was just about to be dragged out of the room when In-ho raised his hand slightly.

"아, 그리고 가기 전에," [Ah, and before you go,] he said, casual as ever. His tone made the hair on my arms stand up. "준호, 이걸 신고하거나 네 사건에 쓰려고 한다면, 이거만 알아둬. 내가 언제든 그녀를 죽일 수 있고, 다음 차례는 바로 너야. 내가 널 찾을 거야." [Jun-ho, if you report any of this or try to use it for your case, just remember this. I can kill her at any given moment, and you're gonna be next. I will find you.]

I blinked. I didn't understand a single fucking word, but I saw Jun-ho freeze — like his entire body had gone rigid.
Whatever In-ho had just said, it hit hard.

Jun-ho spun back, snarling. "씨발 감히 그런 짓을 하다니, 이 자식아!" [You fucking dare do something like this, you bastard!]

My breath hitched. They were speaking in Korean now, fast and sharp. I couldn't tell what they were saying, but the rage in Jun-ho's voice told me everything I needed to know.

And still, In-ho didn't flinch. If anything, he remained emotionless. Dark, cold, almost proud. "내 조건을 따르라. 둘 다 괜찮을 거야. 일주일 후에 그녀를 만나게 될 거야. 물론 그녀가 나와 함께 있기로 선택하지 않는 한 말이야, 형." [Follow my terms. You'll both be okay. You'll see her in a week... unless she chooses to stay with me, brother.]

He waved once, mockingly. "Bye bye, 형."

The guards seized Jun-ho again, dragging him backward. He didn't take his eyes off me even as they forced him toward the exit. There was a wildness in his stare—fear, fury, and something that looked almost like heartbreak.

I wanted to scream. To run after him. But I couldn't. My heart pounded hard in my chest. My palms were damp.

"In-ho," I said finally, barely able to push the words out, "what the fuck did you just say to him?"

He turned back to me, his expression suddenly softer.

"I reminded him," he said, almost gently, "what happens if he tries to play hero. You know how impulsive Jun-ho can be."

My stomach turned. "So you threatened us? Well me specifically. Let me guess, you threatned to kill me, if he said anything to anyone?"

"No," he said, stepping closer. "I protected you. From his stupid decisions. If he plays by the rules, he sees you again in a week. Simple."
In-ho walked toward me, his steps echoing like they had before — deliberate, steady, calm.

"So," he said quietly, kneeling beside me as he began to untie the restraints.
"Day one."

I didn't respond. I just watched his hands as he worked, knowing deep down:

This might be the beginning of something dangerous.

Or the end of whatever was left of me.
Either way...

I'd made my choice.

A/N~ AHH THIS IS IS CHAPTER 50 ALREADY!!!