Chapter 12-The enemy within
1777 Words
The mansion had never felt this quiet.
Alessia sat on the sofa, staring at the large windows.
The city outside was beautiful.
Bright lights.
Busy streets.
People living normal lives.
But inside the Kim residence...
Everything felt different.
Because now she knew.
Someone inside this house could be against them.
Someone who smiled.
Someone who greeted her.
Someone who knew exactly where she was.
Her father's picture appeared in her mind again.
The thought made her hands tighten.
"Are you scared?"
Luca's voice pulled her back.
She looked up.
He was standing near the fireplace.
Watching her.
She hated that he could always tell.
"Shouldn't I be?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then...
"Yes."
The honesty surprised her.
Most people would have said no.
They would have tried to make her feel better.
But Luca never did that.
"You don't make anything easier, do you?"
"No."
She sighed.
"I noticed."
A small silence passed.
Then she asked the question that had been bothering her.
"Who could it be?"
Luca looked away.
"I don't know yet."
"Your family?"
"Maybe."
The answer hurt.
Because she saw something in his face.
Disappointment.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
"You think someone close to you betrayed you."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Everyone can betray you."
"That's a terrible way to live."
"It keeps you alive."
She looked at him.
For a moment, she didn't see the powerful CEO.
She saw a man who had spent years expecting people to hurt him.
And somehow...
That made her sad.
...
Minho entered the room.
"Sir."
Luca looked at him.
"Report."
"We checked everyone who had access to the hospital."
"And?"
"Three people are suspicious."
Alessia sat up.
"Who?"
Minho placed a file on the table.
"We're still confirming details."
Luca opened it.
His expression remained calm as he read.
But Alessia noticed something.
His hand tightened slightly.
Only slightly.
But enough.
"Who?"
Luca closed the file.
"Not yet."
She frowned.
"Not yet?"
"If I accuse the wrong person, they disappear."
The seriousness in his voice made her quiet.
This wasn't like business.
This was something darker.
"You think they would run?"
"No."
Luca looked at her.
"I think they would fight."
...
Later that night, Alessia couldn't sleep.
Again.
She was beginning to think sleeping had become impossible in the Kim residence.
Too many thoughts.
Too many questions.
She walked quietly through the hallway.
She wasn't sure where she was going.
Maybe she just needed air.
Maybe she needed to remind herself she still existed outside Luca's world.
As she passed the living room...
She heard voices.
She stopped.
One voice belonged to Luca.
The other...
She didn't recognize.
She moved closer carefully.
The door wasn't fully closed.
She could hear them.
"You brought her here."
The unknown voice sounded angry.
Luca replied calmly.
"Yes."
"You brought a civilian into this family."
"Watch your words."
"Why?"
A pause.
"Because she's your wife?"
Silence.
Then the person laughed.
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
Alessia froze.
She knew she shouldn't listen.
But she couldn't move.
"I know exactly what I'm doing."
Luca's voice was colder.
"Do you?"
The other person asked.
"Because everyone knows Luca Kim doesn't make emotional decisions."
A longer silence.
Then...
"She isn't a weakness."
Those words made Alessia stop breathing.
The person laughed softly.
"You're already protecting her."
Luca didn't answer.
And that was enough.
...
Alessia stepped back before they noticed her.
Her heart was beating too fast.
Not because of what she heard.
Because of what she didn't hear.
Luca didn't deny it.
He didn't say she was just a contract.
He didn't say she meant nothing.
He simply said...
She wasn't a weakness.
She returned to her room quietly.
But sleep didn't come.
Because now she had another problem.
She wasn't only afraid of Luca's enemies.
She was afraid of something else.
The possibility that Luca Kim...
The man she married for a contract...
Was slowly becoming someone she cared about.
...
The next morning, Alessia came downstairs.
Everyone looked normal.
Too normal.
Mrs. Han greeted her.
The staff worked.
Security stood outside.
Nothing looked different.
But she knew better now.
Behind every smile...
There could be a secret.
Luca was already at the table.
He looked at her.
"You were awake late."
She stopped.
"You noticed?"
"I notice everything."
That answer should not have made her nervous.
But it did.
She sat down.
For a few seconds, they ate in silence.
Then she asked,
"Was I your weakness?"
The question made him stop.
His eyes lifted to hers.
"What?"
"I heard you last night."
A pause.
Luca placed his cup down.
"You shouldn't listen to conversations that aren't yours."
She frowned.
"That's not an answer."
"No."
"Then answer me."
The room became quiet.
Finally...
Luca said,
"No."
Her heart moved slightly.
"No, I'm not your weakness?"
"No."
She looked away.
Then he continued.
"You're not my weakness."
A pause.
"You're the reason I have to be careful."
She looked back at him.
"What does that mean?"
Luca's eyes stayed on hers.
"It means..."
His voice lowered.
"Before you came into my life, I only had myself to protect."
The words hit differently.
"Now?"
A long silence.
Then...
"Now I have you."
Before she could respond...
A loud crash came from outside.
Everyone froze.
A guard rushed in.
"Sir!"
Luca stood immediately.
"What happened?"
The guard's face was pale.
"There was an attack."
Alessia's heart dropped.
"An attack?"
The guard nodded.
"And..."
He hesitated.
Luca's expression turned cold.
"What?"
The guard looked at Alessia.
"Your father's hospital room was targeted."
The world seemed to stop.
Her father.
Again.
Luca grabbed his coat.
"We're leaving."
And this time...
Alessia didn't hesitate.
She followed.
Because she finally understood.
Whatever war Luca Kim was fighting...
She was already part of it.
The car moved faster than usual.
Alessia sat in the back seat, her hands shaking.
She hated this feeling.
The feeling of waiting.
Waiting for bad news.
Waiting to know if someone she loved was hurt.
She had lived with fear before.
But this was different.
Before, her problems were simple.
Money.
Bills.
Her father's illness.
Now...
Everything had become bigger.
More dangerous.
She looked at Luca.
He sat beside her, silent.
Too silent.
His expression was cold.
Controlled.
But Alessia was starting to notice the small things.
The way his fingers tightened.
The way his jaw moved slightly.
The way his eyes became darker whenever her father was mentioned.
He was worried.
Even if he would never admit it.
"Luca."
He looked at her.
"What?"
"Is my father okay?"
A pause.
"We don't know yet."
That answer hurt.
But she appreciated the honesty.
"You always tell the truth even when it's painful."
"Because lies create bigger problems."
She looked down.
"I used to think you were heartless."
A small silence.
"And now?"
She looked at him.
"I think you're someone who doesn't know how to show anything."
For a second...
Something changed in his eyes.
Then he looked away.
"You don't know me."
"No."
She admitted.
"Not yet."
Those two words stayed between them.
Not yet.
...
The moment they arrived at the hospital, they knew something had happened.
Police cars.
Security.
Doctors moving quickly.
The entrance was crowded.
Alessia's heart dropped.
She didn't wait for the car to fully stop.
She opened the door.
"Alessia."
Luca grabbed her wrist gently.
Not harsh.
Not controlling.
Just enough to stop her.
"Stay close."
She looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who is watching."
Those words reminded her.
The enemy was still unknown.
She nodded.
This time, she didn't argue.
...
They rushed upstairs.
The hallway outside her father's room was blocked.
A nurse stopped them.
"Family only."
Luca stepped forward.
"Move."
His voice wasn't loud.
But the nurse immediately stepped aside.
Alessia noticed something.
People listened to him.
Always.
Inside the room...
Her father was awake.
And alive.
The moment Alessia saw him, she almost collapsed from relief.
"Appa."
She rushed to his side.
Her father looked surprised.
"Alessia."
She held his hand.
"Are you okay?"
He nodded slowly.
"I am."
She looked at the room.
"What happened?"
Her father looked uncomfortable.
"There was a man."
Her body went cold.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"What did he want?"
Her father looked at Luca.
Then back at her.
"He asked about you."
Alessia froze.
"Me?"
Her father nodded.
"He asked if you were happy."
Silence.
Everyone looked confused.
"Happy?"
She repeated the word.
Her father nodded.
"He said..."
He stopped.
"What?"
Her father swallowed.
"He said he wanted to know if Luca Kim was treating you well."
The room became quiet.
That was not what she expected.
Not a threat.
Not a demand.
A question.
Luca's expression changed.
Small.
But Alessia noticed.
"You know who it is."
It wasn't a question.
Luca didn't answer.
"Luca."
He looked away.
"I have an idea."
"Who?"
Before he could respond...
A voice came from the doorway.
"Me."
Everyone turned.
A man stood there.
Tall.
Dark hair.
Calm expression.
But there was something dangerous about him.
Luca's face immediately changed.
Not fear.
Something else.
Recognition.
"Jin."
The man's eyes moved to Alessia.
Then back to Luca.
"It's been a long time."
Alessia looked between them.
"You know him?"
Luca didn't answer.
The man smiled slightly.
"Of course he knows me."
He stepped inside.
"We used to be family."
The words shocked her.
Family?
Luca's eyes became colder.
"Don't call yourself that."
The man's smile disappeared.
"Still angry?"
"Leave."
"You haven't changed."
The man looked at Alessia.
"So this is the woman."
Alessia frowned.
"The woman?"
Jin smiled.
"The woman who made Luca Kim break his own rules."
Luca stepped forward.
"Enough."
But Jin ignored him.
He looked at Alessia.
"Do you know what kind of man you married?"
The same question.
Again.
Everyone kept asking her.
But this time...
It felt different.
Because this man knew Luca.
"Tell me."
Alessia's voice surprised even herself.
Luca looked at her.
"Alessia."
"No."
She looked at him.
"I deserve to know."
Silence.
Jin smiled.
"Good."
He looked at Luca.
"She has more courage than you expected."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"Don't involve her."
Jin laughed softly.
"That's exactly why she's involved."
He looked at Alessia.
"Before Luca Kim became the man everyone fears..."
A pause.
"He was someone who trusted the wrong person."
Alessia stared.
"What happened?"
Jin looked at Luca.
Then said quietly,
"His own family destroyed him."
The room went silent.
Alessia looked at Luca.
For the first time...
She didn't see a powerful man.
She saw someone who had survived something.
Something painful.
Something that changed him forever.
And now...
She wanted to know the truth.
- Writer
