Empire Of His Heart : Mafia's Only Obsession

Aftermath Of Actions

As soon as Alina and Daniel stepped into the station, a wave of cheers erupted around them. Applause echoed off the walls, bouncing like victory itself. Colleagues rose from their desks, some clapping, others whistling, a few calling out their names.

"Way to go, Alina!"

"Nice work, Daniel!"

The two exchanged modest smiles, nodding in appreciation. Alina basked in the warmth of the moment, her adrenaline still humming from the chase, the arrests, and the knowledge that justice had finally been served in the case they'd been chasing for months.

Her eyes instinctively scanned the room, searching for one face-Yuhan's. And there he was, exactly where she expected him, hunched over his computer, the glow of the screen lighting up his sharp features.

His fingers moved across the keyboard with practiced precision, but Alina knew he'd felt her gaze.

Their eyes met and for a fleeting second, the noise of the station faded. The cheers, the laughter even Daniel beside her, all became a blur as Alina's heart gave a small, involuntary stutter. There was something unspoken in Yuhan's eyes-pride, maybe? Relief? Or was it just… tiredness?

Before she could decipher it, Yuhan looked away, turning back to his screen with almost calculated precision, as if the spreadsheet before him demanded his entire existence.

The silent dismissal hit harder than she expected.

Her smile faltered, lips twitching into a pout before she quickly masked it. It wasn't the first time Yuhan had pulled this cold act, but somehow, it always stung like the first time.

Still, she refused to let it ruin the moment. She made her way toward his desk, brushing past shoulders, slapping a few friendly backs on the way. But she froze mid-step.

There it was,a small bottle of banana milk sitting neatly beside her files.

Her eyes widened slightly, warmth blooming in her chest. It wasn't just any drink-it was her favorite, the kind she always reached for after a stressful case. No note. No name. But she didn't need one. She knew exactly who had left it there.

Without thinking, Alina spun on her heel and marched toward Yuhan's desk. This time, she didn't hesitate.

"Brother!" she exclaimed, launching herself into a tight hug from behind, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. "You're the best! I knew it was you!"

Yuhan groaned loudly, throwing his head back in an exaggerated annoyance. "Aish, get off me, you brat. People are watching."

"I want them to watch," Alina laughed, squeezing tighter. "Let them know my brother loves me!"

The station erupted in soft laughter. Everyone was used to this-the loud, shameless affection of the younger sister and the grumpy older brother act of Yuhan. It was their signature, like thunder and lightning.

"Act your age," Yuhan muttered, though the faint upward tug of his lips betrayed him.

She was about to pull away when a voice interrupted.

"Alina," one of their colleagues called, walking over with a puzzled expression. "There's someone here asking for you. Said his name's Wang He's waiting outside."

Alina's smile vanished.

"What does he want now?" she muttered under her breath, exasperated. Her fists clenched briefly before she raked a hand through her hair, clearly forcing herself to stay calm.

Yuhan's head snapped toward her, his eyes hardening. "Yug? That bastard's back?"

She didn't answer, but the silence spoke for itself.

Yuhan half-rose from his chair, jaw tightening. "You want me to go?" His voice was sharp, low and dangerous.

Alina shook her head quickly. "No, brother. Last time, you almost broke his face with one punch."Her tone was half-joking but mostly serious.

Yuhan scoffed. "And I regret not making it two."

Daniel, who had been quietly watching, raised a brow. Alina shot him a subtle look-not this time. He simply nodded, leaning casually against a desk, though she could see the readiness in his stance.

"My mess, my problem," she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else, grabbing her jacket with a heavy sigh.

As she walked past Yuhan, his hand shot out and closed gently but firmly around her wrist.

"Don't let him mess with your head again," he said quietly, without a trace of sarcasm. "He's not worth it, Alina."

She didn't reply-just gave a small, grateful nod before slipping out of the station.