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CHAPTER 19

Author: GOLDEN TREE
last update Last Updated: 2025-05-21 15:43:34

THE MASTERMIND REVEALED

The world believed the storm had passed. Moon Hwan was dead. His empire dismantled. The Blood Oaths shattered, their iron grip broken across the syndicate underworld. For the first time in a century, the heirs of legacy families slept without nightmares of black feathers or red-marked contracts.

But peace is only ever a pause between wars, because the true monster had not yet stepped into the light.

“You should see this.” Han’s voice was low, taut with tension, as he handed Chaewon a phone. Jian stood beside her on the Hwan Corp rooftop, dawn washing Seoul in gold.

Chaewon tapped the screen. A video began to play. Surveillance footage. Dated two days before Moon Hwan’s death.

A man, standing in a room with Seraphina—Calm, controlled and ageless.

He handed her a file—one that looked strikingly familiar.

The final Soul Thread dossier.

Chaewon’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“I don’t know this man,” she murmured.

But Han stepped closer, voice dark. “You do… Loo
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  • The Billionaire’s Gilded Cage   53: ASHES AND REBUILDING

    SAFE HOUSE – THREE DAYS LATER – 6:34 AMChaewon woke to the smell of burning coffee and quiet voices. She lay still for a moment, listening. Jian and Han in the kitchen, discussing security protocols. Haeun teaching Euna self-defense moves in the living room, their laughter cutting through the tension.And somewhere, Min-ji. Learning to be human again.Chaewon rose, wrapped herself in a robe, and descended the stairs. The house was different now—fuller, louder, more alive. Less like a hiding place and more like a home.In the kitchen, Jian stood at the stove, attempting breakfast. The eggs were burnt. The toast was charcoal. But he was trying."You're awake," he said, noticing her."And you're cooking. Badly."A ghost of a smile. "I'm out of practice.""Let me." She moved beside him, took over the pan. Their hands brushed. Neither pulled away."Chaewon—""Not yet," she said softly. "We're not there yet. But we're getting closer."He nodded, accepting. "I can work closer."Han entered

  • The Billionaire’s Gilded Cage    52: FIRST BLOOD

    CIRCLE WEAPONS DEPOT – 2:47 PMThe building looked abandoned—a warehouse on the industrial edge of Seoul, windows broken, walls tagged with graffiti. Perfect camouflage.Jian watched through binoculars from the adjacent rooftop. "Six guards visible. Probably more inside.""Heat signatures confirm twelve hostiles," Han reported, scanning his tablet. "Standard Circle operatives. Armed, but not enhanced.""And Omega?" Chaewon asked."No sign. Either she's not here, or she's shielded somehow.""She's here." Haeun checked her weapon, a cold certainty in her voice. "She's watching. Waiting to see what we do."Seojun crouched beside them, tactical gear strapped tight. "If we hit this depot, we announce ourselves. No more hiding. No more running.""Good," Jian said. "I'm tired of being prey."Seraphina sat against the rooftop access door, pale but determined. "I'll coordinate from here. Someone needs to watch the perimeter, and I'm useless in close combat right now.""You're not useless," Cha

  • The Billionaire’s Gilded Cage   51: COUNTDOWN TO CHAOS

    SAFE HOUSE – 3:47 AMHan worked frantically, surrounded by scattered electronics and half-assembled components. Wires snaked across the table like veins. His eyes were bloodshot, hands trembling from too much caffeine and too little sleep."Talk to me," Jian said, standing over him. "Can you build it?""I can build something. Whether it'll work..." Han gestured to the makeshift EMP device. "This is experimental. Untested. Could fry every electronic device in a hundred-meter radius, including our own equipment.""And Omega?""If Haeun's intel is correct, it should short out her inhibitor. But there's no guarantee. Could just make her angrier.""That's a risk we'll have to take." Jian studied the device. "How long until it's operational?"Han checked his watch. "Two hours. Maybe three. I need components I don't have. Specialized capacitors. Military-grade shielding.""I can get them," Seojun said from the doorway. "I know someone. Black market dealer. Owes me a favor.""How fast?""Give

  • The Billionaire’s Gilded Cage   50: THE GOLDEN-EYED DEVIL

    SAFE HOUSE – THREE DAYS LATER – 9:15 AMEuna sat at the kitchen table, drawing. Her picture showed a family—mother, two sisters, and off to the side, separated by a wall of dark crayon, a lone figure."Who's that?" Haeun asked, peering over her shoulder.Euna didn't look up. "Daddy."Haeun's expression softened. "He's not that far away.""He's not that close either." Euna added more black to the wall. "Mom won't talk to him. He sits outside in his car every morning. Just watching. Waiting.""That's because he hurt her.""I know." Euna set down her crayon. "But he's still my dad. And I miss him."From the doorway, Chaewon's heart clenched. She'd been so focused on her own pain, she'd forgotten that Euna was hurting too. Caught between parents who loved her but couldn't be in the same room."Euna," Chaewon said softly, entering the kitchen. "We need to talk."OUTSIDE THE SAFE HOUSE – 9:47 AMJian sat in his car, third cup of coffee going cold in his hand. He'd been coming here every mor

  • The Billionaire’s Gilded Cage   49: THE BURNING TRUTH

    ASH INSTITUTE – 12:03 AMSmoke and debris filled the air. Through the settling dust, Jian emerged with Han and a tactical team behind him. Their weapons were drawn, eyes scanning for targets."Chaewon!" Jian's voice cut through the chaos.She stumbled forward, pulling the imposter with her. "Jian—"His gun swung toward them. For a split second, he froze—two identical women, one covered in dust, the other in blood. His finger trembled on the trigger."Which one?" Han asked beside him."I don't—" Jian's eyes darted between them."It's me," both women said simultaneously.President Kang laughed from somewhere in the smoke. "Beautiful, isn't it? Even the man who claims to love her can't tell the difference."A bullet whizzed past, missing Jian by inches. The tactical team returned fire. The room exploded into violence.Chaewon grabbed the imposter's hand. "Through there!"They ran toward the shattered wall, glass crunching under their feet. Behind them, Jian shouted something, but his wor

  • The Billionaire’s Gilded Cage   48: FRACTURE POINTS

    SAFE HOUSE DELTA – 11:47 AMSeraphina paced the length of the cramped room, her heels clicking against the concrete floor. Euna sat on a cot, knees pulled to her chest, watching her with those unnervingly intelligent eyes."You're scared," Euna said softly.Seraphina stopped, turning sharply. "I'm not—" She caught herself, softened her voice. "I'm being cautious. There's a difference.""You keep checking your phone. You haven't sat down once. And your hand keeps going to your pocket." Euna tilted her head. "That's where you keep your gun."Seraphina's jaw tightened. The girl was too perceptive. Too much like her mother."Smart doesn't mean safe, little one. Remember that.""Are they coming for us?""Always."Euna absorbed this, then asked, "Is my mom okay?"The question hit Seraphina harder than she expected. She thought of Chaewon—the real one—running through tunnels, fighting for her life while someone else wore her skin like a costume."Your mother," Seraphina said slowly, "is the

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