If this phone call hadn’t come, the plan would have been nothing short of perfect. At least that’s what Hunter wanted to believe.
Michael gave a faint smile at the gaze glaring at him. He seemed to already know what Federico would say over the phone.
Hunter, who had been listening calmly to his words, suddenly threw the phone against the wall. His clenched teeth showed he was clearly trying to contain his anger. Hyungoh wanted to ask him what was wrong, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it given the atmosphere.
Michael gestured to the Gostin men through the window. Hunter glared at Michael once more, then looked at Hyungoh with eyes full of regret.
“Uncle…?”
Two men burst through the door and stood in front of Hunter. Hyungoh was startled and looked back and forth between Michael and Hunter.
“What are you trying to do?”
An angry Theo growled at Michael and Herick. Guys who should be standing outside, why are they coming in here? As Theo tried to reach for his waistband, Hunter stopped him and quietly commanded.
“Stay right beside Hyungoh and wait.”
“Where are you going?”
Hunter left with the men without answering. When Theo grabbed his wrist, Hunter tilted his head back as if calming his anger and muttered.
“To have a meeting with a stalker.”
* * *
Hyungoh sat on the sofa, awkwardly rolling his eyes. Herick sat on his left, Michael on his right, and Theo sat next to him with an imposing presence.
He was dumbfounded about what was happening. As time passed, more people gathered in Caysenderson City, and the atmosphere became increasingly cold and tense.
“So war won’t break out, you say?”
This is ridiculous. Theo snorted. Even if every word Michael said came true as if he were a fortune teller, it was impossible to logically accept this.
“Look at the eyes of those guys standing outside. They’re ready to kill each other as soon as they receive orders. Just one small spark would ignite a fight instantly, and you’re saying there won’t be a war?”
What is this then, everyone gathered for a tea party? When Theo kicked the table with his foot, four cups wobbled precariously. Hyungoh flinched and tried to calm Theo down.
“Stop it, Theo. This is actually good, isn’t it?”
“What’s good about it? It’s obvious that they have some other scheme.”
When Theo pointed irritably, Michael, who had been resting his chin on his hand with a sullen expression, glanced at Hyungoh. Hyungoh quickly turned his eyes away. It was still overwhelming to make eye contact with him.
“Just wait quietly for Hunter, and don’t try to stir up trouble.”
“The notoriously treacherous Ghost guys are right in front of me now, and you’re asking me to stay quiet based on what?”
When Herick spoke while clicking his tongue, Theo retorted mockingly.
“Hey, Ghost. Stop acting so prim and proper and tell us. What’s your scheme?”
And who is the stalker Hunter mentioned? Despite Theo’s question, Michael remained silent. He just quietly looked at Hyungoh.
Hyungoh found that gaze so uncomfortable that he turned his head even more and stared intently at Theo. Theo, finding Hyungoh and Michael’s behavior bewildering, raised both hands toward Herick. Herick shook his head as if to say there was nothing he could do.
“But who did Uncle really go to meet?”
Hyungoh carefully asked Herick. Herick shrugged his shoulders and looked at Michael for cues.
“Federico Gostin.”
Michael opened his mouth and answered instead. Theo and Hyungoh both looked at Michael simultaneously.
“What?”
“Federico?”
Michael, finally making eye contact with Hyungoh, smiled with his eyes. Momentarily worried about Hunter meeting the boss of Gostin, Hyungoh was briefly captivated by Michael’s face, which maintained a bright smile despite exuding a gloomy aura.
“Why is Hunter meeting that guy alone?”
As Theo rose from his seat and nudged him, Hyungoh finally came to his senses and turned his eyes away again. Michael, whose face had hardened as if disappointed, soon glared at Theo.
“Those two need to meet each other for the situation to progress.”
“Ah, now you feel like talking?”
“You didn’t need to come here in the first place. Today, all you’ll do is stand by and watch until it’s over.”
An enraged Theo grabbed Michael by the collar. As he lunged forward as if about to throw a punch, Hyungoh was startled and stepped between them.
“W-why are you doing this, Theo!”
Hyungoh hurriedly looked around. If others saw this scene, serious trouble might break out. They couldn’t provoke a commotion.
Let’s not do this, please. Ignoring Hyungoh’s desperate pleas, Theo glared murderously at Michael, who had also risen.
“You’ve grown a lot, kiddo.”
Theo spoke as if finding it ridiculous that Michael had now reached a height similar to his own. Despite Theo gripping his collar, Michael showed no particular reaction and merely watched the anxious Hyungoh.
Those eyes. Theo disliked that even at a moment when his collar was being grabbed, Michael’s attention was entirely focused on Hyungoh.
“If you like him that much, you should have protected him better, you weak bastard.”
Michael quickly rolled his eyes. Seeing this sensitive reaction, Theo seemed to think he’d hit the mark and prodded further.
“How incompetently must you have acted for Hyungoh to be constantly looking for ways to escape, both then and now, right?”
Michael slowly wrapped his hand around Theo’s arm that was gripping his collar. Feeling the grip tightening like wringing out a rag, Theo raised the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, that’s it.”
Since it’s this kind of day, shall we have a fight like old times? When Theo pushed his face forward threateningly, Michael didn’t back down and answered by applying more pressure to the hand gripping Theo’s arm.
“Both of you, stop it! Let’s resolve this through conversation, through conversation!”
“Aren’t you tired of always being in the mediator position? Just say something for once, like ‘You creepy bastard, I don’t trust you at all, so get out of my life.'”
“Theo, please, watch your mouth…!”
As Hyungoh tried to cover Theo’s mouth, Theo pushed him away, saying to move aside. However, they started to scuffle because of Hyungoh’s persistent clinging. Michael, who had been staring blankly at the scene, gradually darkened.
Herick, who couldn’t stand watching anymore, stood up to mediate but hesitated when he noticed Michael’s unfocused eyes.
“Theodore Cooper.”
Michael opened his mouth quietly. Theo, who had stopped the squabble, turned his head toward Michael again.
“I’ll tell you one interesting fact.”
“What?”
“Hunter wasn’t the one who killed your father.”
“…Are we on that again?”
Theo responded irritably. It’s the same repertoire as 11 years ago. Seeing Theo not as excited as before, Michael continued as if he had expected this.
“Hunter wasn’t the one who attacked him either.”
He didn’t give the order, nor did he instigate it. Hearing these added words, Theo finally became serious.
“You said you liked Hunter because he killed your father.”
“What are you saying right now…?”
“By that logic, it would make more sense for you to pledge loyalty to Gostin even now.”
Michael gently wrapped his hands around Theo’s neck, as if about to grasp it.
“Because it was Federico who gave the order to kill your father.”
