FATAL TROUBLE (REVERSE HAREM)

Part 117

The moment Heeseung stepped inside, his eyes swept across the dimly lit interior, searching—desperate. The house still smelled the same—faintly of expensive perfume and aged wood, a scent he once found familiar but now barely noticed in his frenzy.

"Where is she?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.

The girl leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching him with an unreadable expression.

"There's no one here, Heeseung." Her voice was smooth, almost detached, as if she had already predicted this moment.

But he wasn't listening. He stormed past her, checking room after room. His breathing was erratic, his mind spiraling. She had to be here. Somewhere.

A scoff left her lips as she followed him lazily, amusement flickering in her gaze.

"You're invading my house without permission. Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look right now?"

Heeseung clenched his jaw, fingers twitching at his sides. The air felt heavy, thick with something unspoken.

"KARINA! SHUT UP!"

The words burst out of him like a dam breaking, his voice raw, cracking under the weight of his emotions.

Silence.

Karina's eyes widened, lips parting slightly, but she didn't move.

Then, just as suddenly as he had exploded, Heeseung crumbled. His breath hitched, his shoulders trembling as he exhaled shakily.

"She's gone," he whispered, more to himself than to her. He had failed.

For a moment, Karina hesitated. Then, she took a slow step forward, reaching out cautiously.

"Heeseung—"

But before she could touch him, he jerked away violently, shaking his head.

No. He didn't need comfort.

He needed an escape.

Without another word, he stalked towards the corner of the room, straight to the polished shelf lined with expensive bottles. He grabbed one—something dark, something strong—and poured it into a glass with unsteady hands.

The first sip burned.

The second numbed.

By the third, his vision blurred, but not from the alcohol. It was from fear of losing you.

Karina watched, arms still crossed, but there was something softer in her expression now.

"That's not going to bring her back, you know."

Heeseung let out a bitter, humorless laugh.

"Then, you bring her back."

And he drank until he could no longer feel.

Heeseung's glare was sharp, lethal, as he slumped onto the couch, bottle in hand. He took another swig, the alcohol burning down his throat, but it wasn't enough—it would never be enough. The ache inside him remained, festering, spreading like a disease.

Karina stood in the middle of the room, arms still crossed, her nails digging into her skin. Her patience was thinning, and it was obvious.

"This is your fault," Heeseung muttered darkly, his voice slurred but filled with raw venom. "My Ella is not here."

Karina scoffed, shaking her head. There it was again. Her name. That damn name.

"Still blaming me, huh? What exactly did I do, Heeseung?" she snapped, stepping forward. "Because last time I checked, I wasn't the one who let her get taken."