The brothers chatted casually over breakfast, still unable to believe that the woman Matias was about to marry was Jinny. Who would have thought the two of them would fall in love? None of them had ever noticed the growing feelings between them—except Ran. He had known about their relationship since their time in the Serolf Empire.
As the conversation continued, Ran remained unusually quiet. His mind was filled with countless questions, all revolving around one thing—how he could get Jinny back.
TJ was the first to notice the silence from both Ran and Shuu.
"Don't you like the food?" he asked.
The conversation came to a halt as everyone turned their attention to the two.
"I've lost my appetite," Ran muttered, setting his cutlery down.
"He's heartbroken," Shuu suddenly said.
The brothers frowned in confusion.
"Heartbroken?" Hajee asked. "Over what?"
"You don't know?" Shuu smirked. "He's—"
"Shut your fucking mouth, Shuu!" Ran snapped.
Shuu only grinned wider. "Why? You still don't want to tell them?"
"And what would that accomplish? Make everything worse?" Ran shot back, rolling his eyes as he stood from his chair.
"Tell us what?" Kiko asked.
The room fell silent, everyone waiting for an answer.
"It's nothing," Ran replied and turned to leave.
"Don't you all know?" Shuu said loudly. "He's in love with Jinny."
Before anyone could react, Ran's fist slammed into Shuu's face, sending him crashing to the floor along with his chair.
"I told you to stop! What the fuck do you want?" Ran roared.
Still lying on the floor, Shuu smirked as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Ineah quickly helped him back to his feet.
"Wait..." Harusheen said in disbelief. "What does he mean? Is he telling the truth?"
Rin clenched his jaw. "Stop fooling around, Shuu."
"I'm not fooling around. It's true." Shuu shrugged. "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
Everyone slowly turned their eyes toward Ran.
"Is it true?" Kasey asked quietly.
Ran lowered his head, unable to meet anyone's gaze. His fists tightened.
"Ran," Rin said firmly, "tell them it isn't true."
"Why won't you answer?" Tohru asked.
Maikell rose from his seat. "Ran... tell us the truth."
After a long silence, Ran slowly nodded.
"See?" Shuu said with a grin. "I told you."
"Shuu, enough," Imman warned.
"Why?" Shuu shrugged, ready to continue, but Maikell raised a hand, silencing him instantly.
Without another word, Maikell walked toward Ran and drove a powerful punch into his face.
The dining room fell deathly silent.
Everyone knew that once Maikell stepped in, no one could stop him.
He grabbed Ran by the collar.
"Tell me," he said coldly. "Since when?"
Ran swallowed hard. "Since... we were in the Serolf Empire."
"That explains why the two of you suddenly became so close," Harusheen muttered.
TJ, who had remained seated the entire time, spoke without even looking at them. "Did you fuck her?"
Maikell tightened his grip on Ran's collar. "Answer TJ."
Ran squeezed his eyes shut.
"Yes!" he shouted. "I fucked her!"
Another punch landed squarely on his face.
Before Maikell could hit him again, Izak stepped between them and pulled him away. "Enough, bro. You'll kill him."
Rin hurried over and helped Ran back to his feet.
Then he glared at Shuu. "What about you? Weren't you in love with her too?"
The brothers shifted their attention toward Shuu.
Shuu raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. I admit it. Dad already gave me his approval. I was planning to tell Mom... but then they suddenly announced the engagement."
Hajee let out a long sigh. "Out of all the women in the world... why did it have to be her? She's our sister."
"Not by blood," Shuu corrected calmly.
"Doesn't matter," Izak growled, his fists trembling. He turned toward Ran with disgust written across his face.
"During the time you were sleeping with her... didn't you see our sister's face every time you looked at her?" his voice dripped with contempt. "You disgust me."
Kasey rubbed his forehead in disbelief. "I don't even know what to say anymore. The two of you have committed a grave sin."
Maikell looked at both of them one last time, his eyes burning with warning.
"You will not ruin my brother's wedding," his voice was calm, but every word carried deadly weight. "Whatever feelings you have... bury them."
He took one step closer. "And if I find out either of you tries to destroy their relationship..." his gaze turned ice cold. "I'll personally kill you."
Without another word, he walked out of the dining room.
Izak shook his head at Ran and Shuu before following him.
TJ finally stood from his chair.
"Forget your feelings," he said flatly. "She's your sister."
Then he left as well.
The remaining brothers exchanged exhausted glances.
Thane patted both Ran's and Shuu's shoulders before silently walking away.
One by one, the brothers left the dining room, each wearing expressions of disappointment and disbelief.
Rin lingered for a moment before sighing. "Our father is going to find out about this."
Then he left.
Consumed by anger, Ran kicked his chair across the room before storming out.
Left alone in the silent dining room, Shuu let out a bitter laugh—a laugh filled more with frustration than amusement.
.
.
At Raon's office...
Ran and Shuu knelt on the floor with their hands raised above their heads as punishment.
Raon stood before them, disappointment evident in his eyes.
"You never learn your lesson," he said coldly.
"Forgive me, Dad..." Ran lowered his head. "But I really love her."
"Fool," Raon spat. "She's getting married soon. Don't ruin this family because of your foolishness. I didn't raise you to become an idiot."
Standing beside him, Shin shook his head as he looked at Shuu. Even he was deeply disappointed in his son.
"You should know when to stop," Shin said.
"But what about you?" Shuu argued. "Mom married both of you."
"That's a different situation," Shin replied calmly. "Your mother loved both of us. But Jinny's heart belongs only to Matias."
Ran clenched his fists.
"She had feelings for me too," he muttered.
Crack!
Raon's whip lashed across Ran's back.
Ran gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out despite the burning pain.
"From this moment on," Raon said sternly, "you will forget your feelings for her. If you don't... I'll send you to Spain until you finally learn your lesson."
Ran lowered his head and shut his eyes.
Shin looked at both of them. "Promise us that the two of you will stop."
Shuu let out a long, defeated sigh. Knowing he had no choice, he slowly nodded. "I promise."
Raon's gaze shifted toward Ran. "And you?"
After a long silence, Ran gave a reluctant nod. "...I promise."
"Good," Raon turned toward the door. "And don't let your Uncle Mikhail find out about this."
Without another word, he left the office, with Shin following closely behind.
The room fell silent.
As punishment, Ran and Shuu remained kneeling with their hands raised for hours, silently enduring both the physical pain and the weight of their broken hearts.