Chapter 126: The Snow That Stayed

At dawn, Doyoon couldn’t take his eyes off Seunghyun’s sleeping face nestled in his arms. After that reckless kiss on the street, they’d stumbled home like they were being chased, sparks crackling between them so loud it felt dangerous.

Doyoon had pulled him close. Seunghyun had pulled back just as hard. And then—everything they could do without being ready for more—they did.

Now they lay tangled in the sheets, listening to each other’s heartbeats.

Every time Doyoon remembered Seunghyun’s tear-streaked face saying I like you, his whole body shivered. He hadn’t expected an answer this fast. Not from him.

I thought Hyung would need more time…

He brushed a fingert thumb over Seunghyun’s soft lips, then let go. The plush give of them sent heat rushing to his face again. He stared at the long, delicate lashes.

Truth was, he was terrified those lids would lift and the dark eyes beneath would say this was all a dream. Because those same red lips had stabbed him straight through the heart months ago.

“You only think that because I was nice to you when you were little.”

The memory still stole his breath. A pain he’d never known before. And with it, a black, burning anger.

Just because Seunghyun didn’t love him didn’t mean Doyoon had to deny his own heart.

“I know where he is. Should I just go drag him back?”

He’d been half out of his mind.

Lucky—or unlucky—the ladybug keyring Doyoon had given him was still on his keys. Canada was huge, but a tracker made it easy. Buy a cabin, lock the doors, cut contact with Ria. Done.

The birth secret was out. Doyoon had confessed. Nothing left to fear.

His greatest dread had been Seunghyun hating him. But saint-like Seunghyun didn’t even hate—just ignored his feelings.

Then maybe making him hate me would be better.

What kept Doyoon sane, strangely enough, was Choi Younggil.

“You must be shocked. Turns out you’re my real son, and some bastard stole your place.”

Younggil had bragged—Seunghyun was getting kicked out, Seunghee’s shares were going to Doyoon.

Doyoon felt sick at the smug generosity.

And for the first time, he understood a sliver of Seunghyun’s fear.

No wonder Hyung thought I’d throw him away.

If he took the deal, he’d never prove his heart was real.

A faint hope flickered: What if I show him with actions?

He’d never cared about inheritance. He went straight to Seunghee.

“I’m on your side. No conditions.”

She’d been wary. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to give Father what he wants.”

She stared, disbelieving. “That’s it? You don’t want something?”

He smiled faintly. “What I want, you can’t give.”

Silence.

“But I want Father destroyed—so broken he never rises. Same goal?”

Her eyes narrowed. “…Yeah.”

“Good. When Seunghyun hears we’re on the same side, he’ll be happy.”

She gave him a strange look. He just shrugged.

And for months, he kept his word.

While Seunghee tracked down Noh Jaesik’s killer—bribing, threatening—Doyoon hunted down every person Younggil had hurt. Evidence. Testimonies. A perfect trap.

It worked better than planned. Younggil, already hypertensive, collapsed from stress. Died soon after. Grandfather followed—timing flawless. The top seat emptied just as the shareholders’ meeting loomed.

Doyoon congratulated Seunghee sincerely.

“Perfect. If the will had been read, it could’ve gone sideways. This timing—clean.”

She looked at him like he was a little terrifying. Then pulled herself together and gave a powerful speech to thunderous applause.

Doyoon clapped, thinking of Seunghyun.

He’ll have heard by now.

Even if he’d blocked Doyoon, he’d still follow Haewon news. He’d always wanted Seunghee to take over.

Doyoon rehearsed what he’d say at the funeral: Father’s gone, you don’t have to hide abroad. I’ll handle Grandfather. I don’t want the company. No more stupid worries…

But Seunghyun never showed.

Funeral over, midnight. Doyoon sat on the second-floor balcony of the family home, staring at the dark garden, downing whiskey with a blank face.

If he still won’t answer after all this… I’ll go get him.

Then—an unexpected visitor.

He turned. Shin Miseon stood in the doorway, looking uncomfortable. She almost never came to his room.

“…I have a question.”

He glanced at her like a stranger. Didn’t stand.

“What is it?”

Her voice trembled.

“Do you… still like Seunghyun?”

The glass stopped moving in his hand.

Silence, thick and heavy.

He nodded once. “Yes.”

She inhaled sharply.

Irritation flared. Now that Seunghee’s in, she wants me gone?

But then she whispered, fragile:

“When you came to me before… saying you wanted to stay by his side… I thought you were threatening me.”

He smirked. It was a threat.

He’d already been planning how to keep Seunghyun close—permanently. After everything, he had to understand.

“But… Seunghyun said he likes you too.”

Doyoon froze.

He turned slowly. “…What?”

“The night before he left. He said he was leaving because he likes you.”

His heart dropped. The glass shattered on the floor.

He couldn’t speak.

Airport Seunghyun—cold, resolute—overlapped with Miseon’s pale, tear-streaked face.

Hot. Cold. Dizzy.

He gripped the table to stand, voice ice:

“Are you… joking?”

She kept going, voice breaking:

“It’s true. He said he had to leave because he likes you.”

The world flipped.

Rage. Hope. Terror.

“Then why tell me now? To mock me?”

A tear slid down her cheek.

“…Because I want my son to be happy.”

On the flight to Canada, Doyoon couldn’t stop shaking—legs, lips, fingers. If he let himself hope and it was a lie, he wouldn’t survive.

She misunderstood. Or hates me and lied. Maybe laughing at me right now.

But no amount of worst-case thinking calmed his heart.

He had a mountain of questions: Did you really say that? Then why leave? Did you think I’d be happy without you?

He didn’t sleep.

But the second he saw Seunghyun in the café—four months later—all the fear vanished.

Questions piled high. But before Doyoon could speak, Seunghyun’s face answered everything.

Black-rimmed glasses that didn’t suit him. Snow-white sweater. The bright red ladybug pendant he’d given him, hanging proud.

That dumb, soft, aching expression.

How could anyone say they don’t like me with a face like that?

And how did I ever believe it?

Seunghyun’s eyes were overflowing with tenderness.

The second Doyoon saw it, he nearly snapped.

You were going to look at me like this and pretend forever?

Old hurt turned into reckless impulse.

“Came to find someone new.”

And it worked—too well.

Seunghyun cried without realizing.

Doyoon felt a shiver down his spine. Guilt. Triumph. The urge to hug him and never let go—and the urge to make him cry harder so he’d never lie again.

In the end, he did both.

“Mm…”

Seunghyun shifted in his sleep.

Doyoon smoothed his hair, kissed his forehead gently.

I won.

And you lost.

“…Let’s never be apart again.”

Because now, I’m never letting go.