Chapter 107: The Sunlight That Broke Through

Do Yoon nearly lost his mind the moment he saw Seung Hyun tied to that filthy chair.

“Hyung!”

He dropped to his knees, hands trembling as he checked Seung Hyun’s face. No response—he was out cold. A dried streak of blood ran from his temple. His cheek and lips were swollen purple. The white T-shirt was shredded, collar ripped down to the collarbone. Worst of all, duct tape wrapped his entire upper body to the chair like a mummy.

How many hours had he been like this? Do Yoon’s eyes burned with tears and rage—he couldn’t move.

He took a deep breath, pulled a pocket knife, and carefully cut the tape. Seung Hyun collapsed into his arms, skin burning like fire.

“Hyung… I’m so sorry I was late…”

A crash outside—then silence. Yoo Hyung-joo stepped in, eyes bulging at the sight.

“Is he okay?!”

“…He has to be.”

Hyung-joo saw the madness in Do Yoon’s quiet voice. Outside, No Jae-sik and the unknown thug groaned on the floor. Four plainclothes detectives—Hyung-joo’s contacts—cuffed them efficiently.

“What now?” Hyung-joo asked.

“I’m taking hyung to the hospital.”

Do Yoon hoisted Seung Hyun onto his back, glanced at the detectives.

“Thank you. Keep the press locked down. Grandfather can’t take the shock.”

“Of course. Full cooperation.”

Do Yoon nodded to Hyung-joo. “Handle the rest.”

He carried Seung Hyun to the car, laid him in the passenger seat, reclined it fully. Fever radiated off him. Engine on, he dialed Shin Mi-sun.

She picked up before the first ring.

<Did you find him?!>

“Yes. He’s with me.”

<Oh God… oh…>

Sobbing. Do Yoon’s voice stayed ice-cold—he’d scream otherwise.

“Clear a private room. Prep surgery fast.”

<Thank you… thank you…>

Call ended. Morning traffic was light—miracle. Incheon docks were close—lucky No Jae-sik was sloppy. An island hideout would’ve cost hours.

Idiot didn’t expect Mother to have allies.

Do Yoon floored it, recalling the 4 a.m. call.

Shin Mi-sun, half-mad, begged:

“You said you’d give anything to stay by Seung Hyun’s side. If you really care—help me. Save my son…”

Smart choice. He was grateful.

He glanced at unconscious Seung Hyun. Thank God Hyung-joo had police contacts.

He’d avoided contact, too scared to face him after their fight. Never imagined this.

He should have known when Hyung-joo rushed back from the U.S. about No Jae-sik.

One mistake—Seung Hyun paid.

He gritted his teeth.

That trash… is hyung’s real father?

Scenery blurred. Memories flooded.

He couldn’t pinpoint when or why he fell for Seung Hyun. One day, he just was. Eyes followed him everywhere.

Tried not looking—couldn’t. Tried staying away—drawn to his warmth. In Do Yoon’s barren life, Seung Hyun was sunlight.

At first, he thought the sudden kindness was fake. But when Seung Hyun apologized sincerely, Do Yoon couldn’t push him away. No one—except his late grandmother—had ever been that gentle.

Seung Hyun disarmed him, slipped past every wall, and sat in the center of his heart without permission.

And Do Yoon let him stay.

Didn’t want to push him out.

Didn’t care if it was hypocrisy.

By the time he realized, Seung Hyun was the most important thing in his world.

Back then, too young, he thought: If hyung likes me and I like hyung, nothing else matters. We’ll be happy forever.

Delusion didn’t last.

“The adults keep pushing blind dates.”

World cracked.

He realized he’d been lying to himself his whole life.

The day Seung Hyun’s engagement to Julia was set—he cried like a child. Imagining standing beside him as brother at the wedding made him sick.

Being born male, younger, half-brother—none of it his choice. He was insane with jealousy over Julia.

“Seung Hyun chased me so much.”

Hated her—taking what he wanted, smiling like it was easy.

He didn’t want to be the little brother.

Wanted to be the only one—like he was to Seung Hyun.

But if he wasn’t the brother—would someone as perfect as Seung Hyun ever look at trash like him?

Nightmares: hurting Seung Hyun in unspeakable ways, waking in self-loathing. Never wrote his name in a suicide note—too scared to scar him forever.

Every day: Be remembered as special vs. Never hurt him.

“Why did hyung have to be Haewon’s eldest…”

If Seung Hyun were poor, Do Yoon would’ve trapped him with money—broken an ankle, kept him hidden, mine alone.

Even if I had to kill him to have him.

Lightning struck.

My love isn’t normal.

Love was supposed to beautify. His rotted inside—ugly, festering. Garbage stinks no matter the bag.

Who could love this? Even Seung Hyun would run from the filth.

He never wanted Seung Hyun to see his darkness.

The day Seung Hyun crawled into his bed, whispered “It’s okay. It’s not your fault,” Do Yoon decided: Be good for him. Forever.

He was already a sin just by existing. Couldn’t hurt him more.

So he ran.

First to the military. Then America. Never coming back.

College: studied like a robot, worked out, partied, made friends—anything to forget.

Five hollow years. Barely remembers. Just survived. When death felt close—called Seung Hee for updates.

Seung Hyun’s messages faded. Do Yoon felt relief—and agony.

Then, age 26, spring before graduation—everything changed.

A girl half his height stopped him.

“Hi. Choi Do Yoon, right?”

“Yeah?”

“We did local volunteering together two years ago… Remember? Hong Ye-ji—Sophia in English.”

“…”

“You helped me. Carried boxes, got me drinks.”

“Don’t recall.”

“When those two guys harassed me for being Chinese—you told them to get lost!”

“…Oh.”

He had scared off two big white dudes bullying a tiny girl. She beamed.

“Got a minute?”

“Sorry. Plans.”

He knew the look. His looks aside, Korean student gossip had spread: Haewon’s third son, moved to main house in middle school. Girls who didn’t even like him wanted bragging rights.

Rumors: exiled, or secretly favored over legit heirs. Always assumed he and Seung Hyun hated each other.

He never answered. Didn’t want hyung’s name in petty gossip.

But she said something different.

“…It’s about your family. Especially your hyung.”