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"I didn't know the Dragon Head has two girlfriends."

Dara slowly lifted her gaze and met Haejin's eyes, battling the storm bubbling up inside her. She forced a smile on her lips, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"T-That's their new secretary, silly. Nana is Mr. Tang's replacement," she stuttered, pretending to be unaffected by the scene. She saw how TOP peeled his gaze off her and how Haejin arched his eyebrows disbelievingly. She honestly wanted to disappear right that instant. It was obvious they were thinking the same thing as her - Jiyong seemed so close to the girl that it was hard to dismiss it with a simple reason as because she was the new secretary.

Her fake smile wavered, unable to maintain the facade any longer. She turned her back at them without saying goodbye and was about to leave when she heard Jiyong's voice.

"Babe! Where are you going?" He called out. The girl spun around and saw him striding towards her. Her eyes immediately darted to Nana who was trailing behind him, her head hung low. The secretary was not meeting anyone's gaze as she hid behind Jiyong timidly, as if she was caught doing something she shouldn't. Her eyebrows furrowed deeply while watching Nana fumbling on the hem of her blouse while gnawing her lips nervously, like she was expecting someone to scold her.

"Hey," Jiyong took a step to block Nana from her vision, making her look at him. Was he protecting the girl from her scrutinizing gaze? The mere thought of it made her heart clench. She desperately wanted to get out of there as soon as she could before she says anything that she might regret.

"You just got in. Where are you going?" He repeated.

"Out," she spat out, unable to hide her irritation as she quickly walked away. She could feel her face getting hotter with a mixture of frustration and anger and she feared that she wouldn't be able to hold it any longer.

"Dara!"

She glanced back when she heard Jiyong's voice and saw Haejin, TOP and Nana standing on their spot, watching them. Jiyong took quick, long strides to reach her before she could exit the building.

"What's this about again?" He whispered irritably. He even had the audacity to be annoyed with her?

"What do you mean?" She asked, matching his temper. "I'm going out. Is there a problem with that?"

"What the hell is that attitude? You're acting as if I did something wrong."

"Did you?" She shot back.

Jiyong cursed while lifting his gaze to the ceiling in frustration before settling his eyes on her again, visibly worn out and exasperated. "This is becoming an everyday thing, huh? You and your mood swings that I couldn't keep up with."

His weary voice, his rigid stance, his annoyed gaze, his lips with the absence of a smile - all of what she was seeing made her heart sink. He was smiling just a while ago when he was with Nana. But looking at him now, his smile was gone and all she could sense was weariness and heavy feeling radiating from him.

She dragged her gaze towards Nana who was idly standing beside Haejin and TOP, restlessness swarming through her. She used to be the only girl who could make Jiyong smile. She used to be the only one whom he showered with attention. But...what is this? What's happening?

"Fine. Go out if you want to. I'm getting tired of arguing with you at every ing thing," he muttered as he turned his back at her.

Dara was stunned to silence as she watched Jiyong's retreating back, a burning feeling clawing inside her. He used to bug her until he finds out what was bothering her. But now, it was easy for him to just cast her aside...similar to what he did to Sulli before. Her eyes slightly widened with the realization - she was becoming like Sulli, and Nana was just like the past her.

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DARA’s POV

There was a gust of chilly wind, but my body felt unbelievably hot. I could feel the sweat trickling down my back, making my clothes stick on my skin. I continued to walk aimlessly, as far away as possible from the place I called home...as far away as possible from Jiyong and Nana.

But no matter where my feet took me, I couldn't run away from the visions I had of the two of them in my mind. I couldn't escape the seething pain with the thought of Nana possibly becoming the new object of Jiyong's affection. Did I do something wrong? Or are we bound to be this way all along? Was I really blinded by the fantasy that we would always be together?

My steps came to halt and I roamed my gaze around in wonder. I was walking without a clear destination in mind and my feet took me to an isolated residential area with an abundance of trees lining up the street which possibly lead to the mountains. There was an old playground tucked at the corner of the road and I found myself striding towards that place.

I was welcomed by the scent of old metal and the creaking noise of the swings' chains as a strong wind blew. I sat on one of the swings and slowly rocked myself back and forth, comforting myself with the steady movement as if it would bring me back to my childhood when the only problems I had to deal with were passing my subjects and fitting in at school. My life now was nowhere near what I had before.

I darted my eyes around and let out a sigh. The peaceful silence of the surrounding and the refreshing breeze of the night did nothing to lighten the heaviness I was feeling. Tears started b at the corner of my eyes which I furiously wiped away as I inhaled deeply. Loneliness consumed me as I looked up at the sky with the absence of the stars and with the clouds obscuring the moonlight. I never felt so alone. I never felt so alone in my entire life.

I couldn't even tell my bestfriend anything in fear that she might get suspicious that I was hiding something. Jiyong's true identity was a cage that limited my movement, which was why I was always cautious even when I talk with my friends and my family. I didn't realize I would have no one to turn to at times like this.

My current life circled around the world of the mobsters, and it was impossible to have someone outside of it whom I could talk to freely to unload my frustrations. It was weighing me down, and I don't know how much longer I could bottle up everything especially now that Jiyong and I are having problems. I don't even know if I was the one at fault. Whenever we talk, we just end up fighting. And when we make up, it felt like we were just sweeping dirt under the rag, pretending that everything was clean.

I never felt so alone. Where am I to go at times like this?

_____________________________________________________________

"A few of my chosen men and I have an important operation coming up," Jiyong started while standing by the window and scanning the view outside, his back facing Haejin. He turned around and crossed his arms over his chest as he faced him. "This might end up in a very ugly way and I want you and your unit to be prepared. I'll summon the other units as well to tell them the same thing. All Triad officials should be on high alert."

"We are already on high alert with the random killings going on in almost all districts manned by the Triads. I heard the Red Pole unit and the Straw Sandal unit suffered some casualties," Haejin responded.

"No, this one is going to be different. We should be ready for an underground war if our operation goes downhill."

The Deputy Mountain Master frowned in alarm at the Dragon Head's remark. "What kind of mission are you diving into that can possibly end up in an underground war?"

"I can't divulge more details than this. I don't want to cause unnecessary chaos within the family. The mission is very sensitive and it is in our best interest that fewer people should know the details."

"Understood. We will get some weapons from the warehouses and I’ll prepare some escape plans, in case the need for them arises."

"Chaos is erupting in all districts where there is a headquarters of a Triad official, Haejin. You better be careful. It might be an intentional diversion to attack the Triad's headquarters."

"Aren't you the one who needs to be more careful?" The guy commented. "You have two women under your protection. They are weaknesses that you should be careful of."

"Nana is in a safe place and she is always surrounded by my men. Dara is always with me," he said dismissively.

"But Dara isn't always with you. She isn't with you now, is she? She isn't even in the HQ," Haejin insisted.

A stony silence passed between the two men as Jiyong regarded Haejin with a serious gaze. "Don't bring your paranoia here, Haejin."

"Is she safe with you?"

"Of course," he said with disinterest.

The guy stared blankly at the Dragon Head, balling his fists unconsciously as he recalled his father acting the same way Jiyong did - as though everything was under their control and no tragedy would befall the woman they dragged into the hellish world they were in...as though everything would be fine as long as the woman was with them, taking things for granted in the end.

He averted his gaze and exhaled audibly before turning his gaze back at Jiyong. "Dara seemed to be agitated with the way you're behaving towards your new secretary," he said casually, his impassive expression masking the thoughts running through his mind.

"She'll be fine. I didn't do anything wrong. It's not something to argue about."

"And yet, you two fought over it."

Jiyong let out an exasperated sigh and narrowed his eyes at Haejin. "It's our ing business, Haejin. Are you the one putting those kinds of ideas in Dara's head? You even stayed during her Product Convention, didn't you? If you do any weird stuff you're doing, I swear, sworn brother or not, I won't hesitate to cross you."

I won't hesitate to cross you.

Haejin let out a tiny smirk and bowed his head before slowly lifting his gaze again, his face now devoid of emotion. "I feel the same way, sworn brother. But I'll believe in you…for now," he said mysteriously.

_____________________________________________________________

When Dara entered their place, she saw Jiyong sitting on the couch at the living room, browsing over some documents of what appeared to be pictures and information of important ancient relics. She made her way towa