Rei decided to brush off the unnecessary thoughts. Dwelling on things wouldn't get him anywhere.
After leaving the library, he continued exploring the house. Just outside, the hallway split into two beneath the grand staircase. Without much thought, he turned left, heading straight toward the kitchen.
As he passed through the space, an open doorway caught his eye. Curious, he stepped inside.
His breath hitched.
"Wow…" he whispered, his gaze locking onto the grand piano in the center of the room. It was a pristine white, standing elegantly against the soft lighting.
Drawn to it, Rei moved closer, running his fingers lightly over the smooth keys without pressing them. There was something about the instrument—something familiar yet distant, like a word stuck on the tip of his tongue.
Rei didn't know how to play the piano. At all.
And yet, for some reason, his hands moved on their own. His fingers hovered over specific keys, an inexplicable urge guiding them. Hesitant at first, he pressed down.
A melody spilled out.
Soft. Delicate. Beautiful.
His fingers danced across the keys, playing at a perfect pace, the notes flowing effortlessly into one another. He should have stopped—should have questioned how he was doing this—but he didn't. The music felt… natural. Right.
The melody slowed as he reached the final note, ending on a gentle, lingering sound.
Then, the sound of small hands clapping broke the silence.
Rei turned sharply, startled.
Min-ho stood near the doorway, his tiny hands clapping excitedly, his face beaming with joy. Beside him, Kai leaned against the frame, watching. He was unreadable—his expression calm, yet his eyes dark with something Rei couldn't quite place.
Jake, the man who had been with Min-ho earlier, was also there, a light smile on his face.
Feeling suddenly self-conscious, Rei stood up hastily, offering Kai an awkward smile. "Uh—sorry."
Kai tilted his head slightly. "Why?" His voice was unreadable.
Rei blinked, confused. "I… used the piano without your permission?"
Kai held his gaze for a moment before looking away. "Doesn't matter. The owner isn't here anyway." His tone was emotionless as he turned and walked off.
Rei frowned. He wasn't sure why, but something about that answer felt… off.
Jake sighed, shaking his head. "Never mind him," he said casually before offering a hand. "I'm Jake, by the way."
Rei gave a small nod, but his attention shifted back to Min-ho, whose wide, excited eyes were locked onto him.
"You liked it, little guy?" Rei asked.
Min-ho's face lit up as he nodded eagerly.
Rei chuckled, lifting him up and placing him on top of the piano carefully. "Again?" he asked with a smile.
Min-ho nodded even faster this time.
So Rei turned back to the keys.
The moment his fingers pressed down, another melody filled the room—one that felt eerily familiar. He played without hesitation, each note flowing effortlessly as if it had been carved into his very bones.
Min-ho swayed slightly, giggling at the sweet sound.
But as Rei played, a strange feeling crept into his chest.
Something about this song… about this moment… felt like a memory.
A memory he didn't have.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Rei and Min-ho ran outside, both of them darting through the light rain that fell softly, as if the sky were hesitating, unsure whether to let it pour or remain gentle.
Rei chased after Min-ho, the childlike joy within him resurfacing. Together, they sprinted through the front yard, past the fountain where tiny, playful fish swam. The sight made Rei smile—he hadn't felt this carefree in a long time.
He chased Min-ho until, exhausted, he collapsed onto the soft grass. The child jumped onto him, landing with a small, delighted squeal.
"Ahh~," Rei groaned playfully, squinting up at the sky. "That was tiring, wasn't it?"
Min-ho nodded eagerly, his wide eyes sparkling with joy.
The rain began to intensify, the droplets now larger and colder, splashing against Rei's face as he lay on the damp ground. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the refreshing chill. Min-ho giggled as the rain tickled his skin.
Suddenly, a voice called out.
"It's time to go inside!"
It was the maid. Min-ho immediately dashed into her arms, smiling up at her. The man who was always with him—Rei realized with a faint pang that he had forgotten his name—stood beside her.
Rei sighed heavily, blinking a few times as the rain continued to pour down on his face. He stretched out on the wet grass, feeling oddly content despite the situation.
"That includes you too, young man!"
Rei turned his head, only to see Kai standing nearby. He motioned for Rei to get up.
Kai was heading somewhere—Rei could tell by the serious look on his face. A group of bodyguards followed him, nearly a dozen in total. They moved as a unit, their eyes scanning the area.
Rei pushed himself up slowly, still feeling the coolness of the rain on his skin. "Where are you off to?" he asked, genuinely curious but unsure of how to approach Kai.
"None of your business, kid," Kai replied with a scoff, not even glancing at Rei as he made his way to a sleek black Mercedes-Benz.
Rei raised an eyebrow, making a face at Kai's retreating figure. "Welp," he muttered under his breath.
With a small, playful duck face, he finally stood up and made his way back inside. As he walked past, he noticed the two bodyguards stationed at the front gate, their presence a stark reminder of the world around him—one that seemed distant and unfamiliar.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Putting together an escape plan felt hopeless. Rei scanned every inch of the mansion—there wasn't a single corner without a bodyguard stationed.
It was almost as if Kai was mocking him, allowing him to roam freely yet making sure he could never actually leave.
But Rei would escape. He had to. Even if luck had abandoned him lately, even if misfortune clung to him like a curse.
Or maybe, just maybe, luck wasn't entirely against him.
That night, Rei stood on the Alpha's bedroom balcony, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He leaned against the railing, eyes fixed on the vast sky, when movement in the bushes below caught his attention. Someone was there, scrambling through the shadows. Rei narrowed his gaze.
"Huh? A thief?" he muttered. Then, a thought struck him, and a smirk tugged at his lips. Maybe he's my ticket out of here. After all, wasn't there a saying? The great thieves lead away the small thief.
"Not that I'm a thief or anything…" He shook his head, exhaling sharply. He was really starting to lose it, talking to himself like this.
"Whatever." Brushing off his spiraling thoughts, Rei waved his hands wildly, hoping to catch the stranger's attention.
The man—probably in his early twenties—froze. He had the air of someone familiar with the surroundings but moved like a fish out of water, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. His posture screamed inexperience. He wasn't some master thief or a seasoned criminal.
He was unprepared. And clearly, he had no idea what the hell he was doing.
The young man froze, fear flashing in his eyes. He thought he was caught.
Rei quickly shook his head, raising a hand in a calming gesture. He wasn't caught…
Yet.
Two bodyguards strolled past the bush, deep in conversation. The boy held his breath, staying perfectly still. By some miracle, they didn't notice him.
Just his luck, Rei thought bitterly. Luck seemed to favor everyone but him.
Acting fast, Rei signaled the boy to wait before slipping back into the bedroom. Moving quickly but silently, he rummaged through the drawers, searching for anything that could help. His eyes landed on a calendar. Flipping to the last page, he found it completely blank.
Perfect.
Then, something else caught his attention—a half-empty glass of wine resting on the table. Rei smirked. So the Alpha had a little drink while I was playing with his son, huh?
"This should do," he muttered.
Dipping his fingers into the leftover wine, he scrawled a single word onto the blank page.
Kidnapped.
Satisfied, he rushed back to the balcony, hoping the boy hadn't disappeared.
For once, luck was on his side.
The guy was still there.
Rei wore two rings—one he had always had but couldn't quite remember where it came from, and the other, a more practical one, with a built-in mini flashlight. He regretted not using it earlier.
Turning slightly to the side, he flicked it on, careful not to draw too much attention. The dim beam cut through the darkness, just enough for the kid to see.
The boy squinted, struggling to read the message. He was in an awkward position—half-standing, half-crouching—making it difficult to focus.
A few seconds passed before understanding dawned on him. He lifted his hands and gestured, Who? You?
Rei nodded.
The boy tilted his head, hesitating. Really?
Rei nodded again, more urgently this time. Desperation clung to him like a second skin.
Please? he mouthed, his hands forming a silent plea.
The kid rolled his eyes, shook his head slightly, and disappeared back into the bushes.
Rei exhaled sharply. Prolly thinking it over, he reassured himself.
Will a, clearly newcomer thief, help him out?
To Be Continued... ...