"Don''t be afraid, Julien... I''m right here."


    It felt as though a thorny lump was lodged in Jonah''s throat. Choking back his sobs, he added with great difficulty, "I will get you out of here, no matter the cost."


    "Jonah... I love you. I never stopped loving you, even after we separated. Not even for a single moment."


    Julien''s voice broke into jagged sobs as his tears fell from high above. "You know... I really regret it. I regret not having faith in your love for me... Why did I doubt you? Why did I believe the enemy when they tried to drive a wedge between us?


    "It was my fault... I don''t deserve your love. I deserve to die! I won''t be able to go on if I lose you too... So, Jonah... get away from here now. Leave! Now!


    "You have to stay alive no matter what!"


    Jonah smiled, his joy reaching his tear-filled eyes. He slowly shook his head at Julien.


    He had never med him. He only hated himself for being selfish with the man he loved, for hiding his greatest secret from him. Though he had done it with good intentions, he had ended up hurting him deeply.


    It was all his fault. He had nearly lost the best man in the world.


    He would never make the same mistake again. That is, if they even had a future.


    Uri clicked his tongue. "Ugh! How revolting. You''re making me gag."


    He watched the couple on the brink of death with open disdain. Spitting on the floor, he sneered, "Jonah, do you even have a heart? ke gave up his life so he wouldn''t drag you down with him.


    "But look at what happened in the end. You''ve wiped him from your memory in just a few years. You even found someone to take his ce while you went on living shamelessly.


    "Frankly speaking, you probably won''t grieve for long this time either, will you? Even if he dies, you''ll cry for a month or so, then move on. However, it would be such a pity for Dr. Lovce''s gorgeous face. A perfect substitute like him doesn''te around every day."


    "I am not a substitute! Shut the hell up!"


    Struggling with all his strength, Julien shouted, "Jonah, just leave me and blow his head off!"


    "Still stubborn even with death knocking at your door?" Uri chuckled darkly as he slowly raised the remote control in his hand. "Let''s see if you''ll still be this stubborn after this."


    His thumb pressed the red button.


    The iron chains ttered once again. The sensation of free fall seized Julien instantly, and he began to plummet.


    Weightlessness tightened every muscle in his body. All color drained from his face as he kicked helplessly in the air, letting out a terrified scream.


    "No-Stop it!" Jonah roared desperately.


    His heart hammered violently in his chest. Julien was too high up. Even if he gave it everything he had, he couldn''t possibly catch him.


    If Julien hit the ground, he would die instantly.


    Like a malicious child ying with a remote-controlled toy, Uri wore a cruel grin as he pressed the button again.


    Julien''s fall stopped abruptly.


    But he was already drenched in cold sweat, his clothes soaked through as though he had just been dragged from the sea.


    Jonah staggered before copsing to his knees with a heavy thud, as though his soul had been ripped from his body.


    "What... What will it take for you to let him go? Just tell me."


    "To be honest, Dr. Lovce is just like ke. Both of them are pitiful people. He''s just a substitute to you, and I don''t want to put him in such a difficult position. After all, you, Jonah, are the real reason behind all of this."


    Suddenly, the smirk vanished from Uri''s face. Hatred twisted his features as a vicious glint shed in his eyes.


    "Gouge one of your eyes out. Do that, and I''ll let him go."


    Jonah froze where he stood. His chest heaved as if a bullet had torn through his heart.


    "Just get lost, you bastard! Go gouge your own eyes out!"


    Julien''s wrists were a bloody mess. The iron shackles bit deep into his skin until the


    pain had turned into


    numbness. Suddenly, the smirk vanished from uri''s face Hatred twisted his features as a vicious glint shed in his eyes.


    "Don''t listen to him, Jonah! Just kill him now! Hurry-"


    Before he could finish, he screamed again.


    Once more, he plunged downward.


    Jonah''s bloodshot eyes widened as he roared, "Stop it! I''ll do it!"


    Uri paused his cruel game and stared at Jonah coldly.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not interested in Julien''s life. My real target has always been you— your worthless life.


    "Hurry up. I''ve never been a patient man."


    Still kneeling, Jonah lowered his


    head. Dark spots formed on the


    cement floor as droplets fell, f


    his face whether sweat or tears, no could tell.


    "You''re right. I should pay for my sins... I should have done it long ago."


    The moment those hoarse words left his lips, he lifted his hand without hesitation.


    With the tip of his index finger, he viciously stabbed into his own eyeball.


    "N-N-No!"


    Tears streamed from Julien''s bloodshot eyes. As he cried out, he watched the man he loved drive his finger into his left eye.


    Fresh blood ran down the back of Jonah''s veiny hand before dripping onto the floor, forming a small crimson pool.


    The pain was unbearable-far worse than he had imagined.


    Jonah''s entire body trembled violently. He mmed both hands against the ground


    to support himself as a tortured groan tore from his throat.


    "Jonah!" Julien cried, reaching his breaking point.


    His heart twisted in agony as he screamed, "I''m going to kill you, Uri! I''ll kill you!"


    Even Uri froze for a moment. A flicker of shock crossed his eyes.


    He had never truly expected Jonah to gouge out his own eye.


    Was he really willing to go that far for Julien, someone he believed to be nothing more than a pathetic substitute?


    So he truly loved this man with all his heart.


    Jonah drew a ragged breath before slowly lifting his head.


    Bloody tears streamed down his face from the left eye that was now nothing but a raw, empty socket.


    "Can you... let him go now?"


    This eye was not only meant to save the man he loved. It was also the penance he owed ke.


    For too many years, he had carried the weight of regret and self-reproach. He had always wanted a chance to finally let it go.


    From this night forward, whether he survived or not, ke would remain buried in the past. He would never look back again.


    Uri scoffed. "As expected of Judas—a man of steel. But I''m afraid..."


    He took a slow breath. A trace of reluctant admiration flickered in his eyes. "Even though I don''t wish for Dr. Lovce''s death the person backing me wants him dead no. matter what.


    "So I''m sorry. I''ll still have to end his life."


    Just as he was about to press the button, a deadly figure lunged forward below,


    spinning around with a gun raised and aimed directly at his head.


    "You are the one who should die, you bastard!"