Chapter 172: The thought of me(jina)

RAVEN

Yoon and Eunwoo escorted the old man to his bedroom, leaving Raven alone in the dim, empty hallway of the guest house. Night had fallen, wrapping the estate in a heavy silence.

Raven sat on the bench, his face shadowed, his mind trapped in the horror of the past.

Could she really be dead? he thought, staring blankly into the dark.

A gentle hand tapped his shoulder. Eunwoo slid onto the bench beside him. For a long moment, both men sat in quiet contemplation, the heavy weight of the past days hanging between them.

"You need to give yourself a break, Raven," Eunwoo said softly, breaking the silence.

Raven gently shook his head, his hands propping up his chin. The memory of jina wouldn't leave him. The crushing realization that he had taken the life of the only woman he truly loved tore through his chest.

He turned his haunted eyes toward Eunwoo. "How am I supposed to move on from this? I killed her, Eunwoo. How do I live with that?"

Eunwoo reached out, placing a firm, reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It has been done, Raven. Wherever Jina is now, I feel like she knows it wasn't your fault. You were deceived. You thought Soah was your sister all along..."

The name Soah sent a surge of bitter rage through Raven's veins. He thought of how effortlessly saebyeok had continuously played them all this while or did soah even knew the truth herself.

"Saebyeok played her part perfectly," Raven scoffed, his voice dripping with venom. "A absolute demon."

Eunwoo leaned in, his tone dropping to a sharp whisper. "Do you think that baby... will turn out just like her?"

Raven exhaled, shaking his head tiredly. "I don't know. All we can do is keep a relentless eye on that child."

Raven trailed off, his voice dying in his throat as Jina's face flashed across his mind once more. Memories of their love, her smile, and the horrific way her life ended flooded his senses. His expression went completely blank."how could u freely killed her without anything stopping me still felt like a dream to me"

he thought as Eunwoo noticed the sudden shift immediately and nudged his shoulder, pulling him back from the abyss. "Raven?"

"I need to see her," Raven said, his voice raw. "Where she was laid. Her grave. I know I don't deserve to stand there, but I need to apologize... even if it changes nothing."

Eunwoo nodded quietly. "Maybe that's what you need to finally find peace. For your sake, and your father's."

Raven swallowed hard, his throat tight. "Where is she buried?"

Eunwoo went still. A sudden, uneasy look crossed his face as he searched his memory.

"Come to think of it... I don't know," Eunwoo murmured, frowning. "Siwoo handled everything alone. She never mentioned where she buried Jina. She never spoke of her again and never bothered talking about it to any one else which seems strange"

Raven spun around, locking eyes with Eunwoo as a cold chill ran down his spine.

"Where is Siwoo right now?" Raven demanded, his eyes wide with sudden dread.

Yoon stepped into the hallway the exact moment Raven uttered Siwoo’s name, her sharp gaze shifting between him and Eunwoo.

Ever since Jina’s death was declared, Yoon had struggled to accept it. She didn't have proof or clues to back up her suspicion, but deep down, her instincts screamed that a force as powerful as Jina wouldn't just vanish like that. What had happened to all her power? Every time the word "grave" was mentioned, Yoon felt a cold knot form in her chest, secretly whispering to herself: Fight this, Jina. You have to.

She sat down on the empty chair opposite Eunwoo and Raven, studying their heavily shadowed faces.

"Jina?" Yoon asked softly, her eyes searching Raven’s.

Raven let out a long, heavy exhale without offering an answer. Yoon didn't press further—his silence said everything.

"Right now, you need to step back from this," Yoon urged gentler, breaking the heavy quiet. "Focus on your father. You haven't seen him in years, and he needs all your care and attention right now. Don't make his remaining time here heavy."

Eunwoo nodded, looking over at Raven. "Yoon is right. Your father is right inside that room, Raven. He deserves your focus."

Lost in his own haunted thoughts, Raven offered a faint nod. Without arguing, he stood up and walked into the house, leaving Eunwoo and Yoon alone in the passage.

Yoon waited until Raven’s footsteps faded before leaning across the table, her eyes locking onto Eunwoo.

"Do you really believe Jina is dead?" Yoon whispered, her voice laced with intense skepticism. "Do you actually buy that story?"

Eunwoo exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples as the weight of the question settled between them.

"Honestly? I find it hard to believe too," Eunwoo admitted softly, meeting her gaze. "And if anyone has the real truth... it's Siwoo."