---
The folder was a trap.
Rin knew it the second he opened the document titled Saetang – Fall Strategy. The wording was too clean. Too well-placed. Bullet points on "emotional triggers," "patterns of behavior," "isolating weaknesses." Like someone had written a manual on how to destroy him.
It felt… theatrical.
And Than didn't do theatrical unless he wanted an audience.
Still, Rin read every word. Three times.
He didn't sleep.
---
"Whatever you're thinking of doing," Kieran said the next morning, leaning against Rin's kitchen counter, "maybe wait until after breakfast?"
Rin hadn't touched the food.
He was standing in a plain black tee, hair still wet from the shower, eyes sharp with calculation.
"I'm not doing anything impulsive," Rin said. "I'm just going to see him."
Kieran raised a brow. "Right. Casual."
"I need to know if he planted that file himself."
"And what happens if he says yes?"
Rin didn't answer. He pulled on a jacket instead.
"I'm coming with you," Kieran said.
"No. He'll just twist it if you're there."
"I don't like you going alone."
Rin finally looked up. "You don't have to like it."
Then he left.
---
The elevator ride to Than's private floor felt like descending into a different atmosphere. Everything was colder. Quieter. Like the building knew this floor belonged to something inhuman.
Than's assistant tried to intercept Rin at the door. "Mr. Han is—"
"He'll see me," Rin said calmly, and pushed past her before she could argue.
Than was standing at the bar by the window, pouring himself a glass of water like it was scotch. He didn't look surprised to see Rin.
"I was beginning to wonder when you'd come," he said, turning slowly.
Rin closed the door behind him.
"Was it you?" he asked. "The files. The USB."
Than took a sip. "You'll have to be more specific. I keep tabs on a lot of things."
"Don't play with me, Than."
"I never do," Than said. "I only deal in facts."
"Did you plant it?"
Than set the glass down. Walked toward him slowly. "You read it. That's what matters."
"You wanted me to see it."
"I wanted you to understand it," Than corrected. "You keep pretending this is just a game of ethics. That what happened with Jun, with me, was incidental. But we're long past accidents, Rin."
"You wrote a strategy guide on how to break me."
"I wrote a contingency," Than said coldly. "Because I knew one day, you'd turn on me."
Rin stared. "So you were already planning my fall before I even left."
Than didn't blink. "I was planning what to do if you left."
"That's not protection, Than. That's control."
"And what have you been doing these past few weeks?" Than asked, voice rising just slightly. "Plotting in secret. Digging for dirt. Whispering with Kieran Tae like he doesn't have his own agenda."
"You think this is about Kieran?"
"I think you want someone to fight your battles so you don't have to feel guilty for surviving."
"That's not fair—"
"No," Than snapped. "What's not fair is giving someone your whole goddamn self and watching them weaponize it."
Rin's hands clenched at his sides. "You want to talk about weapons? You cut me off from my own projects. You turned people against me."
"I gave you everything, Rin," Than hissed. "And the second I stopped holding your hand, you burned it all down."
The air between them throbbed with something hot and sharp.
Then Than stepped closer.
Too close.
His voice dropped. "You miss me."
Rin's breath caught.
Than's hand reached up, brushed lightly against the collar of Rin's jacket. "Even now, when you're angry—furious—you still want me."
Rin didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
But he didn't deny it either.
Than leaned in, mouth just inches from his. "Say it."
Rin exhaled. "I want you to stop."
Than froze.
Then let out a cold, hollow laugh.
"You're lying."
"You just want control back," Rin said.
"And you don't?" Than snapped. "You're not above power games, Rin. You just like to pretend you're still the victim in them."
That landed harder than it should have.
Rin swallowed.
"I'm leaving," he said quietly, turning away.
"You don't get to keep running," Than said behind him.
"I'm not running," Rin replied, hand on the door. "I'm surviving."
He walked out without slamming the door. Without looking back.
But the silence he left behind was deafening.
---
Later that night, Rin opened his inbox to find a single message.
Subject: There's more.
Body: He's not just planning to break you. He's planning to rebuild something else in your place.
Attached: one file.
Name: Prototype – Rin 2.0.pdf
Rin stared at it.
And for the first time, felt something colder than fear.
Erasure.
---
End of Chapter 10