On the road, Ayane stared at her phone in shock when Daiki cut the call.

“Mom… Uncle said we have to go straight to the mansion,” she murmured, her voice small and sad.

Mrs. Cho gripped the wheel tighter, silently cursing herself for sending her bodyguards away before all this started.

Now Daiki was alone because she’d put Ayane’s safety first — as any mother would — but still, it ate at her.

She flicked her eyes to the side mirror and caught a glimpse of headlights behind them — a car trailing them at a distance.

Could it be them? she thought grimly.

Every car on the road made her pulse spike. But then the one behind veered off down another street.

Beside her in the passenger seat, Dean sat slumped, pressing a trembling hand over his arm where the stray bullet had grazed him.

Blood kept soaking through his sleeve.

The blood loss wasn’t life-threatening, but enough to weaken him.

Even half-conscious, his mind spun back to Daiki. They’d left him — alone, surrounded, outnumbered.

Dean glanced at his bleeding arm. The pain made him grit his teeth — a shallow wound, but it burned like fire.

If this hurts so much… then, what about Daiki? What if he…

The thought snapped something inside him. He couldn’t think straight anymore.

Dean’s eyes sharpened. He reached out with his good hand, grabbed the steering wheel — and jerked it toward him.

The car spun wildly in the middle of the empty street, tires squealing like a startled animal.

“Are you out of your mind?!” Mrs. Cho yelled, fighting the wheel as she slammed the brakes.

“Are you trying to kill us all?!”

Dean couldn’t hear her — his ears were ringing. Her voice seemed distant.

He gasped through shallow breaths. “Please… don’t leave him…” His words came out heavy, forced.

“Don’t leave Daikin alone… please…”

Ayane, in the back seat, heard him clear as day. Her brow twitched at the slip — Daiki-n?! — but now wasn’t the time to press it.

Mrs. Cho, flustered, caught only fragments before Dean slumped back, unconscious.

She let out a harsh breath and straightened the wheel.

But peace didn’t last long.

She spotted headlights cutting in from a side road ahead.

It was the same car — the one that had been trailing them. They’d found a shortcut to block them off.

It was them! she thought bitterly, her jaw tightening.

Mrs. Cho’s eyes narrowed. She yanked her gun from the glove box, balancing it in one hand while flooring the gas.

The pursuing car was accelerating towards them with the intent of colliding, but miraculously missed, escaping by a hair’s breadth.

Gunfire cracked. Mrs. Cho fired back through the side window, aiming for tires — anything to slow them down.

She caught a break — she knew these streets like the back of her hand.

She swerved hard into a side road. The engine roared. Ayane clutched the seatbelt, knuckles white.

She would lose them — she had to. Mrs. Cho’s pulse drummed steady.

The chase stretched on longer than she liked — but finally, the mansion gates came into view.

The guards on watch sprang into action the moment they saw Mrs. Cho’s familiar car barreling toward them — and the strangers behind her.

No words needed. Guns were raised. Shots split the night. The trailing car slammed its brakes, tires squealing, caught off guard by the rain of bullets.

Mrs. Cho didn’t hesitate. She shot through the open gate. The iron bars slammed shut behind her, shutting out the threat — for now.

Outside, the last shots rang out, then silence. The threat was either gone or dealt with.

Mrs. Cho stepped out of the car, breathing hard. She glanced back at Ayane, then at Dean, slumped and bleeding.

Two butlers, who’d been peeking out the windows, ran to help. One guided Ayane inside while the other gently hauled Dean out of the passenger seat.

Mrs. Cho lingered a little longer in the doorway, rain misting her face.

She tilted her head to the clouded sky, worry carved into every line of her expression.

Be safe, she prayed silently. Please, Daiki — hold on.

TO BE CONTINUED ....

Author’s Note:
Hey everyone! ✨
This wraps up Chapter Six — but the tension isn’t over yet… 👀
Hope you enjoy it — and please drop a comment if you’re ready for what’s coming next!
Thank you for reading Even Then, I’ll See You Again! 💫🐾

🐾 Seraph  ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐