Once Yuuki was carefully placed in Ryu's bed, the atmosphere shifted palpably. The room felt charged with tension, an unsettling mix of vulnerability and power that hung in the air like a heavy fog. Ryu turned to the maid, his voice icy and authoritative. “Clean him up,” he commanded, his sharp eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation with keen focus. “And make sure to put cuffs on his ankles, securing him to the bed.”

The maid nodded dutifully, her demeanor professional as she moved briskly to obey his orders. Ryu watched her with a steady gaze, a sense of satisfaction coursing through him. Here, in this moment, he wielded control—an intoxicating power over the boy lying there, so unguarded and unconscious, a stark reminder of the lengths Ryu had gone to for his revenge.

As the maid went about her task, Ryu’s mind began to drift, unwelcome memories intermingling with the stark reality of the present. Vivid recollections of the past surged forward, each one a raw reminder of the pain and chaos that had shaped him. The very feelings of vengeance that had driven him to this point resurfaced, their intensity accompanied by a flicker of doubt. He could almost hear the haunting echoes of his parents—those screams that still reverberated, the sense of violation that had marred his childhood innocence. Would forcing Yuuki to suffer the weight of his torment truly heal the scars etched into his soul?

But the onslaught of guilt was abruptly interrupted as his thoughts shifted to the day ahead. An important board meeting loomed in the distance, one that could determine the trajectory of his business dealings in a world that thrived on manipulation and power plays. He couldn’t afford to miss it, not when so much was at stake. The weight of his obligations pressed down on him, a constant reminder of the life he had built amidst the very chaos he had thought he could escape.

“Make it quick,” he instructed the maid with growing urgency, adjusting his jacket as he mentally prepared for the impending meeting. He felt the tension coil in his muscles, the need to strike a delicate balance between his personal vendetta and the professional responsibilities that were ever-demanding. “I’ll be back shortly.”

As he turned to leave the room, he cast one last glance back at Yuuki. The boy would remain there, tied and utterly helpless, a pawn in Ryu’s elaborate game of revenge. The thought sent a shiver of satisfaction through him, yet uncertainty plucked at his mind. There was something almost poetic about it—he would return to find Yuuki awake, likely confused and completely at his mercy. It was a plan that not only satisfied his desire for retribution but also allowed him to maintain the façade of a controlled businessman.

Stepping out into the hallway, Ryu was joined by his subordinate, who had been waiting outside. They walked with purpose, the sound of their footsteps muted against the luxurious carpet. Yet, as he moved away from the room, the unsettling feeling nagged at him, like a distant echo he couldn't quite silence. Each step he took reminded him of the choice he had made, and the invisible chains began to wrap around him, paralleling the cuffs on Yuuki’s ankles.

He was acutely aware of the duality of his situation. While the prospect of vengeance thrilled him, there was also the reality of holding a boy who had done no wrong, a boy whose only fault was being tied to the source of his anguish. This internal struggle tugged at something softer within him, something he had buried beneath layers of anger and pain for far too long.

As he walked toward the meeting room, a plan began to form in the recesses of his mind—a mental list of contingencies and rituals to uphold his power in the business realm. Yet, the image of Yuuki's innocent face lingered, dimming his resolve. Little did he know, the events of the day were destined to unfold in ways he could not foresee, setting in motion a series of reactions that would challenge everything Ryu believed about revenge, power, and ultimately, the price of his actions.