Soulmate: When Two Worlds Become One - Chapter 9 – The First Strike

Powerful men rarely shout.

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They whisper.

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They move pieces in silence and let the world blame gravity.

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Hyun-Woo didn’t attack with fists or loud declarations. He attacked like frost unnoticed at first, until everything began to crack.

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The first sign came at 6:00 AM.

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My phone buzzed repeatedly, notifications piling in like hail.

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Emails. Calls. Voicemails.

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All from board members back in Dar es Salaam.

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Confused, I opened the first message.

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> “Leo — What is this article? Call us immediately.”

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I frowned. Article?

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I scrolled.

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Then I saw it.

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A headline splashed across a Korean business news site translated neatly in English.

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"Foreign Investor Involved in Scandalous Affair With Heiress of Two Families Sources Say He’s Manipulating Her for Access to Korean Markets."

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My name was right there.

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So was Ariana’s.

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Pictures of us walking through the festival. Holding hands by the stream. A blurred image of us entering her apartment building at night.

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Every frame stolen. Twisted.

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My grip tightened.

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Leo (thinking): So. This is how he plays.

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Ariana burst into the living room moments later, already holding her phone.

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Ariana: Leo… have you seen

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Leo: Yes.

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She paced, panic rising.

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Ariana: My family has already called. They’re furious. My NGO director wants to “discuss the matter.” They’re questioning my credibility. They’re saying I’ve been using company funds for personal reasons

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Her voice cracked.

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I stepped toward her, but she flinched not from me, but from fear.

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She sank onto the couch, burying her face in her hands.

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Ariana: Leo… he’s destroying everything. My work. My name. You.

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I knelt in front of her.

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Leo: Look at me.

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She hesitated.

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Leo: Ariana. Look at me.

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She lifted her eyes slowly, tears glistening.

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I spoke clearly, deliberately.

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Leo: He didn’t expose us. He exposed himself. This is desperation. And desperation is weakness.

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She shook her head.

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Ariana: He has power. He has family. He has public influence. What do we have?

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I took her hands.

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Leo: Fire.

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She blinked.

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Leo: He fights with cold steel. We fight with flame. Let the world watch who burns brighter.

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By noon, more damage came.

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My business partner from Tanzania called voice tense.

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Partner: Leo, what’s going on? Korean investors are withdrawing interest. Clients are calling for explanations. We’re losing momentum.

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Leo: I’ll fix it.

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Partner: You better. This isn’t just about you now your choices are pulling all of us in.

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He hung up.

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That evening, Ariana sat silently by the window, knees drawn to her chest. Seoul glowed outside beautiful, indifferent.

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I walked over.

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Leo: Ariana.

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She didn’t answer.

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I sat beside her.

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Leo: Today was the first strike. It won’t be the last.

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Her breath trembled.

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Ariana: Leo… what if I can’t handle it?

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I turned toward her.

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Leo: Then I’ll handle it for both of us until you can. That’s what love does.

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She stared at me, eyes brimming with something deeper than tears.

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Hope.

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Fear.

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Faith.

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All tangled.

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Ariana: Then promise me one thing.

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Leo: Anything.

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She placed her hand over my heart.

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Ariana: Don’t become like them. Don’t lose yourself trying to win.

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I held her hand firmly.

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Leo: I won’t win like him.

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I will win over him.

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That night, as she finally slept exhausted from crying, from fighting, from existing I stood at the balcony and dialed a number I hadn’t called in years.

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A voice answered.

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Gravelly. Dangerous.

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Voice: Leo. Long time.

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Leo: I need a favor.

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Voice: Financial cleanup again?

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Leo: No.

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A pause.

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Leo: I need… information.

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Hyun-Woo wanted war.

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He just forgot one thing.

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Fire doesn’t retreat from steel.

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It melts it.

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