Page 105 of K-Pop Double Life

“Possibly eighteen months.”

I hunched my shoulders and let that sink in.

Eighteen months was long enough to learn our schedules, habits, and blind spots. Long enough to know which hotel rooms we preferred and which exits security usually chose.

Long enough to understand exactly how vulnerable we were.

Sang-hoon sat silently beside me as the bus left the airport islands.

“What happens now?” I asked.

Liam answered. “From a security standpoint, canceling or postponing the concert would be the safest course.”

No one argued. Even Sang-hoon appeared relieved.

“We’ve discussed it,” Eun-ji said. “It remains an option. But Starhouse would absorb the cost of the stadium, production equipment, security, and hundreds of temporary employees. Every ticket would have to be refunded or exchanged, and we’d need a credible reason for postponing the biggest concert of the tour.”

“When could we reschedule?” Min-kyu asked.

“I checked this morning. World Cup Stadium has no available dates until the end of the year. By then the tour will be over and the current album cycle will have peaked.”

I looked around the bus. “If we cancel, does the threat end?”

Jason shook his head. “As far as we know, Sara wants to hurt you or another member of Pryzm to distract attention from the audit. Without the concert, all five of you, or six, with Sang-hoon, remain potential targets.”

“It may actually be harder to protect you,” Liam said. “At the stadium, we control the environment. Once everyone returns to ordinary life, we don’t.”

“When is the audit?” I asked.

“The quarter ends June thirtieth,” Eun-ji said. “Once Finance closes the books, every major account will be reconciled. If Sara hasn’t disappeared by then, she’ll have to explain where the missing money went.”

“And afterward?”

Aidan answered. “We don’t know. Our theory about her motive is based on the evidence we have. If we’re wrong—if this is about a personal grudge against you or the group—the threat could continue.”

“So even if we cancel, Sara still controls what we do.”

No one contradicted me.

Fans had saved for months to travel to Seoul. Families were bringing children to their first Pryzm concert. People had followed us across three continents and were counting the hours until Tuesday night.

But it wasn’t only about them.

We had spent weeks reacting to Sara. We’d changed our travel plans, traveled in secret convoys, and performed surrounded by security officers. Every decision had been based on what she might do next.

She didn’t have to kill me to destroy my life. She only had to make me afraid enough to stop living it.

“I want to perform.”

Sang-hoon took hold of my arm. “Jin.”

“You told me we couldn’t keep waiting for later.” I looked down at him. “You were right.”

Aidan was examining the recorder. “Before you decide anything, there’s something you should know. Grace recorded conversations between you and Sang-hoon.”

My stomach tightened.

“How intimate?” Eun-ji asked.