CBL Ch 24

“What…? Wait a minute!”

Yihyun quickly found Yisoo’s number and pressed the call button. As Yisoo had wished, Yihyun had also blocked contact with Kwon Siheon’s people for about two weeks. Yihyun was avoiding calls with Yisoo, fearing that Kwon Siheon might still be obsessively checking the communication records.

The call went unanswered even after ten rings. Yihyun repeatedly pressed the call button, but Yisoo’s voice never came through.

“I have to go to Seoul, right now.”

“What? But the second surgery…,” Sera interjected.

“Something must have happened to Yisoo! I can’t just stay here…,” Yihyun said, trying to stand up but almost falling. Their legs wouldn’t cooperate. Ignoring Sera’s attempts to stop them, Yihyun fumbled for their walking stick.

Yisoo, what’s going on? Could it be that man…?

Kwon Siheon’s haggard face flashed in Yihyun’s mind, followed by a bitter smile. It was as if a heavy curtain had been lifted from their mind, revealing a stark clarity.

A strange premonition washed over Yihyun. From start to finish, everything might have been a lie, a performance. Realizing this, their heart began to race.

Yihyun clutched their left chest, suppressing a groan. It felt like they had been transported back to when their autonomic dysfunction was at its worst, before it had nearly been cured.

Please. Please….

As Kwon Siheon pressed the knife to her crotch, Yisoo gritted her teeth. Blood pooled inside her lower lip from biting it.

The sharp blade gently grazed her bare skin. It felt like a needle searching for a spot to prick, slowly moving and cutting the fabric of the cardigan that barely hung on her collarbone.

Yisoo gasped for breath. In those few seconds, she had been holding her breath so tightly that her face was flushed red.

“…Why? Are you scared?”

A mocking deep voice resonated close to her face. She thought he might actually stab her. Kwon Siheon was the kind of man who could dissect a living person without hesitation. It wouldn’t have surprised her if he had a history of doing so.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, he did not stab her. Not a single drop of blood was spilled.

Unable to control his resentment, he kissed her brutally, tearing the inside of her mouth and drawing blood. But he showed no interest in using the weapon to mutilate her body. Instead, as he moved to another act, Yisoo gasped.

The man took the cut ends of the fabric in both hands and pulled it taut over Yisoo’s face. Suddenly, darkness filled her vision. The thick navy fabric blocked out almost all light.

A new fear washed over her. Instinctively, she tried to pull the cloth down with both hands, but her wrists were grabbed by one hand.

“Be still. Unless you want your ears covered too.”

“…..”

“You should have behaved when you had the chance to live like a normal person. You shouldn’t have betrayed me.”

Eh? Yisoo.

Her heart raced at those words. The fear she felt when her tongue was paralyzed was nothing compared to the terror of not being able to see.

Until her vision was blocked, she had been half-resigned. Kwon Siheon already distrusted her. Whatever she said now, he would consider it a lie. It seemed better to keep her mouth shut and endure his insults and criticism.

But with her sight taken away, she couldn’t predict what would happen to her body. This new fear was far worse than having her mouth silenced.

“There is no mercy for traitors. Now you can’t even speak like a human…,” he said, ripping the fabric again.

“Yoo Yisoo will become a real dog.”

With those words, Kwon Siheon fell silent. He gave her no chance to resist. Grabbing one of her ankles, he roughly lifted it. The sound of her remaining clothes tearing filled the air as his erection thrust into her exposed vagina.

Yisoo’s waist twisted in familiar pain. It was the same sensation she felt when she first opened her body to him in Hong Kong.

His thick, hot penis forcefully spread and widened her dry insides. Yisoo tried to express her pain with her body, but Kwon Siheon ignored her.

Even as his penis brutally penetrated her, tearing her insides, Yisoo gritted her teeth and endured. But when he pulled his hips back and thrust forward again, she cried out in pain.

The sound of flesh slapping against flesh grew louder and wetter with each thrust. His thick penis pounded into her, the wet sounds growing faster and louder.

With each powerful thrust, something inside her seemed to burst. It felt like she was going mad.

Perhaps because her vision was temporarily lost, her other senses were heightened. Despite the situation, her insides were reacting to him, growing wetter.

His penis reached the entrance of her uterus, where a fetus had recently been. Her chest ached, but her vision remained dark. Kwon Siheon pressed his penis against her cervix and began to roughly fondle her breasts.

The brutal caress left the imprints of all ten fingers on her skin. Despite the pain, a familiar excitement coursed through her legs. The pleasure peaked as his lips and tongue sucked on the tips of her breasts.

Suddenly, he pulled his penis out and flipped Yisoo onto her stomach. Her hips were raised, and her knees pressed into the mattress. She almost collapsed, but his hands held her hips firmly.

His tongue licked and sucked at her anus, causing a thick, sticky fluid to drip from between her legs. She gasped in shame, but Kwon Siheon continued to play with his tongue, ignoring her.

“Get up.”

Her knees buckled again. She was so exhausted that she wanted to faint. But the hand gripping her hip and lifting her pelvis showed no mercy.

Their lower bodies clashed violently, shaking the bed. She couldn’t take it anymore. Her upper body collapsed forward, her bare breasts rubbing roughly against the sheet. The pain was excruciating, but she couldn’t escape.

“Huh…. Ah! Ugh!”

His rough breath scorched her neck and back. The impact of his penis thrusting deep inside her was relentless. She could almost visualize the shape of his thick penis and the veins bulging on its surface.

Saliva dripped from her lips onto the sheet, forming a stain. The force of his thrusts made it feel like he was piercing her abdomen.

He grabbed her hair and pulled her head back, causing her to moan in pain. His penis thrust even deeper and more violently into her. The act was so obscene that it seemed even the mating of wild animals would be less vulgar.

“You know what? Yoo Yisoo will soon be reported as dead.”

“….!”

“Her body won’t be found for a while.”

But not yet. Not until my anger subsides.

Suddenly, all the strength left her limbs. She felt no shame in her body’s submission.

Yes, even Daoni is gone… It’s okay if I die like this.

She had always known that this might happen if she fell into this man’s hands.

As long as Yihyun was safe, nothing else mattered. Yihyun would struggle at first, but Sera would help them through it.

In the next moment, his penis thrust violently against her cervix, and a stifled moan escaped Yisoo’s lips. Kwon Siheon was laughing and cursing under his breath.

He seemed incredulous that her body had relaxed upon hearing his chilling declaration of her impending death.

He thrust his entire weight into her, making her slim waist sway. The relentless pounding continued, and her muffled moans and gasps filled the air.

Every inch of her was soaked in sweat and bodily fluids. Tears streamed from beneath the thick cloth covering her eyes.

She felt like an animal, punished for her sins, her eyes gouged out and her tongue cut off, ravaged by another beast.

Kwon Siheon mercilessly tore and ravaged her insides, which had not yet healed from the surgery. His brutal actions continued until Yisoo lost consciousness.

The hospital room, meant for recovery and peace, had become a place of torment and violence.

The air in the new chief prosecutor’s office was heavy.

“I’ve made it clear. Forget about Yoo Yisoo.”

The owner of the room, Do Ilyeong, repeated firmly to his son sitting across from him. Do Sungjun, exhausted, rubbed his sunken eyes and looked up at his father.

“And don’t visit Mrs. Shim’s nursing home for a while.”

“Father, please tell me first who you heard this from and what they said.”

“She belongs to Kwon Siheon. That girl.”

“What?”

Do Sungjun’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“She’s Kwon Siheon’s woman. She always has been. That’s why, no matter how hard you tried to find her, you couldn’t.”

Even hearing it again, he couldn’t believe it. But Do Ilyeong never stated anything as fact unless he was absolutely sure. Moreover, his father looked more serious than ever.

“She hid for a while, but her location was exposed because of you. Now, she’s back in Kwon Siheon’s hands.”

“What? Because of me…?”

Sungjun opened his mouth to speak but closed it again, unable to comprehend. If Shinuehoe, which was above the law, wanted to track or search for someone, they could do it blindfolded. But Kwon Siheon had been tracking him, using him as a target.

“But… Kwon Siheon is about to marry Park Seohye. Does that mean he’ll marry her and keep Yisoo by his side?”

“How would I know? That sort of thing isn’t uncommon in their world.”

Do Ilyeong sighed, looking at his son in frustration.

“Anyway, forget about that girl. You know what kind of man Kwon Siheon is… To be honest, I’m worried sick that he might do something to you!”

“…..”

“Thank goodness you’re safe so far. It seems he has no intention of harming you.”

His father had aged visibly over the past few days, all because of his concern for his son’s safety.

Could it be that the baby…?

Before the shock could fully sink in, Sungjun remembered the ultrasound photo Yoo Yisoo had calmly given him at the nursing home.

Of course, it must be Kwon Siheon’s bastard child, damn it.

Sungjun swallowed a rare curse. He was worried about Yisoo, but also heartbroken that his one-sided love had to end.

When he first saw the ultrasound photo, he was devastated, but he couldn’t give up on Yoo Yisoo. He sent her messages and called her, but she didn’t respond. Yisoo had already left the nursing home, and the director wouldn’t reveal her whereabouts.

Still, he couldn’t give up. He couldn’t forget her. Only after their connection was severed again did he realize the depth of his feelings. He was ready to raise the child as his own, believing he could overcome his family’s objections. He planned to visit the nursing home again and even beg the director to tell him where Yisoo was.

But now, to find out she was with Kwon Siheon…

Sungjun was overwhelmed with despair. The custom card he had seen recently flashed before his eyes—a wedding invitation with the names Kwon Siheon and Park Seohye.

That bastard, how dare he make Yisoo his mistress…

“Father, is there any way to punish them? Kwon Siheon, Kwon Woohyuk, Shinmyeong Group, Shinuehoe—all of them.”

“What?”

His father looked shocked, but Sungjun knew it was a futile hope. The corrupt powers behind the Korean government would never face justice.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Get a grip and pull yourself together.”

“Well, we can’t, can we? We’re just puppets of the next regime…”

Sungjun smiled bitterly. He was part of the corrupt prosecution system, pretending to uphold justice while serving the interests of the powerful. And even now, he didn’t want to step away from that role.

The idealistic young prosecutor he once was no longer existed. Do Ilyeong looked at his son, lost in self-loathing, and sighed deeply.

“Sungjun, pull yourself together…”

As Sungjun gritted his teeth in frustration, Do Ilyeong approached him with another document.

“Look at this. Now is not the time to be thinking about some unrelated woman.”

The document contained information about several incumbent lawmakers who were expected to run in the upcoming by-elections. Sungjun looked up as his father explained.

“One of the key battlegrounds will be Seoul’s G District, where Hwang Suchan is running for mayor. The opposition candidate is likely to be Kim Kangdu.”

His father’s voice grew stern. He quickly got to the point with his distracted son.

“Hwang Suchan must win. He’s practically Choi Bokhyeon’s right-hand man… So, let’s take down Kim Kangdu.”

After the fall of Kwak Bugyeong, Choi Bokhyeon, who had lost to Lee Hui-nam, was preparing for a comeback in the presidential election five years later. He and his close allies were actively involved in the by-elections, focusing on the capital region.

As a strong presidential candidate, Choi Bokhyeon had already secured a victory in the Gyeonggi-do A City legislative election, and the outcome for his allies was crucial.

The prosecution, led by Do Ilyeong and his son, was essentially a support group for Choi Bokhyeon, a former central district prosecutor. Their initial motive for purging Kwak Bugyeong was ultimately to support Choi.

“The most effective way to take someone down is to expose their family’s secrets. Parents, spouses, children—dig up everything.”

“Won’t Shinmyeong help us? Kwon Woohyuk supported Choi Bokhyeon in the last presidential election.”

And so did Kwon Siheon. Those gangster brothers always stick together.

“That was the last election. Times have changed, and businessmen have no loyalty. We’re different from them.”

His father was right. Money talks, and political ideals mean nothing to those who fund campaigns. The world had changed, and so had the culture of collusion between business and politics.

It didn’t matter who they supported in the past. The current winners and potential future winners were all that mattered. They had to play both sides, maintaining a delicate balance.

“Yes, I’ll look into it, Father.”

Even to his own ears, his voice was filled with self-loathing and heartache.

“Take it easy. Go on some blind dates. After the Kwak Bugyeong investigation, there have been many offers… Talk to your mother tonight.”

But Sungjun couldn’t respond to that suggestion. Do Ilyeong didn’t press for an answer.

His son’s first love had ended so tragically that there was nothing to be happy about.

Something warm trickled between her legs.

The sensation of her life force draining away chilled her heart. Then, a faint cry echoed in her ears, almost deafening. She couldn’t tell whose voice it was, but she thought she heard someone calling her name amidst the sobs.

Yisoo, my daughter Yisoo.

Yisoo, it’s Mom. I’ve finally come to take you away!

Her late parents, Yoo Incheol and Lee Jiwon, called out to her desperately. Their voices were heart-wrenching, but the voice that followed was completely different.

Yisoo, you little rat, how dare you betray me!

Where is the money Yoo Namcheol left? Tell me where you hid it!

Yoo Yisoo! How dare you do this to me!

Yoo Hyeoksu, Yoo Minseop, Yu Hyeonrak, and Kang Manseop surrounded her, howling like beasts. Yisoo collapsed in the midst of the nightmare, covering her ears. But the cries wouldn’t stop.

Please… stop. Please.

She squeezed her eyes shut and clutched her head, begging for ‘it’ not to call her. The most dreadful cry, the wail that would shatter her to the core.

But ‘it’ ignored her plea and slowly enveloped her.

Mom, Mom, it didn’t call out like that. Instead, a massive heartbeat sound approached from afar, growing louder and more rhythmic, like a drum in a desert. Yisoo closed her eyes in the darkness. The heartbeat turned into a baby’s cry.

She kept her eyes tightly shut, afraid that if she opened them, she would see the baby in the ultrasound image, accusing her.

Baby, I’m sorry.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she knelt and begged the baby for forgiveness, saying it was all her fault and that she deserved to be cursed.

In the end, she lost her birth mother, birth father, and even the child in her womb. Forever.

Now, all she had left was her twin sibling. If she lost Yihyun too, it might truly be her fault. How else could God take everything away from her?

No, there was one more person left. Someone she wanted to let go completely. She had tried her best to lose him, but ultimately failed.

But in the end, he was a man she had to let go. He was still by her side, unharmed.

‘Live your life properly, and you would have been good. Don’t stab people in the back.’

‘Yoo Yisoo will soon be reported as dead.’

The words Kwon Siheon uttered as he brutally tore and ravaged her body pierced her heart. If he really intended to kill her, she wished he would do it as soon as possible.

She hoped it would be reported as an accident to Yihyun. So that her only family would be a little less sad.

‘I… I was afraid of becoming like the other women in Kwon Siheon’s past. That’s why I suddenly got angry.’

‘Jealousy… that might have been part of it. About Kwon Siheon’s past and present women.’

‘You have no reason to be jealous. You are already…

At that time, she had no idea what she wanted to say. So, she kept her mouth shut. But after Yoo Yisoo disappeared, one day, she realized the words she had left unsaid.

You have no reason to be jealous of them. You are the only one for me, Yoo Yisoo. Other women, past or present, mean nothing to me. And they won’t in the future either.

Why did her mind go blank then? Maybe somewhere in his subconscious, he recognized Yoo Yisoo’s act.

Yoo Yisoo’s acting skills were truly amazing. This fact kept coming to mind, disrupting his thoughts. During meetings, work calls, or even when he was about to execute someone in a luxurious underground club or a remote warehouse.

The moment she deceived him kept replaying in his mind, making him want to kill her countless times a day.

How dare you. How dare you deceive me.

The blood he spilled for her sake, the weight of those lives.

The countless murders he committed before didn’t matter. They were like a butcher slaughtering cattle, a necessary evil for Shinmyeong Group and Shinuehoe.

But the contract with Yoo Yisoo was different. The final renewal stipulated that Yoo Yisoo had to stay by his side indefinitely.

Killing Yoo Hyeoksu, Yoo Minseop, and Yu Hyeonrak was for her sake. He did it to keep her mind at peace, so his daily pleasures could continue uninterrupted.

But pushing Kwak Bugyeong to the corner and killing Kang Mansup and the assassin was for Yoo Yisoo’s future. He did it for the woman who confessed her love to him and even took the initiative to approach him.

Marriage was just a formality and meant nothing. He could divorce after a few years without children, as long as he got the land.

Marriage was just a temporary relationship, but the time he spent with Yoo Yisoo was real. Every moment had meaning and value.

For the first time, he looked forward to tomorrow and eagerly awaited the end of the workday. Whenever he thought of Yoo Yisoo in his space, he felt a strange, indescribable longing.

It felt like he was in love.

Even though he knew it wasn’t real love.

But that woman…

While he was immersed in the sweet illusion Yoo Yisoo had created, she planned her escape. Meticulously and systematically.

“Mr. Kwon, we will see you next Tuesday, then.”

A polite voice brought him back to reality. The last remaining executive in the conference room bowed to him.

“With hell a lot better results.”

“For sure.”

The executive responded confidently to his demand for much better results and left the room. The three-hour meeting had just ended, and now he was alone in the second-floor conference room.

He heard the faint sound of children chattering. Turning his head, he saw a group of children in yellow uniforms walking in a line after a field trip to a nearby art gallery. They looked like a flock of chicks, holding hands.

It was somewhat cute. But only from a distance, as an observer.

Strange, though.

The ultrasound photo he had told his secretary to discard came to mind. Specifically, the baby who had passed away.

At first, he felt nothing. Even though it was his child, he felt no connection. But as time passed, he began to feel a sense of loss for the life that was taken away.

He regretted not being able to use the child as a tool to inflict the greatest mental torture on her.

Back in his office, Siheon sat down and lit a cigarette. On his cluttered desk was a report from ten minutes ago: Lee Yihyun had come to the office but left without seeing him.

Is he giving up now? He rushed back to Korea and visited every day, even canceling his second surgery.

“Sir, if you continue to avoid him and refuse to meet, he will seek help from Taepyeong-ro 2-ga.”

The lighter paused at the tip of the cigarette. Shinmyeong Group’s headquarters was just a stone’s throw away.

“Let him do whatever he wants. Kwon Woohyuk isn’t even in Korea right now.”

“He’s in Brussels. …Should I inform him in advance?”

“He’ll figure it out.”

He didn’t care if Kwon Woohyuk contacted Lee Yihyun. He didn’t want to deal with Lee Yihyun right now. He was annoying and bothersome.

Strange, though. If he was so bothersome, he could just send someone to take care of him.

But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. After all, Lee Yihyun was the only weakness of that bitch.

“By the way, send a bouquet to Park Seohye’s hospital room.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll have it delivered personally by the secretarial team, along with her favorite fruits.”

“Time it to arrive when she has visitors.”

Park Seohye’s lover, posing as a cousin, frequently visited her hospital room. He had grown accustomed to the cash he received with each visit and now visited every other day.

He checked the status of the clinical trial subjects listed in the Brussels documents. So far, there were no adverse effects from the nerve paralysis agent PH1. They had also confirmed that the paralysis effect could last from a few hours to several days after a single dose.

“Let me know immediately if there are any abnormal symptoms.”

“Understood.”

This would allow him to apply the same treatment to the prisoner in his district. He didn’t want her to die just yet.

I can’t let her go so easily. I haven’t even begun to make her suffer.

He hadn’t seen her groveling at his feet, begging for mercy.

The secretary reported that another document had arrived at the house. Siheon nodded and stood up, cigarette in mouth, to head to his dinner destination.

Through the window, he saw dark clouds gathering in the evening sky, blocking out the last rays of light. As he reviewed the status of the Helskear Group during the ride, it began to rain. It was the second rain since he had moved Yoo Yisoo into the new house.

The day before, during the first rain, Yoo Yisoo had huddled in her room, trembling and unable to take a single step. She was terrified of the clear weather and the rain, shaking uncontrollably.

Well, that was the point. He had built the house to make her suffer.

“Are you scared?”

Kwon Siheon chuckled. It was a cruel and contemptuous laugh.

Yisoo sat silently on his lap, her eyes downcast. If she looked up even slightly, she would see the distant floor.

“Don’t be too afraid. This could be an opportunity to overcome your fear.”

Warm breath tickled her neck. An unknown mixture of hatred, resentment, loathing, and despair filled the air. And as he began to move inside her, the mockery turned into a threat.

“Apologize. Say you’re sorry.”

She gritted her teeth and growled several times. It was ridiculous. He had rendered her speechless with his own hands, and now he was demanding an apology.

If she truly wanted to apologize, she could have written it down using the memo pad and pen on the table. But she didn’t.

Kwon Siheon knew what he wanted her to apologize for. For deceiving him into thinking she loved him. And for breaking their contract and disappearing. Those were her sins against him.

But she couldn’t apologize for either.

First, she hadn’t emotionally deceived him. That’s why she had to break the contract and leave him. She couldn’t control her growing desire, and it was impossible to build something new on their blood-stained history.

She had made the best choice she could, but Kwon Siheon couldn’t accept it. That was all.

When will this all end…

She endured the cycle of pain and pleasure, losing and regaining consciousness repeatedly.

Early in the morning, the bed shook violently, waking her up. Kwon Siheon was sitting up, taking a cigarette out of the pack. The act of lighting it seemed unreal.

Still alive today. Alive and unharmed…

Yisoo closed her eyes again. It felt like a dream. Or rather, a nightmare.

“Several times a day, I get the urge.”

He knew she was awake and continued as if talking to himself.

“To kill you and Lee Yihyun, and just forget everything…”

She tried to stay calm. He couldn’t kill Yihyun. He still had feelings for her.

If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to build this place in the countryside and visit her every day.

“I could do it if I wanted to. You know that.”

She could go back to the way things were. Pretend to obey him and be his mistress again. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“By the day after tomorrow, I hope you’re ready to kneel and beg.”

The cold voice was followed by footsteps, and then the door closed.

But she still couldn’t apologize. She didn’t know what or who she should atone for.

The opposition candidate for the by-election in Seoul’s G District has changed from Kim Kangdu to Park Sinhyeon. This is because it was revealed that Kim Kangdu’s father had illegally speculated on land in Shindo City a few years ago.

“I didn’t expect the situation to change so quickly. This is why people who want to be politicians need to thoroughly investigate their family and relatives.”

Sungjun’s colleague, Yoon, shook his head in disbelief.

“But why Park Sinhyeon? Now we have to deal with a tiger instead of a wolf. He’s backed by Kwon Siheon, who’s like a monster.”

Park Sinhyeon himself is not extraordinary, but his in-laws are influential, and his future son-in-law is Kwon Siheon, which makes him formidable.

“He must have paid a lot to clean up his image. Even if there’s something to find, Kwon Siheon will cover it up.”

Another colleague, Kim, shrugged. Everyone looked worried, as Hwang Suchan’s chances of winning were slim. If G District fell under the control of Hwang Suchan and his allies, their shady businesses would run smoothly.

“No matter what, we have to win G District. We’ve invested too much in the redevelopment there…”

“There is one thing. I haven’t given up yet.”

Sungjun unclasped his hands and took a deep breath. He had a secret about Park Sinhyeon, or rather, his daughter Park Seohye. He had witnessed her commit what was clearly either intentional manslaughter or murder.

“What? What are you talking about, Do?”

“I’ll tell you when I have more information. I need to investigate further in the US before I can say anything.”

“What? Is it something as big as the Kwak Bugyeong case? Did Park Sinhyeon do something terrible while he was in the US?”

“Or maybe it’s something to do with his family. Which one is it? The elder daughter, the younger daughter, or the son-in-law?”

“We don’t have much time.”

Sungjun stood up and asked his senior colleagues for understanding.

“The election is coming up soon, so I need to hurry. I’ll let you know when I have more details, but for now, please keep this between us. And please don’t tell my father either.”

“Do, it sounds like you have something solid… But the opponent is Kwon Siheon’s future in-law.”

Everyone looked worried.

“He won’t kill us. If he does, he’ll be going against the government. He’s not stupid enough to do that.”

“Hey, Do. You shouldn’t be so confident. The opponent is Shinuehoe…”

“No, he might cut ties with them. They don’t care about loyalty or trust. They only care about money and power. If we have something big enough, Kwon Siheon might back down. If we expose it, Park Sinhyeon won’t be able to say anything.”

“That might not happen. Kwon Siheon agreed to marry Park Sinhyeon because of her family’s wealth. They own a lot of land in Japan.”

“Shinuehoe doesn’t need money. They have plenty. They chose Park Sinhyeon because she was a convenient match. If something big comes up, they’ll drop her without hesitation.”

“That makes sense. So, Do, can you give us a hint about what it is?”

“I can’t say anything yet. But I promise to tell you as soon as I have more information.”

Everyone was curious and eager to know more. They trusted Sungjun because they were all in the same boat, and their fates were tied to Hwang Suchan’s victory.

“You always say the best way to take someone down is to expose their family’s secrets. Their parents, spouse, or children’s misdeeds…”

“What? What kind of misdeeds?”

“The elder daughter? The younger daughter? The son-in-law? Who is it?”

“I can’t say anything more for now.”

Sungjun planned to expose Park Seohye’s crime from 12 years ago. He and his father had been saving this information for a time like this, when they could use it to their advantage.

He needed to find out who the victim was and how Park Seohye covered it up. He would have to contact the victim’s family in the US and people related to Park Seohye’s boarding school at the time.

“I don’t know if it will work, but I have to try my best.”

“I need your help, brother. No, Mr. Do.”

Yesterday, Lee Yihyun had come to Sungjun for help. It was an unexpected complication. Yihyun’s connections in the US could be very helpful in the investigation.

“We need to find Yisoo. I’ve been exchanging messages with her, but someone else has been sending messages pretending to be her. I’m sure of it!”

Sungjun didn’t have time to catch up with his old friend. When he told Yihyun about his last meeting with Yisoo, Yihyun was shocked and almost had a panic attack. He had no idea that Yisoo had been pregnant.

“You saw the ultrasound? Kwon Siheon, that bastard, I’ll kill him!”

When Sungjun mentioned the pregnancy, Yihyun went into a state of panic and couldn’t breathe properly. Even after his wife calmed him down, he remained in a state of panic for a long time.

“That devil… He would never have left Yisoo unharmed. He said he wanted to apologize and make amends, but it was all a lie. I was so stupid to believe him.”

Yihyun had hired professionals to search for Yisoo, but they hadn’t found anything yet. Sungjun promised to do whatever he could to help and sent the couple home.

But he knew there was nothing he could do. Taking down Kwon Siheon and Shinuehoe was impossible. It was like trying to move a mountain with his bare hands.

Is there any force in South Korea that can challenge Shinmyeong Group and Shinuehoe? Although most of their activities are hidden underground, they have the power to suppress and manipulate everything on the surface. It’s an unprecedented event that goes beyond the realm of possibility.

If we investigate, we’ll realize it. Although it seems like a coincidence that Kwon Woohyuk and Kwon Siheon are brothers, they are actually distant yet close, strangely connected. Since Kwon Woohyuk is practically a recluse, we can ignore him for now.

First, let’s start with Park Sinhyeon. If we can break off the engagement, there might be a reaction.

When a junior student was pushed off a cliff and killed, Park Sinhyeon bribed the school officials to cover up the murder. This could be considered intentional murder or manslaughter, and the Korean officials involved could be charged with obstruction of justice, perjury, and concealment.

This could shake South Korea to its core, just like the Kwak Bugyeong incident.

But what will happen to Yisoo? If Kwon Siheon decides to break off the engagement…

Sungjun sighed, overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation. If Park Seohye and Kwon Siheon break up, it might be worse for Yisoo. Kwon Siheon might become even more obsessed with her, without any pretense of a legal relationship.

But worrying about it now is pointless. First, we need to use Yihyun’s in-laws’ connections in the US to contact Kim Yikyung’s relatives.

Oh, Yisoo. How did you get involved with that devil…

Even if Yisoo is not related to him, Sungjun wants to protect her from misfortune. As a prosecutor, he should focus on his career and future, but his heart aches for Yisoo.

It’s the day Kwon Siheon is coming.

How much time has passed? The sound of birds chirping woke her from a nightmare.

Yisoo reluctantly opened her eyes. The large bed was empty, as if she had been alone all along.

The sky was overcast, and it was raining. The sound of footsteps approaching made her tense up. She bit her lower lip, remembering the pain from last night. On days like this, she almost preferred the blinding sunlight to the gloomy rain.

She didn’t even glance towards the window. As she tried to get out of bed, a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen. The aftereffects of last night’s ordeal still lingered, and she couldn’t shake off the exhaustion.

The doctor had advised her to avoid strenuous activities for at least a month after the surgery. Having sex too soon could lead to complications and infections. She should have waited until she was fully recovered before trying to conceive again.

But Kwon Siheon didn’t care. He forced himself on her, ignoring the risks. She could feel the blood trickling down her thighs, a sign that she wasn’t fully healed yet.

Her voice was hoarse as she tried to speak. It had been a month since her tongue was paralyzed. She could make sounds, but her speech was still unintelligible.

Yisoo sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at the glass floor. The sight of the distant ground below made her dizzy and nauseous. She knew the glass was safe, but her acrophobia made it impossible to relax.

The house was built with floor-to-ceiling windows, designed to make her feel like she was in the middle of a forest. But to Yisoo, it felt like a prison. The only sound was the occasional chirping of birds, some of which had been shot dead by hunters nearby.

She climbed back onto the bed and covered her ears, waiting for the sound of gunshots to stop. She didn’t know if the hunting ground nearby was a coincidence or intentional. All she could do was pray for the birds to stop dying.

She found the death certificate with her name on it in the bathroom, the only room without windows.

Kim Yikyung…?

Yihyun frowned as he looked at the document Sera had brought him. The name was the same as his late younger sibling, who had died around the same time as the student in the report.

What a strange coincidence. Yihyun managed to contact Kim Yikyung’s relatives the day before yesterday, thanks to Chairman Jung’s connections in the US.

─ Yes, that’s fine. When and where should we meet?

At first, he was surprised that Kim Yikyung’s relatives agreed to meet him. He had expected them to refuse. But they were willing to cooperate, giving him a glimmer of hope.

Yihyun and Sera waited in the hotel lobby across from the hospital for Kim Yikyung’s aunt and uncle to arrive. Sera had convinced him to go ahead with the second surgery scheduled for the next day.

First, I need to stand on my own two feet. Only then can I put all my effort into finding Yisoo.

“Are you okay, Yihyun?”

“I’m sorry, Sera. You’ve been such a great help to me, and I haven’t been a good husband to you.”

Sera squeezed his hand, reassuring him. “Don’t say that. I’m worried about Yisoo too. We should have forced her to come to the US with us.”

Yihyun hadn’t told Sera about Yisoo’s pregnancy. The thought of Kwon Siheon’s child growing inside her made him tremble with rage.

“Don’t talk like that!”

Sera held his hand tightly, even as she raised her voice. “I’m worried about Yisoo too. We’re in this together.”

Even before Hyoshin Construction went bankrupt, Yihyun knew that his twin sister had a special bond. But when he found out the truth about their past, he was shocked. The abuse they had suffered, the evil deeds of Yoo Namcheol, and the tragic deaths of their parents were too much to bear.

Yisoo and Yihyun were not just ordinary siblings. They were true blood relatives who had gone through life and death together. Their bond was something Sera could never replace.

Yisoo’s safety was not just a matter of jealousy. Sera genuinely cared for her as well. For the sake of their family’s happiness, including their unborn child, Yisoo had to be safe.

“You should rest at home. The staff can handle everything here.”

“I’m fine. And Jooli is doing well too…. I want to meet Yisoo’s aunt as soon as possible.”

Sera rubbed her still-flat belly, thinking of their unborn child. Yihyun smiled, momentarily forgetting his worries about Yisoo. But the thought of her pregnancy brought him back to reality.

As they waited, an elderly couple approached them. They were Kim Yikyung’s aunt and uncle, looking older than in the photos but still recognizable.

“Hello, thank you for coming all this way.”

“You look just like Yikyung. It’s been so many years, but you haven’t changed a bit.”

The elderly woman looked at Yihyun in disbelief, remembering the past.

“What do you mean? Why would my nephew have a photo of you?”

“You mean you didn’t know? Yikyung changed her last name to her uncle’s before coming to the US. She lived with the Yoo family before that.”

Yihyun was genuinely confused, and the elderly woman’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Her husband looked at them warily.

“So you’re not Yikyung’s twin brother? She was adopted by Chairman Yoo before coming to the US… and lived with the Hyoshin Construction family.”

“What? So Yikyung is…

This can’t be true. How can this be happening…

Yihyun’s eyes widened in shock. Kim Yikyung was actually his twin sister, Yikyung.