Chapter 7 (Part 3)

While Hyun-ah was unable to move, Ji-eun handed water to calm Hae-mi down.

“Hae-mi, let it go. You know Hyun-ah turns into a beast when she drinks.”

Even as she drank the water, Hae-mi shouted several times, unable to quell her anger.

She never wanted to reveal to the world that she was inferior to her sister. But having a so-called friend expose that made her feel sick.

To calm her anger, she drank several glasses of strong liquor.

Her throat felt increasingly itchy, but she ignored it and glared at the sleeping Hyun-ah.

She wasn’t truly close friends with Hyun-ah anyway. They merely pretended to be very close on the surface because they were on the same level.  

But after the article about Seonghan came out yesterday, she thought she would change her attitude so abruptly.

She started biting her nails nervously.

It would be fortunate if Hyun-ah’s simple jealousy just came out ugly due to drinking…

The fact that Hae-mi had foolishly blabbed to Hyun-ah about the story of Seo-hye’s birth while drunk began to choke her.

“I overheard my mom talking, and it wasn’t that my dad had an affair. I heard dad forced himself on her.”

“Oh my… really? Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay? My dad isn’t in this world anyway. Somehow, I never felt any affection for him. Even as a child, I could see he wasn’t a good person.”

“Alright, if you say so. But then stop bothering your sister. My heart sinks every time you curse at her over the phone.”

“I don’t want to. It’s dad who sinned against her, not me. I’m the victim, Hyun-ah.”

What if Hyun-ah, after falling out with her, started spreading stories about her family?

“Damn it…”

Especially when the engagement ceremony with the grandson of Seonghan Group was already known nationwide.

***

Do-jin headed straight to Director Park Dong-cheol’s hospital without hesitation.

He had an idea where Seo-hye might be, but finding Hyo-young was the top priority.

If he found Seo-hye first, Hwa-woong, upon learning of it, might really kill her mother.

After all, the one who kidnapped Seo-hye was Hwa-woong, and he needed Seo-hye, so he wouldn’t harm her recklessly.

Above all… Seo-hye herself wouldn’t want him to find her first.

He tried not to think about her safety, which worried him unbearably, as he passed through the hospital’s main entrance.

A woman who appeared to be an administrative staff member left the patient she was conversing with and approached Do-jin.

“Hello. What can I-”

“Where is Director Park?”

When she looked at Do-jin with a puzzled expression, he silently handed her his business card.

After confirming who Do-jin was, her eyes widened. She alternated between looking at the card and Do-jin’s face with a bewildered expression.

Watching her, Do-jin pressed her calmly and dryly.

“I’m not a suspicious person, I have urgent business.”

“Oh… just a moment. Did you have an appointment with the Director?”

She seemed to assume that since her Director often dealt with figures from the political and business sectors, Do-jin must be similar.

“I was told to find him immediately upon arriving at the hospital.”

With Do-jin’s calm voice showing no change in expression, the woman blushed slightly and quickly turned to guide him.

Fortunately, it wasn’t procedure time, so she led him right to the front of the Director’s office.

Knock knock-

Along with the sound of knocking, a male voice came from inside.

Do-jin gently moved the employee’s hand away from the door handle and held it himself.

Then he narrowed his eyes slightly and expressed his thanks.

“Thank you.”

While the woman stammered, saying it was nothing, Do-jin stepped inside.

He made eye contact with Director Park, who, though thinner than Hwa-woong, looked about five years younger.

Startled by the unexpected visitor, Director Park was about to call the staff, but Do-jin quickly closed the door.

He then sat in a chair placed in front of the desk as if it were for formalities.

This was his first time in such a situation, so he couldn’t even open his lips properly and gaped like a goldfish.

“Seonghan Hotel Executive Director, Won Do-jin.”

When Do-jin introduced himself first, Director Park’s lips parted in surprise.

He reached out with trembling hands to pick up the phone placed in the center of the desk.

However, Do-jin’s hand quickly secured the phone before he could.

He looked bewildered, his eyes trembling.

“Are you planning to report to your friend?”

At Do-jin’s sarcastic remark, a strange sound escaped from his throat.

Do-jin’s expression hardened as he continued questioning.

“How is Ms. Seo-hye’s mother’s condition?”

“……”

“Your life will change depending on whether you answer.”

He pulled out a handkerchief and vigorously wiped his forehead, seemingly sweating.

“Answer me, Mr. Park Dong-cheol.”

“… She… is stable. She’s receiving the medication she was being treated with on time…”

Do-jin swallowed a sigh of relief inwardly.

He couldn’t fully trust his words, but he didn’t seem like someone strong enough to lie calmly in such a flustered situation.

“With a brain capable of becoming a doctor, I assume you know exactly what you’ve done. A doctor aiding in kidnapping a patient?”

“……”

“Besides that, I’ve received quite a bit of evidence about the illegal medical procedures you’ve conducted on VIPs, in my hands.”

He suddenly stood up from his chair.

Then he came around the desk and almost knelt in front of Do-jin, fidgeting nervously.

“What… what do you want from me!”

“Go home now and ensure Ms. Seo-hye’s mother is safely released. Of course, you must keep silent to your dreadful old friend.”

He seemed to be in a difficult position, either valuing his friendship with Hwa-woong greatly or having received a large sum from him.

Do-jin delivered a decisive blow.

“Choose whether to lose your friendship or lose all the wealth and honor you’ve built up until now.”

Dong-cheol tightly closed his eyes and then opened them. He started to head towards the entrance but stopped to ask.

“… If I only let the patient out, am I really not involved in this matter?”

“Yes. In addition, I’ll immediately destroy all the data about you that came into my hands. It means you can comfortably continue your life as a businessman.”

Despite Do-jin’s sharp sarcasm, he couldn’t respond and eventually chose his wealth and honor over friendship as he opened the door.

***

Do-jin decided to move in his own car, just in case Director Park had any second thoughts.

Though it was somewhat coercive, he promised to return the phone he had taken from the director’s office as soon as Seo-hye’s mother’s safety was secured.

Director Park, unable to utter a word, tightly gripped the seatbelt.

After confirming him, Do-jin called Seok-young.

• Executive Director, I was just about to call you. The driver for this painter contacted us, saying there’s no sign of Ms. Seo-hye in Cheongun-dong.

“Got it. More importantly, Secretary Yoo, contact Director Jo immediately and ask him to send a patient transport vehicle. Tell him the patient we mentioned last time will be arriving, so prepare a hospital room.”

• Yes. I’ll do it right now.

“And Secretary Yoo, come to Director Park Dong-cheol’s house right away.”

Do-jin recited the pre-planned tasks without hesitation.

Thirty minutes later, they arrived in front of Director Park’s house.

Guided by Director Park, Do-jin headed towards his mansion.

Seeing that it was larger and more extravagant than Chairman Won’s mansion, it seemed he had amassed quite a bit of money running the hospital and was quite extravagant.

That’s why he abandoned his friendship without hesitation.

Of course, that fact worked to Do-jin’s advantage at the moment.

The two passed through a beautifully decorated garden and entered the main house.

Since they needed rooms to accommodate, treat, and admit VIPs, the area was considerably larger than a typical mansion.

After moving from the entrance to the living room, they continued further until they reached the last room.

Director Park quietly opened the door.

Fortunately, Hyo-young was lying inside the room, which was set up like a treatment room in a hospital.

She seemed to be asleep, wearing a respirator, with her eyes closed.

Having received a call from Seok-young confirming their arrival, Do-jin ordered Director Park.

“Help ensure Ms. Seo-hye’s mother can be moved outside without any issues. There’s a transport vehicle waiting outside.”

Surprisingly timid, Director Park followed Do-jin’s instructions like a robot.

With his help, Do-jin successfully transferred Seo-hye’s mother safely to the hospital transport vehicle. He then called out to Director Park, who seemed relieved as if everything was over.

“Director Park, please accompany us to Seonghan Hospital.”

The color drained from Director Park’s lips, thinking Do-jin would leave immediately.

However, Do-jin relentlessly pressured him.

“We can’t have anything happen to the patient during transport. Once we safely arrive at the hospital, I’ll return your phone through my secretary.”

Do-jin became an even worse villain, pressing Director Park until the end.

It was an unavoidable choice, as Director Park must not contact Hwa-woong until Seo-hye was safely rescued.

Seok-young assured Do-jin not to worry and boarded the transport vehicle with Director Park.

Do-jin quickly turned back to his car.

He then retrieved the documents he had thrown on the passenger seat and entered the address of Hwa-woong’s former workshop in Hwaseong into the navigation system.

He recalled from the materials Yoo Seok-young had handed over regarding Lee Hwa-woong that even after 10 years, the Hwaseong workshop had not been put up for sale and was left in ruins.

Thinking that if there was any place where Hwa-woong could hide his granddaughter from prying eyes, it would be there.