Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.

John Quincy Adams

JENNIE

It's nearing dinner time when Lisa, Suho, Irene, and I approach the head table. It's raised above all of the others, like it's meant for royalty. And I suppose, in this company, the board and CEO are.

We take our assigned seats, and when we settle down, I notice the seat beside Jiyong is empty. I haven't seen Sandara around, but I just assumed that she was off somewhere, rating poor girls on their appearances.

One look at Jiyong and my stomach is in knots. He has an eager look on his face, which can't mean anything good is coming. I look away immediately, but he speaks up.

"Jennie, what a wonderful surprise to see you here."

"Is it?" Lisa asks, a warning in her voice. "This is a company event, and we always bring our spouses to events. Jennie will soon be my wife. Her presence shouldn't be a surprise to any of us." She narrows her eyes. "But I see your wife isn't here. Having trouble at home, Jiyong?"

"Not at all." Jiyong grin spreads wider, his face the unsettling picture of anticipation. "She was feeling under the weather, but luckily, another friend of mine happens to be in town. So, I decided to invite him instead."

Lisa's eyes are narrowed in suspicion. "Anyone we know?"

Jiyong's grin is so wide right now that it has to be hurting his face. "I don't think you two have had the pleasure of meeting, but your dear Jennie should know him well."

I freeze.

It's someone I know?

I don't really know anyone.

Doyeon? Jimin? Eduardo? Krystal? Her lackeys?

They all already live "in town," and no one from my past has the money to vacation in New York City. So, who else can it be? Lisa's hand grips mine under the table, but I can't reassure her. Or is she reassuring me? I don't know. I don't know anything right now. I have no idea who Jiyong might have brought.

My mind briefly considers Steve before I dismiss the ridiculous notion. No one knows about him, and I've changed my name. There's no way Jiyong could've found him.

But I have a sinking feeling about this, even as I open my mouth and casually say, "Oh? What's this person's name?"

"Now that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?"

And for the next fifteen minutes, Jiyong has that stupid look plastered all over his face. Even TOP, who is to Jiyong what Nella is to Krystal, looks uneasy.

"There you are!" Jiyong says jovially, just as I'm shoveling lobster bisque into my mouth.

I nearly choke, knowing this has to be his secret guest, but I force myself to swallow. When I lift my head to see who it is, I almost choke again.

Because it's Steve.

I distantly hear Jiyong introduce him to the other executives and their wives, but I'm not paying attention. Lisa swings her head to face me, the concern evident, and I can't give her the reassurance she needs.

She clearly doesn't know who this is.

No one does, except Jiyong, who's swiveling his head between me and Steve like the only thing that would make this better is a bag of buttery popcorn to contribute to his gut.

My first instinct is to run. To put as much distance between Steve and me as I can.

But then I remember Lisa's words.

Whenever you think about running, please, remember that you didn't run from me when I was the big bad wolf. You're braver than you think you are.

Is she right?

Am I brave?

Sitting here, trembling and completely silent, I certainly don't feel brave.

Lisa leans closer to me, her breath light against my ear, and says, "What's wrong?"

I can't answer her. I can't even appreciate her proximity. I'm shaking. I've been underplaying my history with Steve in my own mind, mentally denying that I have been the victim of anyone let alone a low life like Steve.

I wore the clothes she had given me like a badge of survival only I recognized, but one look at Steve, and I know that I'm wrong. I haven't survived anything. I'm still trying to survive. It's an ongoing process that is quickly approaching its end.

I can wear the clothes and pretend I'm okay. I can brush off a nightmare and say it's not a big deal. I can convince myself that I'm over it, that I don't wonder if anything more happened that night and other nights. If he's touched me before.

But I'd be lying to myself.

Those are all lies I've compounded in my head. I haven't healed. Instead, I ran.

When I catch sight of Lisa, who is leaning forward, a scowl on her lips, I know I can't run any more. She doesn't know who Steve is, but she knows I'm scared and doesn't like it. I can see that she's about to do something about this even if she's in front of Black Enterprises' board, and while I want to let her, I can't allow Lisa to sacrifice her company for me.

Not when there's an alternative.

Not when I can be the person she believes I am.

It's time to face my past.

My hand automatically reaches for Lisa's knee, squeezing it until she stills.

I inventory the situation, knowing I need to do so as quickly as possible. Too much time has already passed since Steve arrived, and he's standing there awkwardly, his fanatical eyes on me. Clearly, this is the reaction Jiyong expected, because he's currently leaning back in his seat, allowing the situation to run its course.

As I consider my options, I realize why Jiyong brought Steve here. If he knows about Steve, he knows what happened. He knows that I ran. He thinks I'll run again, and if I run, there goes Lisa's stability.

It's a gamble on Jiyong's part, and he looks so certain that I'm not sure if he realizes that he's gambling.

He doesn't know me well enough to know I'll run. He's just assuming it based on my past decisions, but I'm not that girl anymore. I have a future that I refuse to part with. I have Doyeon and Jimin and Mino and even Eduardo.

I also have Lisa.

So, I grip Lisa's hand for strength and say to Jiyong, "What is this?"

Now that I'm no longer shaking, Lisa straightens herself and her hand lands on my thigh. She squeezes it. It may be a warning or it may be a question. Either way, I ignore it. I need to do this. Jiyong wanted to catch me off guard, and it worked. But I'm not about to let him win.

I want to ruin him.

He let my demons back into my life, and he did it to hurt Lisa.

That's not something I'll ever let him get away with.

"What do you mean?" Jiyong is grinning widely now. "Is there a problem? I thought you'd be happy to see your dad. I mean, you were an orphan, and this kind man took you in. You could at least be a little more grateful."

Beside him, Steve nods enthusiastically, but I can't stomach the sight of him, so I quickly avert my eyes. That only makes Jiyong smile wider. He thinks he's winning.

I narrow my eyes, but keep my voice level. It takes a lot of effort, but I manage. "Steve is not my dad. He fostered me for two years before my social worker removed me from his home. The government even allowed me to change my name."

There's no better way to take Jiyong down than with the truth, even if I have to sacrifice my heart, my dignity and my pride in exchange.

I'm satisfied when Jiyong begins to pale. He expected me to be weak, to cower in the face of a man that I allowed to hurt me. But I'm done being weak. Sitting next to me is one of the strongest woman I know. I feel empowered by the knowledge that, in the short time I've known her, I've stood up to her on multiple occasions and even stood up for her on one.

So, I persist. "But if you were able to track Steve down, then you know what happened when I was just seventeen years old."

There are some gasps around the table from those who have picked up on my insinuation, but I ignore them. I even ignore how tense Lisa has gotten beside me.

I lean forward and go in for the kill. "What kind of man brings a pedophile and possible rapist to a party when he knows the victim will be in attendance?"

Then, I take a moment to accept what just happened. I just sacrificed my secrets, my sanity, and my dignity for Lisa. I want to say it was for me, but I know it wasn't. I didn't have to do this. I could have fled, like I'm so damn good at. I could have done this privately.

But instead, I did this here, in front of her board, so they can see who Jiyong is. So, come next week, they will choose Lisa's side. I aired my dirty secrets and made myself vulnerable. For Lisa. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Amidst the ensuing silence, I make a show of eyeing Jiyong up and down, scrutinizing him carefully for theatrical emphasis. "What kind of man are you, Jiyong? Because you certainly don't seem like one fit to sit on the board." I turn to the men at the table and ask, "What do you guys think?"

I'm putting them on the spot. Those in Jiyong's corner don't have time to come up with excuses for him. And if they disagree now, there will be a stronger rift within the board, and they'd be on the losing side. I see the defeat in TOP and his wife's faces, and it almost makes sitting in Steve's presence worth it.

Before they can speak, Jiyong, white-faced and fury-eyed, turns to his coworkers and says, "She's lying."

His words reek of desperation. He can't refute any of my claims. I have the truth on my side. But he doesn't care, because if he doesn't say something now, he'll be over. Hell, his career at Black Enterprises is already over. But he's not the type to go down without a fight.

It turns out that neither am I.

I admit aloud for the first time since I told my social worker, "Steve targeted me. I was underage at the time. That's no lie."

From the seat beside me, Irene gasps, her hand reaching for my hand that's on her side. I let her, but I do it to make her feel better, not because I need her comfort. I don't need it when I have Lisa. When I have myself.

Jiyong jerks forward. His mouth opens and closes and opens and closes. He's at a loss for words, so I know he's still flustered. But it also means he's still trying to find a way out of this. And I won't let him. The only way to show the board that I'm telling the truth is another confirmation straight from the other source.

I finally turn to Steve, whose eyes are still riveted by me. "My last night living with you… was that the only time you snuck into my room?"

It's a loaded question, and only the two of us know what I'm really asking—did you just touch yourself? Or did you touch me, too?

I make sure we're making eye contact, because I have to see if he's telling the truth. I have to look him in the eyes for this.

His cheeks are red, and his eyes look warily around the table at everyone else but me, until they finally return to me. "That was the only time."

Oh, God.

I hear a whimper, and I think it's mine, but I'm too busy absorbing everything to care.

Relief like I've never known floods through me. I sag in my chair, wondering how to process this, whether or not I should believe him. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but for some reason, I do.

And then, I see a blur of movement, and in front of her whole company, the board, and IllumaGen's board, Lisa punches Steve across the face, sending him flying onto the floor.