Thank you to everyone for your reviews, encouragement, and in some cases, defending me as a writer. It's been a rough few weeks and it's made writing hard. So a little insight into my life outside of fan fiction. I work for a college and I'm also a part-time independent student at a college. So right now, life is incredibly busy just on the front of work and my school life, especially as I have 2-3 weeks left at both colleges (yes, I work for one college and attend another). Needless to say with last-minute school projects and preparing a lot of upcoming projects at work, I've not had quite as much time to focus on writing, but I've been trying. Add into that since my last update, I had both of my COVID-19 vaccinations and they both knocked me on my ass basically. I am happy I am now fully vaccinated (almost fully, since I only had shot 2 done less than a week ago), but I spent a lot of time sleeping off the side effects I got from the shot, which means it's very hard to write while sleeping lol. My next goal now that this chapter is up is to get the latest chapter done on "The Heart's Prism" before I work on "Mend These Shattered Pieces". Thank you once more.


To say that Park Sung Ho was pissed was an understatement. He strode through the hallway of the warehouse where he had ensured that his men would meet him once the plan was put into action. He looked up as one of his men walked towards him, a grim look on his face. He had just gotten word that they had Gu Ga Eul, but that she was unconscious and injured. Something that was not supposed to be a part of the plan in order for him to rescue her.

"What the hell were those idiots thinking?" Sung Ho demanded as his man fell into step beside him. "I told them to not harm her."

"She was the least injured of the three in the car," the man said as he walked beside Sung Ho.

Sung Ho paused and slowly turned, his eyes dark with fury. "What the fuck do you mean of the three, Kim Saeng Yu?" he demanded in a low, dangerous tone.

"She was traveling with Geum Jan Di and Ha Jae Kyung when they created the accident," Saeng Yu said. "Gu Ga Eul was knocked out and has some cuts and bruises, but it looks like Geum Jan Di was pretty cut up from the glass at the very least and Ha Jae Kyung has a broken leg and various lacerations from the glass. That's all that could be seen and reported before taking off."

Park Sung Ho began creatively cursing as rage flowed through him. "How the hell those two idiots managed to keep Gu Ga Eul from not being discovered sooner is beyond me," he growled. He looked at Saeng Yu. "Is everything in place to take care of it?"

"It is," Saeng Yu said. "And Ku Yoon Gi is waiting for our call to come in with emergency personnel, who are all on our payroll. Are you sure about what you want me to do to you?"

"It needs to look believable," Sung Ho said. "As long as you are accurate, there will be minimal damage, but it'll be realistic enough." He smirked. "And it shouldn't scar."

"You know I have deadly accuracy," Saeng Yu said.

"Of course I do, that is why I only intended on relying on you to make sure it was handled correctly," Sung Ho said as they started to enter the warehouse. "And how I know you and Yoon Gi were the only ones I could rely on to ensure this is pulled off correctly. Are they here too?"

"Waiting for their money," Saeng Yu said as he walked beside Sung Ho.

"Of course they are. The money?" Sung Ho asked.

"In hand for them and easily traceable to Kang Hee Soo," Saeng Yu replied.

"Perfect." Sung Ho's chin lifted as he walked around the corner to see Lee So Hue and Chu Young Jun standing, looking around anxiously. Sung Ho's teeth ground as he saw Ga Eul laying on the ground in an undignified heap as if she was dropped without concern. Knowing the two idiots waiting for their money, that was probably the case. He glanced at Ga Eul before looking at Saeng Yu, who stared at So Hue and Young Jun.

"You were told not to harm her," Saeng Yu said.

"She was bound to get banged up regardless of how we got her," Young Jun said dismissively. "Where is our money?"

"You could have killed her by causing the accident," Saeng Yu said. "And now, because of your stupidity, Geum Jan Di and Ha Jae Kyung are also involved."

"You told us to do what we had to to ensure-," So Hue started.

"Enough," Sung Ho hissed. He looked sideways at Saeng Yu. "Handle it." He turned and walked over to where Ga Eul was laying and knelt down, lifting her into his arms. He paused as he heard a soft moan escaping her lips. He glanced at Lee So Hue and Chu Young Jun who were greedily grabbing the two briefcases of money that had been arranged for them, heedless of what was about to happen. Sung Ho's eyes found Saeng Yu, giving the briefest of nods to the man, who returned it. He had already pulled out his phone and sent a message before tucking the phone into his back pocket.

"Sung Ho, get down!" Saeng Yu yelled, startling So Hue and Young Jun.

"What in the wo-," was all So Hue got out before gunfire erupted. She screamed and started to run with Young Jun, briefcases in hand.

The warehouse they were in was filled with the sounds of gunfire and screaming, echoing off the rafters within. It was the sounds that Ga Eul heard as she started to become aware of her surroundings before hearing a painful grunt from the chest she was held against. Her legs slipped from the arms that were holding her and she briefly felt her feet touch the ground before she was hoisted up once more. She cracked her eyes open to see Sung Ho's clenched jawline before she was aware that he was ducking them behind a series of wooden crates and lowering her to the ground. He looked down into her face, seeing her awake.

"I have you," he said. "They can't hurt you now."

"Who-," Ga Eul started to ask, her speech slightly slurred after being unconscious and feeling lightheaded. She realized she must have a concussion and then the memory of the car accident came to her. "Jan Di... Jae Kyung..."

"Geum Jan Di? Was she with you?" Sung Ho asked.

"She and-," Ga Eul's words were cut off as she realized she could hear sirens faintly outside even with the gunfire.

"Lee So Hue, Chu Young Jun, you are under arrest for kidnapping and causing a vehicular-," the voice Ku Yoon Gi sounded over a loudspeaker before it was cut off by gunshots, causing Ga Eul to scream and bury her face in Sung Ho's chest. She was trembling at the names she heard. She could only pray that she had misheard. Silence fell around the warehouse before the scuffled sound of feet was heard. Ga Eul felt Sung Ho's arms tightening around her as footsteps drew closer to their location.

"Sir! We found Gu Ga Eul and Park Sung Ho," a male voice said. "Park Sung Ho's been shot."

Ga Eul lifted her head. "Sung Ho," she said, looking for the wound, seeing the red streak on his upper left arm. It now explained why she felt her legs slip and Sung Ho's jaw had been clenched when her eyes had opened. Ga Eul noticed a new man joining the one that had found her and Sung Ho.

"Miss Gu," the man said. "I'm Detective Ku Yoon Gi. Your father has been informed we found you. An ambulance is waiting outside for you and Sung Ho."

"I'm fine," Sung Ho said. "Make sure she's okay. I don't know what they did to her. I wasn't able to look before everything went crazy."

"How can you say you are fine when you were shot?" Ga Eul asked, her speech stronger but still slightly slurred.

"I think she has a concussion," Sung Ho said as he got to his feet and helped Ga Eul up, reaching to pick her up.

"Sung Ho, you are injured," Yoon Gi said.

"It's just a scratch, I am all right to get her outside," Sung Ho said. He could feel the minimal damage to his bicep and had to silently applaud Saeng Yu's accuracy when it came to shots. A small scratch was nothing to deal with when the impact of what it implied to Ga Eul was worth the discomfort. Yoon Gi led the pair outside where an ambulance and other emergency personnel were waiting. The two were ushered to the stretchers and Sung Ho laid Ga Eul on one of them before he was herded to the other and was made to sit down while EMTs began looking them over. After a few moments, Sung Ho looked up as he heard the clatter of feet before Gu Bon Hyeong and Gu Jun Pyo were the first to come around the side of the ambulance to Ga Eul's side.

"Ga Eul," Bon Hyeong said. "Baby, are you okay?"

"Dizzy," Ga Eul said. "Jan Di and Jae Kyung-eonni?"

"Both are at the hospital getting looked at from the accident," Jun Pyo said.

"We need to get her to the hospital," the EMT said. "But we are certain she has at least a concussion."

"She was unconscious when I found her," Sung Ho said. "She wasn't shot, thankfully."

"Shot?!" Bon Hyeong demanded as he lifted his head, noticing the young man. "Park Sung Ho?"

"What the hell are you doing here and how are you involved?" Jun Pyo asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Mister Park is the one who called authorities," Ku Yoon Gi said. "And was shot protecting Miss Gu."

"This warehouse property is owned by my father's company," Sung Ho said. "I received a report from our security that there was activity here when normally there is nothing at night, so I came with some of my father's employees to check it out. That's when I saw Ga Eul being carried inside."

"Sir," Saeng Yu said as he came over to Sung Ho with his phone to his ear. "I just received a report from headquarters. This warehouse was being considered for a Shinhwa project."

"Under whose orders?" Bon Hyeong demanded. "I never gave orders to anyone regarding a project here."

Saeng Yu looked at Bon Hyeong. "Kang Hee Soo, Mister Gu," the man said. "According to the information I've received it was one of the many projects she was working on before her removal from Shinhwa."

"That bitch," Jun Pyo growled. "This must have something to do with her. It can't be a coincidence that Ga Eul was kidnapped the day that Kang Hee Soo was arrested."

"Kang Hee Soo was arrested?" Sung Ho asked, feigning ignorance. Of course, he knew what had happened to the woman. It was one of the many reasons why he made sure that all evidence in the current situation would lead back to her.

"You didn't see the news?" Jun Pyo asked him. He continued to eye the man, not fully trusting him or his intentions towards his sister. He could not pinpoint why, but something in his gut felt off about him.

Sung Ho shook his head. "I had only gotten home when we received a call about something going on here," he said.

"Who took her?" Bon Hyeong asked Sung Ho.

"I didn't recognize the man or the woman," he admitted.

"It was Lee So Hue and Chu Young Jun," Ku Yoon Gi informed Bon Hyeong quietly, trying to avoid Ga Eul hearing that her own caretakers had been responsible for her abduction.

"Where are they now?" Bon Hyeong demanded. His eyes widened as Yoon Gi simply shook his head, indicating that they were both dead.

"Appa?" Jun Pyo asked.

"Let's get your yeodongsaeng to the hospital and thoroughly checked out," Bon Hyeong said. "Everyone else is there as well waiting to hear about Geum Jan Di and Ha Jae Kyung."

"Are they all right?" Ga Eul asked, her voice sounding weaker.

"We left while they were still being seen," Bon Hyeong said. He looked at the EMT concerned. "She sounds weaker."

"It's the concussion and potentially shock from the accident and adrenaline crashing," the EMT said. "We'll monitor en route to the hospital, but we should go. She needs to be seen to and she is going to need rest and hydration."

"Go," Bon Hyeong said. "We'll follow in the car."

"Appa, why don't you ride with Ga Eul? I'll follow in the car," Jun Pyo said.

Bon Hyeong took a breath but nodded before looking at Sung Ho, Saeng Yu, and Yoon Gi. "Park Sung Ho, I wish to speak to your father regarding that contract," he said. "Detective Ku, please keep me apprised of the investigation."

"Of course, Mister Gu," Yoon Gi said, bowing respectfully.

"Jun Pyo, let's go," Bon Hyeong said before getting into the ambulance with his daughter once she was loaded into the vehicle. Jun Pyo gave Sung Ho a long look before turning on long legs and striding towards the car he had arrived in. The sleek black vehicle pulled back before following the ambulance as it headed to the hospital.

"Be wary," Saeng Yu murmured softly next to Sung Ho. "He does not entirely believe the story you gave."

"I'm not surprised," Sung Ho said. "It's me. But not to worry. I have plans to ensure that he believes my sincerity and there is enough evidence to back up the story I gave. I also have plans in the works to keep the F4 off my back. As long as my pawns play their roles accordingly and knowing them as I do, they will."


"Appa!" Gu Jun Hee said as she hurried towards her father as he and Jun Pyo approached. "Ga Eul?"

"Currently being seen," Bon Hyeong said. "The doctors told us to come up here as they just want to oversee a few things before she'll be transported to her private room here for recovery. Apparently, she was the most unscathed from the accident."

"Where did you find her?" Song Lee Bin asked as his wife and son joined them. The rest of the families that had all congregated at the hospital moved forward to hear what Bon Hyeong had to say.

"She was in one of the warehouses along the canal that is owned by Park Subsidiaries," Jun Pyo said. "Park Sung Ho supposedly rescued her."

"From who?" Lee Bin questioned.

"Her former caretakers," Bon Hyeong growled. "And according to one of the Park's men, the warehouse where they took her was being negotiated under a contract by Kang Hee Soo."

"You said supposedly," Woo Bin said to Jun Pyo.

"You know I don't trust him," Jun Pyo said. "And this involves my yeodongsaeng. He's been showing increasing interest in her since the party introduced her into society as a Gu. Suddenly he just happens to be there to rescue her?"

"He said that he was there investigating concerns related by the company about security," Bon Hyeong said. "Yet you suspect?"

"I'd like confirmation that he wasn't involved before flat-out believing his story," Jun Pyo said.

"Oh there will be confirmation," Lee Bin said. "The mere fact that Kang Hee Soo potentially is a factor in any of this since she was supposedly linked to this warehouse is grounds enough for me to investigate. As I am sure it will be added to further investigation with her arrest."

"A good question to consider is if Park Sung Ho is involved, why?" Ji Hu questioned.

"You know he has never liked us, namely because he feels he's on our level and we never accepted him," Jun Pyo said. "What better way to get back at us than to mess with Ga Eul, who we all care about."

"If that were true when we showed Jan Di favor, why didn't he ever start with her?" Woo Bin asked.

"Jan Di isn't my yeodongsaeng," Jun Pyo pointed out.

"No, but you had feelings for her," Yi Jeong reminded him gently. "Regardless of how that turned out, it was the case at one time."

"Maximum effect," Woo Bin said, thinking some more. The three other members of the F4 looked at him. "You have a point about Jun Pyo's former feelings for Jan Di, Yi Jeong. But the difference is, Ji Hu's feelings weren't real for her, at least not the romantic ones. We were merely acquaintances that found Jun Pyo's antics amusing and we started to consider her a friend before her falling out with Ga Eul. But the discovery of Ga Eul's identity affects all four of us in some way."

"Because she's Jun Pyo's yeodongsaeng and your sachon," Ji Hu said. "And Yi Jeong and I have, in turn, protected her."

"Beyond that, it's pretty obvious that you two care about her," Woo Bin pointed out. Yi Jeong jerking his head in Woo Bin's direction was not lost on any of the men. Jun Pyo studied one of his best friends and began to wonder if perhaps there was more beneath the surface for Yi Jeong. He glanced at Ji Hu, who was as calm as always, so it was harder to read his reaction.

"All four of you, five if you include Il Hyun, have made it very obvious that you all care a great deal for Ga Eul, regardless of familial relations," Bon Hyeong pointed out. "So I can see Jun Pyo's concern regarding Park Sung Ho. However, unless we find out otherwise, we can not negate the fact that he was shot protecting her."

"Wait, what?" Ji Hu asked, frowning. "He was shot? They were shooting at her?!"

"At us, yes," Sung Ho's voice said as he approached. Everyone turned to see him walking towards them, his injured arm in a sling with Kim Saeng Yu behind him. "They started shooting when they saw me trying to leave with her."

"Then why did you grab her and put her in danger?" Yi Jeong demanded. Woo Bin put a hand on his shoulder.

"I was trying to help her," Sung Ho said. "Not put her in danger. I had no way of knowing they had guns and would start shooting at us. All I saw was her collapsed in a heap on the ground, obviously hurt from the bruises that were forming. My only thought was to get her to safety."

"And I appreciate that," Bon Hyeong said, stepping in to keep the younger men from lashing out at someone they obviously did not like. "I apologize on their behalf. How is your own injury?"

Sung Ho glanced at his arm. "Honestly, just a scratch. The doctor wants me to keep it immobile for a few days to ensure I do not injure it further, but it's not as bad as it could have been," he said. "What of Ga Eul?"

"She has a pretty serious concussion from the car accident she was in prior to being taken and is pretty bruised up, but otherwise she is fine," Bon Hyeong said.

"I heard her ask about Geum Jan Di and Ha Jae Kyung when with the emergency personnel," Sung Ho said.

"They were in the accident with her but left at the scene," Lee Bin said. "Both are still being seen by the doctors."

"Mister Gu?" a nurse said, walking over. Bon Hyeong immediately turned to her. "Your daughter has been transferred to her room. If you will follow me?" Bon Hyeong immediately followed her, quickly followed by everyone else. Jun Pyo didn't even blink when Sung Ho and Saeng Yu followed at a discreet distance.

"Ga Eul," Bon Hyeong said as he hurried over, taking her left hand in his. "Sweetheart?"

"Appa?" Ga Eul said. Her voice was still fairly quiet, the concussion and painkillers affecting her. "Jan Di and Jae Kyung-eonni?"

"Geum Jan Di is being moved to a room shortly," Bon Hyeong said. "Her shoulder was injured and she's banged up. She'll remain for a few days for tests on her shoulder. Jae Kyung's leg was badly broken and she's in surgery for it. They will let us know once she is out of surgery and in her own room for recovery."

"Did those who took care of me really do this?" she asked quietly. "I thought I heard their names mentioned..."

"It looks like they were put up to kidnapping you, yes," Bon Hyeong said softly. "Your samchon will investigate, of course."

"Park Sung Ho?" Ga Eul asked, forcing herself to not acknowledge the pain she felt over learning the people that were supposed to act as parents to her had been responsible for the accident and her being kidnapped.

"I'm fine," Sung Ho said from the doorway.

"Why did you-," Jun Pyo started.

"Stop," Ga Eul said. "He was there to help me, Oppa." Jun Pyo's jaw tightened, looking away from Sung Ho. It took every ounce of Sung Ho's willpower to not smirk, even as he moved forward to the foot of Ga Eul's bed.

"As I said, I'm fine," Sung Ho said. "It's just a scratch. Are you okay?"

"The doctor said a bad concussion is the worst of my injuries," Ga Eul said. "A day or two here, then a lot of rest."

"Listen to doctor's orders," Sung Ho said with a gentle smile. "Seeing you unconscious like that was terrifying."

"Thank you for helping me," Ga Eul said. "Please rest yourself. I feel bad enough you got hurt because of me, I'd rather you not make it worse."

Sung Ho simply grinned a bit. "I'll rest," he said. "I should go and let you rest. You already have a lot of people here with you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Yes, you should go," Jun Pyo said, walking over to Sung Ho's uninjured side, wrapping a firm hand around his arm. "Ga Eul is well taken care of, you do not need to worry about her." He pushed the other man towards the door to Ga Eul's room.

"Jun Pyo," Bon Hyeong started.

"Of course," Sung Ho said before Bon Hyeong could comment further. "I will see you at school, Ga Eul."

"Good night, Sung Ho," Ga Eul said.

Jun Pyo all but shoved Sung Ho out of the room to where Saeng Yu stood. He narrowed his dark eyes at the other man. "Stay away from my yeodongsaeng, Sung Ho," he said. "She doesn't need you looking after her."

Sung Ho tilted his head, his mouth quirking upwards as he studied Jun Pyo. "I'm just concerned," he said. "And as for staying away from her." He stepped toward Jun Pyo. "I believe that is up to Ga Eul. Not you." He smirked when he saw Jun Pyo's jaw tighten. "I'll be leaving first. Saeng Yu, let's go." Giving Jun Pyo one last look, Sung Ho turned and walked down the hall with Saeng Yu following behind.


"What are you doing here?" Sung Ho asked Ginger as he walked into his suite of rooms at his mansion to find the unwanted woman lounging on his settee in his sitting room.

"I heard you were at the hospital with Gu Ga Eul," Ginger said. "Hopefully that little bit-."

"Take care of how you speak," Sung Ho said warningly, slipping the arm brace off of his arm and tossing it on a nearby table. He smirked knowingly as he walked to the liquor table in his sitting room. "Besides, I was not the only one who was there with her. So Yi Jeong was also there."

Ginger launched to her feet. "What?!" she screeched. "Dammit, Park Sung Ho! You said-." She swallowed the tirade that started to come forward as Sung Ho turned dark eyes to her, his expression cold.

"Your impatience is beginning to grate," Sung Ho said. "You are not the only one who has something they want in this."

"But if they continue to grow closer, I'll never have a chance of finally winning So Yi Jeong!" Ginger whined.

Sung Ho leaned against the table he was standing near and took a sip of the scotch in his hand, chuckling lightly. "Oh, trust me," he said. "I have plans in place that will ensure a wedge will start to come between them. I know how to drive some of it home as well. You just have to make sure you are there to take advantage of it."

Ginger walked towards him, her arms crossing over her narrow chest. "What are you planning?" she questioned.

"The details are unimportant," Sung Ho said, sipping the scotch once more. "Tell me something. How is your dear friend, Sunny, doing?"

Ginger snorted inelegantly. "That traitorous bitch is no friend of mine," she said. "She needs a lesson for turning her back on me even more than Gu Ga Eul does for daring to steal So Yi Jeong away from me."

"I'll let that comment about Ga Eul slide," Sung Ho said. "This time." He stared at her, waiting for her to swallow and nod as his dangling threat registered. "But back to the matter of Sunny. No love lost there then?"

"The day she ran out on Miranda and I sealed her fate," Ginger said. "I wouldn't accept her as a friend even if she came crawling on hands and knees pleading."

Sung Ho smirked. "Perfect."

Ginger narrowed her eyes. "Why?" she questioned.

"Easy. She'll be the key to the next part of the plan to get us both exactly what we want."


As you can tell from this chapter, things are going starting to ramp up. If anyone has paid attention, I've also updated the cover for this story. Originally it was Ga Eul, Ji Hu, and Yi Jeong to indicate their love triangle. There WILL still be a misunderstanding involving Ji Hu coming up, but the pain love triangle will now be around Sung Ho/Ga Eul/Yi Jeong. I'm also considering bringing back a canon character that left (there are at least two I could consider) for Ji Hu, but I'd like to hear people's thoughts on who you think that should be.