So. I want to say thank you to everyone who is sticking it out with me on this. I had intended to have this done by now. In fact, I was supposed to go to Korea at the end of May into June and the intent was, during my 17+ hour flight to Seoul was finishing this story and working on my other WIPs with the intent of posting the new chapters either when I had time while IN Korea or upon my return to the United States after my trip. Alas, COVID-19 ruined those plans. Since then, I have been slowly trying to recover from COVID in addition to getting back to work. While I was not super sick with COVID, I was pretty drained of energy and still struggle a little. In the process of that, work got EXTREMELY busy and I had almost no time to write. Now add into that I am once again performing at my local Renaissance festival so that increases my lack of time/energy to write. I am pushing through these to get this story completed and perhaps create new stories in this universe while working on other stories as well. Thank you for your patience as I write this story and start bringing it to its conclusion.
The weariness in Woo Bin's bones only felt as if it was getting heavier as he walked along the hospital hallway after taking a moment to get his bearings as he and Sunny's family waited for further news on just how Sunny's surgery went and when she would be moved to a recovery room.
"When I agreed to help you frame Gu and Song, you never said that you would harm Sun Ja!"
Woo Bin's steps slowed as Keng Wook Shi's voice floated towards him. He paused at the corner of the hallway where he heard him. Peeking around the corner, he saw that he was on the phone and pacing agitatedly.
"No, I said I would help to get the Songs out of the picture for us," Wook Shi hissed. "I agreed to help you get rid of Kang Hee Soo and lay the blame at the feet of Song Lee Bin, definitely, and Gu Bon Hyeong as needed. Never once did I agree to be a part of your kidnapping of Gu Ga Eul and the fact that you shot Sun Ja!"
Woo Bin's fists clenched as his teeth ground down as he listened to Wook Shi. While waiting for news on Sunny, her father informed him about Kang Hee Soo being dead. Now as he was hearing it, Wook Shi had something to do with it and intended on implementing his father and uncle. His phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out, seeing a message from Jun Pyo telling him that their fathers had been arrested. His fingers moved, acknowledging the message before shifting to another screen on his phone before he once again focused on Wook Shi's conversation.
"If Sun Ja dies, it'll be your head Kim Saeng Yu! I'm only with that petty bitch of a sister to get to Sun Ja," Wook Shi snarled. Woo Bin waited as Wook Shi apparently listened to whatever was being said on the other end of the line.
"I could give two shits less about the Gu bitch," Wook Shi said. "But her kidnapping is what led to my concubine being shot! It's bad enough that Song took her from the house, she was primed for me to have her once I was moved in after the marriage and she couldn't fight me anymore."
It was taking everything in Woo Bin's power to not round the corner as he listened to Wook Shi's words, but he had larger plans for him once he got his hands on him.
"You listen to me, Kim Saeng Yu," Wook Shi said. "I refuse to be knocked down and not take over for the Songs and you know my father feels the same. I don't care what Park Sung Ho has planned for that Gu bitch. I gave you what you needed for the two of you to handle Kang Hee Soo in order to frame Gu and Song. If you've ruined my chances because of shooting Sun Ja-."
Woo Bin arched a brow when he heard Wook Shi stop and wondered what was being said on the other end that choked back the other man's words. He was already thinking of ways to rip the man apart for what he had already heard so far.
"Fine, fine," Wook Shi said. "I'll keep silent. For now. You better hope your shot was accurate enough to not cost Sun Ja her life. If it does, I will make sure that they can't link any of this back to me and I'll turn you and Sung Ho in myself. And that includes letting the cops know that Ku Yoon Gi is on the Park payroll."
Woo Bin heard the swift click of heels as Wook Shi must have ended the call and walked off. He pushed himself off the wall, letting his breathing even out as he pulled his phone from his pocket, clicking the screen. He immediately opened his messages and sent off a message before dialing the number.
"Saeng Jun-hyung, I just sent you a voice recording," Woo Bin said once the other person picked up. "It should help with my father and Bon Hyeong-samchon." After getting acknowledgment, he hung up and headed back in the direction of where Sunny's family, and Wook Shi, were standing. As soon as he rounded the corner, he beelined for the other man. Swinging him around, he swung his arm back and landed a punch on the other man's jaw.
"Song Woo Bin!" Park Sun Lee screeched. "How dare you lay hands on my-."
"Shut it, Park Sun Lee," Woo Bin snarled as he dodged a swing from Wook Shi. He shifted his stance easily and caught the other man before shoving him to the ground and kneeling on his back as he pulled his arm backward to still him. "Keep fighting me and I'll snap your arm. You're damn lucky I won't snap your neck at this rate!"
"Violence is always your answer," Sun Lee said as she started slapping against Woo Bin's back. "Let him go!"
"Woo Bin, what is going on?" Kim Soon Shi asked.
"Park Young Ja, get your daughter off of me before she finds herself in a hospital bed beside her sister," Woo Bin growled.
Young Ja immediately sprung into action, grabbing his screeching daughter. Once he had, Woo Bin shifted and yanked Wook Shi up and slammed him against the wall. "I think you owe us an explanation to this, Song Woo Bin," he said, his tone hard. He was not a fan of Keng Wook Shi, but he could not condone the violence Woo Bin was showing. Not unless there was a good reason for it, because he knew that the Songs did not dole out violence without proper reason.
"Why don't you tell them, Wook Shi?" Woo Bin snapped. "Why don't you explain to your father-in-law how you had a hand in why Sunny is currently in surgery and why my sachon is in the hands of Park Sung Ho."
"You are insane," Wook Shi hissed in pain, spittle splattering his lips as his face was pressed harder into the wall from Woo Bin's weight. "This just proves you are nothing but a violent- ahhh!"
Woo Bin jerked his arm harder. "Try again," he snarled. "Either you tell them with your own lips right now, or I will with your words."
Wook Shi laughed. "You punk," he said. "You really are in-." He felt Woo Bin's grip loosen and suddenly the hall was filled with his words. The very words he had just spoken over the phone to Kim Saeng Yu and how he had helped them with the demise of Kang Hee Soo, framing Song Lee Bin and Gu Bon Hyeong, and admitting to his true reasons for marrying Park Sun Lee.
"No," Sun Lee said. "No, that's not true!"
"Since that is out in the open, you are now going to admit to Park Young Ja why it is that I am Sunny's guardian after I insisted she leave that house after you dared to lay a hand on her and how often you had done so in the attempts to rape her," Woo Bin snarled.
"That little cock tease wanted it," Wook Shi said. "Even more than that petty bitch I married!" Wook Shi screamed as Woo Bin jerked his arm, a crunch vibrating through the hallway as the bone gave way.
"Woo Bin!" Soon Shi snapped. "Let Young Ja handle him." She caught her granddaughter's arm in a grip stronger than expected when Sun Lee attempted to attack Woo Bin. "You need to find Gu Ga Eul and save her. Get justice for Sun Ja."
Young Ja walked over and gripped Wook Shi, Seo Jun having already alerted security. She walked over and placed her hand on Woo Bin's bicep as Young Ja kept a hold of the man now whimpering at his father-in-law's feet. Woo Bin looked at Seo Jun.
"Eomma is right," she said. "Go. Make them pay. Sun J... Sunny will be waiting for you when she wakes."
Woo Bin slowly nodded, covering her hand a moment. His jaw hardened and he moved away from her, easily dodging Sun Lee's hand when she tried to grab him, still shrieking over his treatment of Wook Shi, denials spilling from her lips and fading from his ears as he walked away.
Miranda never expected to deal with the things in life that had come to fruition in such a short amount of time. Even just a few short months ago, she envisioned her life with having Ginger and Sunny at her side, the three of them marrying and falling in love with the men they loved once they realized they were not as bad as they thought. She envisioned a future with Yun Ji Hu and still did at times, even after everything with Geum Jan Di and the knowledge that his heart also once belonged to a long-time friend before Jan Di ever created friction with Ji Hu and Jun Pyo. Though ever since the falling out with Sunny and seeing Ginger seemingly spiraling into a further obsession with So Yi Jeong, she began to realize that despite her emotions for the man, she would never know what her heart truly wanted.
"You helped me and now you leave me to suffer all the consequences!" Miranda paused before she rounded the corner when she heard Ginger's voice.
"You were the idiot to get caught," Park Sung Ho's voice said. "Had you not, everyone would still believe that So Yi Jeong slept with you and he would never have been able to prove it to Ga Eul." Miranda covered her mouth.
"Gu Ga Eul, Gu Ga Eul, all you care about is that commoner trash bi-." Ginger's tirade was cut short by the sound of flesh meeting flesh, hard before she screeched. "You hit me!"
"Be thankful it's not more," Sung Ho snarled. "I warned you about what you say about my future bride."
"Is that why you kidnapped that whore?" Ginger demanded. "And had your lackey shoot Sunny?" Miranda quickly fumbled for her phone and searched through her contacts, pressing Ji Hu's name. She heard approaching footsteps and once again fumbled with her phone to shove it into the pocket of her skirt even as it continued to call Ji Hu. Her eyes were wide as Ginger rounded the corner, the other girl pausing even as Sung Ho grabbed her arm until he saw Miranda. Miranda did not like the darkness that shadowed the man's face as he looked at her.
"How much did you hear?" Sung Ho demanded.
"About what?" Miranda asked, shaking. "Why are you grabbing Ginger?"
Sung Ho's eyes narrowed. "Do not play stupider than you are, Lee Mi Sook."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Miranda said. "I was looking for Ginger when she rounded the corner and you grabbed her. Why is that?" She cried out when a hard hand wrapped around her upper arm as Kim Saeng Yu grabbed her.
"Call me paranoid, but I don't believe you," Sung Ho said, keeping a grip on Ginger. "So you are coming with us."
"Let go of me," Ginger snapped. "I'm already dealing with enough because of you, I do not need to be an accessory to your kidnapping of Gu Ga Eul!"
"You kidnapped Ga Eul?" Miranda asked. "You realize that Gu Jun Pyo will have your head."
Sung Ho smirked. "Not before I have his sister," he sneered. "And if he can survive attempting to find her. Let's go."
"No!" Miranda tried to fight against Saeng Yu's hold until he hit her with the butt of the gun in his hand before aiming it at Ginger. The other woman stared at the barrel.
"Not yet," Sung Ho said. "She'll go quietly, won't you Ginger?" Instead of speaking, the girl simply nodded, droplets of sweat slipping from her temple.
"Good girl."
Ku Yoon Gi wished he had the ability to wipe the utter arrogance that was dripping off of both Song Lee Bin and Gu Bon Hyeong. Despite the evidence in hand, no matter how fabricated, the two men looked as if they could care less that they were both sitting in an interrogation room accused of murder. There was always something about the complete arrogance of the wealthy, even when dealing with the Parks, that left a sour taste in Yoon Gi's mouth. They seemed to think that they could get away with everything with no consequences.
"We have you dead to rights regarding Kang Hee Soo's murder," Yoon Gi finally said to the two men. "Every bit of evidence points to both of you and we all know you had probable cause."
"You know we will not say anything without our attorneys," Bon Hyeong said. "So anything you say to us is for naught."
"Nothing your attorneys say can get you out of this," Yoon Gi said, with a smirk. "We have enough-."
"I would keep your mouth shut if I were you, Yoon Gi," Heo Saeng Jun said as he walked into the interrogation room, a large file in his hand.
Yoon Gi sneered at the other man. "Or what? You'll ask your big bad uncle to take care of me?" he asked. "Like none of us know your connections to the Gu and Song families. What's it like being a cop in the back pockets of those with money?"
Saeng Jun simply smirked his eyebrow arching upwards. "You tell me," he said before pulling out his phone and pressing play. Soon Keng Wook Shi's voice filled the room from the recording that had been sent where Wook Shi admitted to his hand in Ga Eul's kidnapping and assisting to set up Lee Bin and Bon Hyeong.
"That isn't admissable and you know it," Yoon Gi snarled.
"No, but the rest of the evidence we've gathered, as well as Park Ki Bum's testimony to what his son has been up to and the fact that you've been in their pocket for years, particularly in attempts to take down the Songs without proper evidence," the chief of police said as he walked into the interrogation room with two other men in suits and a few other members of the force. The chief tilted his head. "Did you think this would never come to light?"
"You have no evidence," Yoon Gi tried to say. "There is no-." He looked down as a thick file was slapped onto the table.
"I beg to differ," the chief said. "We have quite enough evidence in this file, especially relating to assisting drug trafficking and racketeering." He nodded to the other officers there, who immediately moved to grab Yoon Gi, who immediately tried yanking his arms away.
"You can't do this!" he said.
"I can and I will," the chief said. "Ku Yoon Gi, you are under arrest. I am sure that you know your rights."
Yoon Gi attempted to fight the officers trying to take him into custody, the man cursing as he was dragged away. The chief turned to look at Bon Hyeong and Lee Bin before bowing.
"I apologize that you had to deal with that," he said. "Whatever we can do to assist in getting the one responsible for kidnapping your daughter, please know that the force is at your disposal."
"We need to find Park Sung Ho," Lee Bin said. He looked through the window to see Ji Hu, Jun Pyo, and Yi Jeong approaching with determined looks. "Excuse us." The older men walked out of the interrogation room, nodding to their lawyers who remained to handle any legalities over what they had been accused of.
"Just check your damn messages," Jun Pyo said to Ji Hu.
"It was Miranda, I doubt it's important," Ji Hu admitted.
"Under the circumstances," Lee Bin said as he stepped up to the men. "You should check. You never know what might be a clue to Ga Eul's whereabouts."
Ji Hu inclined his head and stepped away from the group as he pulled out his phone, immediately putting it to his ear to listen. Lee Bin turned to look at the others. "Any word from Woo Bin?" he questioned.
"He's actually how the chief got involved further," Jun Pyo explained. Lee Bin and Bon Hyeong exchanged glances.
"He managed to record Keng Wook Shi's side of a conversation he had with Kim Saeng Yu," Yi Jeong explained. "Wook Shi admitted to assisting Saeng Yu in eliminating Kang Hee Soo and placing the blame on you and Bon Hyeong-samchon. He also confirmed what Sunny told us, that Park Sung Ho is responsible for kidnapping Ga Eul and Kim Saeng Yu was the one to shoot Sunny."
"So us heading to see Park Ki Bum was on point," Bon Hyeong said.
"Guys," Ji Hu ran over to them. "Listen." He held out his phone, hitting the speaker and then play to let them hear the message he had received.
"How much did you hear?"
"About what? Why are you grabbing Ginger?"
"Do not play stupider than you are, Lee Mi Sook."
"I have no idea what you are talking about. I was looking for Ginger when she rounded the corner and you grabbed her. Why is that? Ahhhh!"
"Call me paranoid, but I don't believe you. So you are coming with us."
"Let go of me. I'm already dealing with enough because of you, I do not need to be an accessory to your kidnapping of Gu Ga Eul!"
"You kidnapped Ga Eul? You realize that Gu Jun Pyo will have your head."
"Not before I have his sister, And if he can survive attempting to find her. Let's go."
"No!" Sounds of a scuffle were heard until the sound of something hitting flesh sounded and the click of a gun.
"Not yet. She'll go quietly, won't you Ginger? Good girl." Sounds of shuffling were heard before the slam of a car door and the call cut off.
"So Ginger is also involved," Jun Pyo said, his jaw tightening.
"How much do you want to bet that our mystery helper to Ginger is Sung Ho?" Ji Hu said. "Especially if he kidnapped Ga Eul."
"This bastard needs to go down," Yi Jeong snarled.
Lee Bin glanced at Bon Hyeong, the other man inclining his head. Lee Bin nodded before focusing on the younger men. "Woo Bin sent information to assist Bon Hyeong and me," he said. "Did he say anything else?"
"He intended on meeting us here," Jun Pyo said.
"Good," Lee Bin said. "Take whoever you need, follow Woo Bin's lead."
"I'm at your disposal as well," Heo Saeng Jun said stepping out of the interrogation room.
"You aren't needed to deal with Ku Yoon Gi?" Lee Bin questioned.
"Chief has it under control and he's dead to rights when it comes to his connections with Sung Ho," Saeng Jun said. "He sent me out here to assist on the force's end."
"You head out with the boys," Bon Hyeong said. "I am sure if you reach out to Kim Ju Won, he'll meet you wherever you need to go."
"What about Noona?" Jun Pyo asked. "You know she won't want to take a back seat to this."
"Ju Won will insist she does," Bon Hyeong said, almost cryptically. "Especially right now." He shook his head at Jun Pyo's confused look. "Later."
"While you are handling that, Bon Hyeong and I will pay a visit to the Park estate," Lee Bin said.
Bon Hyeong reached out to rest his hand on Jun Pyo's shoulder. "Find your sister and take that son of a bitch down."
"Gladly."
