"
The room fell into absolute silence.
Jaeahn's fingers froze above the keyboard as a new message appeared on the screen.
Unknown:
"Who are you? How do you know about that?"
Her breath slowed. The ticking sound of the wall clock suddenly felt too loud.
After a moment, she typed.
Jaeahn:
Hi. I'm Jaeahn.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared.
Then—
Unknown:
This is Lee Andrew.
Jaeahn's eyes narrowed. She hesitated—only for a second—then broke the silence.
Jaeahn:
Tell me everything you know about the bone marrow experiment.
The reply came faster this time.
Andrew:
Why do you want to know about that? It's not as simple as you think.
Jaeahn's jaw tightened.
Jaeahn:
Don't ask why. Just know this—people are dying. And the truth about Ahn Medical needs to come out.
A long pause.
Then—
Andrew:
…You know about Ahn Medical? Then you already understand how deep this goes. What exactly do you want to know?
Her fingers moved without hesitation.
Jaeahn:
The note on the 9th floor. "Let me go." Was it yours?
Several seconds passed.
Andrew:
Yes.
I didn't know what they were really doing at first. When I found out, I tried to quit. I refused to play with people's lives.
They didn't listen. They sent someone to kill me.
Jaeahn's eyes darkened.
Jaeahn:
The abandoned building—32 FH, northern side?
Andrew:
Yes.
I killed him. I didn't want to… and I never meant to hurt you. That was my mistake. I'm sorry.
Jaeahn exhaled slowly.
Jaeahn:
It's fine. Tell me this—who's behind everything? And will you testify for me?
The answer appeared like a blade.
Andrew:
Ahn Min-ji. CEO of Ahn Medical.
But listen to me—please give up. This isn't as easy as you think.
Jaeahn's lips curled into a cold smile.
Jaeahn:
After her? Who else is involved?
Andrew:
She has an entire network. A separate world. People hand over human lives—requesting clones, experiments, replacements.
As for evidence… yes. I'll be your witness.
If you need anything, contact me.
Jaeahn:
Thank you.
The screen went dark.
"Big sis… it's already late," Eunwoo said
softly. "Why did you even ask him?"
"I just needed confirmation," Jaeahn replied.
Suddenly, she stood up.
"Let's go."
"…Where? At night?" Eunwoo asked, startled.
"I know how to find Jong-suk, Do-hwan… and Jihu."
"But big sis—"
"Shh." Jaeahn grabbed her coat. "Don't ask. Just move."
The elevator hummed as it descended.
Jaeahn's voice dropped. "We can't hide anymore."
Eunwoo looked at her.
"Mom didn't touch Jihu," Jaeahn continued, eyes cold. "But Jong-suk and Do-hwan? She won't hesitate. She knows we know everything now."
The elevator stopped.
"You take the stairs," Jaeahn said suddenly.
"What? Why—?"
"Just do it."
Reluctantly, Eunwoo turned toward the stairwell.
The elevator doors opened.
Two men stood outside—guns raised.
"Don't scream," one of them said. "Come with us if you want to live."
Jaeahn didn't move.
Then—she smiled.
A sharp, fearless smile.
"…Wow," she muttered. "Sending armed men? Am I really that dangerous?"
"Move," the man growled.
"Okay," Jaeahn said lightly. "Let's go."
The car stopped.
But it wasn't an abandoned place.
It was her childhood home.
They threw Jaeahn to the floor—right at her mother's feet.
Jaeahn looked up… and smiled.
"Finally," she said softly. "We meet again."
Ahn Min-ji didn't respond.
She grabbed Jaeahn's hair and dragged her across the floor.
Into a hidden room.
A locked door.
Jaeahn stopped.
Her legs refused to move.
Inside—
Jong-suk was tied to a chair.
Their eyes met.
Tears flooded Jaeahn's vision.
Her ears rang.
The screams.
The darkness.
The room where her childhood was broken.
Her breath turned shallow. Her hands shook.
"Jaeahn."
She looked up.
"Look at me," Jong-suk said gently. "Breathe. Calm down."
She forced herself forward.
One step.
Then another.
"You really thought I'd walk in without a plan?" Jaeahn laughed suddenly—sharp, unhinged.
"You think you trapped me, Mrs. Ahn Min-ji?"
Her mother's eyes flickered.
"I left the house on purpose. All the evidence is with Eunwoo. If I don't call within one hour—she goes straight to the police."
A flashback crossed her mind—
Eunwoo at the stairwell.
The whispered instructions.
Run. Go to the police. Wait for my call.
Jaeahn laughed again.
There was no emotion left for her mother.
"Having you as a daughter," Min-ji said coldly, "was worse than never having a child at all."
Jaeahn's smile vanished.
"Daughter?" she whispered.
"I died long ago."
She screamed—
"You are NOT my mother!"
Ahn Min-ji gestured to her men.
In that second, Jaeahn saw the gun turn—aimed at Jong-suk.
She moved without thinking.
Her body shielded him.
A knife —
Pain exploded.
jaeahn trund behind
scream jongsuk
but at that moment
Blood hit the floor.
Jong-suk's scream tore through the room.
"JAEAHN—!"
The world drowned in red.
End of Chapter 29