When Hana came to, her body ached all over. Her cheeks were swollen and bruised, numb to the touch.
She was in a sterile hospital room—the faint smell of antiseptic stinging her nose.
She blinked against the harsh light, trying to piece together how she had ended up here.
Memories flooded back—the kidnapping, Jin's harsh voice, the brutal slaps.
Tears welled up, blurring her vision.
This was the last straw.
The man she had once loved for—had hurt her again and again. Physically, emotionally. More times than she could count.
Whatever feelings she had harbored for Jin were shattered, broken beyond repair.
She curled into herself, a silent sob escaping her lips.
Still, Hana remained quiet about what had happened. What was the point in speaking up? Who would believe her, anyway?
Even her own father dismissed her bruises and swollen face with a wave of his hand, muttering that she was only doing this to herself for attention.
Her stepmother had probably whispered those poisonous words into his ear, planting seeds of doubt and cruelty.
And as always, he listened—never to her, but always to them.
Not once did Jin visit her in the hospital. Not even a message. Nothing.
Meanwhile, Yuna strolled into her room like she was visiting an old friend, wearing a satisfied smirk as if she were the victor of a petty game.
She perched at the edge of the bed, her expression full of mock concern.
"I heard someone took revenge for me," Yuna said sweetly, her voice laced with venom. "It's only right, you know? You slapped me once, so four slaps in return seem fair. Don't you think?"
Hana didn't answer. She didn't flinch. She just stared out the window as if Yuna were nothing more than a buzzing mosquito. Annoying. Pointless.
Like a fart in the wind.
Still, the ache in her chest lingered—not from the slaps, not from the betrayal, but from the face she couldn't forget.
Jin. The man she once thought might see through the masks and lies.
She couldn't believe he'd go to such lengths just to please Yuna. Kidnapping her. Harming her. Almost killing her.
Did he even know the woman he claimed to love?
If he knew the truth—the manipulation, the lies, that Yuna was a venomous bitch—would he still love her?
It didn't matter anymore.
Hana gripped the edge of her hospital blanket, forcing herself to breathe steadily. She was done crying. Done hoping.
She was leaving.
Not just the hospital. Not just the house that never felt like home.
She was leaving everything. The pain. The cruelty. The betrayal.
England waited for her. Her grandparents always begged her to return, promising safety, love, and a future. And now, for the first time, she said yes.
The excitement in their voices had nearly made her cry.
They were waiting for her.
And this time, she wouldn't look back.
=====
Days passed slowly in the hospital, each one a cruel reminder of how far she had fallen.
Her body healed, but her heart remained raw and exposed.
She thought about her decision to go to England, to leave everything behind.
Was it really surrender?
Or was it the only way to reclaim her life?
Her grandparents' voices echoed in her mind, warm and patient.
They promised safety, kindness, a fresh start.
And for the first time, Hana felt like she could believe in something again.
She wiped her tears away and stared out the window, determination slowly returning.
Whatever the past had taken from her, the future was still hers to write.
That night, as the hospital lights dimmed and silence fell over the ward, Hana made a vow.
No more lies.
No more pain.
No more waiting for a world that had forgotten her.
She would make a new start in England.
After being discharged from the hospital, Hana returned home quietly. She didn't tell her father. She didn't tell Jin or anyone else.
Why bother?
None of them would care—or worse, they'd try to stop her for their own reasons.
She didn't need to bring much. She didn't have much to begin with. Just a small suitcase, her worn journal, and the broken necklace that had once been her mother's. The one thing she had treasured—and lost.
Now, all that was left was to finalize a few papers, wait for her visa and passport to be cleared. Just a few more days.
She spent most of her time locked in her room. Not out of sadness, but for survival. If she saw Yuna again, she might do something she'd regret. If she saw Jin, she might waver.
Then came the rain.
It was late. Past midnight. The storm had begun to pass, leaving only a soft drizzle and the low growl of distant thunder.
Hana was by her window, staring at the fogged glass, lost in thoughts of departure. That's when she noticed it—someone running through the garden.
He was soaked. Limping. His figure barely visible under the misty moonlight, but she knew that silhouette. Jin.
Curiosity pulled her downstairs and into the Garden.