Episode 15 – Shattered
Miran's day had begun like any other: in her crisp lab coat, hair pinned back, lost in chemical reports at the government toxicology lab. But her world shattered with a single phone call.
"Miss Choi! Miss Choi!" a panicked neighbor's voice crackled through.
"Your grandma… she collapsed! We're taking her to hospital — come quickly!"
The glass vial slipped from Miran's trembling fingers, shattering against the tiled floor. Tears blurred her vision even before she dropped everything, sprinting from the lab, her breath ragged, heart a drumbeat of fear.
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At the hospital
Miran burst into the sterile corridor, hair clinging to her face.
"Where is she? Grandma! Where?!"
A doctor, eyes solemn, stepped forward. "Miss Choi… I'm sorry. She didn't make it. Cardiac arrest."
"No… no, that's wrong!" Miran shoved past him, feet barely touching the ground as she ran to the curtained bed.
Her grandmother lay still, wrapped in a white sheet, face peaceful in eternal sleep.
Miran's knees hit the cold floor. "Grandma… please! Please wake up!"
She grabbed the wrinkled hands, pressing them to her tear-wet cheek. "You promised… we'd have porridge tonight… please, please!"
Staff tried gently to pull her back, but she screamed, clutching tighter.
"Don't touch her! Grandma! It's me, Miran! Please… open your eyes…"
She was crying so hard her words fractured into sobs, raw and broken.
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At the same moment
Guen, back at the autopsy lab, checked her phone: missed calls from Miran. She redialed, but instead of Miran's soft voice, an unfamiliar woman answered.
"I'm Miran's neighbor," the voice trembled. "Her grandma passed away… Miran… she's lost it. She's at Seoul Central Hospital."
Guen's breath caught. "Thank you." She ended the call, dialed Kevin, voice shaking. "Something happened — Miran's grandmother… she's gone."
Within minutes, Kevin, Minjae, Dohee, Alex, and Guen were on the road, silence heavy in the car, each of them fearing what state they'd find Miran in.
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At the hospital room
They found her crumpled over her grandma's body, hair messy, voice hoarse from screaming. "Grandma, please… we'll go home… please don't leave me…"
Guen rushed forward, kneeling beside her, voice shaking. "Miran, it's Guen… please, look at me…"
Dohee placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Miran… you have to let go…"
But Miran didn't hear them. "She's just sleeping… right? She promised… please, wake up! Grandma!"
The sight tore at them — Alex lowered his head, tears stinging his eyes; Dohee bit her lip, swallowing sobs; even Kevin clenched his jaw, fists tight, looking away.
Minjae stood back, gaze dark, jaw set. Watching this tiny, broken girl fighting the impossible.
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Then the doctor returned.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "We need to move the body to the mortuary."
Miran's head shot up, eyes wide, voice wild. "No! Don't touch her! She can't go! Grandma promised to come home with me!"
Two orderlies stepped forward. Miran threw herself over the body, arms tight as steel. "Don't! You can't! Grandma can't leave me!"
Tears poured down Dohee's cheeks; Guen tried again, voice breaking: "Miran… please, let them—"
"No! She'll be cold! She'll be scared! Grandma… don't leave me!"
But the orderlies hesitated — until Minjae stepped forward.
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Minjae's voice was rough, forced steady.
"Miran. Let go. She's gone."
"No! No, please, don't—!" she sobbed.
He reached down, his boxer-trained arms easily overpowering her trembling body. He pried her from the corpse, lifting her up despite her thrashing. Miran screamed, fists pounding weakly against his chest.
"Please! Let me go! Grandma! Please! Don't do this, Minjae!"
Minjae's face twisted with something sharp — pain, anger, helplessness. "Stop! She's gone, damn it!" he roared.
Miran froze for a heartbeat, shocked, then slumped, body wracked with sobs. "Why… why did you do this… why…?"
She tried to break free, tears soaking his shirt, but exhaustion overcame her. Her eyes fluttered, her small body slackened, and she fainted in Minjae's arms.
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Hospital room – next two days
Miran lay unconscious. Guen sat at her bedside through the night, eyes hollow; Dohee brought soup she barely touched. Alex checked monitors; Kevin paced silently by the window. Minjae lingered in the doorway, shoulders slumped, gaze fixed on her fragile form.
On the second morning, Miran's eyes fluttered open. Memories flooded back — the hospital, Minjae's harsh grip, her grandma's lifeless face. Her chest tightened painfully.
She slipped quietly from the bed, bare feet cold on the tile, and ran.
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Minutes later
Guen returned to find the bed empty. "She's gone!" she gasped.
Alex's fingers flew on his phone. "Minjae told me to keep a tracker in her clothes… got it. She's at her house!"
Kevin, jaw tight, barked, "Move!"
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At Miran's home
They found the door locked from inside. Guen knocked, voice trembling. "Miran! Please… open the door!"
No answer. Alex paled. "She's not answering—"
Minjae's patience snapped. With a single kick, he shattered the door. The sight inside froze them: Miran knelt on the floor, a shard of glass at her wrist, tears streaming.
Minjae's voice cracked. "No!"
He lunged, knocking the glass aside, gripping her shoulders so hard she gasped.
"Don't you dare! Don't you ever do that!"
"Let me go! Let me die! I have no one—" she sobbed.
Minjae shook her lightly, voice hoarse. "You have us! You have me!"
She struggled, sobbing. He pulled her against his chest, his voice raw. "Hate me all you want… but don't leave. Don't leave me."
Her fists pounded his chest weakly until finally she broke, collapsing into his hold.
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In the car back to HQ
Miran sat limp, silent tears falling. Minjae forced food to her lips, voice rough. "Eat. Or I'll force it down your throat."
Slowly, she obeyed, swallowing mechanically.
Back at HQ, she murmured, voice cracked, "I'm sorry… for everything… I'll work."
No one spoke. But everyone felt relief wash through the heavy grief.
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