Chapter 56
Sera's POV
I pressed my foot hard against the accelerator, weaving recklessly between lanes as the city lights streaked past my windshield. I did not care about the red lights or the horns that blared in protest behind me. My grip on the steering wheel was tight, my knuckles pale, my heart pounded so hard it drowned out the noise of traffic.
Two hours ago, everything had been different.
______
After the meeting had ended, I had almost succeeded in pulling Haemin aside, only for Harin to appear and snatch him away. I clicked my tongue in irritation, my jaw tightening. That woman had interrupted at the worst possible moment, ruining my chance to speak with him properly. When the two of them walked away together, I stood frozen for a moment, my expression calm but my chest burning with annoyance.
I turned to leave, intending to return briefly to the conference hall, when my steps halted. Yuna was already exiting the building with her aides. For the briefest moment, her eyes flicked toward me, catching sight of me coming from the direction of the water dispenser. I met her gaze calmly but Yuna said nothing. She simply turned away, ignoring me entirely, and continued toward the waiting cars.
Inside the hall, only a few people remained. My aide, Mina, hurried over with a worried expression.
"I am sorry, Vice Chairwoman," Mina whispered, bowing her head. "I could not keep Harin occupied any longer. She seems to have understood what was happening, and she withdrew before I could stall her further."
My eyes grew colder. "You need to do your job more properly next time," I said, my voice low and cutting.
Mina lowered her head further. "Yes, Vice Chairwoman. I sincerely apologize."
Before I could say anything more, a group of politicians who had lingered after the meeting approached, greeting me with polite smiles and formal bows. "Vice Chairwoman Hwang, it is good to see you again. The Daehan Group's presence was impressive today…"
I returned their greetings with practiced composure, smiling faintly, answering with courteous words. Inside, however, I was already irritated. Their shallow praise meant nothing to me. I dismissed them as quickly as manners allowed and left the building.
______
Back at my apartment, the silence welcomed me. I removed my coat, set aside my heels, and stepped into the shower. Warm water cascaded down my shoulders, but my thoughts would not still.
I had been happy—no, almost relieved, that I finally got to meet Haemin again. Just seeing him up close, hearing his voice, watching the awkward way he tried to distance himself… it stirred something in me. For a brief moment, I felt content.
But that fragile happiness shattered the instant I remembered what I had seen on his wrist.
My hand pressed against the tiled wall, fingers curling tight.
What exactly happened to you, Haemin?
Who had dared to hurt him like that? The thought made my blood run cold.
My first suspicion had been instant. Seo Yuna. Could it have been her? Was Haemin trapped in something he could not admit? Was he in an abusive relationship?
I narrowed my eyes at the thought. If it truly was Yuna, then what could have triggered her to do something like that? Was it jealousy? Possessiveness? Could it be because of me? Because Yuna was jealous of me?
I let out a bitter sigh.
No… that would be too simple.
Still, the memory of Haemin's delicate face flashed in my mind—his soft, boyish features that carried a quiet charm. There was something about his presence that drew people in so naturally. I understood, painfully well, why someone might grow overly possessive of him.
But to the point of leaving bruises on his body? That was something I could not accept.
"Whatever it is, I will find out soon," I muttered under the hiss of the shower.
Finishing quickly, I stepped out, dried my hair with a towel, and wrapped myself in a silk bathrobe. I moved into the living room and sank onto the sofa. The night scenery of Seoul stretched endlessly, the city glowing alive under the dark sky. For a moment, I simply sat there, breathing quietly, letting the lights outside steady me.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed, breaking the silence, the screen lighting up with an unfamiliar number. I frowned, hesitating for a moment before picking it up.
"Good evening, Ms. Hwang," a male voice said politely on the other end. His tone was respectful..
"Who is speaking?" I asked, my voice sharp.
There was a brief pause, as if he was carefully choosing his words. "My name is Doctor Ryu Jihwan. I apologize for calling at this hour, but I thought it best to reach you directly."
My brows knitted together. "Doctor Ryu?" I repeated, cautious. "And why are you calling me, Doctor?"
He cleared his throat softly. "Forgive me, Ms. Hwang, but do you recall the young man you once asked me to discreetly check into? You provided me with his name a few weeks ago."
I gripped the phone harder, already knowing where this was going. My throat felt dry. "Kim Haemin?"
"Yes," Doctor Ryu confirmed. "That is correct."
My heart stopped. My voice trembled before I could steady it. "What about him? Did something happen to him?"
The doctor's pause dragged on, making my chest feel like it would burst. "He is… currently in our care," he finally said, voice low.
I shot up from the sofa, my chest tightening as I began pacing across the room. "In your care? What does that even mean? Is he hurt? Tell me exactly what happened!"
"Ms. Hwang, please," he said gently, trying to calm me. "I do not wish to alarm you more than necessary. What I can tell you for now is that he was found earlier this evening and brought here. We do not know how to contact his guardian because he did not have any phone with him. But fortunately, I recognized his face and remembered you had asked me about him. That is why I decided to call you. He requires medical attention, but please understand, he is stable at the moment."
"Stable?" I repeated, my voice rising despite myself. "Doctor, do not play with words. How bad is it? How is he right now?!"
There was hesitation again, the faint sound of him exhaling through the line. "I promise he is being looked after carefully. But this is not something I can fully explain over the phone. I truly believe it is best for you to come to the hospital immediately. You will understand more once you see him yourself."
"I am coming right now," I said, my voice sharp with urgency. "Until I arrive, do not let anyone near him. If someone shows up asking for him, you call me first—do you understand? No one sees him until I am there."
"Yes, Ms. Hwang," Doctor Ryu replied firmly. "I will see to it personally."
"Good. Keep him safe until I get there."
Without waiting for more, I ended the call, already rushing to change my clothes. My cap, my mask, my keys—my hands moved without thought. Within moments, I was out the door, my heartbeat pounding louder.
______
The glowing white letters of XXX Medical Center loomed above me as I pulled into the emergency entrance. I parked the car without caring if it was straight or not, grabbed my cap lower over my forehead, and pulled my mask snug across my face before stepping out.
The automatic sensors opened for me. My steps echoed against the polished floor as I strode past the waiting patients and their families. I could feel their curious eyes flicker toward me, but I ignored them completely. Every second that passed felt like it was being stolen from me.
At the reception counter, a nurse lifted her head, startled by the intensity of my arrival. Before she could even speak, I lowered my voice, firm but commanding.
"Doctor Ryu Jihwan. Where is he?"
The nurse blinked rapidly, then nodded as if recognizing the name. She picked up the phone to call someone, her hands fumbling slightly at my tone. Moments later, I heard quick footsteps, and Doctor Ryu appeared from the corridor. His white coat swayed as he walked with hurried strides, his expression a mixture of urgency and relief.
"Ms. Hwang," he greeted, bowing slightly despite the situation. "Thank you for coming so quickly."
I stepped forward, my voice clipped. "Where is he? Take me to him. Now."
"Yes, of course. Please follow me."
We moved swiftly down the corridor, past rows of closed doors and muted hospital lights. My footsteps quickened until I was almost at his side. The further we walked, the louder the pounding in my chest became.
Finally, I asked, unable to hold it back any longer. "Tell me everything. What exactly happened to him?"
Doctor Ryu inhaled slowly before replying. "He was found collapsed earlier this evening. The paramedics reported head trauma, bleeding from the nose and mouth, and extensive bruising on his body. However…" He glanced at me cautiously. "…he is stable for now, but he is in a weakened state. We are monitoring him closely."
I felt a rush of both relief and fury course through me. Relief that he was not on the edge of death, but fury at the thought of someone daring to put him in such a condition. My hands curled into fists at my sides.
When we reached a private ward at the end of the corridor, Doctor Ryu paused and lowered his voice. "He is resting inside. We have sedated him lightly to ease his pain. I followed your instruction and have not allowed anyone else to see him. Only the nurses assigned to this ward know, and they were told to keep their silence."
"Good," I said coldly. "It must stay that way. If anyone asks for him, you contact me first. No one is to enter without my permission."
"Yes, Ms. Hwang," he said with a bow.
He pushed the door open, and I stepped inside.
The sight that met me made my breath catch in my throat.
There he was lying on the hospital bed, the thin white blanket pulled up to his chest. His face, usually bright with youth, was pale beneath the harsh fluorescent lights. His lips were cracked, and his breathing shallow but steady. A faint bruise shadowed his temple, and a bandage was wrapped around his wrist. His hair fell messily across his forehead, damp with sweat.
For a moment, I could not move. My chest tightened painfully, my feet rooted to the floor.
Slowly, I forced myself forward, each step heavy with the weight of what I was seeing. I reached his bedside, my hand hovering above him, trembling slightly. I wanted to touch him, to reassure myself he was real, but I stopped just short of his skin.
Who did this to you?
The bruise on his wrist burned in my vision. At the time, I had doubted my own suspicion. But now, seeing him like this, my doubts scattered. This was not an accident. Someone had laid their hands on him deliberately.
My jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.
Seo Yuna… was it you?
Doctor Ryu spoke quietly behind me, as if aware of the storm brewing inside me. "He needs rest. We will continue to run tests and monitor his condition. Physically, he should recover with time. But… emotionally, I cannot say. Injuries like this often come with scars beyond the surface."
I turned slightly, my eyes sharp. "Do not speak of this to anyone. If I hear a whisper about him outside these walls, I will know where it came from."
Doctor Ryu bowed his head deeply. "Understood, Ms. Hwang."
I turned back to Haemin, my voice softening, almost to a whisper only I could hear.
"You're safe now… I won't let anyone touch you again."
I pulled a chair close and sat down beside his bed. My fingers finally brushed his hand, careful and gentle, afraid I might cause him more pain. His skin was cool, fragile, and yet in that moment, all I felt was heat rising inside me—anger, fear, and something deeper.
I leaned closer, my cap shadowing my eyes. "I promise you, Haemin… I'll find out the truth. And when I do—whoever did this to you will regret it."