At the Aroura site.
Security barriers were placed in the queue. Yellow tape stretched across them, printed, DO NOT CROSS. The unfinished mall felt cold and hollow. Concrete pillars stood tall, wires hung loose, and bright lights were focused on one spot in the middle.
Seo-Yeon and Jeon-Woo stand beside. Light flooded the center of the hall. Jae Min's body was covered in a white sheet. Which was losing it's purity around his head, with black marks. The medical examiner crouched beside it, checking carefully. Officers were moving steadily, observing the scene, and taking photos. Head Officer Lao marked evidence near a brick. A few steps away, another one, a piece of rope.
He put on his gloves.
"Bag, please," he continued, "Separate packaging."
The examiner folded back the sheet around Jaemin's face.
Seo-Yeon stumbled. Her breath hitched. She clutched tightly and shut her eyes. But the image was captured in her mind. Jaemin's face was not only burnt black, but also peeled off, too deliberate. Suzy hurriedly blocked her way, standing in front of Seo-Yeon.
"Don't look," she said softly.
"Thermal injury?" Officer Lao asked.
"Unlikely," the medical examiner stood up, removing his gloves, "there is no surrounding material that confirms it."
Jeon-Woo stepped forward, "What's the conclusion, officer?" he asked.
"99 percent... murder case." Officer Lao pointed at the ground, "These footprints shows that there's a fight before he died."
Jeon-Woo glanced at Seo-Yeon, still standing behind Suzy.
"And remaining one percent means, "Jeon-Woo voice turned cold, " we can't say anything, until the postpartum report comes out." It wasn't a threat, but also not a plead.
The composed situation is inside the mall, the wild it's getting outside. Reporters were almost stepping on each other to entered.
"Jeon Empire's manager, Jae Min has been found dead at the Aroura construction site. It is said that killer was quite reckless."
A young female reporter turned camera to the security,
"As you can see, because of high alert reporters aren't even allowed inside."
At that exact moment, Jihoon reached there with full security.
"Mr. Jihoon..." A reporter tried to stepped forward but blocked by his guard's deadly glance.
"Yeon-ah !"
Seo-Yeon turned to Jihoon, eyes widened, "Jihoon?"
She dragged him aside.
"Why are you here?" Seo-Yeon whispered.
Jihoon grabbed her hand which was covered in silk white gloves.
"I heard about the..." Seo-Yeon cut him off, "You shouldn't be here. This could affect your image." Seo-yeon said in a concerned voice.
"It's ok... a friend in need is a friend indeed." Jihoon smiled, and ruffled Seo-Yeon's hair.
Jeon-Woo strolled towards them.
"But with your media image, You'll just dragged attention to us," he pulled back Jihoon's hand from Seo-Yeon.
"Mr. Woo," Seo-Yeon glared at him. Jeon-Woo shrugged, "What?"
Before things got tangled, Mr. Jung interrupted,
"Mr. Woo, Ms. Yeon... Mr. Ravon wanted to have a word with you."
Paris...Early Morning.
Kim Rahae was about to get in the car when Shin stepped in front of her.
"What's this behavior, Shin?" Kim Rahae asked in a calm tone.
Shin grabbed her hand, slightly, "I am sorry...but you refused to meet me."
Kim Rahae pulled back her hands.
"Because there's no past in my kid's memories... nor in my life."
Kim Rahae was about to walk away, but Shin blocked her again.
"But J hasn't forgotten," Shin said. "He's still stuck in the cage."
Kim Rahae looked at her in disbelief,
"Yeon-ah is my daughter..., not a knight," she said firmly, "and your son is not a victim anymore."
Kim Rahae stepped closer.
"He remembers. She doesn't."
"What if he see her as enemy?"
"if he tries to drag her in the past?"
"If saving J costs Seo-Yeon's life?"
Kim Rahae's words made Shin stumbled. After all, what she said was a truth, a harsh one. J couldn't be predictable.
As Shin closed her eyes, a tear escaped.
" I can't offer you anything. A helpless mother beg you, Rahae... For the sake of old times, consider this marriage."
She gathered courage and pulled Kim Rahae in hugged, "I promise you security of Seo-Yeon. She will never get to know the past because of J."
Kim Rahae gentle broke the hug and get in the car. She drove away, lefting Shin stood there as statue.
Jeon Empire.
Mr. Rivon was on video call with Seo-Yeon.
"This matter will create sensation because of high names in it." Mr. Rivon voice was cold and rusty.
"Not only will we lose billions... but multiple companies will go bankrupt if this project stops," his voice rose.
"These kinds of things are usually accurate where big names lie. What matter now is how we handle it, Mr. Rivon." Seo-Yeon said in a composed tone.
Rivon hummed in reply, "Where's Jeon-Woo?"
Seo-Yeon turned screen to Jeon-Woo's desk. He was sitting casually, feet on top of the desk.
"Oh, hello!" Jeon-Woo waived while smiling to the screen.
"YOU PIECE OF WONDER... is this time to chill? Do you even realize that your manger died." Rivon shouted.
Jeon-Woo calmly stood up, tugging his hands in pockets,
"Samchon-nim, In this age you should worry less. It can cause heart attack." He leaned closer to the screen and whispered.
"I still have a gang of managers. One's death is like a bucket pulled out of sea."
Rivon just sighed, "You will never gonna change."
Jeon-Woo chuckled. As call disconnected, he turned to Seo-Yeon. Her glance was fixed at him, like shooting stars.
"Staring like this, " he said, stepping closer to her. "Will make you fall in love with this handsome face."
Seo-Yeon rolled up her eyes, "I met many morons," she paused, "But you are a special case."
The door thud opened.
"Ms. Yeon, the police have declared Manager Dong-Hyun killer of Mr. Jaemin!..."
Paused
"... and reporters are getting wild outside."