"Now, can you tell me the real reason behind your earlier plight?" Kim Won-Shik's voice, though firm, was laced with genuine concern as his piercing gaze settled on Yun-ji.
Yun-ji hesitated for a brief moment, her chest tightening at the memory. The weight of betrayal lingered in her mind, but she pushed through the haze. "Choi Bora and Wang Da," she began, her voice steady but cold, "they schemed together. Bora drugged my drink, and Wang Da tried to take advantage of the situation."
Kim Won-Shik's expression darkened, his hand instinctively balling into a fist. The tension in the air thickened as Yun-ji continued, her gaze never wavering. "I overheard their conversation over the phone before departing from our house... and that's when I contacted you. They thought I'd be helpless."
His anger flared at the thought of Yun-ji being at the mercy of those treacherous women. He could see the lingering hurt in her eyes, but what struck him more was her unwavering strength. "You didn't deserve that," he muttered, his jaw tight. "None of it."
A deep silence followed. He felt sorry, not because he pitied her, but because he understood the depth of betrayal she had endured.
"What's your plan? How do you intend to face your parents tomorrow?" Kim Won-Shik's voice was calm but probing, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation.
Yun-ji let out a soft sigh, her mind still clouded with uncertainty. "I don't have a plan yet," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on her.
Kim Won-Shik's expression softened slightly. "Then let me handle it for you," he said confidently. He had already crafted a strategy, one she wouldn't have to carry alone.
Yun-ji glanced at him, the flicker of trust in her eyes unmistakable. For someone who had learned not to rely on others, it was a rare moment of vulnerability. "Okay," she murmured, her gaze holding his. In that moment, she allowed herself to trust him, something she hadn't done in a long time.
The unspoken bond between them grew stronger as if they both understood that this was just the beginning of a much larger game.
I'll be leaving now," Kim Won-Shik said, rising from his seat with a confident smirk. His gaze lingered on Yun-ji for a moment longer than necessary. "Get some rest and be ready tomorrow morning to watch a good show."
There was a teasing glint in his eyes. Yun-ji could sense the weight of his words, though his tone seemed light. Her curiosity sparked, but before she could ask more, he turned on his heel and left, the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance.
As the door clicked shut, Yun-ji found herself staring at the space he'd just occupied, wondering what exactly he had planned—and how much of it was for her sake.
THE NEXT MORNING
At the Choi residence…
Choi Bora woke early, her heart racing as she slipped silently into the living room. The sight of her father, Choi Hwan, seated sternly on the sofa with her mother, Gong Hae, beside him, sent a wave of anxiety through her.
The moment her father noticed her, his brow furrowed. "Where is Yun-ji? Is she still sleeping?"
Bora hung her head low, concealing the glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes beneath a carefully crafted mask of panic. "I... I don't know," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. The weight of her deceit felt heavy in the air.
Gong Hae's voice sliced through the tension. "Why aren't you answering, Bora? Your father is waiting for a response."
Bora's anxiety swelled, her palms sweating as she tried to maintain her composure. "I... I can't find her," she managed to reply, her voice quaking with feigned concern.
Gong Hae's frustration boiled over. "What do you mean you don't know? Didn't you both return home together last night?"
Bora's heart raced, but she forced a panicked expression onto her face. "No! At the hotel, Yun-ji said she had to use the restroom but never came back. I searched everywhere for her. Wang Da mentioned she saw Yun-ji leaving with a friend, so I came home alone."
Choi Hwan's eyes darkened, his tone turning icy. "Which friend? Why didn't you tell us this yesterday?"
Bora bit her lip, feeling a flutter of discomfort wash over her. She had to tread carefully.
"Because... I didn't want to get her in trouble," she said, struggling to maintain her innocent facade.
Her father's voice thundered through the room. "If you didn't tell us now, you will face the same punishment as your sister!"
Inside, Bora's heart swelled with triumph; her plan was working. "Wang Da said she saw Yun-ji entering a hotel room with a man. They seemed... intimate," she stuttered, the words rolling off her tongue with deceptive innocence. "I didn't want to tell you because I knew you would scold her."
Choi Hwan's face turned a deep shade of crimson as rage coursed through him. "Take me to the hotel where they went last night. Show me the room!"
Gong Hae's expression hardened, her resolve matching her husband's as she nodded in agreement. Without another word, the family rushed out of the house, the air thick with tension.
Bora slipped into the backseat of the car, a sense of elation bubbling within her. As they sped towards the hotel, she savored the thought of Yun-ji's imminent downfall, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She could already see her sister's reputation crumbling, and the satisfaction of her success fueled her excitement.
As they arrived at the hotel, Choi Bora led her parents to the room where she had asked Wang Da to take Yun-ji, her heart racing with anticipation. Standing before the door, she caught sight of reporters lurking in the corners, their cameras ready to capture the unfolding drama. This was all part of her plan; she wanted the news of Yun-ji's tarnished reputation to spread like wildfire, and it was finally coming to fruition.
Choi Hwan, consumed by anger and impatience, barely noticed the reporters as he demanded the hotel staff open it with a spare key. The staff, visibly anxious, complied, and as the door swung open, a shocking scene unfolded before them.
The room was a chaotic mess, dresses strewn across the floor, remnants of a wild night. Two silhouettes lay tangled in the sheets of the bed. One was turned away, her back facing the entrance, oblivious to the intrusion, lost in a deep sleep.
The man stirred, jolted awake by the commotion. Panic flashed across his face as he took in the unexpected visitors. He shot up, quickly covering himself with the bedsheet, his eyes wide with alarm.
Choi Hwan's rage ignited at the sight. "What have you done to my daughter?" he roared, his voice reverberating off the walls.
The man, desperate to save himself, shot back saying. "Your daughter came to me willingly! She seduced me! Don't blame me when you can't teach your daughter better!"
"How dare you speak to my uncle like that!" a deep voice boomed from behind. It was Man-Tae, a key player in Bora's orchestrated scene. He stepped forward, his demeanor commanding and authoritative. "You don't even know who you're talking to!"
Bora smirked inwardly as Man-Tae confronted the man. He was not just an innocent bystander; he was the groom chosen for Yun-ji by their families since childhood, a match arranged long before they could comprehend the weight of such bonds. Coming from a prominent family, he was well aware of the stakes involved, and his presence here was no accident. Bora had orchestrated this moment, fully aware that her parents were planning to engage Yun-ji to Man-Tae soon.
The tension in the room thickened, a powder keg ready to explode. Bora reveled in the chaos she had created, knowing that the web of deceit she had spun would ensnare everyone in its grasp.