★TAEJU★
"Dr. Taeju, Taehyung hasn't returned yet."
I glance up from my laptop to the man standing before me. He isn't a doctor or a nurse like me—he's one of my men.
With a sigh, I close my laptop. "He hasn't come back from Busan? What the hell was he even doing there?" I rub my temples, feeling the stress mounting. "Where was he last seen?"
"A club in Busan," the man replies. "One of the more famous ones. Pildo dropped him off at a hotel after the club and was told to leave. He stayed nearby to keep an eye out but reported that he hadn't seen Mr. Taehyung leave the hotel."
I lean back in my chair, closing my eyes. This is the last thing I need right now.
"Dr. Taeju…" the man hesitates before continuing. "You should see this."
When I open my eyes, he's holding an iPad. With a few taps, he turns the screen to face me.
I curse under my breath.
"Mr. Taehyung was reported to have assaulted a student at SNU," he says, his voice steady but grim. "He didn't successfully rape her, but the incident was enough to leave her traumatized. Do you need the details?"
I shake my head sharply. The thought alone is enough to make my stomach churn. "What happened after that? And why am I only hearing about this now?"
"He was expelled from SNU," he says. "The parents of the girl didn't press charges because he bought them off—with money, jewelry, and other gifts. I got this information directly from the girl after tracking her down. Apparently, she ran away from home after Taehyung showed up at her family's house."
I nod slowly, absorbing the information. "Get the men ready. We're leaving for Busan tomorrow."
Jeon's eyes widen. "Dr. Taeju… what about your work?"
"There are more than ten capable doctors and surgeons here. They can handle things without me for a while. Book a house near the club where Taehyung was last seen. I'll wrap things up here tonight."
He bows and leaves the office.
I pick up my phone and dial Taehyung's number. Three attempts later, and it still doesn't connect. Something's wrong. I can feel it.
---
Two hours pass before my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen and see the caller ID.
"Mother," I greet, answering the call.
"Oh, Taeju," she says, her voice tinged with worry. "Have you heard from your brother? He said he was going to Busan two days ago, but I haven't heard from him since. Has he contacted you?"
"No," I reply, leaving out the part where I tried calling him. "If he does, I'll let you know immediately. I'm heading to Busan tomorrow. Let Father know."
"Oh… okay." Her voice softens, but there's still unease. "Would you come home tonight? We could have dinner before you leave for Busan."
I hesitate, weighing her request. "No, I won't make it. There's too much work to finish here."
"Alright. Make sure you eat well, okay? I'll call you later."
I hum in acknowledgment and hang up.
---
I was fifteen when my father died. I didn't need another father figure in my life; fifteen years with one was enough. My mother, however, couldn't handle being alone. She remarried a man who already had a son—Taehyung, who was five at the time.
He wasn't her biological child, but she loved him fiercely. Over time, she began to see him as her own and pushed me to do the same. For a while, I went along with it. Taehyung was a handful, sure, but he wasn't rebellious. That all changed when he turned fifteen, though.
By then, I was twenty-five and well into my career. Taehyung started hanging out with junkies, getting into trouble. I beat sense into him more times than I can count and told my stepfather to handle his son properly, but nothing seemed to stick.
He eventually stopped doing drugs—at least at home. Outside? Who knows. But I never imagined he'd force himself on someone. That wasn't how I raised him.
I glance at the clock on my desk. It's almost nine. Time to call it a day.
I remove my white coat and scrubs, changing into the black shirt and jeans I came in with. As I leave the hospital, my mind is already in Busan, piecing together the mess my brother has left in his wake.