Chapter 61
Sera's POV
Almost half a day had already been wasted. From early morning until now, I had been tied down at Daehan's headquarters, dealing with endless reports and board meeting. I had counted down the hours until I could leave everything behind and come to see Haemin. Finally, when I managed to free myself and come to the hospital, Yuna was already there, trying to snatch him away. Fortunately, my security team managed to stop her, and Haemin seemed unaware of what had just happened.
But now, I walked down the corridor, irritation rising in my chest after the phone call I had just received from my office. Our headquarters had been ambushed by an investigation team from the prosecutor's office. Someone had filed a report accusing us of financial irregularities and hidden offshore accounts. It was laughable. Of course, they would not find anything. But if they lingered too long inside our building, it could create unnecessary rumors.
And what caught my attention the most was the team that stormed our headquarters was operating under Prosecutor Jung's order. That was surprising. Until now, I had assumed Jung was one of the few untouchable officials, a man who refused to bend to the influence of conglomerate families. He was not known to take favors, nor was he known to bow to political pressure. For him to act against Daehan Group so suddenly… it meant only one thing. Seo Yuna had her hand in this.
The audacity of that woman to pull such a stunt, simply because she could not stand the thought of me being by Haemin's side.
Perhaps I had underestimated her influence. I had always known she had power within the corporate world, but if she could sway someone like Jung, who knew what other cards she had hidden in her pocket. While my own network reached deep into politics, bureaucracy, and the country's top figures, I had always believed Prosecutor Jung was beyond anyone's control. And now, it seemed I was wrong.
As if the raid was not enough, I got another message from my assistant, informed me that Yuna's assistant, Harin, was already waiting for me in the meeting office. For a moment, I considered ignoring the request, but curiosity burned within me. If Yuna was bold enough to use the prosecutor's office against me, then I had to know what kind of trick she was planning next.
______
After a few minutes, I arrived at the meeting room. Mina was already waiting for me at the door. She bowed politely and opened it for me. I stepped inside, and she closed the door behind me, remaining by the entrance.
Inside, Harin was standing tall, her posture composed, while Doctor Ryu sat nearby. Both of them offered me a polite bow as I entered.
"Sorry to bother you this late in the evening," Harin began calmly. "As you can see, Ms. Seo has sent me to discuss with you."
I chuckled lightly, though my tone dripped with sarcasm. "So this is her idea of discussion? Sending prosecutors to raid my headquarters first, and then sending you here?"
Harin's expression remained perfectly calm. "She asked me to convey her apologies for that. She also said you would not have agreed to this conversation unless we gave you a little… push."
I chuckled again and moved toward the sofa, sitting down without hesitation. Without wasting time, I looked straight at her.
"Let's not bother with formalities. If you came here to discuss taking Haemin away, then I suggest you save us both some time. I won't be handing him over."
Harin's eyes stayed calm, her voice as cool as ice. She moved to the sofa opposite me and sat down, folding her hands neatly in her lap.
"Since this is not an official meeting, allow me to be straightforward." Her tone sharpened. "Ms. Hwang, you may call yourself his guardian, but the law doesn't just accept it because a patient suddenly writes your name down. In medical cases, guardianship has to be checked and confirmed. If there's doubt, the court can step in and review it."
Doctor Ryu shifted slightly, as if uncomfortable with how quickly the polite air had turned into a battlefield. But Harin pressed on without pause.
"Furthermore, medical rules are clear. Guardianship cannot be used to block the rights of immediate family. If there's any sign of conflict of interest, or if the hospital is seen helping to keep family away, an investigation will follow. And believe me, the Ministry of Health does not hesitate to punish hospitals that mishandle cases like this."
I held her gaze, keeping my face steady. But from the corner of my eye, I noticed Doctor Ryu shifting uncomfortably, as if he feared he might somehow be dragged into trouble.
"You're very good with words, Ms. Yoo," I replied evenly. "But allow me to correct you. Haemin himself appointed me as his guardian. He signed the documents in front of witnesses. That is not a whim—it is his will. If you're suggesting otherwise, then perhaps you are the one disrespecting his choice."
Harin's eyes narrowed, though the faintest smile lingered at her lips.
"And what if someone questions whether he truly signed of his own free will?" she countered coldly. "If rumors spread that he was pressured or taken advantage of, the harm will come quickly. You know as well as I do, Ms. Hwang, that those rumors can destroy a reputation long before anyone can proves the truth."
Mina's hands curled slightly at her sides, her knuckles paling. She was trying to hold herself back.
I leaned forward this time, resting my elbows lightly on the table, my gaze fixed coldly on Harin.
"Tell me something, Ms. Yoo," I said, my voice calm yet cutting. "Are you aware that the young man you are so intent on dragging away has been abused?"
The room went still. Doctor Ryu's brows knitted, Harin's expression did not falter, but I saw the flicker in her eyes. She knew. Of course she knew.
"According to the law," I continued smoothly, "a victim has the right to be protected from the person who hurt them. Guardianship can only be changed if the current guardian is proven unfit or unable to care for them. And if there's proof, clear proof that the person you want him to return to is the one who caused him harm, then trying to take him back isn't just wrong. It's illegal.
Doctor Ryu's face tightened with concern at my words. Harin sat perfectly still, her hands folded neatly, her face carved in stone.
When she finally spoke, her tone was low and cold.
"You speak as if you know the law well, Ms. Hwang. But victims are not always the most reliable. They hesitate, they change their stories, they confuse pity with protection. And the so-called guardians who rush in claiming they want to save them… they are not free from suspicion either. Especially if that guardian happens to be a powerful heiress with every reason to exploit the situation for her own gain."
The words were deliberate daggers. Mina's head lifted sharply, and Doctor Ryu shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
Harin leaned in slightly, her voice steady. "Do not assume the law is a shield only you can use, Ms. Hwang. If this case is opened, the court won't just look at the one accused of abuse. They'll look at you too. Are you ready for that kind of spotlight?"
For a moment, the room fell into silence.
I kept my expression composed, "Then let the light come," I said evenly. "Unlike others, I have nothing to hide."
Our eyes locked, neither one of us blinking.
Harin let out a soft sigh before speaking again.
"Ms. Hwang, may I request that we speak privately?"
"No," Mina interjected sharply. "If you have something to say, say it here."
But Harin's tone remained calm. "It is confidential. It would be wiser to keep this between us. Are you certain you want outsiders to hear what I am about to say?"
Her eyes flicked toward Doctor Ryu.
Before Mina could protest further, I lifted my hand to stop her. "It is fine. Step outside."
Reluctantly, both Mina and Doctor Ryu left the room.
"So now," I asked coldly, my voice cutting through the stillness, "what exactly are you trying to talk about?"
Harin clasped her hands neatly in front of her, her posture straight and composed. Her eyes did not waver as she answered.
"Ms. Hwang," she said evenly, "are you truly unwilling to reconsider your decision?"
I gave a short laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Reconsider?" I tilted my head, watching her like a predator sizing up its prey. "Why should I? You may have Prosecutor Jung tucked safely in your pocket, but I've done nothing wrong. In fact—" I leaned forward, my lips curving faintly "—I encourage you to take this matter to court immediately. Let the world see who Yuna really is."
Harin did not flinch. Her voice stayed calm, measured, every word sharpened with intent. "Ms. Seo already expected you would be stubborn until the end."
With that, she placed a thick file on the table between us. It was the same file she had been holding since the beginning. My eyes narrowed with curiosity as I pulled it closer and flipped it open.
The first few lines stopped me cold.
Misconduct. Embezzlement. Misappropriation of funds linked directly to one of Daehan's own CEOs. The details were precise—dates, amounts, names, signatures. Not vague rumors, but concrete evidence.
My chest tightened, though I forced my expression to remain still. "What is the meaning of this?" I asked slowly, my voice low with warning.
Harin's lips curved into the faintest trace of a smile, though her tone remained steady. "You see, Ms. Hwang… after you stop Ms. Seo earlier—from seeing her husband—she became, let's just say… furious. And what happened at your headquarters today…" She paused, her eyes never leaving mine. "That was just the beginning."
I gave a soft chuckle, though my blood was burning beneath the surface. "So you're threatening me now?" I asked coldly.
Harin exhaled slowly, almost like a sigh. "Let's not deceive ourselves, Ms. Hwang. You know as well as I do… you will not be able to keep Mr. Kim by your side forever."
A quiet laugh escaped my lips, colder this time. "And who said I won't?"
Her eyes darkened, her calmness twisting into something sharper. "Then you will leave me with no choice."
I tilted my head slightly, waiting to see her next move.
But her words struck me like ice.
"May 21st, 2022. Ten fifteen p.m. A body was found near Lake Geneva, at Parc Mon-Repos. Female, mid-forties, identified as a Swiss national with business ties in Zurich. Cause of death—gunshot wounds. One bullet to the head, two in the chest… and two more to her private area."
The room tilted for a moment. My breath caught. My composure cracked for the first time tonight. My eyes narrowing on her.
Her calm voice pressed on, unshaken. "The suspect was caught, a male. But when the trial date approached, the first witness disappeared. The second was called forward, only to turn up dead days later. Then the third—same fate.
"Hey, Harin—" I started, but she continued without pause.
"A bystander reported seeing a woman near the scene. No clear identity, but…" she stopped deliberately, her eyes locking onto mine, "…the description was close enough to raise questions."
"Stop it—" I warned, my voice low.
"Strange, isn't it?" she pressed on. "The culprit was male, but most of the eyewitnesses said it was a woman—"
I shot up from my chair before she could finish. In two strides, I was standing right in front of her, my hand gripping her collar tightly. Her face was so close I could see the steady rise and fall of her breathing.
"Why, Ms. Hwang?" Harin gasped, her voice strained against my grip. "Does it ring any bells?"
"You really enjoy playing with fire, don't you?" I hissed, tightening my hold. "How the hell do you know about that?"
Her expression didn't waver. Her voice stayed maddeningly calm. "Let's just say I have my ways of digging up information."
I pulled her closer, my glare cutting into her. "And you think you can threaten me with this?"
Her eyes didn't blink. "No," she said simply. "I know you will not be afraid, Ms. Hwang. You are skilled at covering your tracks, and even if the truth came out, no one would dare to lay a hand on you. But do not worry, no one else knows of this, not even Ms. Seo. However—" her lips curved ever so slightly "—if I were to expose it…"
My hand clenched harder around her collar until I felt her breath hitch, but even as she struggled for air, she remained composed. That calmness only fueled my fury. With a sharp motion, I finally released her, shoving her back.
She straightened her blouse as if nothing had happened, her breathing returning slowly to normal. I turned away, striding back to my seat, forcing my composure to return. But inside, my pulse thundered.
This woman… this Harin… she was dangerous. Perhaps even more dangerous than Seo Yuna herself.
After a long pause, Harin sat back down across from me. She folded her hands on the table, her expression calm once again.
"So," she said quietly, her eyes locking onto mine, "what is your decision, Ms. Hwang?"
______
Haemin's POV
The rain poured heavily outside. My eyes followed the trails of water sliding down the glass, blurring the city lights into a hazy glow. I wondered where Sera had gone. My tears had already dried, thank God. It would be embarrassing if someone came in and saw me like that again.
I kept my eyes on the window, listening to the rhythm of the storm, until the door to my ward opened.
I expected Sera.
But the figure who stepped inside was someone else.
"Harin-ssi?"
She smiled softly, closing the door behind her before walking in. "Hello, Mr. Kim. How are you?" She gave a small wave as she came closer.
For a moment, I thought I was imagining things. But no, she was really here.
"W–What are you doing here, Harin-ssi?" I stammered, still trying to make sense of it.
"I came to visit you," she said simply, her smile soft.
"O–Oh… yeah." My voice cracked awkwardly.
She pulled out the chair beside my bed and sat down, folding her hands neatly on her lap before her eyes lifted to me.
I didn't know what to say. The silence stretched a little too long.
Then, in a gentler voice, she said, "You made Chairwoman worried."
My throat tightened. "Y—Yes… about that." It felt strange hearing her say it out loud.
"Everyone in the office keeps asking about you," she added, lowering her head slightly, strands of hair slipping over her cheek.
"R—Really? I didn't think they…" I trailed off, fumbling with my words.
"They worried about you," she cut in softly.
"O—Oh… I see. I'm… happy they care." I gave a weak smile.
"I'm worried about you."
I blinked. "T—Thanks, Harin-ssi."
She didn't answer. Her hands slowly curled against the bedsheet, clutching it tightly. Her head stayed lowered, her shoulders trembling faintly.
"Harin-ssi?" I asked carefully.
She stayed silent.
"A—Are you okay?" My voice dropped, unsure what to do.
Again, silence.
Panic stirred in me. "Did I… say something wrong?"
Still nothing.
"Harin-ssi?"
"I'm sorry." She whispered, her voice trembling.
"H—Huh?"
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" I leaned forward slightly, confused.
"I—I should have known…" Tears began to slip down her cheeks.
"should've known this would happen."
"Harin—hey." I froze, unsure how to comfort her.
"I should've protected you."
"Harin—"
"Should've protected you better."
"Please don't blame yourself."
"It's all my fault".
"I'm not blaming you." I reached for her hand gently.
"You didn't deserve this"
"It's fine, Harin-ssi."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
"I'm sorry, Haemin."
"Really, it's fine."