029: BLOOD IN YOUR HANDS 3

"People have always been barbarians, they just find more creative ways to feed their greed as time passes by." 

- Ha Eun Byeol pov

. . . . . . . . . .

029: BLOOD IN YOUR HANDS 3

Eun-byeol pov:

It's been two days since my sister got stabbed.

I checked my sister's vitals. I've been taking care of my sister since then.

It's also been a day since the opening of the 13th floor was first revealed to my family.

Both mom and dad were shocked. 

They didn't know that grandpa was keeping such a place in Cheong-ah hospital.

The 13th floor or the VIP floor of Cheong-ah hospital.

He told me this is half of Cheong-ah's power. As the future owner of this floor, I will be responsible for correctly designating each of them to appropriate rooms.

Each room has specialized functions meant for the user of the room.

And instead of number signs for each room, there are names embedded in each door.

The current president of the country, the prime minister, the head prosecutor, and other influential figures in the law and government.

All the most important figure in the country has a room of their own here on the VIP floor of Cheong-ah hospital.

And the most enormous and most secure room is reserved for the Cheong family.

It is where my sister is currently staying, comatose and fighting for her life. All the doctors, nurses, and other health professionals here right now have signed an NDA for secrecy.

"Mom and dad are going on a battle today. They will be hearing the will of grandpa."

"Please wake up. I can't do this alone." I held her hand and cried as I held it tightly.

"Mom's wearing a beautiful blue dress, and dad looks hot in his tux."

"Please wake up, Eun-bi. . . aren't you the real owner of Cheong-ah? Wake up and help mom and dad! Please. . . ."

I leaned on her as I cried, hoping she'd wake already.

. . . 

Seok-hoon pov:

It's been a day since they transferred Eun-bi to another location.

None of us knew where they transferred her.

Because of that, Seok-kyung is in a bad mood. She's been in one for days. She kept going in and out of the hospital, demanding to see Eun-byeol, or else she'd burn the entire hospital down.

I massaged my forehead. It ached just by thinking of the trouble she caused just yesterday.

'I need to see her.'

"Answer up! Lee Min-hyuk. . . ."

I perked up when he answered.

"I don't know!!!" He hung up right after saying that.

I didn't even ask anything yet, and he . . . . . .

"Aisshhh! That bastard!!!"

. . .

Min-hyuk was with Seo-jun when I entered Seo-jun's place.

Lee Min-hyuk sits on the sofa comfortably while doing something on his laptop. Seo-jun joined him on the couch and did something on his laptop as well.

"Yo!"

"Lee Min-hyuk, you must know where Eun-bi is."

"I don't."

"Don't kid around! I need to see her! I need to know if she's fine."

"I really don't know!" He looked at me seriously, "Not this time."

I punched the nearest wall and glared at him.

"Even if you punch me, I will still say I don't cause I really don't."

I sat on the sofa, washing my face with my palms, frustrated by how helpless I am in times like this.

"Where could she be? How is she? Did she wake up already? Why are they hiding her?"

I stood up, remembering Eun-byeol.

"I doubt Eun-byeol doesn't know that her twin is hurt."

Min-hyuk only nodded his head.

"I already thought of that, but she's not answering any of my calls."

"Can't you somehow locate her?"

"Yah! Do you think it's my hobby bugging people or something."

I smirked at him, "Is it not?"

"Yah!!! Eun-bi is going to murder me if I do that to her sister!"

"There must be some way to communicate with her!!"

I grabbed my hair in frustration, clenching my eyes tight.

I groaned in frustration.

"Why can't I do anything for her?"

"Hey!"

Seo-jun snapped his fingers in front of me and made me look at him.

I looked at Min-hyuk, who was very focused on his laptop, not even minding us.

"Yah!! What have you been doing all this time?"

I went to him and saw a series of videos. He's been replaying it and checking every single video.

"What is that?" I looked at it more.

"Dash Cams, CCTVs, I've collected them all by hacking into the system of the police and some other that I've asked Seo-jun to collect. It might have caught the damn bastard!!"

"I also can't do anything for her right now, I don't even know where they took her, but I can damn well catch that bastard for her!!"

"Is this why you have been absent these days?" I turned to Seo-jun, who was also watching the videos.

Now that I look at them, they look really sleepless and exhausted.

I sat beside him and checked the videos with him.

"Do you have an extra laptop?"

"No, just mine." Seo-jun shook his head as he also checked the videos.

On the phone:

SH: Seok-kyung?!!!

SK: YAH!!! You better bring me to Eun-byeol, or I will make sure you'll be needing surgery for survival!!!

Is she threatening someone right now?

SK: YAH!!!! Bring me to HA EUN BYEOL!!!!!!!!!!! NOW!!!!

Min-hyuk and Seo-jun both stared at me as they stifled a laugh at my sister's loud voice.

SH: Seok-kyung ah!!!!

SK: WHAT!!!!

SH: Bring me my laptop here at Seo-jun's place.

SK: Have you gone mad!! Laptop!! Right now!!! Do you even know where I am right now??!!

SH: This is important. We may have found out a way to find the bastard that stabbed Eun-bi. . . yeol. . . .

SK: Really?

SH: Yes, so please hurry.

SK: . . . . . . . . .

SK: I'll be there in a jiffy.

SK: YAH!!! You bastard! You better bring me to Eun-byeol when I return, or else I'm going to f*cking give you hell!! Arrasso!!!!

End of phone call. . . . . .

The boys looked at me after our phone call. I just shrugged it off before watching with them.

"She's going to be your headache soon, Han Seo-jun."

I smirked at his ghastly reaction.

. . . . . . . .

She kept ringing the doorbell when she arrived.

"You're here. . ."

"This is yours. . ."

"You brought two?"

"Of course, I'm gonna help. . . ."

We all looked at her. . .

"Is there something wrong with me helping?"

"No. . . . you can help. . . ."

I smiled secretly at Min-hyuk's expression while Seo-jun stifled a laugh.

. . . . . . . . . .

Seo-jin pov:

I wanted to stay with my daughters, but those gold-diggers won't let me stay with my children.

My stepmother and half-sister sat on our opposite side while my husband held my hand and smiled.

I smile back at him as we wait for the lawyer to come.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

We all just nodded and waited for him to sit.

"The chairman divided his will into 2 parts. The first part is this. . . ." He showed an envelope, then raised a flash drive in the other hand.

"And this is the 2nd part."

"Let's start with the first. . . . ."

"I, Cheon Myung-soo, head of Cheong-ah group and father of. . . . ."

As I heard the rest of the content, my heart wouldn't stop contracting.

It is as if my father really is dead.

'Appa!'

My husband clenches my hand more as he comforts me.

"To my wife, Kang Ok-gyo, I will hand you 2% of my shares in the Cheong-ah group."

"And to my youngest daughter, Cheon Seo-young, I will hand you over 5% of my shares."

"What!!!! Just. . . . ."

I eyed my sister evilly. She pursed her lips and sat down beside her mother.

"To my son-in-law. You have blessed our family and my life with two beautiful granddaughters who are nothing but a blessing and happiness. For this gift you've given me, I will hand over Cheong-ah Pharmaceutics and laboratory. I am certain it will prosper in your hands!"

"To my beautiful daughter, whom I love and cherish, I will give you all my properties here in South Korea and other countries as well."

The lawyer stopped at that.

"The rest of his will is recorded here."

He inserted the flash drive and hit the play button.

My dad's smiling face made me break down and cry.

"Appa!!"

"If my family is watching this video, it means that I have truly left their side."

"While I am aware that I am old and am just waiting for death to knock on my door, I am still greedy. I still want to stay with my family a bit longer."

"I want to hug my daughter more, to see and hear the giggles of my granddaughters. I want to see them succeed and bring their man home so I can threaten them." He laughed and coughed at the same time.

"But alas, this is the only time that has been given to me."

"I know you have all heard the first part of the will already. Now I want all of you to hear the rest."

"The Cheong-ah group does not only belong to me. It also belongs to the millions of people working in Cheong-ah. That is why I have groomed someone to take care of Cheong-ah when I leave the world or when I retire from it."

"She will be the one that will take Cheong-ah to further heights."

"I have groomed her and have her educated so that Cheong-ah will continue to prosper."

"My successor will be, Ha Eun-Bi. . . my eldest granddaughter."

"While my granddaughter is incapable of handling her job because of her age, the authority will be given to Cheon Seo-jin until she comes of age.

If something ever happens to my granddaughter, all my stocks and shares will be liquidized and donated to foundations and charity organizations."

I covered my mouth with my hand and stopped myself from crying out loud.

"I am doing this because I am at peace knowing that my family can live outside the shade of my power and money."

I felt like my dad just turned to me and looked into my eyes as he smiled.

"My beloved child. I will always watch over you as you continue on your journey. Live happy, my children. That is my last wish!"

I covered my face with my hand as dad's video finally ended.

"THIS IS SO UNFAIR!!!"

"HOW COME EVERYTHING WAS GIVEN TO YOU!!!"

"WHY DO WE ONLY GET SO LITTLE WHEN THAT GUY GETS SO MUCH!!!"

"YOU RIGGED THE WILL, DIDN'T YOU!!!!"

I stood up in anger and slapped her hard.

"Is that really all that mattered to you!! Dad is dead!!! And yet . . . . . ."

I turned to my husband's. . . burying myself in his arms.

I was about to leave when the door opened, and a group of men entered the room.

"What is the meaning of this!"

"Are you Cheon Seo-jin?"

"Yes, that would be me. . . ."

I eyed them cautiously.

"What is going on?" My husband put me behind him as the man came forward with a paper.

"Cheon Seo-jin, you are under arrest for the murder of Cheon Myung-soo. You have the right to refuse to make any statement. . . . ."

"What!!!!"

"You bitch!!! I knew it! I knew it!!!"

"You murderer!!! How dare a murderer like you get anything!!! I will definitely contest this in court!!"

"Wait a minute!!! Just wait!!!" My husband tries to talk to the prosecutor, as I stay still and quiet, still not understanding anything.

'How can they ever think I would murder my own father!'

Even if the two of us constantly bicker and ignore each other, he's my father! My father, whom I love and respect.

'Who would ever!!!'

. . . 

Eun-byeol pov:

I stood from my seat while watching the news.

"Mom!!!"

I got up and heightened the volume.

"Ms. Cheon Seo-jin, the prima donna of classical music, was arrested for being a suspect in murdering Cheon Myung-soo, who is also her father. The prosecution believes that the motive for the crime is to inherit everything."

"Mrs. Jang Ok-gyo has released a statement that they will be filing for a charge to have the will investigated for legitimacy."

I paused the news angrily.

"That bitch!!!!"

I called our lawyers immediately and sent them to where my mom was.

"Don't ever think that I will let this go! KANG OK-GYO!!!"

I called dad next, but he wasn't answering my calls.

I paced back and forth and finally called the last person I wanted to contact.

"Lee Min-hyuk!!!"

On the phone:

MH: ohhh! The prodigal Ha Eun-byeol finally calls me after ignoring all my calls and messages.

EB: I don't have time for this.

MH: Let me guess, for your mom?

EB: I can't leave Eun-bi right now. Please make sure mom's okay.

MH: Don't worry. I hacked the prosecutor's system, and all they have on your mom are circumstantial evidence. Whoever did this have different plans for your mother.

EB: What could it be?

MH: I'm not sure of that either.

Eun-bi: It's the shareholder's meeting! That's her plan!!

I turned to Eun-bi, who was glaring very hard at the television right now.

I almost dropped my phone when I saw her awake.

MH: Is that Eun-bi's voice? Is she okay??

EB: I'll call you back, okay?

End of phone call. . . . .

"Unnie. . . ." I smiled in tears as my sister looked at me weakly.

"I'm sorry! You must have worried a lot."

"I thought I'd lost you!!"

"How can that be. . . ."

. . . 

Min-hyuk pov:

"Aisshhhh!!! She hung up on me again."

I opened the door to Seo-jun's room and found them still focused on the video in the living room.

'Does those twins not realize how much they worry all of us?!'

I sighed deeply and focused on finding evidence with the others.

I was still looking for some clues when my phone vibrated.

'I need you to do something for me. . . . - EB.'

I checked the content of the file she gave. I put my earpods on before listening to the audio.

"F*CK!!!!" I stood up as I heard every single detail.

"What's wrong?! did you find anything?"

"Yeah! Uhhh. . . for now, I have to go and do something!"

Seok-kyung pulled the back of my collar, preventing me from leaving.

"What is it!!!"

"I'm really. . . ."

She glared at me and took my phone away.

"HEY!!!"

"What is it!!!!"

"Look, uhhh. . . I'll explain to you soon. For now, I really need to go!"

I looked at Seok-hoon and Seo-jun, mentally asking them for help, but they ignored me.

'Aisshhh!'

I breathed deeply.

"Fine! Fine!!"

"I'll say it!!"

I sit down to make her more relaxed.

"Give me the phone. I'll open it for you."

She handed the phone to me. I pretended to open it before rushing out.

"I'm really, really sorry!"

"You'll know soon, I promise!!"

"YAH!!!! LEE MIN HYUK!!!"

"JUG-EOSS-O!!!!! LEE MIN HYUK!!!" (I'm going to kill you, Lee Min-hyuk)

Her loud shout made me scared as I ran away to the elevator. After I was sure I had run away from her, I called the twins again, but they're not answering.

"What the hell do I do with this!!!"

. . .

Kang Ok-gyo pov:

That guy called me as soon as Cheon Seo-jin was arrested.

"Should we talk about the future of the Cheong-ah group now?"

"I don't really know what you're talking about. . ."

"I think you do. . ."

"Aren't you in a relationship with Cheon Seo-jin? Are you betraying her?"

"Hahaha!! Betraying. . . that's a ruthless thing to say. . . I simply want to protect her treasures. I am her man after all. . ."

"Really? I saw her and that poor doctor. They seem to be getting along very well these days. . ."

"Don't worry, Seo-jin is very putty with me. . ."

"I'm not sure if I can trust you. . . What will I get from trusting you anyway?"

He took the case he brought under the table and placed it on the table.

My eyes almost widened when he opened the case.

"You know when they say that gold never really lies. . . right?"

"This is. . . ."

"10 Billion won. . ."

"Very tempting indeed. . ."

"All you need to do is make sure that Seo-jin doesn't get the position. . ."

"And instead. . . give it to me. . . To protect her. . . that is. . ."

"Hahahahahaha!!!!" I laughed so hard.

'You're screwed, Cheon Seo-jin!!!'

"We have a deal. . . . Mr. Joo Dan-tae. . . . ."

. . . 

Seo-jin pov:

They brought me inside the interrogation room.

I looked around and breathed deeply every now and then.

'How can anyone ever think I have anything to do with my father's death!'

The prosecutor opened the door and went to the other side.

He introduced himself, but I only nodded.

"I will not speak until my lawyer arrives. So you will only waste your time here."

"Ms. Cheon, do you know how grave your case is?"

"Hmmm. . . I only know how ridiculous this is!"

"Ms. Cheon!!"

"Anyway, I will only talk when my lawyer arrives, so please, don't waste your time."

I turned to the other side, where my reflection could be seen.

'Are you in there?'

Is the bastard that put me here on the other side right now?

. . . 

Kang ok-gyo pov:

'Today is my day!!'

I smile at my daughter before we enter the meeting room.

I went to my position and eyed the center seat.

'Soon, that place will be mine.'

My eyes locked with Joo Dan-tae as we exchanged smiles.

"We have gathered today for a very important matter!"

"As you all know, Cheong-ah group's chair position remains unseated now that Cheon Myung-soo is dead. We cannot let this be! The position has to be filled up! There are millions of people that are at stake here!"

My confidence to speak rose higher as I saw the directors nod at my words.

"Which is why I propose to vote for the new chairperson today. . . ."

"But don't we already have a chairperson. The previous chairman assigned his daughter Cheon Seo-jin to head the Cheong-ah group according to his will."

"Following the will is preposterous! She murdered her own father just for the position! We cannot let just an ingrate take over Cheong-ah. My husband will surely haunt us all if we let her lead Cheong-ah!!"

Clap. Clap. Clap.

We all turned in the other direction and saw Cheon Seo-jin in a blue dress.

"You!! You. . . . !!!"

"What are you. . . ."

"His mother!"

She smiled as she walked elegantly toward the center position. I turned to Joo Dan-tae and glared at him as he looked confused at Cheon Seo-jin.

'You promised me you will keep that bitch until the voting is done.'

"Good afternoon, I am Cheon Seo-jin, the daughter of Cheon Myung-soo. . ."

"I am aware of how messy things are right now. However, I assure you that you have nothing to worry about regarding the future of Cheong-ah group."

"What do you think you're doing here!!!"

"You murderer!!"

"Cheon Seo-jin shii. . . is it really true that you murdered the previous chairman for the position?"

She smiled at the director who asked that and replied no.

"How can I ever do something so cruel. How can anyone ever think that a daughter can ever raise her hand against her father!"

"Then are you saying you're not guilty!!"

"The prosecutor already found evidence!! How dare you pompously walk in here. . ."

"You are really shameless!"

Slap.

"Yes! I may be shameless, but I'm sure it's nothing compared to your thick skin!!"

I raised my hand as well for a slap, but the door suddenly opened wide, creating a loud noise as the men entered the room.

Ha Yoon-chul entered with the men towed behind as he walked to Cheon Seo-jin's side. They both held hands as the men came near as well.

"Kang Ok-gyo. You are arrested for the crime of murder of Cheon Myung-soo. You have the right to remain silent and. . . ."

"NO!!! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!! SHE IS THE MURDERER!! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME!! TAKE HER!!! NOT ME!!!"

I flailed around, pushing the men as they put handcuffs on me.

"NOOO!!!!!"

"Eomma!!!"

"Eomma!!!"

. . . 

Seo-jin pov:

Hours before the meeting. . . . . .

"Eomma!"

I stood up as I heard my daughter's voice.

I smile as I see them both in one frame.

My children.

"Eun-bi. . . . you're finally awake!"

She nodded with a smile.

I walked toward them and hugged them both.

"I'm so glad you're awake now."

"I'm sorry for worrying you like that."

"Never do that again, okay?"

She nods and teared up as I tear up as well.

"You don't know how scared I was thinking I would lose you. . ."

"Don't worry, grandpa is protecting us all. . ."

"Yes! I'm sure he will. . . ."

"Have you heard?"

"Yes! She probably sent a guy after me after hearing that we knew who killed grandpa, and when I arrived at the mansion alone, he struck me."

"However, they didn't know that the recorded files immediately get transferred to grandpa's computer, so taking the recorder was useless!"

"I'm going to kill that bitch!"

. . . 

Eun-bi pov:

"Unnie!!"

"Go! You can't miss your examination again. . ."

"But. . . ."

"Baby. . ."

My mother talked to Eun-byeol and smiled at her.

"Go ahead! We will be fine! Just focus on your studies and be the doctor you want to be!"

"Mom! Dad and your sister will definitely support you!"

"I love you, mom!"

"I love you, dad!"

"I love you, sis!"

"We love you too!"

We all hugged together and kissed each other's heads.

My dad helped my sister's luggage to the private jet we rented for her comfort.

"Good luck!"

. . . 

After the meeting. . . . .

Joo dan-tae pov:

I threw the vase to the floor in anger.

"Damn it!!!"

I was so close to having it.

So close!!

I glared at the ground menacingly.

I sit in my chair, thinking about how to remedy this.

It doesn't help that Cheon Seo-jin seems to have patched up with Ha Yoon chul, that stupid filth!!

"How dare they ruin my plans!!"

"I'm going to ruin them myself!!"

'If you won't come to me yourself, I will make you come to me by force, Cheon Seo-jin.'

. . . 

Seok-kyung pov:

I hid behind my brother as we heard our father destroy his entire office in anger.

"Let's go!" I nodded to my brother as we quietly left the house.

I took my phone and bag as my brother got our coats and tiptoes to the door and left quietly as possible.

When we reached the elevator, I breathed deeply.

Eun-byeol hasn't been calling us or even leaving a message.

I heard she's awake and fine now, but why won't she contact us.

Even though we're so worried for her. . .

Does our friendship mean so little to her?

As we wait for a taxi outside the entrance, I keep thinking about why Eun-byeol won't talk to us.

'Why won't you share anything with us, Eun-byeol. . .'

"Hoon-ahh. . . Kyung-ahh. . ."

I turned to the other side and saw Eun-byeol smiling at us.

"Hi!"

I ran to her and immediately hugged her as we hugged each other tightly.

"Why didn't you call!! Do you know how worried we were for you?"

"Mianhe!! I'm really sorry! I wanted to call but . . . . . there's been a lot of things happening so I couldn't. . . . . I didn't want to drag you to my problems."

"Yah!! What are you talking about! Aren't we friends! We should know about things like this too!!"

"I'm sorry, Kyung-ah. . . ."

"Do you even know how worried we were!"

"I'm sorry!"

"I keep on asking the hospital for you!! But they won't. . ."

"I'm sorry!"

"Stop saying sorry!!"

"I'm sorry!!"

"Yah!!!"

"Let's do this somewhere else, okay?"

I glared at Min-hyuk, who's been staying behind us all along.

'This. . . . .'

"Yah!! How dare you keep this from us!!!"

"I'm going to kill you, Lee Min-hyuk!!"

. . . 

??? pov:

I watch the news unfold.

I smiled at the photos before me and opened my phone to see her glorious visual.

"I'm coming home, my wife!"

I kissed the photo of my wife on my phone as the plane prepared to land.

"I'm back, South Korea!"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TO BE CONTINUED.