19

The doctor sighed, glancing at the chart in his hands. “Hana suffered a severe overdose of Haloperidol and Amitriptyline. The combination of these drugs, in such high doses, has caused a complete memory wipe. She doesn’t remember anything – not you, not her life, not even her own name. She’s extremely vulnerable right now and will need a lot of care and support.”

Mr. Jeon’s breath had caught in his throat. “She doesn’t remember… anything?”

The doctor shook his head. “No, nothing. We’ve done all we can for her medically. Now, it’s about emotional and psychological support. She’s like a blank slate. How you approach her and what you tell her will shape her understanding of her past and present.”

With those words echoing in his mind, Mr. Jeon now stood at the threshold of Hana’s room. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped inside.

Hana lay in the hospital bed, her face pale and her eyes vacant. The woman who had been so full of rage and bitterness just hours before now looked fragile and lost. Mr. Jeon’s heart ached with a mix of sorrow and guilt.

“Hana,” he said softly, moving closer to her bed.

Her eyes flickered open, confusion evident in her gaze. She stared at him blankly, as if trying to piece together a puzzle that didn’t fit. “Who… who are you?”

Mr. Jeon swallowed hard, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. “I’m Jeon Jaehwa,” he began slowly, choosing his words carefully. “I… I’m your fiancé.”

Hana’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Fiancé?” she repeated, the word foreign on her tongue.

“Yes,” Mr. Jeon confirmed, forcing a smile to ease her anxiety. “We were going to get married. We have a child together, a son named Jungkook.”

Hana blinked, her expression a mixture of bewilderment and curiosity. “A son?”

Mr. Jeon nodded. “Yes, a wonderful little boy. And… and there’s something else you should know.” He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the next revelation. “I have another child, with another woman. His name is Jimin.”

Hana’s eyes widened, her confusion deepening. “Another child? I don’t… I don’t understand.”

Mr. Jeon reached out, taking her hand in his. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But right now, you’re safe. I’m here to take care of you. We’ll figure everything out together.”

Hana’s eyes filled with tears, her vulnerability laid bare. “I don’t remember anything. I feel so… lost.”

Hana’s tears flowed freely, her emotions raw and unguarded. “I don’t know who I am,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t know anything about my life.”

Mr. Jeon’s heart ached as he watched her struggle. “You’re Hana,” he said softly, his voice filled with compassion. “And you’re not alone. I’ll be here for you, every step of the way.”

Hana looked at him, her eyes searching his for any hint of familiarity. “Thank you,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

As Mr. Jeon sat by her side, he couldn’t help but reflect on the twisted path that had led them to this moment. The choices, the betrayals, the pain – all of it had culminated in this fragile, heartbreaking scene.

And yet, amid the sorrow, there was a glimmer of hope. Hana’s memory loss, while tragic, also offered a chance for a new beginning, a way to rebuild what had been broken.

For the first time in years, Mr. Jeon felt a spark of determination. He would take care of Hana, help her navigate this new reality, and ensure that she and their children had a future worth living.

It wouldn’t be easy, but he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As the hours passed, Mr. Jeon stayed by Hana’s side, offering her comfort and reassurance. He spoke to her gently, filling the silence with stories about their life together – some true, some fabricated to ease her transition.

He painted a picture of a loving, supportive relationship, hoping to give her a sense of stability and belonging.

Hana listened intently, absorbing his words with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. She clung to his hand, finding solace in his presence, even if she couldn’t remember their past.

The bond between them, though strained and complex, began to take on a new form – one built on trust and a shared desire to move forward.

As night fell, Mr. Jeon watched over Hana, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. The road ahead was uncertain, but he was resolved to face it with strength and compassion. He would help Hana reclaim her life, and in doing so, perhaps find redemption for himself.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the hospital window, Mr. Jeon felt a renewed sense of purpose. He gently woke Hana, offering her a reassuring smile.

“Good morning, Hana,” he said softly. “How are you feeling?”

Hana rubbed her eyes, looking around the unfamiliar room with a mixture of anxiety and hope. “I… I’m okay, I think. It’s still hard to remember anything, but… thank you for being here with me.”

Mr. Jeon nodded, his heart swelling with resolve. “We’ll take it one day at a time. I’m here for you, and we’ll get through this together.”

---

Mr. Jeon stood in his office, his face set in a grim mask as he spoke to his most trusted men. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as he issued his orders in a low, commanding voice.

“Find them,” he said, his tone cold and unyielding. “Find Jimin and Jungkook. Bring them to the mansion as soon as possible. I want no delays, no excuses. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” the men replied in unison, their faces reflecting the seriousness of the task. They knew better than to question Mr. Jeon when he was like this.

“Good,” Mr. Jeon said, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. “Now go.”

As they left, Mr. Jeon leaned against his desk, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

The weight of the past night's events hung heavily on his shoulders, and he knew he had to take responsibility for the chaos that had ensued.

A short while later, he found himself standing by Gumeun’s hospital bed. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, but she was alive. Relief washed over him as he gently took her hand in his, his voice soft and filled with regret.

“Gumeun,” he whispered, his eyes misting over. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could fix everything, but I promise you, I will try. I will be the father these two kids deserve.”

He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Hana… Hana has always been cynical, but this memory loss… it might be a chance for her. A chance to start over. I can’t leave her, Gumeun. And I can’t leave you either.”

He reached out and caressed her hair, his touch tender and filled with unspoken emotions. Leaning down, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his heart aching with the weight of his words.

“Hana is getting discharged today,” he said softly. “I wish you were here for your Jimin, but I will make sure that Jimin and Jungkook both get the love of both parents, at least through Hana.”

With one last lingering look, he turned and left the room, the door closing softly behind him. Gumeun would remain in the hospital, her future uncertain, but he vowed to make things right for the children, no matter the cost.

Later that day, Mr. Jeon escorted Hana out of the hospital.

Her face was a blank slate, her mind wiped clean by the overdose. She looked at him with wide, trusting eyes, her previous malice and cynicism erased.

As they drove back to the mansion, Mr. Jeon fabricated a story to explain the new situation to her. “Hana,” he began, his voice gentle yet firm. “There’s something I need to tell you. Jimin and Jungkook didn’t stay with us earlier for… certain reasons. But now they will. They’re coming home, and I hope you’ll love them as your own.”

Hana nodded, her expression one of confusion but also a desire to please. “I understand. I’ll try my best.”

Mr. Jeon smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Thank you, Hana. I know this is a lot to take in, but we’ll get through it together.”

When they arrived at the mansion, Mr. Jeon helped Hana settle into her new reality. The grand house, with its imposing façade and luxurious interiors, felt both familiar and alien to her. She wandered through the rooms, trying to piece together fragments of a life she no longer remembered.

Mr. Jeon watched her with a mix of sadness and hope. This new version of Hana, free from the darkness of her past, was a chance for redemption—for both of them. But the weight of his deceit and the burden of their fractured history loomed large.

The boys were taken to the Jeon mansion, a grand structure that stood as a testament to wealth and power, yet felt cold and unwelcoming to the two grieving children. The house was filled with the scent of expensive furniture polish and fresh flowers, a stark contrast to the warmth and simplicity of the creche.

Jungkook and Jimin, their faces still wet with tears, clung to each other for comfort as they were led into a large, formal living room. The room was filled with dark mahogany furniture, ornate rugs, and heavy drapes that blocked out the sunlight, casting an eerie gloom over everything.

Mr. Jeon’s presence loomed large in the room, his normally authoritative demeanor softened by the sorrow etched on his face. He looked down at the boys with a mixture of guilt and determination, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Kids, I am your father. You're my son, Jimin,", Mr. Jeon looked at the little boy, caressing his cheek, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for your mother when she needed me.....", he had guilt and tears in his eyes.

Jungkook looked at him, as he picked up the little boy in his arms, "You're my younger son, Jungkook.", he was told.

So, this was Mr. Jeon, his father.

Jungkook always thought that when he'd miss this so called Mr. Jeon he would yell at him, scream at him for snatching his mother from him.

But the twist of fate has landed them in such a twisted tale that now he stood in front of his father, knowing that the Jimin whom he grew so close to, is actually his half brother.

He didn't even understand the concept of half brother. He didn't understand how could their father be same but their mother's different.

As if this was not enough, Mr. Jeon dropped another bomb on the boys.

"We... we’ve decided to get married," he said finally, his voice lacking the warmth and conviction of a loving parent. "It’s for the best. For all of us."

Jungkook’s heart sank. He didn’t understand what was happening, only that it felt wrong. He wanted to scream, to run away, but his small body felt heavy with confusion and grief.

"Why?" Jimin asked, his voice small and broken. "Where’s my mom?"

Mr. Jeon’s face tightened. He looked away, unable to meet Jimin’s pleading eyes. "She’s... she’s not coming back."

The room fell into a stunned silence, the weight of Mr. Jeon’s words settling over them like a dark cloud. Jungkook looked at Jimin, seeing his own shock and despair reflected in his brother’s eyes.

"From now on, this will be your home," Mr. Jeon continued, his tone firmer now. "And you will have a new mother. Jungkook’s mother will take care of you."

Jungkook’s mother stepped forward, placing a hand on Mr. Jeon’s arm. "We’ll be a family," she said, though her words felt hollow. "We’ll take care of each other."

[Refer to flashback from Chapter 7 from here on]

-Flashback over-

[PRESENT]

Y/n sat in a corner in Silvia's mansion, the cold air seeping through the cracks in the windows. Her heart pounded as she listened to Hoseok's voice on the other end of the call. The story he was recounting was like a nightmare, each detail more horrifying than the last.

“I can’t believe it,” Y/n whispered, her voice trembling. “I had no idea any of this happened when they were just kids.”

Hoseok sighed deeply, the weight of the past heavy in his voice. “It was a difficult time for everyone involved. The kids were barely seven and nine years old when everything changed so drastically.”

Y/n could hear the pain in his voice, the sorrow of reliving those memories. She felt a lump form in her throat as she thought about Jungkook and Jimin, so young and innocent, thrust into a world of chaos and turmoil.

“More than Jimin, it was Jungkook who suffered the most,” Hoseok continued. “Losing Gumeun was devastating for him. She was the only mother figure he truly had, the one who showed him real love and care. When she was gone, it left a void in his heart that no one could fill.”

Y/n could picture a young Jungkook, his big, doe-like eyes filled with tears, searching for the warmth and affection he had lost. Her heart ached for the boy he once was, and for the man he had become, shaped by such a painful past.

“Hana’s memory loss gave her a new start,” Hoseok went on, his voice heavy with regret. “But it also meant she couldn’t bond with Jungkook the way a mother should. Her discrimination between Jimin and Jungkook became more and more evident as the years went by.”

Y/n closed her eyes, trying to imagine the household dynamics. She could see Hana, detached and cold towards Jimin, while showering Jungkook with affection. It was a cruel twist of fate that had set the two brothers on such different paths.

“Jimin adapted,” Hoseok said, his tone bitter. “He steeped himself in Hana’s ways, becoming more like her with each passing day. But Jungkook… Jungkook grew more vulnerable. He withdrew into himself, becoming isolated and distant.”

Y/n could almost see the young boy, growing up in a mansion filled with wealth but devoid of true love and warmth. She felt a surge of protectiveness towards Jungkook, wishing she could have been there for him during those dark times.

“And then,” Hoseok’s voice grew even more somber, “there was that night, four years ago…”

Y/n’s breath caught in her throat. She had heard fragments of stories, whispers of something terrible that had happened, but no one had ever given her the full picture. She felt a chill run down her spine as she asked, “What happened four years ago, Hoseok?”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. She could hear Hoseok’s breathing, steady but strained, as if he was struggling to find the right words. The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity.

Finally, Hoseok spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “That night… it changed everything. It was the culmination of years of pain and resentment. Jungkook’s vulnerability reached its peak, and something happened that none of us could have predicted.”

[FLASHBACK : 4 YEARS AGO]

It was a somber evening at the Jeon mansion. Mr. Jeon sat in his study, his face etched with lines of worry and sorrow. He had just returned from the hospital, where he had visited Gumeun as he had done every week for the past several years.

Today, however, was different. The doctors had informed him that Gumeun had passed away, never waking from her coma. The news had shattered him, and he knew he couldn’t keep the truth from his sons any longer.

He took a deep breath and picked up the phone, calling Jimin and Jungkook to his room. The brothers arrived shortly, their contrasting demeanors starkly evident.

Jimin strode in first, his presence commanding and confident. He had grown into a man who mirrored Hana’s cunning and ruthlessness.

He wore a sharp suit, his posture rigid and his eyes cold. He exuded an aura of power and control, a man who believed in the survival of the fittest.

Jungkook entered the room quietly behind his brother. His shoulders were slightly hunched, and his eyes held a vulnerability that contrasted sharply with Jimin’s icy demeanor. Jungkook’s voice was soft and hesitant, lacking the assertiveness that Jimin so effortlessly projected.

Mr. Jeon watched them both, his heart heavy. He cleared his throat, trying to find the right words to begin the difficult conversation.

“Jimin, Jungkook, there’s something I need to tell you,” he began, his voice trembling slightly. “It’s about Gumeun.”

Jimin’s eyes narrowed. “What about her?” he asked, his tone clipped and impatient.

Mr. Jeon took another deep breath. “Gumeun passed away this morning. She never woke from her coma.”

For a moment, the room was silent.

Jungkook’s face paled, and his eyes filled with tears. He bit his lip, trying to hold back the sobs threatening to escape.

Jimin, however, remained stoic, his expression unreadable.

“So she’s finally gone,” Jimin said coldly. “It’s about time.”

Jungkook looked at his brother in shock. “How can you say that?” he whispered, his voice trembling. “She was our mother.”

Jimin scoffed. “Mother? She was a woman who got herself shot because she couldn’t handle a gun. Weakness doesn’t deserve pity, Jungkook. This is the real world. It’s survival of the fittest.”

Jungkook’s eyes flashed with anger and pain. “She was the only one who truly cared for us,” he said, his voice rising. “She loved us.”

“Love?” Jimin laughed bitterly. “Love is a weakness. It’s what got her killed. If you want to survive, you have to be strong. You have to be ruthless.”

Mr. Jeon felt a pang of guilt as he watched his sons argue. He had failed them in so many ways, and now he was seeing the consequences of his actions. He had to intervene, to try and mend the rift between them.

“Jimin, Jungkook,” he said firmly, drawing their attention back to him. “I know this is difficult, but we need to stick together. Gumeun may be gone, but we still have each other.”

Jimin shook his head. “I don’t need anyone,” he said coldly. “I’ve learned to take care of myself. And I suggest Jungkook does the same.”

The night was heavy with grief as the Jeon brothers stood outside the crematorium, watching as Gumeun’s body was prepared for cremation. The flames leapt high into the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the somber scene.

Jungkook stood apart from the others, his eyes filled with tears. He felt like he had lost the last person who truly loved him, the one who had always been there for him no matter what. He was consumed by a deep sense of loss and despair, unable to comprehend a world without Gumeun in it.

Jimin, on the other hand, remained steely and composed. He stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He had always been more like Hana, adopting her ruthless mindset and belief in the survival of the fittest.

To him, Gumeun’s death was just another obstacle to be overcome, another test of his strength and resilience.

As the brothers left the crematorium, tension simmered between them, threatening to boil over. Jungkook couldn’t hold back any longer. He turned to Jimin, his voice pleading.

“Jimin, please,” he begged. “You have to feel something. She was our mother.”

Jimin turned to him, his eyes cold. “She was no mother of mine,” he said bitterly. “She was a coward. She couldn’t fight for me, she couldn’t give me a good life. All she did was snatch away from me.”

Jungkook felt a surge of anger and frustration. “How can you say that?” he cried. “She loved us, Jimin. She sacrificed everything for us."

Jimin scoffed. “Love is a weakness, Jungkook,” he said coldly. “Look at Hana. She may be a cold-hearted bitch, but damn, she knows how to survive. You should learn something from her.”

Jungkook felt a wave of hatred towards Hana, mixed with a deep sense of sadness. He hated her for what she had done, for shooting Gumeun and leaving them alone in the world. But he also felt a twinge of envy towards Jimin, who had always been able to shut off his emotions and focus on survival.

“You may have lost Gumeun,” Jimin said, his voice softening slightly, “but you still have both your biological parents alive. Look at me, Jungkook. What do I have? Myself, and I believe that’s enough.”

"Jimin, please," Jungkook pleaded, his voice trembling. "You don't have to do this. We can find another way. We can heal together."

Jimin's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Heal? You think healing is an option after everything that's happened? After what you and your mother did?"

Jungkook shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "I didn't do anything, Jimin. We were just kids. We didn't know what was happening. Please, don't let the past control you."

Jimin's eyes flashed with anger. "Don't play innocent with me, Jungkook. You may have been a kid, but your mother knew exactly what she was doing. And because of her, Gumeun is dead."

Jungkook's heart shattered at the mention of Gumeun. "She was our mother too, Jimin. She loved us. She wanted the best for us."

Jimin laughed bitterly. "Love? Gumeun's love got her killed. She was weak, and that weakness cost her everything. You want me to feel? Fine. How about you feel what you've done?"

Jungkook's confusion deepened. "What are you talking about? What did I do?"

"Had it not been because of you," Jimin sneered, "she would have never gone to the mansion or gotten killed."

Jimin's smile turned vicious. "You want to talk about Gumeun's teachings? Let's talk about them. She taught us to be strong, to survive. But you... you were always weak. And because of that weakness, she's dead."

Jungkook shook his head vehemently. "No, Jimin. That's not true. She died because of a tragic accident. It wasn't my fault."

Jimin's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "You really believe that, don't you? You've convinced yourself that you're innocent. But deep down, you know the truth. Gumeun died because she was trying to protect you from Hana. And you let her."

Jungkook's legs felt like they were going to give out from under him. "No," he whispered. "That's not true. I loved her. I would never have let anything happen to her."

Jimin's smirk deepened, a twisted satisfaction in his eyes. "Do you, Jungkook? Love her? Or do you just love the idea of being the victim? Always crying, always seeking sympathy. You're pathetic."

Jimin stepped closer, his voice a harsh whisper. "You were too busy being weak and afraid. If you'd been stronger, if you'd stood up to Hana, maybe Gumeun would still be alive."

Jungkook's tears flowed freely now, his heart aching with guilt and sorrow. "I didn't know how," he cried. "I was just a kid. I didn't know what to do."

Jimin's expression softened for a moment, but it was fleeting. "And now, you're going to pay for that weakness. You're going to feel the pain you've caused, the pain that led to Gumeun's death."

Jungkook's head spun with the weight of Jimin's words. He felt as if the ground beneath him was crumbling, and he was falling into an abyss of despair. He reached out, trying to grasp onto something, anything, to steady himself.

"Please, Jimin," he begged. "Don't do this. We can still make things right. We can honor mom's memory by being the brothers she wanted us to be."

Jimin's face twisted with rage. "Honor her memory? By being weak and forgiving? No, Jungkook. The only way to honor her is to be strong, to be ruthless. Just like Hana taught us."

Jungkook's heart broke at the mention of Hana. He had spent his entire life trying to distance himself from her influence, to be the opposite of what she represented.

But Jimin had embraced her teachings, and it had twisted him into someone unrecognizable.

Jungkook's tears flowed freely now, his heart breaking under the weight of Jimin's cruel words. "No, Jimin. Please, stop. I can't take this."

Jimin's smirk turned into a sinister grin. "You can't take it? Good. Feel the pain, Jungkook. Feel what it's like to be truly alone, to know that you caused the death of the one person who truly loved you."

Jungkook's sobs turned into cries of anguish, his hands clutching his chest as if trying to hold his heart together. "Please, Jimin. Don't do this. We're brothers. We should be there for each other."

Jimin's eyes gleamed with a dark satisfaction. "Brothers? We're nothing alike. You've always been weak, always relying on others to save you. But not anymore. Now, you'll know what it feels like to be truly alone."

Jimin's smirk only grew wider. "You don't need me, Jungkook. You never did. All you need is your weakness, your tears. They suit you."

Jungkook's tears turned into sobs, his body trembling with the intensity of his grief. "I hate you," he whispered. "I hate what you've become."

Jimin's eyes narrowed, and his smile faded. "Good. Embrace that hate. Let it consume you, like it has consumed me."

Jungkook's sobs grew louder, his heart breaking under the weight of Jimin's words. "You've become just like Hana before she lost her memory. Cold, calculating, and heartless."

Jimin's expression hardened, and he took a step closer to Jungkook. "And you've become just like Gumeun. Weak, pathetic, and useless."

And that was all required to let all hell lose break within Jungkook.

The tension between them reached a boiling point, and they both reached for their guns, pulling them out and pointing them at each other.

Jungkook's anger flared, and he stepped forward, "Don't you dare speak about her like that. She was a better person than you'll ever be."

Jimin's eyes flashed with anger, and he took another step closer with the gun held harshly in his hands. "And you're nothing but a weakling, always crying, always seeking sympathy. You're pathetic."

"Put the gun down, Jimin," Jungkook said, his voice shaking with emotion. "We don't have to do this."

Jimin's eyes were cold and unyielding. "Yes, we do. This ends now."

Jungkook's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with fear and desperation. "Please, Jimin. Don't do this. We're brothers."

Jimin's finger tightened on the trigger, his eyes filled with a cold determination. "Not anymore."

The room was filled with a tense silence, the air heavy with the weight of their emotions. They stood there, guns pointed at each other, their hearts filled with anger and grief. The confrontation had reached its peak, and there was no turning back.

"Jimin, please," Jungkook whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "Don't do this."

Jimin's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer, his finger still on the trigger. "It's too late, Jungkook. This ends now.".....A/n : Here comes the pre-climax.

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I'm updating so many chapters today and I hope you do appreciate this ❤️