028: BLOOD IN YOUR HANDS 2

"Happy Halloween, with all the dead and the blood, it definitely is the season for scare." 

- Author.

. . . . . . . . . . .

027: BLOOD IN YOUR HANDS 2

Yoon-chul pov:

It's been days since the death of the chairman.

My wife sat with me on the side. 

Without drinking or eating, her tears kept pouring as she ignores those who came to pay respect.

My daughter sat in the middle, ignoring those who come to pay respect.

At least I have Seok-hoon and Seok-kyung to help me with Eun-bi.

They haven't eaten in days. I can barely get my wife to drink water while Eun-bi only stares at the chairman's photo.

After days of crying out loud, she stopped crying, and now she just stares at him while her tears flow without stopping.

'Eun-bi. . . Seo-jin. . .'

"Rest for a while. You haven't eaten anything for 3 days now."

Seo-jin shook her head and only cried again.

I bit my lips as I clenched my fist.

'Why can't I do anything for them at times like these?'

"Eun-byeol ahh. . . you need to rest, or at least eat something. . ."

Seok-hoon put an opened bottled water in front of her lips trying to make her drink water at least but she didn't even move.

I closed my eyes in agony.

I have never been close with the old man. Honestly, I've never felt a familial bond with him, but I would never wish for this to happen to him.

Shim Su-ryeon came and bowed to us before going to the middle, just behind Eun-bi, and paid respect.

"Eun-byeol. . . . let's move to the side at least."

Seok-hoon tried to help her up with Seok-kyung on the other side, but Eun-bi won't move at all.

"It's okay. Let her stay like that."

Su-ryeon smiled at her son.

He only nodded at her.

. . .

Seok-hoon pov:

"Go and rest for a while, brother. I will take care of her while you rest."

I nodded at her before standing up to stretch and eat something.

"I'll be back in a hurry."

She nodded with a faint smile.

I've never seen Eun-bi this defeated.

I left with a heavy heart.

'I wish I could do anything to help her.'

'If I can take away her pain, her grief, I would have already.'

While eating, I noticed three people came. 2 men wearing black tuxes and a girl in a black Victorian dress. Followed by numerous bodyguards, they entered the funeral hall. I finished my sandwich in big bites and took the bottled water with me to run after him.

'He seemed familiar. Where have I seen him before?'

When I arrived back inside, I saw the girl hugging Eun-bi.

Eun-bi burst into tears once again in her arms. They both shared the pain and grief. She holds onto her as she cries louder and louder.

"He's gone. . . . . "

"He's gone!! Elijah!!"

"He's gone. . . ."

"You'll be okay! You'll be okay!!"

She caresses her back as Eun-bi cries in her arms.

"Who are they?" I turned to my sister and whispered, but she shook her head.

"I'll take her home. She needs to rest." The older man bowed to uncle as he agreed to let him take her.

'He's letting them?'

"Please take care of her."

"Come with us. . ."

Eun-bi shook her head, not wanting to leave.

The older man whispered something in her ears, and she became more agreeable after.

The younger man carried her protectively. He held her like a princess, and she burrowed her face into the hem of his tux.

She gripped his tux and cried in his arms. He held her protectively, letting her crying face buried in his tux.

I faced him before he could leave, preventing them from leaving. All of them looked down on me, eyeing me from top to bottom.

'Who are these people?'

I held his arm when he tried to pass by.

"I'll carry her."

But he only moved sideward.

He stared at me like I was the bad one in this room. The girl and the older man only smirked as they raised a brow at me.

"Don't you think that's not the important thing here right now?"

"What!"

"Are you going to let her stay here without having a single bite at all?"

I clench my hand into fist as they pass me by. They eyed me sidewards and left carrying her.

I glared at the ground for not being able to do anything.

'What is this shitty feeling?'

'Who the hell are they?'

. . .

Eun-byeol pov:

I paced back and forth in the hotel room.

"Where are they?"

I placed my hand on my chest and breathed deeply.

My heart aches with each breath.

The door finally opened.

My sister is being carried by Ga-On.

"Eun-bi ahh. . ."

Her dead eyes turned to me.

All the grief, pain, and sorrow that I felt while we were apart tripled at the sight of hers.

'She looks so awful!'

She jumped from his arms and into mine.

The two of us hugged each other.

I let my tears flow.

We resonated with each other and echoed around the room.

We stayed in each other's arms, crying for our beloved grandfather.

"He's gone. . . . He's gone. . . . . Eun-byeol-ahh. . ."

I stayed quiet as we cried all the pain we felt.

The memories of our grandfather playing with us when we were young when he gifted us a dog to play with us.

When he organized our first recital.

When he gifted me the medical book when I first developed interest in medicine.

When he made doctors guide me to the hospital, explaining each section and its purposes.

When he rented out an entire hall to see my sister dance ballet.

When he punished the girls who pushed my sister out of jealousy.

When he threatened all the chief doctors of their license to properly tend to my sister's broken leg.

When the three of us played in the amusement park as a birthday wish for my sister, Eun-bi.

His last visit to States while I was studying for my entrance examination

All the memories, all the things he gave us, and yet we will never be able to give anything back anymore.

"Grandpa. . . ." I whispered into her ears as our tears continued to flow.

. . .

Min-hyuk pov:

The whole place went bustling after Eun-bi left.

The board of directors, business partners, investors, and all the people who knew the chairman went to pay respect.

I laugh at their hypocrisy.

I was about to leave when some people came.

'I heard they came by earlier. . . .'

'Eun-bi? Eun-byeol? Who the hell is this one?'

My eyes locked with Elijah for a while, but she rolled her eyes on me and focused on helping Eun-bi or Eun-byeol walk toward her grandfather.

I was sure when she offered a bow to her grandfather.

'It's Eun-byeol. . .'

. . .

I watch her cry in front of his photo.

She cried so loudly that it took everyone's attention.

It's a good thing that the Joo twins went home for a while.

Elijah stayed by her side, comforting her, while Gaon paid respect to her parents.

I still don't know how Eun-bi knows them.

It's a mystery how Eun-bi associates herself with people like them.

I looked at the dead old man's photo.

'It's going to be noisy with you out of the picture, old man.'

Losing the twin's most powerful and influential ally means all their family's shackled enemies will now take this chance to attack them.

'Cheon Myung-soo. . . Why did you have to leave so early? You should've at least waited for Eun-bi to graduate from college. . .'

. . .

Ga-on pov:

I followed Min-hyuk after our eyes met in the funeral hall.

The two of us went to the roof.

He remained quiet while looking at the grey sky.

'The weather report didn't say anything about raining. . .'

He turned to me and faced me with a cold expression.

'A child with this frigid expression.'

'Honestly, none of her friends are normal. . .'

"Are you going to get involved?"

"I will if she requests our help."

He smirked at me and turned around, walking to the edge of the building.

I placed myself at his side as we looked at the night sky.

"You won't need to get involved."

"Really?"

"Eun-byeol and Eun-bi are more capable than you think."

"Eun-bi was raised to lead Cheong-ah. The power she amassed while she was away isn't just for show."

"I know that too. . ." I answered him back with a smirk.

"Well, to be honest, I'm more scared of Eun-byeol than Eun-bi. . ." Min-hyuk just sighed.

"I'm not sure I'd be glad to be friends with them or to be scared of them."

"Either way, both of them are monsters."

We turned around and saw Yohan near the door.

"Hyung! What are you doing here? How about Eun-bi?"

"His boyfriend pushed me aside when I opened for him, and he's been staying with her now."

Min-hyuk laughed so hard.

"I don't think we need to worry about the twins. The Ha twins' level of intellect and connections are not just for show."

"Well. . . Even I know that. . . but still . . . . They're too young to . . ."

. . .

Eun-byeol pov:

The days continued to pass by as the two of us would trade places.

Today's our last day with Grandpa.

We'll be leaving him to the sea where we scattered grandma.

It is grandpa's favorite place.

Me and my twin held each other's hands as the yacht went further from the shore.

I prepared three cremation necklaces.

I had a friend create it for us.

I gave a piece to my sister and my mother.

My mother's leg gave out as she put grandpa's ashes inside the pendant.

My dad was the one who closed the necklace before handing it to my mother again.

My mom held grandpa's remains tightly in an embrace.

I held my grandfather's ashes with a trembling hand. The wind blew over it as I continued to pour a part of his on my necklace.

When we all finished. My sister was the one who poured his ashes on the sea, as per the will asked.

I held my sister as her legs and arms gave out as she spread grandpa where grandma was.

"I'm sure grandpa is very much happy now. . . he's been missing grandma so much all these years after all. . ."

"I'm sure he's smiling at her now and embracing her tight."

My sister's legs gave up as she slumped to the floor when the last ashes flew by the wind.

"Halmeoni. . . please take care of Harabeoji. . . ."

"Eomma. . . . you should scold appa for leaving me behind. . ."

We smiled sadly as mom wanted grandma to scold him.

"Grandma, grandpa always gets too little sleep, so make sure he sleeps there properly, okay?"

"Eomma, you should . . . . . scold him for being a bad dad. . . he'd always . . . . leave me alone after you . . . left him. . . . ."

"Grandma. . . grandpa couldn't eat his favorite sweets anymore since 5 years ago, so make sure he eats lots of sweets there. . . ."

"Eomma, make sure to tell appa that I want to be his daughter in my next life, okay?"

"Me too. . ."

"Umm. . ." I nodded with my sister as we held our necklaces close to our hearts.

We gave messages to the sea, hoping it reaches grandpa and grandma. . .

"Be sure to be happy, grandpa, grandma. . . . We will always remember you in our hearts."

. . .

Eun-bi pov:

I look at the sky while waiting for my sister to finish showering.

We decided to stay here, where we'll be meeting grandpa's lawyer for the will reading.

My step-grandma and aunt decided to come home instead of staying here, so we had the entire beach villa to ourselves.

My eyes looked around the seashore while my mind traveled to the past.

I washed myself and stayed in the tub for a long time, letting the water gaze on my skin, hoping to wash away the pain in my heart.

'I should have visited him more.'

'I should have spoken to him more.'

'I should have been there for him that night.'

'If I didn't leave him. . . . If I stayed. . . .'

I dipped under the water. My mind wandered on the night of his death, imagining how painful it must be for my grandfather to die drizzling in the cold for so long.

'Why did he die?'

I rouse from the tub, my eyes wide awake as I thought of grandpa's death.

'Why did he die alone?'

'Where were his bodyguards?'

'His secretary?'

'How did he fall from the stairs?'

'What is he doing walking under the heavy rain in the first place?'

I closed my eyes again, trying to imagine my grandfather's death, but no matter how I thought about it, it doesn't make any sense at all!

I took my robe and covered myself.

I swipe the mirror covered by the mist from the heat of the water and look at myself while I think of that night.

'Something doesn't add up?'

'Why would grandpa walk in the rain?'

'Where are his bodyguards and secretary?'

'Why did. . . he die?'

I immediately went out to help get my questions answered.

I opened the door.

"Byeol-ah. . ."

I called out her name.

Eun-byeol turned to me, her eyes red from crying.

"Eun-byeol. . . I was thinking about grandpa's death. . . and. . ."

She breathed deeply and took my hand, leading me to the vanity mirror and making me sit.

She helped me comb my hair quietly and even turned the blower on.

"I was thinking about that too. . ."

"Grandpa is not such a careless person."

"He's always been careful. Why would he suddenly walk through the heavy rain alone?"

'Even my sister thinks something is wrong?'

I turned to her, and we both looked at each other, doubting our grandfather's death.

"I'll call John to investigate immediately."

"I will go get help from Leon. He might be able to do something."

While I called John, Eun-byeol called Min-hyuk.

After, we tried racking our brains alone.

"How about his secretary?"

"She's been missing since his death."

"What?!!"

I stood up.

"If. . . .if by chance this is not an accident. . . then the chances of the secretary being dead is . . . . . . high."

"Whoever did this will definitely want to get rid of any evidence or witnesses."

"Then. . . . . we have to find her. . . the secretary. . ."

"How about CCTVs?"

"The CCTV was down that day."

Flashback. . . .

Back when I was still 8 years old:

"Why are you always wearing that tie clip, grandpa? It doesn't suit your tie?"

I pouted as I played with the clip-on grandpa.

"Hahahaha! This one, this is grandpa's good luck charm?"

"Good luck charm? But it looks old!"

"Hahahahaha! That's why it's effective! This protects your grandpa from all types of harm."

End of flashback. . .

I stood up as I remembered the tie clip.

"What's wrong?"

"Grandpa used to have this tie clip. He would wear it everywhere. Even if he's wearing something casual or formal, even during occasions, it is always with him."

"And. . . ."

"I've always wondered what that was, but grandpa said it's his good luck charm. . ."

"Grandpa isn't superstitious!" I stared at Eun-byeol, trying to make her think further. She stared deeply into my eyes, thinking more.

"It's a recorder."

I smile as she looks at me.

"Grandpa will never put his life on the line for believing in superstition. . . but if he wears it all the time. . . then it makes much more sense that it is being used for something else."

"I'll ask mom where his things that night are. . ."

Eun-byeol ran to mom and dad's room as I fixed myself before following Eun-byeol to mom and dad.

. . .

Eun-byeol pov:

"Tie clip?"

"Yes. . . the one he always wears on his tie. Where is it?"

"It's probably back at the mansion, along with his other things. Why?"

"We think it's a recorder, mom."

"Recorder?" My mother put her hands on her mouth and looked at me suspiciously.

"Are you saying?"

"Mom, does it ever make sense that you found grandpa dead on the staircase alone?"

She stepped backward. Dad caught her when she almost fell on her back.

"It's in the mansion, right?"

"Yes. ."

"I'll go get it."

Eun-bi took the helmet and went straight to the garage.

"Eun-bi, wait! I'll get it." Dad followed her as well.

"We don't have time for this! I'll be back in a flash."

"It's dangerous! Ha Eun-bi!!!"

I shouted, but she was not listening at all.

She put the helmet on. She turned the engine on before leaving without listening to any of us.

"Eun-bi!!!" Mom looked at us, worried for Eun-bi.

Dad rode the car, and mom and I followed him, with mom in the front and me in the back.

"Let's go."

. . .

Eun-bi pov:

I sped through the cars.

Going left and right.

When I reached the mansion, it was very dark.

I somehow got a bad feeling, but I can't really think of anything right now.

I ran through the door and to his office.

I looked around, but it was not there, so I went to his bedroom immediately.

I found his tux, his tie clip.

I opened the lights and checked it.

The head of the clip slid and opened.

'This is. . . .'

I turned around when I felt someone was here other than me.

I encased the recorder again and put it in my pocket.

I took my grandfather's cane inside the room and carefully walked around.

The house turned dark.

My heart started beating.

"Who are you!!! Did you kill my grandfather?!!"

"Show yourself, murderer!!"

I swung the cane when I felt someone but cold steel pierced through me.

"Uurgghh. . ."

"You. . ."

He pulled the blade again. . . "agghhhh. . ."

And stabbed through me again.

"This is your fault!"

My vision went hazy.

The man put his hand on my pocket and took the clip.

I tried holding his foot, but he pushed it and stomped on it before leaving.

He spitted on me as I watched him run away.

'Damn you!!'

I can feel my vision going blank.

'I can't die here! I have to tell them. . .'

'I have to. . . .'

'Mom!'

'Dad. . .'

"Byeol. . aaa. . ."

"Eun-bi ahhhhhhhh!!"

. . .

Yoon-chul pov:

"Ha Eun-bi!!!"

"My daughter!!!"

"Wake up!!!"

"Please wake up!!!"

I helped the paramedics perform first aid on her as the ambulance to the hospital.

"HA EUN-BI!!!!!"

"You can't die on us!!"

"You can't!!!"

"If you die too!!! Eomma will die!!!"

"So wake up!!!"

"Wake up!!! Ha eun-bi!!!!"

The panicked voice of my daughter and my wife echoes in my ears. The bleeding body of my daughter and her weak pulse makes my hand tremble as I check for her vitals.

"Don't give up on us! Ha eun-bi!!"

The ambulance opened as we reached Cheong-ah hospital.

I tapped the doctor who came to assist as I prepared myself to go in as well.

"Sunbae!! You can't!!"

I pushed the doctor away and forced myself into the room.

"Dr. Ha! You can't!!"

"Damn it!! That's my daughter!!"

"That's why you can't!!"

"Damn it!!!!"

I kneeled in front of the surgery room, unable to do anything.

"How is my daughter! Will she be fine!!"

"We will do our best to dave her, Mrs. Cheon. I promise."

"Please save my daughter!"

"Please!! Please!!!"

. . .

Eun-byeol pov:

"Get off!"

"Get off me!!!"

I shouted as the secretary pulled me away from my sister when we got off the ambulance.

He literally carried me like a sack and dropped me inside the car.

"You can't! Ms. Ha!"

"Mrs. Cheon already told you the two of you can't be seen together yet!!"

"Shut up!!! That's my sister in there!!" I looked at the front of the hospital where I should be at.

"She needs me!!!"

"Get off!!!"

He held me tight as he inserted something while I hit him and forced my way out.

"I'm sorry! I will receive my punishment when you wake up."

"Eun. . . bi. . ."

. . .

Yoon-chul pov:

I forced myself to sit with my wife in the doctor's observation room.

This isn't supposed to be allowed.

We're not supposed to be in here, but my wife literally slapped and hit everyone who tried to keep her away.

She kneeled in front of the glass watching the doctors open her up to check her organs.

"You have to live!!"

"You have to survive!!"

I kneeled with my wife as my wife begged for Eun-bi.

Her eyes dilated as Eun-bi flatlined.

"What the hell are they doing!!!" I banged the glass as they tried to revive my daughter.

"Eun-bi ahhh!!!"

"Ha Eun-bi!!!! My child!!! My baby!!!"

. . .

Seok-hoon pov:

I woke up from a dream sweating.

I saw Eun-bi in my dream.

She was smiling.

But when I woke up, I breathed hard, almost like I had been running for miles.

My pulse is pulsating fast.

My door opened, and Seok-kyung looked at me as if she saw a ghost.

"Oppa!! Eun-byeol. . . Eun-byeol . . . ."

. . .

My sister and I ran to the hospital with Min-hyuk and Jenny following us the moment we heard about what had happened.

The news says she got stabbed by thieves who trespassed her grandfather's home, but what is she doing there in the first place.

The reporters are still trying to find out how she was stabbed.

When we got there, we headed straight to the emergency room and asked where Ha Eun-byeol was.

When we got in front of the surgery room, Seo-jin and Yoon-chul were pacing back and forth.

Uncle Yoon-Chul kept on sighing while aunt Seo-jin kept on biting her lips.

"I won't forgive them if anything happens to my daughter!"

"I'm going to kill them all!"

Aunt Seo-jin muttered while crying and biting her nail.

"I thought it's done! You told me she's safe! Why aren't they out yet?"

"Should we check inside again. . . . ?"

"Mr. Ha. . . ."

He turned to us and looked really. . . .

His clothes are covered in blood.

His hands are still unwashed and are also covered in blood.

"Is that. . . Eun-byeol's blood. . . . ?"

My sister lost her strength to stand and slumped to the ground.

Looking only at the blood, she tears up and starts to sob loudly.

The door opened, and the nurses assisted Eun-byeol's bed.

"Aga!!"

"My baby!!"

We followed Cheon seo-jin and Ha Yoon-chul as they took her to the ICU.

"I'm sorry, but we can't let all of you inside. Only family members are allowed inside."

"I'm her mother. . . ."

The doctor nodded to us as I punched the nearest wall in anger.

'Why can't I do anything whenever she needs me!!'

"Eun-byeol ahh!!"

"Eun-byeol ahh!"

'I can't even call out her name!!!'

. . .

Woman pov:

Her hands trembled at what happened.

She only came to get the pin after receiving a message about it.

Her black glove, stained with blood, drops to the sink.

She removed it along with her mask and jacket.

She washes her hands over and over again, still seeing the blood covering her hands.

The blood drips from the side of her face to her nose down to her neck.

She keeps washing it and silently cries as she covers her mouth when she makes the sound of crying.

"This is all her fault!!"

"Everything is her fault!!"

"It's because of her that she died!!"

"I only protected myself!!"

"I am the victim!!"

"I am the victim!!!"

She took the clip from the pocket of her pants. She looked at it and smiled sinisterly.

"Right! No one will know as long as I keep my mouth shut!!"

"That bitch won't say anything too!!"

"Her life is also hanging with this thing!!"

"As long as she keeps her mouth shut, everything will be fine!!"

"Can she do that, though?"

"Can I trust that idiotic bitch?"

Voices started swirling in her head, saying: "you can't trust her," "She will definitely sell you out." "You have to do something." "You are going to die!".

"No!! No!!! No!!!!"

"I have to kill her too! Before she attacks me!!"

"Yes! Before she victimizes me, I'll end here! Then everything will be fine!!!"

She laughed like a crazy woman as she slumped to the ground, still laughing hard.

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

GUESS WHO THE WOMAN IS?

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

Yohan, Gaon, and Elijah all visited

The penthouse: War In Love fanfiction (Supposedly "War

in life").

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

TO BE CONTINUED