Pay With Your Heart

Chapter 467: Traitor

“Why are you eating so little?” Dan-Han asked with a frown as he watched Eun-sun as she ate with him. He had counted the number of times she had raised a spoon towards her mouth, and it was no more than ten.

Eun-sun shook her head. “Nothing, I’m just tired.” She said, but Dan-Han didn’t seem convinced or pleased.

“I’ll feed you.” He said, raising a spoon towards her lips, but Eun-sun shook her head to stop him.

“You shouldn’t move too much. And seriously, I’m not hungry.” She said.

Dan-Han furrowed his brows as he stared at her. He deflatedly sighed. “I’ve told you to stop worrying. Everything will be fine.” He encouraged her while Eun-sun nodded. She had heard that too often recently, and every time she tried to believe that, things only got worse.

They were both still eating when Tae-Ho came into the room and informed them about Sena’s arrival at the hospital. Eun-sun’s hand on the spoon she was about to lift to her lips paused, and Dan-Han observed her reaction.

“And boss, your father called. I think the chairman’s wife must have informed him.” Tae-Ho announced, making Dan-Han wearily sigh.

.....

“She just had to do that.” He hissed. The last thing he wanted was his father breathing down his neck and pressuring him to leave everything halfway and return home.

“Has he called?” Dan-Han asked, knowing the old man would do that until he answered and did his bidding.

“No, sir,” Tae-Ho replied, and Dan-Han frowned, finding that strange.

“Let me know when he does.” He told him, and Tae-Ho nodded before excusing himself.

“Is your father going to come here?” Eun-sun inquired, already feeling anxious about his arrival if he was to suddenly come. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary if he did, as Dan-Han was his only child and immediate family, and also his heir.

“I’m not sure he will. He’d want to keep an eye on things at the company until I return.” He told her, and speaking about the company, Eun-sun suddenly missed work.

She wasn’t close to anyone at the office, maybe except Hye-Jin, but she really missed it. It was over a month since she hadn’t been to work; if her recovery period were added.

Dan-Han had mentioned the sick leave he had approved on her behalf, but she feared her absence might raise curious brows.

“How long is my sick leave supposed to last?” She asked.

“Indefinitely.”

“What?” Eun-sun stared at him with shock and surprise.

“I didn’t know how long it would take for you to get better, and I didn’t want to take any risk.”

“But my job-”

“You work for me, Eun-sun, not anyone else. So you don’t have to worry about anything.” He cut in. Eun-sun stared at him with nothing to say, and he picked up her spoon and handed it to her.

“You should eat, so we can go see your dad and mom.” He told her, making Eun-sun snap her gaze to him.

“You’re not supposed to leave your bed yet. It would be best if you stayed here. I’m sure she’ll come to see you.” She told him, not liking the idea of him getting out of bed.

“I’m sure she will, but I can’t stay on this bed one minute more except you want to come and lie on me. I’d let you take the lead.” He said with a suggestive wink, and Eun-sun instantly turned red from her cheeks to her neck.

“You’re getting out of hand, Dan-Han. You should know that.” She said with mortification while Dan-Han chuckled.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine.” He assured her, and even though Eun-sun wanted to insist that he remain in bed, she knew she couldn’t convince him to do so.

After they had eaten, Eun-sun trailed beside Dan-Han as they walked to the elevator. Her eyes kept looking at him with worry, but he seemed quite normal. Though his strides weren’t as long as they usually were, he didn’t look like he was hurt. Talk more about being shot.

“Stop looking at me like I’m going to fall over.” He hissed while observing her worried looks on him.

“I’d prefer it if you fall over. That way, you can stay in bed, and I’d be settled.”

Dan-Han softly chuckled. “Now, you know how infuriated you made me. Anyway, I’ll be fine.” He reassured her, but Eun-sun just looked behind him to Tae-Ho, trailing behind them like a grim reaper. She heaved a sigh when she noticed he was close enough to hold Dan-Han, Incase anything happened.

“Dan-Han, what about the attorney?” Eun-sun suddenly asked the moment she remembered him. Tae-Ho pressed the button to the floor they were headed.

Dan-Han briefly peered at her before turning his eyes away. “Dead.” He told her, and Eun-Sun stiffened.

What did he mean by dead? Did something happen to him? Didn’t her father request Dan-Han to exclude from his crazy plans?

“Ww.. what do you mean by he’s dead?” Her voice trembled as she asked. Dan-Han turned to look at her face, which had turned ashen.

“How do you think the man who came into your room found out about your room number?” He asked as Eun-sun stared at him with horror.

Eun-sun’s mind made a quick thought about it. That was some mystery she had failed to give a thought because everything had been chaotic. She was surprised she hadn’t thought of that.

Dan-Han nodded when he saw the look of realization on her face. “He was working with the enemy.” He told her just as the elevator door opened, and they stepped in.

Eun-Sun was stunned by what he had just said. Had the attorney been working with her uncle? It made sense.

They were the only ones present when Dan-Han booked a different room for them. So it only made sense that one amongst them had given the information to the enemy. But how did Dan-Han know?

“Have you known before you invited him? Did you invite him on purpose and set a trap for him...” While using her as bait?

Dan-Han paused when he realized the last part of Eun-sun’s questions that she had not asked out. He had gotten used to her, and he could say he knew her well.

He sighed when he saw the puzzled look on her face. “No, I didn’t know he was working with them, but I had my suspicion.” He told her.

“Remember when you asked how Yong-Gun would take everything from Mi-Cha?” He asked, and Eun-sun nodded.

“Well, I figured Yong-Gun would need help doing so. If Mi-Cha were to be in charge, she’d need her ‘uncle’s’ guidance, who in turn would only need the help of the will executor to steal what she has. Mi-Cha might not know it, but she’d give everything to Yong-Gun without knowing.”

“So he’s only using her as a means to an end?” Eun-sun quietly asked. She already had the answer, but she didn’t want to believe it.

“People like Yong-Gun have no moral compass, nor do they hold anything with value. I doubt he even likes the girl; talk about seeing her as a daughter.”

Eun-sun frowned, knowing that was true. Her heart ached for Mi-Cha. She didn’t know how someone could be this cruel, and she also couldn’t imagine how she’d feel when she discovered everything.

“She’d be heartbroken and disappointed.” Eun-Sun reasoned out, and Dan-Han nodded affirmatively.

“She’ll be.” He agreed.

“Do you think we should tell her? She’s suspicious she might be involved in all of this because of what happened at the hotel.”

“What happened at the hotel?” Dan-Han asked with a frown, and Eun-sun narrated it all to him.

A thoughtful frown framed Dan-Han’s face as he listened to her.

“Do you think she’ll figure it out?” Eun-sun nervously asked.

Dan-Han didn’t think Mi-Cha could figure things out with just the little she had heard. “I doubt it, and I’d prefer if she doesn’t. It would be too troublesome if Mi-Cha doesn’t find out.”

“President Lee.” Tae-Ho subtly called, announcing the person approaching, but he was too late because Mi-Cha had already heard her name.

“I shouldn’t find out what?” She asked, making Dan-Han and Eun-sun turn to her.

“Mi-Cha,” Eun-sun called out with surprise. She observed the cup of coffee in her hand, but Mi-Cha fixed her gaze on Dan-Han.

“What were you guys saying about me just now?” She firmly asked, with a tone that told them she had clearly heard them, but before she could get a response from Dan-Han, Sena’s voice boomed across the hall.

“Dan-Han?” She called behind them from the direction of Ki-Jun’s room. Dan-Han and Eun-sun turned to her before walking towards her with Mi-Cha trailing behind.

“Aunty,” Dan-Han bowed.

“What are you doing here? Why are you walking about?” She asked with worry. She turned to Eun-sun. “Why are you letting him walk about? You should have stopped him.”

“Stop fretting. I’m fine.” Dan-Han told her, but that didn’t take the look of worry off her face.

“What happened to you and Ki-Jun? I heard you were both shot. Why are you both in such states?” She tearily asked, her eyes already warming with tears.

Mi-Cha sighed when she saw her mother on the verge of reopening the dam of tears they had managed to cease a few minutes ago before she left to grab a cup of coffee for her from the cafeteria.

“Stop crying, mom,” Mi-Cha consoled her, looking over at Eun-sun, who stood still with no idea what to do. Sena was still clueless about the truth, so she didn’t know how best to console her.

Dan-Han cupped up the woman’s face and wiped her tears. “You don’t have to cry. Everything will be fine. Uncle will be fine.” He told her.

“Ki-Jun had never been in such a state before.” She sobbed. “Why would anyone even try to kill him or you?” She asked between sobs.

Everyone exchanged glances, but Sena was too distraught to catch on. “I’m sure uncle will tell you when he’s better.” Dan-Han told her, and she looked up at him with mild suspicion.

“Is something going on? Is there something you guys know you’re not telling me?” She asked, but Dan-Han shook his head.

“Nothing is going on. But if there is, I’m sure uncle will tell you when he wakes up.” He told her. Sena silently stared at him before shifting her gaze to Mi-Cha and then to Eun-sun.

She frowned when she saw the bandage on Eun-sun’s arm. “Are you injured too?” She asked with worry, but Eun-sun shook her head.

“Just a light graze. I lost my footing earlier today, and I fell.” Eun-sun lied.

Sena sighed as she walked over and hugged her. She didn’t know why she felt the need to comfort Eun-sun, but she did. “Everything will be alright, my darling.” She said while Eun-sun hugged her back.

A tingling feeling warmed her stomach as she stood in Sena’s embrace. Something about it felt different compared to all the other hugs she had shared with others. It was warming and comforting.

“Let’s go see, uncle,” Dan-Han said before leading the way to Ki-Jun’s room.

Mi-Cha shuffled her gaze between Dan-Han and Eun-sun. She couldn’t help but think they were hiding something from her, something related to this incident, and she did not doubt her suspicion.

But what could it be?

Away from there, Ki-Jun’s doctor, Doctor Tan, was in a meeting discussing the procedure for Ki-Jun’s surgery. The man was slightly wounded in a bad way, so they had to be careful about the surgery.

“It shouldn’t be as bad as we’re suspecting. Giving the scans, we should have a success rate.” A resident doctor who would be assisting doctor Tan with the surgery said.

.....

“Maybe, but the risk of him slipping into a coma is also there.” Another doctor said, and before Doctor Tan could respond to that, his phone chimed with a message notification.

He hesitated opening it, as he hated being distracted during discussions such as this, but the moment he did, he paled.

In the video clip, he had received his 19-year-old son strapped to a chair with a cloth gagging his mouth, and a gun pointed to his head.

Another message followed. It was an address to an instruction to be there tonight.

‘Come alone, or he dies.’ A third message read.