BLRFC 03

Chapter 03 …

Gi-joo gently clasped Hae-som’s hand and spoke.

“Listen without getting shocked. Mom and Dad searched for you for a very long time.”

When Hae-som nodded, Gi-joo stroked her head and continued.

“There was a detective in charge of your case… On the tenth anniversary of your disappearance, he announced his retirement and told Mom and Dad that there was little hope you were still alive, so they should let their daughter go and live out the rest of their lives in peace….”

Hae-som felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on her chest.

“After the detective who had tracked you until the very end gave up, I guess Mom was devastated.”

As he said that, Gi-joo seemed to choke up and briefly turned his head to the side.

Tae-joo spoke in his place.

“After that, Mom quit the hospital and went abroad. She only left a note saying that she couldn’t bear being here because everything reminded her of you.”

Hae-som’s eyes reddened.

While she had been spending her time on the island with Mom—or rather, her kidnapper—her real family had apparently been going through years of suffering.

“Dad went abroad with Mom, too. And what we heard was that they were going to do some volunteer work in Africa and return after clearing their minds.”

Gi-joo added,

“We told them immediately that you had been found, but unfortunately, there’s a war going on in that area right now… so they can’t come back. Mom and Dad told us not to tell you about the situation because they were worried you’d be concerned.”

Hae-som frantically wiped away the tears streaming down her cheeks with the back of her hand.

“I understand, oppas….”

At that moment, her second older brother, Geuk-joo, lightly patted the top of Hae-som’s head.

“So until then, our princess can spend her time studying for the GED.”

Hae-som gave her brothers, who were taking such good care of her, a faint smile. Then she remembered the question that still remained in her heart and cautiously asked,

“Um… but what about Mom—no, I mean, that woman? Was she caught? I heard she was sick….”

Silence fell instantly.

The silence quickly made Hae-som’s heart feel heavy.

Although Gyeong-hae might have been the woman who had cared for her like a daughter, to her family, she must have been like a demon who had kidnapped someone precious to them.

And yet she had just asked her family about that woman’s well-being….

“Ahem. Look at the time already.”

Tae-joo glanced at the clock on the wall and changed the subject.

Sensing the opportunity, Geuk-joo also expressed his regret that he had to go to work.

“Phew. I’m sorry I’m a civil servant who has no choice but to go to work.”

“Exactly. I’m going crazy with worry.”

“It’s awful thinking about going on an overseas tour while leaving you behind.”

Ding-dong—

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“Ah. I guess he’s here.”

Geuk-joo hurriedly left the room.

When Hae-som tilted her head in confusion, her eldest brother, Tae-joo, smiled faintly and explained.

“We called someone who can protect you. He’ll also help you prepare for the GED.”

“……Huh?”

“Want to come out?”

Hae-som slowly followed her brothers out of the room.

Someone who will protect me and teach me…?

Is he some kind of private tutor?

“Jae-hyun is here.”

When her eldest brother greeted him, a low, unfamiliar yet pleasant voice came from the man who had entered as far as the living room.

“Hyung. It’s been a long time. Gi-joo, too.”

Hae-som slowly raised her head and looked properly toward the entrance.

Her eyelids flew open, and her heart began pounding wildly.

He was so tall that he made the entrance seem small. Even though he was wearing nothing more than a single shirt, his broad, square shoulders and firm physique were clearly visible. His body had a smooth, lean line without an ounce of excess fat.

Until now, the only young man Hae-som had really seen was that damn Sang-hyuk. So when her eyes landed on a ridiculously handsome man who looked as though he had stepped straight out of a beautifully drawn illustration, she almost went into shock.

If I had known there were men like this on the mainland, wouldn’t I have been even more determined to escape?

“Say hello. Little sis. He’s a friend of your older brother who’ll be staying with you for the time being.”

Staying with me? Oh my God.

“Thank you… so much….”

Silence fell.

What… what did I just say? Thank you?!

Hae-som covered her face with her hands and ran back into her room.

Two days earlier.

The house at the very top of a hill in Hannam-dong.

Jae-hyun was leaning against the terrace railing, which rose higher than the surrounding wall, looking out at the Han River as it curved in an S-shape.

Creak—

The sound of a door opening was heard, and someone entered.

“Jae-hyun.”

It was his father, Chairman Cha Won-seong.

Jae-hyun continued staring at the shimmering waters of the Han River without answering.

Won-seong walked over to his side and rested his arms on the railing in the exact same posture as Jae-hyun, lowering his upper body slightly.

“Why did you cause Min-woo’s car accident?”

Jae-hyun had no particular desire to answer.

His half-brother, Min-woo, was a troublesome bastard.

When Jae-hyun was in high school, his mother died from a chronic illness, and his father remarried less than three years later.

After the media’s attention had died down, his father brought Min-woo—the child born from his father’s affair, or rather, the son of the woman he remarried—into the household.

Into this very house, filled with memories of his late mother.

That alone had been unpleasant enough, but the bastard was incredibly rude despite being the illegitimate child.

He acted like a meek lamb in front of his father and Jae-hyun, but the moment his father left for work, he treated the household staff terribly.

And Min-woo was only two years younger than Jae-hyun.

Proof that his father had maintained a long-running affair while pretending to be a good husband.

“He’s joining the company soon. You officially entered the company as an executive director from the beginning, but he’s starting from the bottom. Don’t you think he has enough difficulties of his own? Do you really have to torment your little brother that much?”

Jae-hyun let out a dry laugh as if he found it absurd.

Perhaps angered by that laugh, Won-seong hardened his expression and took a step back.

Then he grabbed Jae-hyun’s arm and forcibly made him look at him.

“Are you still a child?! How long has it been since your mother died, and you’re still acting like a child!”

His father had suddenly lost his temper.

Jae-hyun rubbed his eyebrow indifferently with his middle finger and looked at his father.

“Of course. I was wondering why you suddenly wanted to have such a civilized conversation with me.”

Won-seong’s eyelids trembled at Jae-hyun’s sarcasm.

“I’m not as broad-minded as you, Father. I don’t have room to accept a new family. I’ll remove myself from the equation, since I’m the problem. Go ahead and play family as much as you want.”

Jae-hyun smiled leisurely and spread both palms toward him.

Just as he was about to leave the terrace, the phone in his pocket rang.

It was a call from his best friend, Geuk-joo.

“Yeah.”

—Let’s meet. I have something urgent to tell you.

Under normal circumstances, Jae-hyun would have called him an impudent bastard and hung up.

But he could feel his father’s gaze on his back, and he genuinely wanted to get out of this tiresome house, so he agreed.

“Send me the location.”

—I’m already in front of your house because it’s urgent. I’m in front of your car.

Without answering, Jae-hyun ended the call.

Ignoring the piercing gaze he could feel from behind, Jae-hyun went downstairs to the first floor.

As soon as he stepped outside the gate, he saw Geuk-joo bent over in front of his car, which was parked outside the house.

He was tall, and the awkward way he was hunched over on the road looked rather ridiculous.

“What are you doing?”

Geuk-joo only lifted his head and replied.

“Hey. Why did you wreck your car? Anyone can tell you caused the accident.”

“Who could doubt that you’re a prosecutor?”

“If you’re going to treat a 900-million-won car like this, you should’ve just given it to me.”

“You’d have a hard time avoiding the Kim Young-ran Act.”

Geuk-joo groaned as he straightened his upper body.

“I’m joking. Anyway, I asked why you caused the accident. Were you drinking?”

“Not me.”

“Then who? That idiot little brother of yours?”

“Yeah. I came home after work and was parking when that bastard came staggering out. He obviously looked drunk. But then he got behind the wheel and drove off.”

“So you chased him down and crashed into him?”

Jae-hyun nodded.

“Geez. I wonder if your father knows how much you’re personally throwing yourself into danger behind the scenes for the sake of the company’s image.”

“Enough. Why are you here?”

At Jae-hyun’s question, Geuk-joo gestured toward Jae-hyun’s car with his chin.

As soon as they got into the car, Geuk-joo asked,

“Find me someone I can trust, someone who can protect a person more safely than anyone else in South Korea.”

Jae-hyun’s eyebrows slowly rose.

What the hell was this bastard talking about all of a sudden?

“I don’t really know anyone like that. It’s not something I can use public authority for, either. My brother is the same.”

Jae-hyun nodded.

It was true that an NIS employee and a prosecutor couldn’t use national resources for personal matters.

“There’s only one person who can find someone that exceptional for me. My proud chaebol friend, Cha Jae-hyun.”

“…….”

“I can’t trust anyone else.”

“Explain what’s going on first. What, did you get the President’s son kidnapped or something?”

“No. My younger sister.”

Jae-hyun tilted his head slightly.

“Your younger sister? Gi-joo? Keion?”

Geuk-joo’s younger brother was currently the standout member of one of South Korea’s most successful male idol groups.

Had something dangerous happened to him?

“No. My younger sister.”

Younger… sister?

“……Did you take drugs? What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

Jae-hyun grabbed Geuk-joo’s arm and tried to roll up his shirt sleeve.

Geuk-joo forcibly pulled his arm away and shouted,

“You seriously don’t remember?! When we were in high school, my little sister disappeared and our whole family was thrown into chaos!”