wttcs 28
Chapter 28
Upon reaching the house, he climbed the stairs with two to three steps at a time to quickly reach Chae Gyung’s room.
As Shin threw the door wide open, there she was, lying on her bed in deep sleep.
He rushed to her side and noticed red stains on the blanket. The bandage was full of blood, the wound hasn’t stop bleeding. He grabbed a towel and wrapped her hand tightly. Chae Gyung was awakened by the force of his pull and as she opened her eyes, she saw the look of fear on his face, his eyes almost red as if he just cried.
“Hey.” He touched her forehead. She was burning with fever. “You’re burning. Why didn’t you go to the hospital? You told them you were going straight.”
“I was scared to go alone… and I was waiting for you.” She lowered her eyes and shifted them back to his face again, extending out her hand like a little child showing her wound, waiting to be nursed and yearning to know if he still cared for her as much as before.
For a moment he felt a strong surge of emotion of wanting to hug her, but he still didn’t have the courage to do it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you at all.” He whispered.
Shin yanked the blanket out of the way. “We’re going to the hospital right now. You have a deep cut, you’re still bleeding.” He said while his eyes met hers, carefully lifted her up in his arms and carried her out as she clung on to him.
At the hospital
The doctor was making several stitches on Chae Gyung palm while she buried her face on Shin’s chest and cringed in pain.
“Hush. Don’t cry. It will be over soon.”
“I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. You need to get it stitched or it won’t heal.” Shin spoke faintly.
Chae Gyung was still shivering from fear. Shin noticed the bruises on her face, and he gently touched her cheeks to ease out her pain. He slowly raised his arms and held her in an embrace. As she pressed her face harder to his body, he felt the courage to tighten his hold onto her. Shin felt her body has stopped from shaking now and slowly released her from his arms. Upon realizing she was about to be parted from him, Chae Gyung pulled his shirt with her left hand to stop him from letting her free and pressed one side of her cheeks gently on his chest again. He locked his arms around her again, this time he’s not letting her go until she says so.
The next day
At Shin’s office
“The salary fund has been traced. It’s all here in the report, sir.”
“Deposits were made by accountant Ms. See Yung Hye at Woori Bank, and subsequently transferred to three different banks, until it reached a certain Seung Ing Kee. Seung is the nephew of Seung Jin Han, one of the stockholders of Ewait, and the close ally of Kwon Jun Kook.”
“This, aside from the earlier cases I have reported about the bogus contracts Mr. Kwon has entered in with some of our clients, forging yours and Ms. Rebby’s signatures, not to mention the dummy companies he has set up that served as wholesaler suppliers to Ewait. These files are all compiled into this folder, sir.”
“Thank you, Edel. I will review everything later on. Good job. You may go now.”
Shin turned around and looked at his sister. “It’s time.”
Kwon Jun Kook whistled his way into his office. As he turned on the computer, he noticed an envelope placed on his desk. After reading the letter, he immediately proceeded to Shin’s office.
“What is this?” He held the letter up.
“You’ve read it. You’re given three days to clear your desk and say goodbyes to your colleagues.” Shin who was reclining back on his chair answered coldly.
“Am I not entitled to a due process here? I can sue you for illegal dismissal.”
Shin raised his feet on the table. “I welcome it. With all the evidences at hand, there are no further explanations needed.”
“You think you can beat me? You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
“Yes I know. That’s why I’m getting rid of the rotten apple right away.”
“I’m not that easy to get rid off.”
“I know.”
“The last laugh is going to be mine.”
“Inside the prison bar?”
“Is that a threat?”
“No. We are filing charges against you. That’s not a threat. It’s a fact.”
Kwon Jun Kook’s eyes were spewing fire from extreme anger. He turned around and slammed the door behind him.
Evening
At Shin’s residence
“Are you sleepy?”
“No.”
“How’s your wound?”
“Healing slowly.”
“Here. I’ll clean it.” Shin reached for the medicine box.
Chae Gyung resisted, “I can do it by myself.”
“How can you do it?”
“I don’t want to bother you anymore. I have been such a burden to you.”
“You’re not bothering me. See, I’m not doing anything right now. And you are definitely not a burden to me.” He found himself ogling at her beautiful face again, but remembered how Chae Gyung dislikes to be stared at. “You’re scared? I won’t hurt you. Do you believe me?” He extended out his hand to her, waiting for her to give him her hand.
Chae Gyung finally reached out her hand but with a great amount of hesitation.
He cut off the old bandage and cleansed the wound with saline solution. After applying antiseptic ointment he wrapped a fresh bandage around it.
“See? Did it hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Do you forgive me?”
Chae Gyung’s heart skipped a beat. She knew it was coming, and she dreaded the day she will be forced to answer this question.
“For what?” she asked while bringing her eyes on the floor.
“For leaving you up in the mountains. You wouldn’t have that fall had I been with you.” Shin answered as his heart was hoping for a reprieve.
Her heart sang a thousand hymns upon hearing what he meant by that question. “There’s nothing to forgive. It’s not your fault. What you have done for me is more than enough. Thank you for taking good care of me.”
For a fleeting second, their eyes locked with intense desire, each wanting to be freed from the shadows of the past. He slowly bent down and leaned towards her. She remained still as she closed her eyes and waited for his lips to touch hers. She was ready for that one special moment to take place.
“I have to go.” Shin said abruptly and stood up. I can’t hurt you again.
Chae Gyung opened her eyes and felt the rush of heat rising up to her cheeks. “Good night.” She replied disappointedly as she tucked her hair behind her ears and looked the other way.
He smiled timidly and bade her good night too.
Several mornings after
The daily newspaper was thrown in by the messenger and Shin walked to the gate to pick it up just like what he always does every morning. As he unfolded the broadsheet while walking back into the house, the headline news brought an intense shock upon his face.
Business mogul, Lee Shin of Ewait Mall, a rapist?