Insight to the chapter

"Your escape plan has been foiled by Chul Woo and Jungkook is nowhere to be found! What will you do to save yourself, your father and the love of your life?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John's car was already waiting for me, but I couldn't see the driver from the dark-tinted windows. Quickly, I opened the passenger side door... Chul Woo was sitting there, brandishing a gun!

"Where do you think you are going, girlie?"

What is he doing here?!

John was frozen in the driver's seat, hands on the steering wheel and staring in front of him.

"John, are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I--"

"No one told you to talk, old man! Especially to Nam Gil's daughter!" yelled Chul Woo.

No! Oh fish, no! He knows who I am!

"What are you talking about, Chul Woo? Look, you probably had drunk a lot. How about you put the gun away and we can go back inside?"

Chul Woo pulled back the trigger of the gun and points it directly at me. "You are not fooling me with that act. Uncle Chan Yeol told me who you are."

He knows who I am! But... why would he let me marry Jungkook then?!

"Oh, yeah, bi**h. He knows exactly who you are."

"Chul Woo... Please, listen to me! I have no idea what you are taking about!"

"Stop pretending! It is a good think I followed you when I did. You led me right to this old rat!"

No, no, no! I can't' let them get to John! The jig is up. The most I can do now is make sure he doesn't harm John.

I swallowed and erased any emotions from my features. I stared down Chul Woo before I spoke. "Well... I guess there is no point in pretending anymore. Can't say I disappointed. It's been a chore sucking up to you all."

Chul Woo grinned in triumph, and I resisted the urge to punch him and wiped the off his face. "And there is, Nam Gil's little spawn! It is better like this, right? With our cards out on the table."

I glanced over at John. "Let the old guy go. Or do you want to make this situation worse?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I did not cross your mind that I lied to him about why I needed him to drive me?"

Chul Woo paused and bristled. "Shut up." He tightened the hold on his gun, and I noticed a slight tremor in his hand. His back was turned to John who carefully eyed him, then looked at me over his shoulder.

I kept my eyes locked on Chul Woo, the man squirming underneath my gaze. "Now what? Are we just going to stand around here and do nothing? Or are you finally going to do something useful for a change?"

"What did you say to me?!" Bubbling with rage, Chul Woo was utterly distracted, and John used the opportunity to grab him by the wrist.

He pointed his gun upward and squeezed one arm over his neck!

With Chul Woo locked in place, I swiftly punched him right in the face. I have him one more for good measure, and the gun fell from his hand.

"I am going to kill you for this! Let go of me, right now! Guards!" he kept yelling.

Losing my patience, I took his tie and shoved it into his mouth to shut him up. "That's enough from you, Chul Woo. Time you went to sleep."

Time to knock him out!

Grabbing him by the front of his shirt, I punched him square in the face. With a grunt of pain, he went unconscious and fell back against John. 

"You have got a mean right hook, Mrs. Jeon," said John, his eyes wide open.

"What can I say? I have had some practice."

"Thank you for acting so quickly."

"I have got your back, don't worry."

John stepped out of the car and walked over to me with clear anxiety in his eyes. "We need to hide him somewhere immediately! It's going to buy us enough time to get you to the airport."

"But what about you? You have to hide, John."

"I can't leave."

"What? Why? Chan Yeol Jeon is going to kill you once he finds out!"

"I don't care what he does to me. I have spent enough time cowering away from that man. That ends now."

"John, please! You need to stay safe!"

"What I need is to keep my daughter safe!" he yelled.

I took a step back at the sudden outburst and my mouth fell open in shock. John took a moment to compose himself, immediately regretting his words. "I-I am sorry. I did not mean to scream at you..."

"John... your daughter?" I gave a thought of who his daughter can me and the only person came in my mind was, "Yu Jun?! She is your daughter, John?"

He swallowed and the look in his eyes told me I was right. Despite the sudden revelation, I quickly took hold of his hands. "Okay, look... Chan Yeol Jeon knows who I am, but he still doesn't know you helped me. I can go back in and distract him, while you get Yu Jun out of the house."

"Wait! You can't! He will have you captured on the spot!"

"That doesn't matter. As long as Jungkook saves my dad and you and Yu Jun are safe, I don't care what happens to me."

"Eun Jeong, please."

"John... everything is going to be fine. I just need you to follow my lead, okay?"

"Yes..."

"Okay. So, we put Chul Woo in the trunk and lock him in there. Then as casually as we can, we walk back inside."

John solemnly nodded, and after making sure no one was around, he helped me carry Chul Woo out of the car and put him in the trunk. 

Once he was locked inside, John looked at me with gratitude. "I can see why Jungkook loves you so much. You are a kind and brave woman."

I was taken aback by his sweet words and oddly enough, they gave me a new resolve.

All these years they tried to convince me I had no feelings and all I could do was kill. But... that's not true. I can love.

I placed my hand on John's shoulder and took a deep breath. "Thank you, John. Now we should get going."

He nodded; and plucking up all my courage, we both head back to the house.

When I entered the back garden, I spotted Chan Yeol Jeon smoking, standing at the side. As I walked up to him, John moved through the crowd to find Yu Jun.

My heard pounded away in my ears as I stopped in front of Chan Yeol Jeon.

"If it is not my daughter-in-law. Have you seen your husband? He seems to have disappeared somewhere."

"We don't have to play pretend anymore. I know you know who I am."

He took a slow drag from his cigarette and blows out a wisp of smoke. "And you came to me to admit it so freely? Well, now... I didn't expect that sort of courage."

Two bodyguards came up behind me and I steeled myself. Chan Yeol Jeon motioned for me to follow him with the imposing men keeping an eye on me.

One of the bodyguards pushed me into the office as Chan Yeol Jeon casually walked up to his desk.

Where is Jungkook! I hope he is safe!

"In all my years of business, I never thought a spy would give themselves up willingly. So, it is either a part of a plan or you are just that plain foolish."

"I came to you because I am not afraid of you. You want to kill me?! I don't care! At least I will die knowing I am a better person that you are!"

His eyes twitched and he took a step towards me. The bodyguards pointed their guns at my back, and I felt ever more trapped.

"No, daughter-in-law. You will die knowing all your money and assets will go to Jungkook, seeing as you are his wife. And with you and your father gone. His cut in the business becomes ours."

"That's all you care about, isn't it? More money, more power. Anything beyond that is meaningless to you! You are a cold-hearted criminal who treats his family like crap and intimidates everyone around him!"

He said nothing, his expression was unreadable, while the guards stared in confusion.

I didn't let their stares stop me as I continued. "So, take all the assets I have, I don't care. The business doesn't mean shit to me."

"And yet, you are here."

"I am here because of my father! The one you kidnapped because you were too much of a coward."

"What did you call me?"

"Oh, didn't hear it? I guess it's because you are getting old. I called a coward! You knew my father had enough influence to sway the families' decisions. But instead of discussing it like a man, you decided to nip the problem in the bud by kidnapping my dad! Jungkook and Yu Jun deserves a better father."

"How dare you?!"

"You know I am right; you just can't admit it to yourself."

The usually stoic Chan Yeol Jeon became a little fidgety. I have clearly struck a nerve and I saw his lips squeezed in a tight, thin line.

"I have had enough of this. Take her to the holding cell in the basement!"

But suddenly, an alarm went off underneath the table, distracting the bodyguards.

Without missing a beat, I ran off the window and jumped out of it onto the lawn below.

Wasting no time, I rushed of the front of the house and hid amongst the bushes.

Where is Jungkook?!

A guard came passing by and I stayed utterly still as I heard him speak into his earpiece. "All security personnel, make your way to warehouse 83B."

Warehouse 83B? Why would he be sending them to that warehouse? Does this have to do with the alarm that went off? Is Jungkook there?! I have to follow them!

Quickly and quietly, I followed the guards to the front parking lot. Once I was sure I won't be seen, I snuck into the bac of their van and hid underneath dusty blankets.

This is one hell of a wedding day!

Then van stopped in an alley next to the warehouse, and with quick efficiency, the guards pilled out and entered the warehouse, armed to the teeth. Quickly, I slipped out of my hiding place.

This place is really remote. Who knows what Chan Yeol Jeon might be hiding here.

I noticed a metal ladder leading up to the roof. I made sure no one was around, then climbed up the ladder. Halfway up, I heard a sound from up above.

I stayed utterly still on the ladder, but readied myself to fight whoever might come down from the other side. And then I saw a familiar face lover over the edge. His eyes widened when he spotted me.

Jungkook!

Jungkook overcame his shock and whispered between his teeth. "What are you doing here?!"

"I could ask you the same thing!"

"Jungkook, what is going on?!" I heard a familiar voice.

Oh my god... Is that dad?!

"Just hurry downstairs! Eun Jeong is here."

"Eun Jeong?!"

I dropped down from the ladder my heart racing in my chest and I could hardy compose myself when my father came down the ladder. He looked so raggedy and hurt. My heart squeezed in pain for my father; I haven't seen him in so long and I couldn't believe that he was finally free, here, with me.

"Eun Jeong..."

"Dad! I missed you so much!"

I enveloped him in a tight hug and my father held me close. "I was not sure I was ever going to see you!"

You dropped down from the ladder. "I am glad to see you guys reunited, but we need to go now."

Before the guards inside could be alarmed of our presence, you got me and my dad into your car and drove off.

When we reached a lake outside the city, you stopped the car. After a short delay, I exited the car, you went first. My dad stayed in the car but opened the backdoor. 

I could tell you wanted to say something but were holding back in front of my dad.

He is probably mad because I didn't leave. But I couldn't. Hopefully, he will understand.

I placed a gentle hand on top of yours and you looked down at it.

"Thank you, Jungkook. Let's just not argue, okay?"

You bit down on your bottom lip and squeezed my hand. "I don't want to argue either. But you promised you would keep yourself safe."

My father leaned in from the backseat. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, dad."

"Do you need some fresh air, Mr. Park? I am sure you and Eun Jeong have a lot to talk about."

"We really do. What do you think, Eun Jeong? You want to go outside for a bit?"

I know Jungkook wants to talk to me, and I want to talk to him too. But if right now I refuse to go with dad, everything will be super awkward.

I looked over at my dad with a sweet smile. Seeing him alive and well brought me a sense of peace. "Yeah, dad. Let's get some fresh air."

I reached my hand out to my dad and he took it with gratitude, exits the car and brought me into a wordless hug. He squeezed me tightly to his chest and my eyes filled with tears as I did my best not to cry on his shoulder.

"Oh, Eun Jeong. I really thought I would never see you again."

"I was not about to give you up without a fight."

He chuckled, holding back his own tears and pulled away to motion at my wedding dress. "So much so you would fight in a wedding dress?"

"Oh, right... this..."

"I have so many questions."

"Well... Jungkook and I got married like an hour ago."

My father's mouth dropped open in shock and he shook his head. "I am sorry, what?!"

TO BE CONTINUED