Kangdae's POV
I felt a strange breeze blowing around me on my way to meet Guyong. That could be a sign that things were about to go rough especially if I dared to take this move. I do not think I am making the right decision. What if doing this puts my son into bigger trouble? I should be finding a way to get my daughter out of there and not put my son's life at stake. The buzzing of my phone got me; it was Sungmin. I sighed and picked up the phone.
"Hello, son."
"Dad! I want you to contact Nara, please."
"What for?"
"Just convince her. Anything… like, tell her anything to make her release my friend. Nara listens to you. Do this for me, Dad."
I went quiet for a while. I think Sungmin is beginning to see me as his father. I was happy that he was giving me the chance to amend my ways. I have been a terrible father all along.
"I will talk to Nara to let your friend go!"
"Thank you, Dad. Don't worry, I will return to the company if this works out," he said.
I dialed another number.
"Hello, come over to the house. I have a meeting at the office by 9."
I reversed the car as I headed for my house. I planned to take my shower and get on a more corporate outfit for work. Before my driver came, I called Nara.
"Hello, Dad," she called innocently.
"Hello, Nara," I replied with a blank emotion. I didn't want her to lure me with her charming voice. This was something more serious than the soft voice she was putting out.
"I am at the office. I need to see you. It is very important!" I added.
"Right away?" she asked softly.
"Yes, please."
"I will be there shortly," she said.
After checking things through at the office, I concluded that things weren't so bad, even though the company lacks a manager at the moment.
Secretary Soyoung soon barged into my office without notice, not even a single knock on the door.
"Hi, love!" she called.
My eyes raised. Did she just call me that?
"I planned to come to your house today but it is not bad that you are here, I know you just wanted to see my beautiful face but you will never admit it! Well, how do you feel?" she said, playing her fingers on my beard.
I took them off because I expected her to know better — this is a place of work, not a harlot zone.
"You should get back to your job," I blurted out.
"Don't you want Maesong anymore?" she asked, locking her eyes with mine.
I do not know when she became something else. Soyoung had changed so much. She wasn't the Soyoung I once admired.
"Please! I am expecting a visitor in no time," I said, looking at my wristwatch.
"So, I need you to leave, right now."
Her brows raised. She didn't believe I would ask her out of my office. If this would cause her to change her mind about linking me up with Maesong, so be it! She was already doing too much that I couldn't bear anymore.
The door suddenly creaked open. Nara was here. Thank goodness she did not come in when Soyoung raised her leg onto my table, revealing her lingerie. It was red-lace lingerie.
I noticed how they looked at each other before Soyoung walked out, visibly irritated. I thought Nara would say something about it, but that was too little to give her any concern.
"I am glad you are here," I said as she drew out the seat in front of me. "I have a plan that will leave my son with no option but to marry you!" I said, as the expression on her face brightened.
"But you have to trust me. Guyong shouldn't know about this until the deal is sealed! Do you understand?"
"Yeah," she nodded. Eagerly waiting for me to spill it out!
"But wait, do you have anyone that you have held captive from Sungmin's circle?"
Her eyes twisted, and then she responded with a gentle nod.
"Who?" I asked, looking desperate.
"A member of Jiah's clan. That lady whose father owed you a debt!" she said. "The one who says she is his fated mate. That bitch that wants to steal my man away from me," she said, almost in tears.
I know Nara was good at acting soft in front of me, but when she was out of my sight, she was a lioness, and when she is mad at me, she keeps the childish act aside and faces me like a storm.
Anytime I visited Guyong, I always made sure that Nara was out of sight. But something tells me she is aware that I have visited Guyong's territory countless times.
"It's alright," I said as I tried to make her feel relaxed.
"You would bring the person in your custody to me," I said, and her eyes widened.
She didn't agree to that.
"What would you do to her? And besides, they would call you a kidnapper!"
"Don't worry, I have a safe place where my boys would take her to, and later on Jiah would join her. Don't worry, you will witness it all," I said, feeling confident in myself.
Nara smiled shamelessly.
"I love you, Kangdae!" she said, pulling me into a tight embrace.
"So, when should I come to get her?"
"Hmm, tomorrow by 4 p.m."
"Thanks," I said, shaking hands with her.
I picked up my phone and called Sungmin.
"Nara has agreed to the deal. I will be getting your friend out of there by 4 p.m. tomorrow."
"Hmmm, okay. That's a good one. I will get back to you, Dad," he said, ending the call.
Yula's POV
I have been in this stinking place for 3 days, and nothing has been done about it. I do not even have one bit of strength to mind-link anyone again.
"Jiah never loved me. She only uses me!" I figured, as tears gathered in my eyes.
"Oh! Poor girl is emotional right now," Nara spoke unannounced behind me. I supposed she was just returning from plotting another evil for me. Maybe it was to kill me this time around and feed my flesh to her vultures in wolves' disguise.
She made me hate her even more. I pray to God every day that she dies a miserable death for making me go through so much pain. I would make her pay with her blood if I ever get out of here alive.
"Tell me what's going through your mind, baby girl?" she asked, touching my face with her bloody nails!
"Nothing else but the picture of your shameful death!" I lashed at her.
Nara didn't lay a finger on me. She dashed out angrily. That was unlike her. I couldn't believe what just happened.
I started to cry after remembering the way she tortured me. I had healing wounds and cuts all over my body. This would have led to my death. I would have died like some random orphan.
Now I know that I have got no family, no friends, nobody! — tears running down my eyes.
Then Nara came in again with food for me.
"Huh!" I said in my mind.
I looked into her eyes, then at the food. I grabbed it without thinking, gulping down heavy heaps into my throat.
She stretched a cup of water to me, and I did not hesitate. As I dropped the cup, a loud burp escaped through my lungs. Nara smiled.
This was the first time I saw her smile. She was beautiful in that smile.
So Nara still had a bit of love in her heart. Sometimes judging the book by its cover can be detrimental to one's mental health.
If I ever return to my clan members, I would let them know that Nara isn't what they think she is. Somewhere inside her was still humane.
Yes, she had given me the beating of my life, but that wasn't enough reason to condemn her.
I could smile again even under the custody of my enemy.