STUBBORN HEARTS<3 (complete)

The Eruption Of A Raging Volcano

I refused to believe that voice came from Jiyong. It sounded dead.

But at least he talked, right? I glanced sideways at him, and still, his face looked the same: blank.

“Adopted?” I echoed. I saw Wooyoung being pulled towards one corner.

“You seemed well-informed” Uncle mused. “What else do you know about us?”

“I do my research. It’s my job” Jiyong answered in that dead tone of his again. “You wanted a

child so much, to continue your lineage and to have an heir. Your wife can’t bear a child and she

got so depressed she killed herself. Wooyoung’s real parents were your house helpers at that

time. The woman was pregnant and Woo’s father was diagnosed with cancer. You took

advantage of it, offered help in exchange of the child. And you’re using his parents so he’ll

follow everything you say; because to your disappointment, he’s not as evil as you”

I don’t know if I can take all of these anymore. My head’s aching.

“You did your assignment pretty well. But you made one mistake. You see, he was as evil as me,

only he. . . fell in love” he sneered, disgusted and looked at me. “Of course courting Dara was all

planned but my stupid son gave in along the way”

He turned silent for a moment as he looked down at Wooyoung’s unconscious state.

“He talked to me. He asked me not to hurt you” he continued and looked back at me. “He said

he’ll find where the NGM is as long as I won’t hurt you. But you see, there are a few changes.

Now that you know a lot of things and I kind of showed myself to you, I can’t risk letting you

live. You might reveal me to the authorities”

“You deserve to put in jail!” I exclaimed.

“You’re probably right” he shrugged. “Sang Won, get me a Swiss knife”

My heart started beating hard against my chest again. He’s going to stabbed me to death? Why

don’t he just go for the quick, easy way? Like putting a gun on my skull or something.

“Why don’t you just shoot me?” I voiced out, unable to help myself.

“Oh, I will. But I’ll be needing the knife to get the NGM”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you ever wondered why you had a leg surgery before Dara?”

“I. .” I paused. Yes, I wondered about that. But Dad said it was needed.

“Your father’s pretty creative, I must say. I should have seen the signs. The Kwons suddenly

appearing right after you had surgery” he snorted. “A microchip implant. Who would have

thought?”

The NGM’s implanted on my leg?!?

Now that pretty much explains things.

Now I understand why Jiyong chose to suffer being whipped than tell them where it is. He was,

as usual, protecting me. The realization put a lump on my throat. But look at what I did in return.