FACE-OFF | PJM

Chapter 53

"I was with Lee Tae Kyung," Ji Ah confessed.

"Lee Tae Kyung?" Jimin furrowed his brow. Lee Tae Kyung was Taemin's father, and he was also Jimin's uncle. Jimin couldn't help but wonder why Ji Ah had come to the Lee company seeking Taemin. Perhaps she had intended to ask Taemin for a loan, but even if she had been with Lee Tae Kyung, she shouldn't have been bold enough to seek Taemin's help. Unless...

Jimin looked at Ji Ah, his expression curious. "Your daughter, is she Tae Kyung's?"

Ji Ah nodded solemnly. "Yes, my daughter is part of the Lee family. She is sixteen years younger than him."

Jimin was taken aback by this revelation. His uncle and aunt were known for their strong and loving relationship, so he hadn't expected Lee Tae Kyung to have another woman in his life, let alone a daughter.

"Does Taemin know about her?" Jimin inquired.

Ji Ah shook her head. "No, he doesn't."

"What about my aunt?" Jimin pressed, his tone demanding answers.

Ji Ah lowered her head, her expression filled with awkwardness and guilt. "She knew," she admitted reluctantly.

"Tell me," Jimin insisted, his patience wearing thin. He wanted a complete and honest account of what had transpired.

Ji Ah nodded, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Actually, I was with Lee Tae Kyung for a long time. We had an affair. His wife didn't know about it initially. They had a good relationship, but during a time when the Lee family was facing troubles, he and his wife had a heated argument. He didn't want to confront her, so he started spending more time with me. Your aunt found it suspicious that he was frequently absent, and she eventually discovered our relationship. Then your aunt confronted him about it. He wanted a divorce, but she refused. I'm not entirely sure about the details of what happened within the Lee family, but your aunt may have reached out to the Park family, and that's when the conflict between the Park and Lee families ignited..."

"But he was still determined to divorce your aunt," Ji Ah continued, her voice filled with a mix of emotions. "She reached out to me and offered me money to leave. However, I was reluctant at the time because I was pregnant. I didn't want my daughter to grow up without a father, and I had been with him for so many years that I didn't want to leave..."

"Your aunt was aware of my pregnancy, and she was not in a good mental state during that period. She nearly strangled me once, but Lee Tae Kyung intervened just in time to save me. Following that incident, he became even more adamant about getting a divorce, while she remained opposed to it. After some time, she called him and told him that she had finally agreed to a divorce and arrange a visit to the administrative office together."

Jimin reflected on those events from his childhood, which had left a lasting impression on him. "That's when my aunt and Lee Tae Kyung's deaths were officially were ruled as suicides, but they weren't, were they?"He questioned, seeking clarification.

"At that time, their car had some issues with the braking system, and it collided with a truck, resulting in both of their deaths," Ji Ah explained. "People believed it was a suicide, assuming that the Lee family's bankruptcy had driven them to take their own lives. However, the reality was quite different. It was your aunt who manipulated the braking system, causing the accident on their way to the administrative office. So the truth isn't what everyone believed about their suicide. I know the truth, and both of the Park elders are also aware of it..."

Jimin's expression shifted. "My grandfather and grandmother knew about this?"

Ji Ah nodded, "When Lee Tae Kyung passed away, Madame Park came to me and insisted that I should have an abortion. She said she wanted Taemin to have only positive memories of his parents and not be burdened with this truth. Madame Park was ruthless when it came to Taemin, and she was ruthless towards me. She practically forced me to go to the hospital for the abortion. I was terrified, so took the abortion pill in front of her. She gave me money and demanded that I disappear from their lives forever."

Her eyes revealed a deep-seated resentment, "It's possible that my daughter's resilience saved her life, as she didn't die from the pill. I was scared that the Park family might discover the truth, I left Seoul the next day and never returned. I've been raising my daughter alone ever since. Unfortunately, my daughter's health deteriorated, and I spent all the money on her medical care. I couldn't work because I had to care for her. Surprisingly, it turns out that her illness is a result of swallowing that drug your grandmother gave me!"

"I have no money, and I heard that Madame Park is no longer alive, so I brought my daughter back to Seoul. She's Taemin's stepsister, and I wanted to see if he would be willing to help. After all, blood is thicker than water," Ji Ah explained through her tears. "She's still young, with her whole life ahead of her..."

Ji Ah continued to sob, her voice filled with anguish. "My daughter ended up like this because of your grandmother's actions. If she hadn't pressured me to have an abortion, I would never have swallowed that drug. She was so ruthless because of Lee Taemin, even to the extent of wanting to kill an innocent baby!"

Jimin couldn't help but feel the anger in Ji Ah's words. For Taemin's sake, his grandmother had been incredibly ruthless, willing to do anything to protect him, even at the expense of others.

Grandma had kept the true reason for his parents' death a secret from Taemin. She wanted him to believe that his parents loved each other deeply and cared for him immensely, so she had concealed the painful truth from him. Despite being twenty years old at the time, she felt the need to maintain control over everything in his life, shielding him from the harsh reality.

However, Taemin remained unaware of the sacrifices she had made for him. He harbored deep resentment towards Grandma for everything, and in the end, he became the one who brought her life to a tragic conclusion...

Observing Jimin's silence, Ji Ah hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Mr. Park..."

Jimin abruptly interrupted her, instructing, "Stop the car."

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A/N: What do you think? 🥺