Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: A Mother's Desperate Flight
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Choi Dae-hyeon's mother, Kim Ga-eun, clutched her head inside the car.
Her eyes wandered restlessly, filled with anxiety.
Her legs trembled faintly.
Normally, at this hour, her child would have returned from academy, and they would be sharing a snack while chatting.
She never imagined that their peaceful routine would shatter like this.
‘Is Dae-hyeon okay?’
Kim Ga-eun lifted her smartphone and checked the screen, thinking to herself.
It was a photo taken with her family.
In the image, Dae-hyeon smiled brightly at her.
But seeing it tore at her heart.
‘If only I had listened more carefully to what Dae-hyeon said.’
She tapped the screen to keep it from dimming, lost in memories of the past.
Before he went missing, Dae-hyeon had run up to her and said this.
—Mom! I met a police uncle right around here.
—Police uncle?
—Yeah. He told me to listen to my mom well, Dae-hyeon!
Back then, she had brushed it off lightly.
She figured some cop had just spoken to the carefree kid.
The next day, Dae-hyeon didn't come home at his usual time.
She thought he was playing with friends and running late a bit.
But upon reflection, something felt off, nagging at her mind.
The child she had birthed and raised wasn't one to come home late.
And then, the memory from the day before flashed by.
The part about the police speaking to him.
There were a few strange things about it. For one, the cop knew Dae-hyeon's name.
Not some stalker, but calling him by name so naturally—how common was that?
Moreover, that so-called cop might not even be trustworthy.
He could be real police, sure, but with a few changed words, anyone could impersonate one.
‘I should have realized back then.’
A thick teardrop fell onto the smartphone.
He was blood and flesh. Closer than anyone.
Her everything—the child whose words she had failed to heed.
That's why Dae-hyeon was in danger.
She filed a missing person report too late.
Not with the one who merely claimed to be police, but with the ‘real’ ones.
Then the kidnappers called, and from that moment, she couldn't stay sane.
What mother could remain calm knowing her son was kidnapped?
The father wanted to talk to the kidnappers first, but with the missing report already filed with police...
In the end, they had no choice but to go to the station and formally report the kidnapping...
‘Can we really save our Dae-hyeon...?’
Ga-eun cautiously glanced around.
She spotted plainclothes cops milling about.
Even seeing them, the anxiety was overwhelming.
It wasn't that they weren't working hard.
But they hadn't confirmed the child was safe either.
Nothing had been resolved.
Frustration choked her, like a massive stone pressing on her chest.
She knew all she could do was trust and wait, but just sitting there drove her mad.
Rrring—
That's when it happened, as she stewed in her anxiety.
Her smartphone rang loudly.
Startled by the sudden call, Ga-eun shrank back before slowly reaching for it.
The screen showed an unknown number, caller ID restricted—not saved in her contacts.
It could be spam, but what if it was the kidnappers?
With trembling hands, she gripped the phone and carefully pressed accept.
—You think my words are a joke?
A thick adult male voice.
Just one sentence, but Ga-eun's face drained of color upon hearing it.
It was him. The one who took her precious son.
She wanted to scream for her child back right then, but she swallowed her surging emotions and spoke.
“What do you mean...?”
—I told you not to bring cops. You think I wouldn't notice if you dressed them plainclothes?
The chilling voice echoed inside the car.
Ga-eun trembled violently, scanning her surroundings.
Was it that obvious they were cops?
How did he know?
No, that wasn't the point.
The kidnapper had her child, and now he'd discovered the police report—her son's life was in danger...
As her thoughts raced, the voice continued from the phone.
—You still don't get it? Can't judge the situation? Your son's life hangs on me!
At the kidnapper's words, Ga-eun's shoulders hunched sharply.
Nothing else came to mind.
Her head swirled only with guilt and terror—that her wrong choice might kill her son.
“I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...”
—Hah. I said I'd release him for the money, and that's too hard? Want to see your kid as a corpse?
“No. No, please.”
—I didn't want to escalate, but you're so uncooperative—I don't know what I'll do. Got it?
At his words, Ga-eun set the phone down like a sacred relic and clasped her hands in plea.
Tears streamed from her eyes.
All she could repeat was, I'm sorry.
—Last chance. Take the money bag and get out of there, then call this number. Otherwise, you'll meet your son as a body.
The kidnapper snapped irritably before hanging up.
Staring at the ended call, Ga-eun murmured thanks.
She wiped her tears, then rolled down the window.
Outside stood her husband, Choi Min-hyuk, pacing anxiously nearby.
“Honey.”
“Yeah?”
At Ga-eun's voice, Min-hyuk turned, looking concerned, and approached the car.
“That guy just called me.”
“What? The kidnapper?”
Panic flickered in Min-hyuk's eyes for a moment.
Until now, the kidnapper had called Min-hyuk's phone.
Hearing it rang Ga-eun's instead threw him off.
“Yeah. He asked why we brought cops... Said to take the money bag and come out now...”
Ga-eun spoke through sniffles.
Her words slurred, but the emotions came through vividly.
Anxiety, worry, fear...
Min-hyuk reached out and handed her his handkerchief.
“Calm down first.”
“How can I calm down now! He said he'll kill Dae-hyeon. Said if I don't want to see him dead, follow his orders right away!”
Ga-eun snapped back in fury.
It involved her son.
Even someone level-headed like her couldn't stay calm now.
Min-hyuk nodded understandingly and held her hand.
“Let's do what he wants. I'll put the money bag in the bathroom. You get out right away.”
“Okay...”
Ga-eun dabbed her tears with the handkerchief and replied.
Terrified, but she forced down the fear.
Min-hyuk told her to wait, then hurried off somewhere.
What the guy wanted was money, after all.
If they just paid, their peaceful days might return—that baseless hope sustained her.
Left alone in the car, Ga-eun wiped away all her tears and steadied her emotions as best she could.
Parents were all the child had to rely on.
If they shook, who could the child turn to?
As she composed herself—
Click—
The car door opened, and Choi Min-hyuk appeared, carrying the bag of money.
Panting as if he'd run, he still eyed her with worry.
“Here. The money bag. You leave now. I'll block for you.”
“Okay... Sorry for snapping earlier...”
“It's fine. Dae-hyeon comes first.”
At Min-hyuk's words, fresh tears welled in Ga-eun's eyes, but she swallowed them.
Yes, he was right.
This wasn't the time for apologies or making up.
Her precious son waited in the kidnappers' clutches.
Vroom—
Ga-eun started the engine and eased on the accelerator.
Min-hyuk awkwardly shielded her car with his body as it moved.
“Hey, if you go now...”
It was brief.
A cop spotted Ga-eun's car leaving and moved to stop her, but Min-hyuk blocked them with his body.
He jerked his chin: Go!
Seeing it, Ga-eun gripped the wheel, turned sharply, and floored it.
Shouts from the cops behind reached her, but she ignored them.
It couldn't be helped.
The police were here to investigate, but the kidnapper already knew everything.
Having angered him, this was her only option.
Sorry, police...
No, not even sorry. It wasn't their family. To save her son, this was best.
The car's exhaust spewed black smoke as it sped over the asphalt.
Kim Ga-eun fumbled for her smartphone, found the kidnapper's number.
Rrring—
After a long ringtone.
—Yeah.
The guy picked up again.
* * *
Hearing the urgent voice over the radio, Lee Jae-hyun immediately turned to Team Leader Oh Min-seok.
“Report the situation quick.”
—Kim Ga-eun took the money bag and bolted.
“The dad?”
—He took one of our cars and blocked the rest area exit... Sir! Get out quick!
Chaotic yells erupted.
Communication was effectively cut off.
“Damn...”
Team Leader Oh Min-seok muttered under his breath as he listened to the frantic radio updates.
Things had gone sideways.
He'd anticipated Go Hyun-sook and Park Ye-chan might not show, or that they'd just tell her to leave the bag.
But the mom grabbing the bag and fleeing? That was unforeseen.
Irrational, sure, and some friction with police was expected.
But both parents moving at once—one blocking cops, the other escaping? No one saw that coming.
Lee Jae-hyun had figured Go Hyun-sook and Park Ye-chan would use the parents, but not that the parents would go this far.
Normally, they'd respond instantly.
Chase the mom, talk her down.
But now, with the text from the kidnapper, all focus was there.
The detectives were right to lead and prioritize catching the kidnapper.
Support teams should have watched the parents closer...
‘What's done is done.’
No need to assign blame now.
The key was the mom fleeing.
Obviously to save the kid.
She'd gotten instructions; tailing her might lead to the kidnapper.
But maybe not.
He could change spots again or deceive her.
‘Catching them isn't priority.’
Grabbing Park Ye-chan or Go Hyun-sook wasn't top now.
Still necessary, and chasing mom would help.
With the exit blocked, pursuit was tough.
So...
‘Serhen, one favor.’
“The mom?”
‘Yeah, you know where the other cops are?’
“Yes. I'll tail her and... let you know if I spot anyone tasty-looking.”
Serhen nodded once, then vanished.
Off to track the mom.
No instant fix, but primary relief.
Even if mom met Park Ye-chan or Go Hyun-sook, they'd know right away.
“Team Leader.”
“Yeah.”
“Have another support team tail the mom. We move separately. Catching the kidnapper matters, but...”
“The kid first.”
“Yes.”
Child kidnapping case.
The core wasn't the ‘kidnapper’ who did the kidnapping.
It was the ‘child.’
Child's safety paramount...
Never forget that.
They'd planned to lure with the bag, catch him, save the kid.
But with mom moving, everything changed.
From cops waiting to grab him—to chasing him.
Momentum shifted back.
As Lee Jae-hyun thought fast, he paused.
“Park Ye-chan stressed he was alone last call. He won't expose Go Hyun-sook.”
“They don't know we've ID'd both, so obvious.”
“So Park Ye-chan acts boldly... but he can't drag the kid everywhere alone.”
“The kid's with Go Hyun-sook?”
“Yes. Mom took the bag—direct or roundabout, she'll meet Park Ye-chan.”
“Then...”
“We find Go Hyun-sook.”
Park Ye-chan's location unknown.
But the kid's? He had a hunch.
Past life—where the kid died.
Where Park Ye-chan fought cops last and drank pesticide.
“From Icheon originally, owns a farmhouse there, so probably...”
“High chance the kid's there.”
“Likely.”
Lee Jae-hyun nodded.
Team Leader Oh Min-seok stared grimly at him and spoke.
“What're you waiting for? Floor it.”
“Right.”
Please, please not too late.
Muttering inwardly, Lee Jae-hyun hit the accelerator.