Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Help Me.
Im Seung-hyeon glanced at the rearview mirror. In the backseat, Yu Yeon-seo had the back of his hand over his eyes, his head tilted back. The message was clear: do not talk to me.
“You can head home for the day.”
“Yes, sir.”
Pretending to get into his car, Im Seung-hyeon carefully watched Yu Yeon-seo walk toward his home. He moved with quick steps, as if fleeing, and stumbled for a moment. He could also hear a faint cough.
‘Could it be…?’
Even after Yu Yeon-seo disappeared into the building, Im Seung-hyeon stood rooted to the spot. After a moment of hesitation, he picked up his phone.
“Senior Managing Director, I apologize for calling so late. This is Im Seung-hyeon.”
(Yes, go ahead.)
“Would it be possible for you to come to the young master’s home right now?”
Yu Eun-ho pulled his car over to the side of the road, lost in thought. His brother had suddenly gone to the hospital for a check-up, and his aide had said he didn’t look well. He had a feeling this call was about that.
When he didn’t answer, Im Seung-hyeon added.
“I think… you need to be here, sir.”
(…I’ll be right there. I’m nearby.)
As he turned the car around, Yu Eun-ho was overcome with an inexplicable sense of anxiety.
Not even a few dozen minutes later, Yu Eun-ho pulled into his brother’s parking garage. Im Seung-hyeon was standing at the entrance leading from the garage into the building.
“Have you been waiting?”
“Yes.”
Yu Eun-ho took Im Seung-hyeon with him and headed to the top floor.
“Yeon-seo.”
He knew the passcode to his brother’s front door. Still, even as family, he couldn’t just barge in, so he always called or rang the doorbell first.
‘Why isn’t he answering?’
But today was different. If Yeon-seo was in a situation where he couldn’t answer his phone, he would have called back immediately. Yet his phone was silent, and there was no response to the doorbell, no matter how many times he pressed it.
“Mr. Im, you can go home.”
“No, I’ll wait here.”
“…As you wish.”
Im Seung-hyeon’s expression was dark. Could something have happened? After a brief hesitation, Yu Eun-ho punched in the code and entered the apartment.
“Yeon-seo. I’m coming in.”
As he cautiously walked down the hallway, he thought he heard someone sobbing. Yu Eun-ho immediately ran toward the sound.
“Sob… sob…”
Yu Yeon-seo was curled up in the middle of the living room. Yu Eun-ho rushed to his brother’s side and gripped his shoulders.
“Yeon-seo!”
“Gag!”
Yu Eun-ho’s hands trembled as he saw the already blood-soaked floor. His eyes widened as his brother coughed up more blood. What was happening? Was it even possible for a person to vomit this much blood?
Just then, his phone rang. It was Im Seung-hyeon.
(Senior Managing Director, what’s the situation…?)
“Call an ambulance.”
Yu Eun-ho threw his phone aside and tried to help Yeon-seo up. Though his body trembled violently, Yeon-seo kept his head buried toward the floor, refusing to move. It was as if he had a reason he couldn’t get up.
“Hey, Yu Yeon-seo!”
“It’s because of me.”
What on earth… His eyes, streaming with tears, were unfocused. He gently shook his brother, trying to bring him to his senses. His mind went blank, utterly helpless and unsure of how to handle the situation.
Im Seung-hyeon, having called the ambulance, entered the apartment and froze for a moment at the gruesome scene before hurrying over.
“Young Master!”
When Im Seung-hyeon grabbed his arm, Yu Yeon-seo flailed wildly. The force was surprisingly strong, and Im Seung-hyeon lost his grip.
“Hey, Yu Yeon-seo!”
“Mom, please save me.”
Mom?
Both men froze. Then, seeing him dig his nails into his own neck and scratch furiously, they hastily grabbed his hands.
“I’m suffocating… please…”
“Hold his arms down so he can’t move.”
He was choking himself while claiming he couldn’t breathe. Im Seung-hyeon and Yu Eun-ho’s hands and clothes were now stained with blood. They tried to gently shake Yeon-seo awake, afraid of shocking him further. He gasped for air as if hyperventilating, but his breathing gradually returned to normal.
“Hey, Yu Yeon-seo!”
Yu Eun-ho caught his brother’s shoulders as his body went limp and he started to fall sideways, propping him up.
“You… what is all this…”
What in the world is happening? Yu Eun-ho stared at his blood-splattered brother with trembling eyes. The face, a mess of tears and blood, moved slightly.
“…Brother.”
His focus returned, and Yu Yeon-seo murmured as if in lament.
“Why did you do that back then?”
“Yeon-seo.”
“You should have believed me…”
Yu Eun-ho felt his heart plummet.
Soon, Im Seung-hyeon guided the paramedics inside, but even as Yu Yeon-seo was carried away on a stretcher, Yu Eun-ho remained frozen, staring blankly into space.
“Senior Managing Director, the paramedics are here.”
“…”
“Senior Managing Director.”
“Ah… let’s go.”
Im Seung-hyeon’s voice snapped him back to reality, and Yu Eun-ho followed the paramedics down the elevator.
“What’s going on?”
“Was there an accident?”
Passersby were murmuring, staring at the ambulance. Fearing someone might recognize him, Im Seung-hyeon took off his own jacket and draped it over Yu Eun-ho’s head. He failed to realize, however, that his own face had become recognizable from following Yu Yeon-seo around.
“We’ll go to the nearest Juseong Hospital.”
“How did this happen?”
The paramedics, having already recognized Yu Yeon-seo and Yu Eun-ho, were hesitating. Im Seung-hyeon first relayed Yeon-seo’s condition, then lowered his voice.
“Forget everything you’ve seen here today.”
“Uh…”
“You must.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
Yu Eun-ho sat in a daze, staring at his brother’s face.
[Yeon-seo, it’s over. The police investigated the case multiple times.]
[Why did you do that back then?]
[Don’t talk nonsense. It’s time you forgot about Mom.]
[You should have believed me…]
‘Fuck…’
A wave of regret washed over him, and he squeezed his eyes shut.
Warning Signs for Juseong Group Chairman Yu Chang-ho’s Health?
Juseong Family Seen Entering and Exiting Juseong Seoul Hospital… Rumors of Chairman Yu Chang-ho’s Declining Health.
Chairman Yu Chang-ho Appears at Juseong Seoul Hospital… If Not for His Health, Then Whose?
└ Whoa, huh? So it’s not Yu Chang-ho? Then who is it?
└└ They’re saying it’s Yu Yeon-seo.
└ Is it really Yu Yeon-seo?
└ It is. A photo of him being carried into an ambulance surfaced. (Photo) The person covering him is Yu Yeon-seo’s assistant.
└└ Hey, delete this quick. Juseong will come after you.
└ Wait, isn’t that blood? What happened?
└ Isn’t the person being covered Yu Yeon-seo? Did he do something?
└└ No, that’s Yu Eun-ho. Stop trying to frame someone. I’ve screenshotted this.
└ No official statement yet, right?
└ Ah T_T Yeon-seo T_T
[I don’t… want to die…]
[Captain…! Look out!]
[You must survive…]
The sound of a gunshot mingled with an explosion.
“…Hah!”
Yu Yeon-seo’s eyes flew open from the nightmare, and he gasped for breath.
‘Was it a dream…?’
As he blinked, Beta’s voice chimed in.
<You’re awake.>
“…How many days has it been?”
<It has been one week as of today.>
So I’ve been out for a while. He lifted his head slightly to survey his surroundings and found himself in the same VIP hospital room he’d first woken up in. A glance at the clock showed it was lunchtime, which was probably why there was no nurse present.
“Did my brother bring me here?”
<Yes, and your assistant as well.>
“Im Seung-hyeon, too?”
<Yes.>
They’re going to be even more overprotective now. He clicked his tongue. Placing a hand on the bed, he pushed himself into a sitting position. His entire body creaked in protest. A pained groan escaped his lips.
“Ugh…”
He roughly pulled out the IV needle in his arm.
Yu Yeon-seo ignored Beta’s warning and managed to stand.
He was a veteran who had seen it all on the battlefield, but he had underestimated the power of being swept away by emotions. Hearing about someone else’s experiences was one thing; living them was another. He felt as if he was being consumed by a tidal wave of depression and self-blame.
“Ah, hss…”
As he took a step, his legs gave out, and he crashed to the floor. He painstakingly picked himself up and made his way to the bathroom. After splashing his face with cold water several times, he stared blankly at the mirror.
“Beta.”
<Yes, Master.>
“I’m going to use automatic action mode to speak with the original consciousness. Is that possible?”
<It is possible to converse based on the synchronized memories. However, I recommend you do so after your body has fully recovered.>
“No, do it now.”
He let out a breath that was somewhere between a sigh and a deep breath. Placing both hands on the sink, he stared at his reflection.
“Hey, Yu Yeon-seo.”
A mechanical beep sounded from somewhere.
“Talk to me.”
The expression and aura of his reflection subtly changed as its lips parted on their own.
“Are you certain that person is the real culprit?”
“I’m certain.”
“Why?”
“Because Mom would never have killed herself.”
He knew all the rumors surrounding Lee Hui-seo’s death were false. Besides, from the memories he had synchronized with, she had seemed incredibly happy. He had to admit there was no reason for her to take her own life.
“You would think that… No, we would think that. Because we’re her son.”
But… what if it was denial? As her son, he would naturally believe his mother wouldn’t have left like that. It was possible the man was just a substitute bodyguard, and that Lee Hui-seo had indeed taken her own life.
Besides, Lee Hui-seo was a top-tier actress. She could have appeared fine on the outside while harboring a secret no one knew.
“I need something more concrete.”
“I’m sure. Back then, Mom was…”
His mouth moved without a sound. It seemed there were memories he hadn’t synchronized with yet, preventing the voice from coming out.
[Because of you.]
“Ah… this is insane.”
The auditory hallucination started again, and he squeezed his eyes shut, turning his head away. A nosebleed, a side effect of the automatic action mode, began to run.
The visual hallucinations had started after he discovered Lee Hui-seo’s body. The auditory ones probably developed later, when he regained his memories and began to blame himself. They had been going on for this long. Would catching the culprit really make them stop? A surge of anger welled up inside him.
“So if I catch that bastard, will all of this disappear?”
He was still caught in the torrent of emotions the original host had experienced. He felt as if he’d been driven to the edge of a cliff. He stared at the figure in the mirror. Catching the killer wouldn’t end this. This was a problem with his own mind.
‘What is this…?’
A strange feeling washed over him, and he tilted his head in confusion. It didn’t take long for him to realize.
Ah, right. This was guilt. But for whom? For the mother he had inadvertently led the killer to? Or for himself, for taking over this innocent person’s body?
“…Probably.”
“The hell you mean, ‘probably’!”
CRACK!
He punched the mirror.
CRASH! CRACK!
One punch wasn’t enough to quell his rage, so he kept hitting it. The mirror shattered, sending shards flying. Still not satisfied, he flailed his arms, grabbing anything he could and throwing it, screaming with raw fury.
“Haa, haa…”
He hung his head. Blood from his nose dripped onto the white sink. His body hadn’t even healed, and now, after this outburst, his vision swam.
You foolish bastard. If it was this bad, you should have gone to a hospital. You should have relied on medication. Even if your family wouldn’t listen, you should have thrown a tantrum, screamed that you were suffering. Why did you go through it all alone…?
The original consciousness must have felt this thought. His lips, which had been sealed, parted on their own.
“Help me.”
A voice trembled with desperation. Heat flooded his eyes. He couldn’t tell if it was the original crying or if he himself was crying out of sheer helplessness. Yu Yeon-seo squeezed his eyes shut.
<Deactivating ‘automatic action mode.’>