Chapter 258
"Grk, ugh, sob." Tears streamed endlessly from her eyes. But it was more physiological than emotional. She had no room to feel anything. Just enduring the agony, struggling to keep her heavy, limp body from collapsing if she lost focus even for a moment—that alone was overwhelming.
In her eyes, Kim Seongwoo was filled with madness. It wasn't just a threat or emotional outburst squeezing her throat; he truly seemed intent on killing her.
"Just die, die, you fucking bitch…."
If Go Sojeong turned herself in, Kim Seongwoo would plummet into the abyss with her—it was a foregone conclusion. He knew that all too well. That's why he'd even played along with her childish play just to keep her from confessing.
Go Sojeong might not care if she became a criminal—without leeching off others, she'd spend her life bowing to them anyway, a cheap existence. But not him. He was the son of a director at one of Korea's Big 5 major hospitals, a promising neurosurgeon with a bright future, soon to join the Hanyeong Group.
Me? Ruin my life over a worthless woman like this? Ridiculous.
He was a doctor, after all. He knew exactly how to dispose of her body so it wouldn't trace back to him even if found. He'd already turned Seol Hyeongseok into a vegetable—what difference did one more death make?
As long as he didn't get caught, it was fine. That's how everyone lived, wasn't it?
"Grk, hrrk, ugh."
Go Sojeong's eyes began to glaze over. She was about to stop breathing. That's when he'd have to move fast.
Keeping the pressure on her throat, Kim Seongwoo mentally mapped out how to handle her corpse. He should've planned it meticulously from the start instead of letting emotions take over today. He regretted grabbing her neck on impulse, but it hardly mattered now. Without this, he'd be arrested by tomorrow anyway—the outcome was the same.
"You should've listened to me, Sojeong-ah. Why'd you make your oppa mad—"
That's when it happened. Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang in Myeongdong. Her half-lidded eyes snapped into focus. He'd thought all strength had drained from her body, but somehow she found superhuman power and started thrashing again. She must've seen hope in that bell.
Kim Seongwoo clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Mmph! Mmmph! Mmph!"
"Police here. Mr. Kim Seongwoo, open the door!"
Police? Kim Seongwoo's eyes widened at the unexpected words as he stared straight at Go Sojeong. Whatever was happening, he decided to stay calm and assess. Pretend no one's home. Even if they forced the door, without SWAT, they'd need firefighters' help. That bought at least ten minutes.
But what about Go Sojeong? Stop strangling now? Or finish her off first? What to do…
Yeah, better kill her first. It wouldn't take ten minutes. Five minutes of choking was fatal. The problem came after…
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
What the…
Unexpected. The police were punching the door lock. Probably random guesses while waiting for backup.
Fuck, why won't she die?
Even as a doctor, he'd never strangled anyone. He had no idea how much pressure for how long. Panic set in.
And then… Beep-boop-beep! Incredibly, the door lock opened on the first try, and multiple footsteps rushed inside.
—"Go Sojeong!"
A man's loud shout. A familiar voice. That lawyer. Yang Dongjin's friend!
Hearing it, Go Sojeong clawed at Kim Seongwoo's hand over her mouth and thrashed wildly.
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
But the sound didn't carry outside.
—"Whoa, what's that burnt smell?"
—"Gas on?"
The cops, closest to the entrance, seemed to bypass this room and head straight to the living room. Kim Seongwoo reflexively glanced at the door. He'd barricaded it with a chair to keep her from escaping.
Rattle, rattle.
Fuck…
With cops inside, it was only a matter of time. Someone was jiggling the knob.
—"This door's locked!"
Each shake pushed the chair back visibly. No options left. Five minutes was supposed to kill her, but the clock showed less than five—felt like thirty. They'd guess she was in here. Time to flee? But how, how!
"Go Sojeong!"
As he bit his lip with no plan, the door burst open. Two burly cops charged at Kim Seongwoo, slamming his shoulders back, pinning him to the floor in seconds.
"Argh, gurk, kuh! Gah!"
Freed from his grip, Go Sojeong collapsed, her face purple-black, gasping, coughing in agony.
"Go Sojeong, you okay?"
"Hrrk, ugh, ugh!"
"Call an ambulance! Hurry!"
"I did. Go Sojeong, you alright?"
Cha Juhan approached, helping her up.
Pinned on the floor, Kim Seongwoo glared at him. That bastard ruined everything. He destroyed it all!
"Kim Seongwoo, you're under arrest for attempted murder in the act. You have the right to an attorney…."
Even as handcuffs clicked on his wrists, Kim Seongwoo's eyes stayed fixed on Cha Juhan escorting Go Sojeong out.
* * *
"…Lawyer."
Sitting in the caregiver's chair, checking my phone, I looked up at the weak voice from the bed. Go Sojeong was awake, eyes darting around.
"Feeling better?"
"…Yes."
"Good. I'll call the doctor. Tests show no major issues, but tell them if anything feels off. Ask the doc directly for details."
"I know… I'm in medical too."
Should someone who deliberately induced anaphylaxis in a patient still count as medical staff? I skipped answering the sudden doubt.
"What about Kim Seongwoo?"
"Arrested in the act."
"…Figured."
"Give me your parents' contact. I'll call them. Need a guardian, and I have to go."
"No guardian needed. Don't want to worry Mom and Dad… You stayed here because of me the whole time? I'm so sorry."
"Wasn't that long."
A bit longer, and I'd have called Kang Minjae to watch her instead. I'd been scrolling messages from him, planning to tell him to come now.
"Ah… In the chaos, I forgot to say—thank you. For saving me."
Go Sojeong spoke softly. I hadn't done it for thanks. Or worry. Just protecting a witness, letting her pay for her crimes. Dying by Kim Seongwoo's hand wasn't justice.
"Glad we stopped it before it got worse. And you weren't badly hurt."
"The recorder—Kim Seongwoo took it. Cops might have it from the scene, but I didn't see him delete the file. Might still be there."
"We'll check. Plus, our call recording survives even if it's gone—proof's solid."
"Thank goodness… If you hadn't suggested staying on the call after my text, it would've been bad."
I'd saved her thanks to that text from Kim Seongwoo's place. Or rather, yesterday's call before she went.
—"Kim Seongwoo seems worried I'll record our talk. Kinda anxious if I can do it right."
She'd planned to tell him about lying on the stand re: Seol Hyeongseok's direct orders, but he'd cut her off quick—bothered her.
—"Think he'll harm you if he knows you're confessing?"
After long hesitation: —"Yes."
—"If you're that scared, skip tomorrow."
—"But the evidence…."
—"Gotta risk it."
More hesitation, then resolute: —"No. I'll do it. Only way to atone to Teacher Yang… and Seol Hyeongseok."
Textbook words, but true? Couldn't tell— not face-to-face, no ability check. If fake, probably betting on my promised suspended sentence and no-prosecution pledge.
Didn't matter if sincere or calculated. I wanted Dongjin's innocence proven, criminals punished. Can't control mindsets; expecting that was naive—my philosophy.
—"If it bothers you that much, you won't speak straight to him. Higher chance of slip-up."
—"What then?"
—"Safety net. Send his home address. Door lock or key?"
—"Lock."
—"Password?"
—"Yes."
—"Text it. I'll go if shit hits the fan."
Around lunchtime today, her text arrived.
Parked near his officetel, I called and waited. Her voice shook from nerves when she finally broached it—sharp guy like him might notice. Sigh. Then over the phone:
—"Why's your phone so hot? On a call?"
Panicked it was busted, but:
—"…Nah, not phone. Recorder? Haha, fuck. Recording me?"
Recorder caught, not call—relief, but short-lived. Her scream followed.
—"Aaaah! Let go! Drop it!"
Confirming assault, I headed to his officetel, calling police. A pretty good idea had struck me then: bust him for attempted murder in the act—smoother sailing.
"Thanks for worrying."
Snapping back from recap at her voice.
"You stayed too long because of me. Go home."
True, she'd eaten more time than expected.
"Alright, heading out."
Short goodbye, out of the ER. No need for more words. If she thought I cared, no point denying.