The Villain's Wife

142

"Announce her death." Lisa's voice echoed inside his study. He shifted his body towards the window as he leaned against his chair. "Call Cathy and Irene. I want them here before the announcement." He added.

"President..." Secretary Kang knitted his brows as he looked at his boss. He recalled Sehun's words before leaving. He recalled the warnings. Lisa is not in his right mind, he should be careful. "Don't you think... we should wait?" Sehun said that the body was badly burnt and there is no way to recognize it. He also said it may take a little more time because the only way to do a DNA is to extract it from the bones, which is also badly degraded.

"No." Lisa answered. He then held the picture frame from his table. On it was Jennie smiling in his arms. "Announce it as soon as possible." Seeing this, Secretary Kang bowed and left without saying a word. He immediately called Sehun and informed him about the matter. In less than an hour, the latter arrived with a stern look on his face. He went directly to Lisa's study.

...

"Why are you going to announce her death?" Sehun asked. He stood across Lisa, his brows snapped together. "I thought you said she's not dead? I thought you don't believe it was her body? Then why are you announcing her death?"

His words were only met with silence as Lisa continued to stare at the picture frame in his hands. His head was lowered, yet Sehun knew how he was looking at the image with tenderness in his eyes. He narrowed his eyes at Lisa. The friend that he knew would not make abrupt decisions like this. He couldn't help but wonder if...

"Lisa..."

"Look at her." Lisa sighed. "Her smile is so sweet. I always wonder if I deserve a woman like her." His gentle tone made Sehun speechless.

He walked towards Lisa and sat across him. "I thought you said she is not dead."

"Of course she's not dead." Lisa answered. He clenched his jaws and shifted his gaze at the window. "Someone took her away from me." His voice was cold, almost freezing. "Someone took Jennie and I - I will find her." The abrupt changes in his mood immediately rung like a bell in Sehun's ears.

"We don't know who took her yet." Sehun said. They don't even know if she was still alive. At least not until the DNA result will arrive three days from now. While Sehun wanted to believe that Jennie was indeed alive, he also could not ignore Lisa's actions. His state of mind made Sehun question the authenticity of his claims.

Sehun was not dumb. He knew that the first stage of grief was denial. What if Lisa was only in denial? What if something in him snapped, making him think of the impossible? Sehun was no expert when it comes to psychology or people's behavior, however, he is not blind. He can see the changes in Lisa's eyes, his voice, his manner. It was... it was as if he was talking to a different person.

It wasn't even a day since the accident! How could he change this much? He wondered if this was only his own way to handle the grief, to deal with the loss. And to be honest, he hoped that he was right. He hoped that this is only a stage, something that will pass soon.

"Why do you want to announce her death?" he asked, his voice calm. Sehun knew that If he wanted answers, he should keep his calmness and logic. Lisa was only grieving, he convinced himself.

"This is what the enemies wanted." Lisa slowly put the frame back on his table. He smiled at the photo before looking at Sehun. "Since they wanted her dead... then I will announce her death as soon as possible." Seeing the look on Sehun's face, he added. "I also have to take care of her company, her people. I can't do it without announcing her death."

"What do you -" Sehun pursed his lips as Lisa's answer sunk into his mind. Everyone close to Jennie knew how she loved her company. Both of them knew that Jennie would never allow her company to fall just because she disappeared. The facts hit Sehun like a tornado. He lowered his head, trying to hide the embarrassment in his eyes.