FALLEN WONDERLAND 「LEE SOO HYUK & SEO YEA JI FICTION」

27: The Cost of Loyalty

Warnings: Concepts contained in this chapter are dark and mind-bending. You were warned!

One week passed and Lee Soo Hyuk was troubled by the news of Seo Yea Ji being Fallen. He still couldn't understand how a spoiled girl like Yea-Ji could manage to start and keep such a heavy operation as Fallen. He began reading Fallen's most important articles, hoping to gain some insight into Yea-Ji's secrets and darkness. If she had become Fallen, then surely she had seen some shady things. Lee couldn't find a reason why she would do that kind of work.

His thoughts were interrupted by a call from his mother. Lee answered the phone, not in the mood to speak to anyone. But the fear in his mother's voice made him sit up straight. Lee did not want to answer the phone at first, but then he answered it. "What?" come to his voice angry and deep showing that he was not in any mood to talk to his mother.

"Lee, it's Su-Ah. She's missing," his mother said, her voice shaking with worry. "She signed a contract with Nang Fashion Agency after she contacted Nang Unji. But after a few days of working there, she disappeared. We can't find her anywhere."

Lee's heart sank. He knew how stressed Su-Ah had been since their fight, and the thought of her being missing made him feel sick with worry. And the fact that she was working with Nang Agency made him even more concerned. His mother went on to explain in detail how things had started, and how Su-Ah had been feeling overwhelmed and anxious. She described how she had started to show up less and less until she had disappeared completely.

Lee's mind was racing with worry and fear. He couldn't bear the thought of his sister being in danger or being caught up in something shady. "Mom, don't worry. I'll take care of this," he said his voice firm with determination. "I'll find Su-Ah, no matter what it takes."

Before he hung up the phone, he heard his mother apologizing for the first time. "I never paid much attention to what you went through, I am the worst mother in this world. But your sister is not to blame?"

His mother was apologizing for what had happened, but he didn't know how to respond. After everything that had happened to him, how could one apology make things better? His mind was filled with a jumble of emotions, but right now, he was worried about his sister. He immediately contacted Nang Unji, hoping to get some information about his sister's whereabouts. But the conversation was anything but helpful. Unji treated him coldly and didn't seem to want to help.

"Please, Unji. I need to know if my sister is okay," Lee pleaded, his voice shaking with fear and worry.

Unji sighed impatiently. "I don't know anything about your sister. And even if I did, I wouldn't be able to tell you. It's against company policy."

Lee felt his heart sink. He didn't know what to do or where to turn. His sister was missing, and it seemed like nobody was willing to help him. "Please, Unji. You have to help me. Su-Ah is all I have left. I don't know what I'll do if something happens to her," Lee begged, his voice breaking with emotion.

Unji hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. "Fine. I'll try to find out if anyone has seen her. But I can't make any promises. And you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone that I helped you."

Lee agreed to her terms, feeling desperate and alone. He couldn't believe that his sister was caught up in something so dangerous and he didn't know how to save her. All he could do was wait and pray that she would come back to him, safe and sound.

Nang Unji's heart sank as she hung up the phone with Add, the head of the modeling division at Nang Fashion Agency. She had called him to ask about Su-Ah's whereabouts, and what she found out was more alarming than she could have imagined.