Inferno Hearts | Xu Minghao

39. Bitter Truths and Buried Secrets

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As Lia reached the penthouse, she turned the handle of the main door, gently guiding Mrs. Park inside. Tears glistened in the corners of Mrs. Park's eyes, threatening to spill once more.

Upon entering, a somber silence enveloped them, a stark contrast to the usual lively atmosphere. The spacious interior seemed almost deserted, save for the presence of Wonwoo and Nabi. However, of the two, Lia was only aware of Nabi's presence.

Lia turned to Mrs. Park, her expression determined yet concerned. "Mom, please wait here for a moment. I'm going to quickly check the basement. But I remember Jeonghan mentioning something about Minghao letting her stay in the guest room."

Mrs. Park's reaction was immediate; her eyes closed as if to shield herself from the weight of the situation. Her voice trembled as she whispered, almost to herself, "How could Minghao do something like this?"

As Lia moved away to check the basement, a heavy sense of anticipation settled upon Mrs. Park. She found herself unable to find the reasons behind Minghao's actions, his motivations shrouded in mystery.

All she had ever sought was justice for her beloved child, Min. In her heart, a persistent fear took hold, the fear that Minghao's desire for retribution might drive him to take matters into his own hands, even to the point of ending a life.

In this moment, however, reality crashed down upon her with a force she couldn't ignore. The truth emerged starkly before her eyes: Minghao was treating the very person responsible for her Min's death as if they were part of his own family.

Hurrying back up from the basement, Lia's expression was somber as she delivered the news to Mrs. Park. "She's not in the basement," Lia said. "It seems that woman has taken the guest room, most likely the one next to Minghao's."

Mrs. Park's emotions surged once more, her tears flowing freely. The weight of the discoveries and realizations pressed down upon her, making it incredibly challenging to process everything she had just uncovered.

"Let's go, mom. I'm here," Lia reassured, her hand gently patting Mrs. Park's back. With Lia's support, Mrs. Park found the strength to put one foot in front of the other, slowly making her way towards the stairs, her destination Nabi's room.

Standing before the door, Lia didn't hesitate. Without a moment's delay, she turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Inside, Nabi's eyes widened with fear as her gaze snapped towards the door, only to be met by the presence of unfamiliar figures.

Lia's gaze locked onto Nabi's, her voice carrying a mixture of accusation and curiosity. "So it's you, huh?"

Nabi's confusion deepened, her mind racing to make sense of the situation. Who were these women, and how did they possess knowledge about her?

While she couldn't find their identities, a sharp suspicion took root – a suspicion that they might be connected to Min, her past, and the accusations that continued to haunt her.

Mrs. Park moved closer to Nabi, her eyes unwavering as they remained fixed on her face. With a mix of intensity and scrutiny, she studied Nabi's features, attempting to discern whether she was truly the person she had glimpsed at the top of the stairs that fateful day.

Nabi rose from the bed, where she had been sitting beside the peacefully sleeping Ginger. Her expression was a canvas of bewilderment, every feature conveying her profound confusion. In the midst of this unexpected encounter, she found herself utterly uncertain about how to navigate the situation.