FACE-OFF | PJM

Chapter 58

The DNA results unequivocally confirmed a familial connection between him and Ji Ah's daughter. Despite the evidence before him, Taemin remained in denial. He couldn't reconcile the image he held of his father as a loving and faithful husband with the shocking revelation that he had betrayed his mother and planned to divorce her for another woman.

The dissonance between the man he knew and this newfound truth left Taemin grappling with a profound sense of disbelief and turmoil.

He slouched in the chair, his chest heavy with emotions he couldn't comprehend. Taemin took a deep, shuddering breath, feeling the pain gnawing at him from the inside. He closed his eyes for a moment, attempting to gather his thoughts. Then, with a resigned sigh, he retrieved his phone and dialed Min Yoongi's number.

"Help me investigate the girl named Lee Hyein who's staying at Seoul National University Hospital," he instructed Yoongi before ending the call. Taemin leaned back in his chair, his mind awash with anger and frustration.

It was as though his entire world had been upended. The image of his first love, Yoona, once so gentle and tender in his memory, she was just a selfish and greedy girl. And the parents he had believed to be deeply in love had been shattered by the discovery of his father's affair and the existence of a twenty-two-year-old daughter he had never known about.

Taemin was overwhelmed by the sudden upheaval of his beliefs. He had always believed that his parents' tragic end was a result of the Lee company's bankruptcy. But now, Jimin's revelation had shattered that assumption, suggesting that it was his father's betrayal that led his mother to end the lives of them both. This unexpected twist left Taemin feeling utterly heartbroken.

He found himself torn between two conflicting thoughts. On one hand, he desperately wanted to convince himself that Jimin was playing some sort of cruel trick on him. But deep down, his heart seemed to resonate with the truth of Jimin's words.

The mystery of Hyein's identity hung heavily over him. If she wasn't his step-sister, then where had Jimin found that strand of hair? The questions swirled in Taemin's mind, leaving him in a state of turmoil he couldn't easily escape.

Before all this, Taemin had believed he was connected to no one. His family was gone, and he felt like a solitary figure in the world. So, he wondered, if Jimin's claims were indeed a trap, where would his cousin have found that strand of hair?

As he grappled with these thoughts, a message from Yoongi arrived with a room number. Taemin wasted no time, driving straight to the hospital and locating the room specified by Yoongi. He stood outside the door, deep in contemplation, for what seemed like an eternity, waiting until the door finally opened.

Ji Ah and a doctor were engrossed in conversation as they exited the room, completely unaware of Taemin's presence. Once the doctor departed, and Ji Ah was about to return to the room, she suddenly noticed Taemin. Her body stiffened, and she hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage to speak: "Mr. Lee... Mr. Lee...."

Taemin fixed a cold gaze on her and spoke with a chilling tone, "Lee Ji Ah?"

Ji Ah nodded hesitantly, her face drained of color. "Yes."

"So it's you and your daughter who caused my mother's suffering, leading her to choose suicide?" Taemin's narrowed eyes conveyed his belief in the unsettling truth revealed by Jimin.

Ji Ah's face turned even paler, her fear evident. She stammered, "Mr. Lee, I... back then, I was still young. I didn't understand many things, and I had no idea it would ruin your parents' relationship. Over the years, I've carried immense guilt for what happened to her. I apologize for my actions that year."

"Apologize?" Taemin's laughter was devoid of warmth. "My parents are dead. They're both gone because of you. Do you really think a mere apology is sufficient?"

"Mr. Lee, I didn't do it on purpose," Ji Ah pleaded, her voice quivering. "But I understand that I hurt your mother. Somehow, their deaths are connected to me. I've carried this guilt for years, unable to find relief. But my daughter is innocent. She knows nothing about this, so please, you can blame me for everything, but please spare her from this."

"She wasn't even born when she indirectly caused my mother's death. How can she continue living in this world?" Taemin retorted coldly.

Ji Ah was shocked and desperate, disregarding decorum as she reached out and clutched his sleeve. "Mr. Lee, you can't do this. No matter what, she's related to you too. She's your biological sister."

"Biological sister?" Taemin's expression grew incredulous. He ruthlessly pushed her hand away and raised an eyebrow. "She's my sister? Does she deserve that privilege?"

"Mr. Lee..." Ji Ah's words trailed off, realizing the futility of her plea.

Ji Ah was acutely aware that, given Taemin's influence, it would be effortless for him to prevent her daughter from undergoing surgery. With a single command, no doctor would dare to operate on her.

Taemin shoved her aside and departed, indifferent to her anguished cries. His only desire was to make those responsible for his mother's suffering pay.

Little sister? He couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. How could that girl possibly be his little sister? If not for their actions, why would his mother have chosen to end her own life?

How could Ji Ah audaciously beg for his forgiveness and leniency?

The inconceivable truth left Taemin engulfed in seething rage. However, as the anger subsided, he was struck by the profound misery of his life. It dawned on him that for all these years, he had been utterly alone.

No one had stood by his side, not even his parents. His mother's selfishness had led her to choose death alongside her unfaithful husband. Had she ever considered him before making that fateful decision? Did she not realize that he still needed her desperately?

Why hadn't she thought about the consequences of her actions on him? How could he possibly carry the burden of so much sorrow and continue living in a world devoid of their presence?

It appeared that his mother had never considered these things. In the days leading up to her suicide, she had secluded herself in her room, not speaking to him or seeking him out when she made her fateful decision.

She hadn't taken any action for his sake.

When he received the news of his parents' death while at school, he had gone into a frenzy. He gazed upon their lifeless forms lying cold on the bed, but Grandma had prevented him from lifting the covers.

She had said they looked too frightening, refusing to allow him a final glimpse of them.

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A/N: Tell me anything!