The Bangtan Wall

Syndicate Family Connections

Surprised at first, then angered, it was just like your father to do such a thing to your mother. Jimin squeezes your hand for comfort and support.

RM turns to Sora, lifting her head. With teary eyes, she speaks with a voice that sounds like it was pulled from the bottom of hell—there was so much sorrow.

"Lorrie's father kidnapped and raped my older sister."

At this pronouncement, the whole room is stunned, and the only sound is the gasps from you and Jungkook.

"My sister never wanted the syndicate life, and our father understood. He let her choose her own path. He gave her a new life, starting with a new name and identity. No one outside of the family knew she was his eldest daughter."

"When your father happened to meet her, he became obsessed with her. To him, she was another beautiful face and body to possess. He didn't know my sister was the eldest daughter of one of Seoul's most prosperous Syndicate families."

Sora, encouraged by RM's reassuring nod of his approval, continues.

"He had it all set up where everyone believed your mother was pregnant. She didn't want to go through with it but he forced her. He had fake baby bumps made for her to wear under her clothes, and when my sister went into labor, he had them both at the hospital he owned in rooms next to each other. It was easy for him to switch the baby over to your mom. He had everyone on his payroll, and if they weren't, he had them firmly under control by fear."

"My sister was killed just hours after Jungkook was born. He made it appear she died from complications of childbirth while your mother's fake labor resulted in a live baby." She shakes her head, remembering.

Sora feels her inner strength rising, and standing tall, she pulls away from RM. "But he never could get his hands on Jungkook. That was how, with your mother's help, Lorrie, we could save and protect Jungkook."

Sora stands in front of you, tenderly taking your hands into hers.

"Sweetheart, your mother took Jungkook just as your father wanted, but as soon as she could, she escaped your father and brought the baby to us." 

You lower your eyes. You can't look at Sora right now.  Your mind is busy processing what you have just been told and how much of your life was lies. You're reeling from the beautiful fact that you have a brother. 

You never knew this about your mother; you were away at boarding school in Japan at her insistence. Now you know why she forced you to go.  You pull your hands free from Sora. All the puzzle pieces suddenly fall into place.

"Is that, is that when . . . was that the night she died in the car accident?" You sit on the edge of your chair, and Jimin grimaces in painful silence. Your hold on his hand is like a death grip.

"You might as well know it all," she says as she looks at you and Jungkook. Namjoon gives her another nod of encouragement. "Your mother convinced your father to allow you to attend boarding school. She didn't want you involved in any of this. It was the only concession he allowed her."

"When he found out what she was going to do after Jungkook was brought home. He had her followed, and his man sabotaged the car after your mother dropped off baby Jungkook. He wasn't going to let his only son be hurt, for he already had plans to get him back and raise him as his heir, saying she died in that car accident, but Jungkook survived. In his eyes, she was no longer useful, and just like my sister, in death, they could never tell." 

She wipes your tears with both hands as Jimin pulls you closer to his side. She looks at Jungkook, then back to you, and continues.

"We hid Jungkook. My sister did not want him raised in the syndicate life, and neither did your mother. So my father sent him to my grandmother's sister. He knew there he would be safe and as far away from the syndicate life as we could manage." 

She moves toward Jungkook, "For years, we always had someone as part of your life that was there to keep an eye on you, to protect you."

Sora searches Jungkook's eyes for understanding, "Uncle Rhye was not your uncle. He was there at my father's request to protect you if your father ever sent someone after you."

Jungkook is just sitting there, doe-eyed in shock, his mind racing with thoughts. The life he thought he knew, the family he thought he was part of, all called into question. The main thought that kept pervading his mind was, 'he killed my mother, he killed my mother, he killed my mother!'

He looks quizzically at Sora, "Auntie?"

"Do you know how long I have waited to hear that?" Her eyes look adorningly at Jungkook. 

Overwhelmed by a rush of massive emotions, Jungkook suddenly jumps up and rushes to Jackson, shouting. "I denounce him as my father, and I denounce any claim to the syndicate!" 

He throws the envelope at Jackson. "I want NOTHING of my fathers!" Jungkook's face is twisted with hatred. 

Then, just as quickly as the anger came, it was replaced by tears as Jungkook fell to his knees. Heart-rending sobs broke from his throat.

"He killed my mother!" 

You stand in shock, and Jimin, Taehyung, and J Hope rush to their maknae, dropping to their knees to hold him as he cries.

Sora takes you in her arms as you start to cry while the others comfort Jungkook. Jackson comes and holds you both in his arms.

Stepping back, he says, "I'm so sorry, Sora, but I knew you were ready for it all to come out. You are a brave woman, and I'm proud to call you family."

RM places his arm around you and Sora, and he kisses the side of her face, then yours. He is about to speak when suddenly there is yelling and cursing coming from the kitchen, overshadowed by sounds of gunfire. 

RM pulls you and Sora down to the floor and starts pushing you under the table, "Get under the table and stay there!"