Live or Die

CHAPTER 13

Eighteen years ago, the corridors of SJ Corporation whispered with secrets and concealed desires. Jae Hyun, at the zenith of his power, was a man who seemed to have everything: wealth, influence, and a beautiful wife expecting their first child. Yet, beneath the surface of this idyllic picture, hidden currents were about to shift the course of their lives irreversibly.

Jae Hyun sat behind his grand oak desk, papers scattered before him. The door creaked open, and in walked Seo In Soo, his secretary, her presence like a breath of fresh air in the stifling atmosphere of corporate machinations.

Jae Hyun: (looking up, a smile playing on his lips) "Ah, In Soo, just the person I wanted to see. Have you finished drafting the report?"

Seo In Soo: (her voice soft, a hint of a smile on her face) "Yes, Mr. Seo. I've placed it on your desk."

As she leaned forward to hand him the document, Jae Hyun couldn't help but notice the delicate fragrance she wore, a scent that seemed to draw him in. Unbeknownst to him, In Soo had carefully curated her persona, from the way she dressed to the subtle perfume she chose, all designed to ensnare his attention.

Seo In Soo: "It's late, Mr. Seo. You should rest."

Jae Hyun: (sighing) "Rest seems like a luxury these days. But you're right, In Soo. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Seo In Soo: (smiling slyly) "I'm always here to support you, Mr. Seo. You're not just my boss; you're the visionary who inspires us all."

Her words were honeyed, designed to stroke his ego and bind him closer to her.

The company gala was in full swing, the ballroom aglow with the glitterati of the business world. Jae Hyun's wife, adorned in elegance, moved gracefully among the guests, her pregnancy barely showing. Jae Hyun, however, found his gaze wandering to In Soo, who was mingling with an effortless charm that belied her calculated intentions.

Jae Hyun: (approaching In Soo, quietly) "You look stunning tonight, In Soo. This event wouldn't be the same without you."

Seo In Soo: (lowering her voice, a touch of mock concern) "Thank you, Mr. Seo. I hope I'm not causing any trouble. Your wife... she's the star tonight, after all."

Jae Hyun: (his voice a conflicted whisper) "No, not at all. If anything, I wish... No, never mind. Enjoy the evening, In Soo."

Weeks had passed, and the late hours at the office had become their secret meeting ground. One evening, as the city lights twinkled below, Jae Hyun found the courage to voice his feelings.

Jae Hyun: (hesitantly) "In Soo, I... I find myself thinking about you more than I should. Your dedication, your intellect... it's captivating."

Jae Hyun: "In Soo, every moment with you is a moment stolen from time. I can't keep pretending that my feelings are just professional."

Seo In Soo: (feigning surprise, her heart cold) "Mr. Seo, Jae Hyun... I'm touched. But we must be cautious. Your wife, your family..."

Jae Hyun: (desperate, his resolve crumbling) "I know, I know. But tell me, In Soo, do you ever think of what could be? If circumstances were different?"

Seo In Soo: (her voice soft, but her eyes calculating) "Perhaps in another life, Jae Hyun. But let's not dwell on impossibilities. We have so much to achieve together."

the hushed corridors of the hospital bore witness to a tangled web of secrets and destinies intertwined. Seo In Soo, cloaked in the shadows of a clandestine affair, navigated the final stages of her pregnancy with a mix of anticipation and dread. Her secret, a testament to her ambition, was a ticking time bomb set to disrupt the lives entangled in her machinations.

In Soo, her belly swollen with the impending arrival of her child, moved through the hospital corridors, her steps light, attempting to remain unnoticed. Her mind raced with plans and contingencies, each thought a delicate balance between fear and ambition.

In Soo: (muttering to herself) "No one can know. This child... this is my chance to secure a future for us."

Meanwhile, Jae Hyun's wife, radiant and filled with the promise of new life, was wheeled into the delivery room, her face etched with both pain and joy. Jae Hyun stood by her side, his hand a comforting presence in hers.

Jae Hyun's Wife: (breathing heavily) "It's going to be okay, right? We'll be a family soon."

Jae Hyun: (trying to mask his worry) "Yes, my love. Everything's going to be perfect. Just focus on us, on our baby girl."

As fate would have it, the paths of these two women converged in a cruel twist of timing. Both went into labor on the same day, their delivery rooms separated by a mere hallway but their worlds apart

The cries of newborns pierced the air almost simultaneously, heralding the arrival of two little lives destined to be caught in the crossfire of adult choices. In one room, In Soo gave birth to a daughter, her heart torn between joy and the fear of the future.

In Soo: (whispering to her newborn) "You're my everything. I'll protect you, no matter what it takes."

In the adjacent room, tragedy struck. Jae Hyun's wife brought a beautiful girl into the world but succumbed to complications, her last breaths filled with love and sorrow for the family she would leave behind.

Jae Hyun's Wife: (fading voice) "Take care of her, Jae Hyun. Promise me."

Jae Hyun: (tears streaming down his face) "I promise. I'll love her enough for both of us."

In the aftermath, Jae Hyun, devastated by loss, clung to his daughter, unaware of the parallel life unfolding a wall away. In Soo, emerging from her delivery room, heard the wails of Jae Hyun's grief and saw an opportunity amidst the tragedy.

In Soo: (to herself, as she watches Jae Hyun) "This changes everything. It's time to act."

The hospital, a place of both birth and death, became the stage for In Soo's next move. In Soo, consumed by greed and ambition, concocts a sinister plan in the wake of Jae Hyun's wife's tragic death. With calculated precision, she orchestrates the switch of her own child with Jae Hyun's newborn daughter, setting into motion a series of events bound to alter the course of multiple lives.

In Soo: (eyes gleaming with ambition) "This is my chance. With Jae Hyun's wealth and power, I can secure a future for myself and my child."

In the dead of night, shrouded by darkness and the weight of her deceit, In Soo slips into the nursery, her heart pounding with the gravity of her actions. With steady hands, she executes her plan, swapping the infants in their cribs, sealing the fate of two families with a single act of treachery.

In Soo: (whispering to herself) "No one will ever know. This is my secret to keep."

But her scheme does not end there. In Soo, devoid of empathy or remorse, seeks to rid herself of any reminders of her deceit. She seeks out Kang Min Hyuk and Kim Hye Won, individuals entangled in their own web of desperation and despair, offering them a solution to their woes wrapped in a chilling proposition.

In Soo: (voice dripping with malice) "Take this child and dispose of her. She is of no consequence to me. Make it quick, and you will be handsomely rewarded."

Kang Min Hyuk and Kim Hye Won, haunted by their own demons and desperate for a reprieve from their circumstances, accept In Soo's offer, unaware of the depths of depravity to which they are descending.

Kang Min Hyuk: (voice trembling with uncertainty) "Are you sure about this? What if we're caught?"

In Soo: (coldly) "Don't worry about that. Just do as I say, and everything will be taken care of."

With the weight of their secret heavy upon them, Kang Min Hyuk and Kim Hye Won vanish into the night, the cries of the innocent child echoing in their ears, a stark reminder of the darkness lurking within their souls.