❝ Stardust & Heartstrings ❞ YEONBIN FF

Chapter 17 : Desperation and Defiance

As the crowd from the locality swarmed the hospital, Soobin's mother pushed her way through the throng, her heart racing with worry. She spotted her son slumped outside the treatment room, his body convulsing with sobs, his face etched with anguish.

She rushed to his side, embracing him tightly as if to shield him from the pain that threatened to consume him. "Soobin, my child, what's wrong?" she whispered, her voice trembling with fear, as she stroked his hair, trying to comfort him.

But Soobin just shook his head, unable to speak, his eyes fixed on the door behind which Yeonjun's fate was being decided.

Soobin's voice cracked as he clung to his mother, his words tumbling out in a desperate plea. "Yeonjun hyung will be okay, right, Mom? He won't leave me again, right? If something happens to him, I don't think I'll be able to live," he sobbed, his body shaking with fear.

His mother's expression softened, her eyes welling up with tears as she grasped the depth of her son's emotions. She pieced together the underlying message in Soobin's words, but chose to remain silent, shielding their private moment from the prying eyes of the crowd.

Instead, she held him closer, offering a comforting embrace as they waited anxiously for news about Yeonjun's condition.

Yeonjun's grandmother was finally settled into her hospital room, surrounded by the beeping of machines and the soft murmur of medical staff. The nurse approached her bedside, a reassuring smile on his face. "Don't worry, your grandson, is going to be just fine. He's experiencing some mild stomach discomfort. We're just running some tests to confirm, but it seems to be a minor issue." Yeonjun's grandmother nodded, relief washing over her face, though a hint of worry still lingered in her eyes.

Little did she know, the truth about Yeonjun's condition was far more severe than a simple stomach ache.

Dr. Jung from the emergency unit emerged from the treatment room, providing a update on Yeonjun's condition. "The patient is currently stable. The cranial trauma sustained was non-severe, suggesting the perpetrator intended to render him unconscious rather than inflict fatal injury. Our diagnostic tests reveal minor facial and abdominal contusions, likely resulting from blunt force trauma. We will continue to monitor his status and notify you when he regains consciousness. We have already informed his parents and they are en route to the hospital."

Soobin stood outside the room, gazing at Yeonjun through the glass window. Yeonjun lay motionless on the hospital bed, his face obscured by an oxygen mask, an intravenous saline drip attached to his hand. The soft beeping of machines and the gentle hiss of oxygen filled the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil that churned within Soobin. He felt helpless, unable to do anything but watch as Yeonjun fought for recovery, his heart heavy with worry and fear.

As the hours ticked by, Yeonjun's parents made their way to Pohang via their private helicopter. Yeonjun's mother, overcome with emotion, tried to rush into the hospital room, but the nurses gently asked her to wait. They explained that her son was still unconscious and too much commotion could cause him undue distress when he finally awoke. The nurses reassured her that they would notify her as soon as Yeonjun regained consciousness, and that it was crucial to allow him a peaceful environment to facilitate his recovery.

Yeonjun's father, his face etched with worry and anger, grasped Soobin's collar with a firm grip and pulled him into a nearby private room. Soobin stumbled backward, his eyes wide with surprise, as Yeonjun's mother followed closely behind, her tears momentarily forgotten in the face of her husband's intensity. The door closed behind them with a soft click, enveloping the trio in a tense, quiet space.

"Apparently, my warnings fell on deaf ears," Yeonjun's father seethed, his voice low and menacing. "You're still sniffing around my son like a parasite, encouraging him down a path of destruction. Your influence is toxic, and I won't stand for it," he growled, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and protectiveness.

"You're just as I expected - a leech, clinging to my son's life like a parasite," Yeonjun's father snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you slithered your way back into his life, which is why I had him followed during his visit to Pohang. And, predictably, you were lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. Have you forgotten the promise you made to me all those years ago? Your word means nothing, does it? You're not even a man of your own honor," he spat, his anger and contempt boiling over.

Yeonjun's mother attempted to intervene, placing a restraining hand on her husband's arm as she shot Soobin a look of utter revulsion and disdain. Her eyes seemed to bore into Soobin's very soul, as if she could hardly bear the sight of him. "Calm down, yeobo," she cooed to her husband, her voice sweet and soothing, but her gaze never wavering from Soobin's face, her expression a mask of disgust and contempt.

Soobin's composure finally cracked, and he lashed out, his voice rising in indignation. "Where was your precious spy when Yeonjun was being attacked? Where were they when he got hurt because of your own actions, sir? Not mine!" He jabbed his finger at Yeonjun's father, his eyes blazing with accusation. With a swift motion, he pulled out his phone and thrust it forward, the screen displaying the photo Mr. Han had sent him.

The photo Soobin revealed was taken by Mr. Han at the scene of the attack, capturing a ominous message scrawled in the mud:

"Choi Ye Jun will pay for his actions, his family will end."

Yeonjun's father's eyes widened in shock as he took a closer look at the photo, his face pale with disbelief. As a seasoned prosecutor, he had seen his fair share of heinous crimes and ruthless tactics, but nothing could have prepared him for the realization that his own son had been targeted for death. The thought that someone had attempted to kill Yeonjun, his own flesh and blood, was a bitter pill to swallow, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.

"This is a family matter, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect my son," Yeonjun's father snarled, his voice low and menacing. "You, Soobin, are to stay away from him. I'll take Yeonjun and my mother back to Seoul, where they'll receive the treatment they need. And as for our promise, consider it null and void. I'll never allow my son to marry you, no matter how powerful your business becomes. You're not worthy of him, and I'll never let you have him."

Soobin's eyes flashed with anger, but it was quickly suffocated by a crushing sense of helplessness. He stood there, frozen, his hand clenched into a tight fist as if trying to contain the turmoil within. The weight of Yeonjun's father's words settled upon him like a physical blow, leaving him breathless and defeated. The pain of rejection and the impossibility of his situation threatened to consume him, and for a moment, he couldn't move or speak, unable to do anything but endure the anguish that gripped his heart.

***