Possession [ JK version ]

=52= HENIOUS THINGS

Author's POV

In the dimly lit kitchen, tension hung thick in the air as Bon-hwa paced back and forth, her frustration spilling over into angry words. The five maids gathered around the small wooden table, their faces a mix of concern and fear. Bon-hwa's eyes blazed with righteous anger as she recounted the horrors she had witnessed.

"I'm telling you, they aren't really married, and Mr. Jeon is not treating her well," she said, her voice trembling with rage. "He actually slit her palm! Can you even imagine that?" The room fell silent, the other women exchanging uneasy glances, their expressions somber.

"I've always noticed her," Bon-hwa continued, her voice lowering as she spoke more urgently. "She's terrified of Jungkook and Leon. The first time she was brought here, I saw the mark of a slap on her face. And just the other day, after she took lunch to Mr. Jeon's office, she returned with another slap mark and an injured leg. He's torturing her—she's not happy at all."

The words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, the weight of the truth settling on the women. Bon-hwa's fists clenched at her sides as she struggled to contain her anger. "We need to save that little girl," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He will kill her if we don't do something."

One of the other maids, an older woman with a weary expression, finally spoke up. "We cannot do anything," she said, her voice tinged with resignation. "Don't forget, he’s paying for our kids' futures."

Bon-hwa’s eyes flashed with defiance. "So what? So what if he’s paying for our kids' futures? That doesn't justify his cruelty! She can’t even speak to us about her situation. Do you really think she’s a threat to Mr. Jeon? Huh?"

The older maid sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I know, but still, we can’t do anything. The most he could do is fire us, but he wouldn’t stop tormenting her. He’d just hire new maids who would turn a blind eye to her suffering, just like we have."

Bon-hwa shook her head, refusing to accept the hopelessness in her colleague's voice. "We could help her escape from this place," she suggested, her voice rising with a spark of determination.

But another maid quickly shot down the idea. "We cannot. Haven’t you noticed the increased security around the house? It’s impossible for her to leave without his permission."

Bon-hwa’s heart sank as she realized the truth in her words. The house had become a fortress, a prison for the girl who was trapped inside. "She will die because of his cruelty," she muttered, her voice breaking.

"I know," the first maid said softly, her voice laced with sadness. "She’s already looking suicidal."

A heavy silence fell over the group, the gravity of the situation weighing on their hearts. Bon-hwa’s eyes filled with tears, her chest aching with the helplessness she felt. "Being a woman, I cannot stand by and watch this happen," she said, her voice trembling. "We have to do something."

Finally, the quietest of the maids, who had been sitting silently throughout the conversation, spoke up. Her voice was calm, but there was a quiet strength in her words that made everyone turn to listen. "We can only do one thing," she said, her gaze steady. "And that is guiding her so that she won't be tortured."

The other maids looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to speak so boldly. "If she works according to his wishes, he won't be mad at her. She needs to earn his trust to gain her freedom. No trust, no freedom," she added.

The words resonated with the group, the harsh truth of them sinking in. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but perhaps the only realistic option they had. They couldn't fight him directly, but maybe, just maybe, they could help her survive. Bon-hwa wiped away her tears, her resolve hardening. If this was the only way to protect the girl, then they would have to do it.