Irene’s heart raced. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Taking a steadying breath, she stood up, ready to approach Lisa. No matter how difficult this conversation might be, she had to try. For Hyeong. There was no turning back now.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the noise of the bustling construction site. “Stop!”
Irene halted mid-step, startled. She turned to see a security guard walking briskly toward her, his hand raised to halt her.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t approach the construction area. It’s an active site, and for safety reasons, visitors aren’t allowed near the workers.” His voice was firm, but his eyes held a trace of sympathy, as though he could sense the urgency of her presence.
Irene clenched her fists, struggling to keep her frustration in check. “Please, I need to speak to Lisa. Just for a minute. It’s urgent.”
The guard hesitated, his brow furrowing. “I understand it’s important, but I can’t break protocol. Let me check with Architect Manoban, and I’ll come back to you.”
But Irene couldn’t wait. Her patience snapped. “I’m not here for something trivial!” Her voice cracked with desperation. “I’m trying to save someone’s life! I don’t have time to wait.”
Her plea hung in the air, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. The guard’s expression shifted, his professional demeanor softening as he registered the weight of her words. “I’m really sorry,” he said quietly. “I’ll tell her right away. Just wait here, I promise I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
Irene nodded, her emotions barely in check as she stepped back toward the waiting area. She paced nervously, her heart racing as she replayed what she would say to Lisa. Every second felt like a lifetime, and the longer she waited, the more her anxiety grew.
Then, her phone buzzed. She glanced down, her pulse quickening as she saw a message from an unknown number. She opened it quickly:
**Irene, it’s Jennie. I need you at the hospital. Hyeong’s condition has worsened. Please hurry.**
Irene froze, her mind going blank for a moment. Her breath caught in her throat. Hyeong. She needed to be there now.
Without a second thought, Irene grabbed her bag, her body moving on instinct. She couldn’t wait for Lisa any longer. Jennie needed her—Hyeong needed her.
Just as she reached the gate, she heard the security guard call out behind her. “Ma’am, Architect Manoban will be out in just a moment!”
But it was too late. Irene waved apologetically, her voice barely steady as she responded, “I have to go. Please tell her… I’ll be back.”
She hurried out of the construction site, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision. She could only hope that when the time came, Lisa would understand.
Irene’s heart was pounding as she hurried out of the construction site and flagged down a cab. The urgency of Jennie’s message replayed in her mind, making her anxiety climb with each passing second.
She slid into the backseat, breathless, leaning forward as she instructed the driver, “To Kang’s General Hospital. Please, hurry.”
The cab sped off, weaving through the busy afternoon traffic, but to Irene, it felt like they were moving at a crawl. She tapped her foot nervously against the floor, her hands fidgeting in her lap as her thoughts spiraled. The fear of what awaited her at the hospital gnawed at her, tightening the knot of dread in her stomach. What did Jennie mean by “worsened”? Had something gone terribly wrong with Hyeong’s condition?
She glanced out the window, silently willing the cars ahead to move faster. “Come on, come on…” she muttered under her breath, her anxiety growing by the second. Her mind raced, filled with images of Hyeong lying in a hospital bed, pale and fragile, with Jennie at his side—alone, scared.
As the cab pulled into the hospital driveway, Irene barely waited for it to stop before she threw a handful of bills at the driver and bolted out of the car. She rushed through the sliding doors, her heart pounding in her chest as she made a beeline for the pediatric wing.
Her footsteps echoed through the quiet corridors of the hospital as she neared Dr. Lim’s office, her breath coming in quick, shallow bursts. Just as she rounded the corner, she saw Jennie emerging from the office. Without thinking, Irene called out.
"Jennie, what happened?" Her voice was tight with worry, her eyes wide with panic.
Jennie blinked in confusion, her brows knitting together. "Irene?" she noticed anxiety etched across Irene's face.
"I got your message! You said Hyeong’s condition had worsened—" Irene paused, catching her breath, the urgency still in her tone. "I rushed over as soon as I got it. Is he okay? What did Dr. Lim say?"
Jennie frowned, shaking her head. "Message? Irene, I haven’t touched my phone all day. Hyeong’s condition is stable for now, but..." Her voice softened, her own worry slipping through. "We still need to find an urgent and suitable donor. Dr. Lim said we don’t have much time."
Irene stared at her, her mind racing. "Wait, you didn’t text me? Then... who did?" For a moment, her confusion grew, but she quickly brushed it aside, shaking her head. "Never mind. It doesn’t matter right now. I need to see Hyeong."
Without waiting for an answer, Irene hurried past Jennie, her concern for Hyeong eclipsing everything else. She could feel Jennie’s puzzled gaze on her, but all she could think about was getting to the room, seeing Hyeong, and making sure he was okay.
As they approached the door to Hyeong’s room, Irene pushed all thoughts of the strange message aside. Right now, nothing mattered more than being there for Hyeong—and for Jennie.
YOU ARE READING
Instant Regrets Book II
Fanfiction( You're reading Book II ) When Jennie family discovered the truth about her relationship with a married woman, they were unable to accept it, and she brought shame upon them. To preserve the Kim family's reputation and status, her father made a dra...
