The Villianess's Redemption (HYUNJIN ff) ✓

39. A Sister's Redemption

Chapter 39: A Sister's Redemption
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Hyunjin’s POV

The air was thick with tension as we sat in the cramped room, everyone lost in their thoughts, the weight of unanswered questions pressing down on us. The small clock on the wall ticked away mercilessly, reminding me that time was slipping by. My time. I had to make a decision, and it had to be today.

The Seo brothers had been even more secretive since their visit with Eliza. They barely spoke a word about what happened, and it was driving me insane. It wasn’t just the uncertainty of what they had planned—it was the growing doubt gnawing at me. Every instinct I had screamed not to trust them, but what other choice did we have? We were stuck, cornered with no clear path forward.

Namjoon sat across from me, his presence steady and calm, though I could sense his frustration as well. He’d come to us offering help, and I was grateful for it, but even he was having a hard time unraveling this mess. We all were.

“What’s the next step?” Namjoon asked, looking around the room. His eyes settled on me, waiting for an answer I didn’t have.

“I… I don’t know,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck in frustration. “I don’t even know where to start anymore.”

Before anyone could respond, the phone rang, the sharp sound cutting through the silence. Everyone froze. My heart raced, knowing it could only mean one thing.

Donghyuk.

I slowly walked over to the telephone, my hand hovering above it for a moment before I picked it up. The room seemed to close in around me as I brought the receiver to my ear.

“Hello?” I said cautiously.

There was a brief pause before the familiar, smug voice echoed through the line.

“Well, Hyunjin, have you made your decision?” Donghyuk’s voice was dripping with condescension, as if he already knew the answer.

I swallowed hard, feeling the eyes of the group on me. “I… I’m still thinking about it.”

“You don’t have time to think anymore,” Donghyuk snapped. “You either hand over what we want, or you face the consequences. I thought I made that clear.”

My grip tightened on the receiver, anger bubbling up inside me, but I couldn’t lash out. Not here. Not now.

“I know what you said,” I replied, my voice strained.

“And yet, here you are, still hesitating,” Donghyuk chuckled darkly. “Do you need another reminder of what’s at stake? Maybe I should send someone over to make things clearer for you.”

That was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. I slammed my fist down on the table, rattling the objects around me. But what could I do? He held all the cards. And worse, he knew it.

“Hyunjin, you don’t want to test me,” Donghyuk warned, his tone icy now. “I don’t think you’d like the outcome if you do.”

Before I could say anything, Isabella stepped forward, her face determined. She didn’t say a word, just motioned for the phone. Confused, I handed it to her, my heart still pounding from the exchange. What was she doing?