Hyeong’s anguished screams echoed through the hospital room, sharp and relentless, cutting through Jennie’s heart with every cry. His small body thrashed on the bed, tears streaming down his flushed cheeks. He gripped the sheets tightly, his tiny knuckles white from the force as he screamed, "Mommy!" he cried out, "It hurts! Please, make it stop! I can’t.."
Jennie knelt by his bedside, her hands trembling as she tried to soothe him. "Hyeong, baby, please… shh, it’s going to be okay," she whispered, her voice breaking. She gently brushed his damp hair back from his forehead, her heart breaking at the sight of him in so much pain. But her words felt hollow, powerless against the overwhelming pain he was feeling.
Hyeong’s sobs didn’t stop. He cried harder, his voice growing hoarse as he gasped for breath between the sobs. "I want to go home, mommy! Please, take me home!" His desperate plea stabbed at Jennie’s soul.
She felt completely helpless, her own tears welling up as she watched her son in agony. Jennie tried to hold back, but the overwhelming grief and frustration were too much. “I’m so sorry, baby,” she whispered, her voice shaking as tears blurred her vision. “We will get home soon, I promise."
Hyeong’s cries only grew louder, his small body convulsing with each wave of pain. Jennie’s attempts to calm him seemed futile. She gently held his hand, feeling the heat of his fever through her fingertips, but it brought him no relief. She felt utterly powerless.
And then, as if something inside her broke, Jennie couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed onto the bed beside him, her sobs mixing with his. "Please, please… just let him have some peace," she whispered, her voice barely audible through her own crying.
She clung to Hyeong’s hand, wishing with every part of her being that she could take away his suffering. But all she could do was cry alongside him, drowning in the overwhelming pain and helplessness that filled the room.
Jiyong stood just outside Hyeong’s room, his body tense, fists clenched at his sides. The sound of his son’s agonized screams pierced through the door, each cry cutting into him. It felt like the air was being pulled from his lungs, making it harder to breathe with every sob he heard.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to steady himself. He wanted to be strong, to walk into that room and be the father Hyeong needed. But the sound of those desperate cries made it unbearable. The weight of his son’s suffering was crushing him, and the thought of facing it felt almost impossible.
When another scream echoed through the hall, something snapped in Jiyong. His chest tightened, emotions swirling uncontrollably inside him. He couldn’t just stand there, but he couldn’t go in either. The helplessness, the overwhelming guilt—it was too much to bear.
Without another thought, Jiyong turned and walked away. His footsteps were hurried, his breathing uneven. He needed to escape the sound of his son’s pain, even if just for a moment.
Dr. Lim was seated at his desk, immersed in reviewing Hyeong's case, when the door to his office suddenly swung open. Startled, he looked up to see Jiyong storm in with a commanding presence. His demeanor was intense, and his sharp gaze immediately filled the room with tension. Dr. Lim hadn’t expected to see him so early, especially with the results of Lisa’s HLA typing test due the next day.
“Mr. Kwon,” Dr. Lim began, surprised, but before he could say more, one of Jiyong’s men stepped forward and placed a heavy suitcase on the desk. The metallic clank of the case landing startled Dr. Lim further, his curiosity piqued. He glanced at the suitcase, his brows furrowing as he realized what it represented—this was not just an ordinary visit. The case was filled with money.
Jiyong’s voice cut through the air, sharp and deliberate. “I hope that’s enough, Dr. Lim. Let me be the one to know the results first.”
Dr. Lim blinked, still processing the situation, his mind racing. He understood what Jiyong was trying to convey, but the question lingered: why was Jiyong doing this? Why did he want to control the flow of information so desperately?
Clearing his throat, Dr. Lim looked at Jiyong, hesitant but composed. “Mr. Kwon, I understand your concern for Hyeong, but medical ethics require that the patient’s caregivers—and in this case, both parents—are informed simultaneously. Why are you insisting on knowing first?”
Jiyong’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening. "I'm making a deal with you," he said, his voice low but forceful. "No one else needs to know the result until I decide it’s the right time.”
Dr. Lim sat back in his chair, the suitcase looming in his peripheral vision. He could feel the weight of the situation—not just financially, but morally. The money was tempting, but this wasn’t about money. This was about a child’s life, a family, and a man desperate to control something beyond his reach.
After a long pause, Dr. Lim’s voice softened. “Mr. Kwon, I can’t compromise the integrity of this process. Tomorrow, the results will be available, and they will be shared with both parties, as they should be. We must follow protocol.”
Jiyong’s gaze remained fixed on him, cold and unyielding, as if calculating his next move. "I already said, Dr. Lim, if that money is not enough, just let me know."
Without another word, Jiyong turned and left the office, the door closing firmly behind him, leaving Dr. Lim frozen in place—dumbfounded. His gaze shifted back to the suitcase, a thousand questions swirling in his mind. Why was Jiyong so desperate to control the results? What was he hiding, or more importantly, what was he afraid of?
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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...
