( 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...
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Jennie sat by Hyeong's bedside, her eyes burning with exhaustion after hours of soothing him. His small body finally relaxed, deep in sleep after the endless waves of pain. Jennie exhaled softly, leaning back in her chair. It had been days since she had a proper rest, and though her body begged for sleep, her mind was racing.
Tomorrow, the HLA results would come. Tomorrow, they would know if Lisa was a match. That single thought was the only thing keeping Jennie going. The possibility that Lisa could be their miracle. She glanced at Hyeong, his chest rising and falling gently, and the weight of it all crushed down on her again.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the quiet. Jennie frowned at the unknown number flashing on her screen. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened the message, her breath catching when she saw the name.
It was Lisa.
*How's Hyeong?* the message read. *Can I see him?*
Jennie's hand trembled slightly as she held the phone. She hadn't expected this-Lisa, reaching out, asking about Hyeong. Her first instinct was to say yes, to let Lisa see him, to share this burden even for a moment. But her stomach twisted. The test results weren't in yet. What if Lisa wasn't a match? What if letting her see Hyeong now only added more pain to the already unbearable situation?
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, her emotions pulling her in different directions. She wanted to let Lisa see their son, but the fear of giving Hyeong false hope, or worse, giving herself false hope, froze her. She couldn't risk it-not until they knew for sure.
*Not yet,* she typed slowly, hesitating before hitting send. *We have to wait for the results.*
As soon as the message left, a wave of guilt surged through her. She was keeping Lisa away from Hyeong, and it felt wrong. Her heart ached, knowing how much Lisa cared for him, knowing how much she might want to be there. But Jennie couldn't afford to let her emotions take over. She couldn't let her own feelings cloud the reality of the situation. This was about Hyeong, and until they had answers, everything else had to wait.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to let her emotions consume her. Hyeong needed her strong, and until tomorrow, when the results would finally come, all she could do was hold it together for him.
Lisa sat on the edge of the couch in her dimly lit living room, the soft glow of a lamp casting long shadows across the room. A half-empty bottle of beer rested in her hand, her fingers lightly tapping against the glass. She had convinced herself that this was her way to unwind, to take the edge off the heavy emotions that weighed her down. But deep inside, she knew the beer wasn't helping-it never did. It was just something to occupy her, to distract her from the storm brewing in her mind.
Her phone sat beside her, Jennie's reply still fresh in her thoughts. *Not yet,* Jennie had said. She understood why Jennie had sent it, why she didn't want Lisa to see Hyeong until the test results were in. But knowing didn't make it hurt any less. The distance, the uncertainty-it gnawed at her.
Lisa brought the bottle to her lips, taking a slow sip, her eyes staring blankly ahead. Her mind, however, was anything but still. What if she wasn't a match? What if after all this waiting, after finally being within reach of helping her son, she wasn't the one who could save him? The thought alone made her chest tighten, and she gripped the bottle harder, feeling the weight of her own helplessness closing in.
She didn't know what to do, what to think. Her entire life felt like it was hinging on those test results. And for once, she didn't have control. It was the kind of powerlessness that she wasn't used to, and it terrified her.
But despite all the doubt swirling in her mind, she clung to hope. She had to. Hyeong needed her to be strong, even if he didn't know it yet. And Jennie-Jennie was counting on her, too. The thought of failing them, of being so close and yet so far, was too much to bear. But for now, all Lisa could do was wait, her heart pounding with fear, her mind desperately trying to hold onto the fragile thread of hope that tomorrow would bring the news she so desperately needed.
With a deep sigh, Lisa put the bottle down on the coffee table and leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself. She knew that no amount of beer or distraction would take away the gravity of what was coming. All she could do now was wait and pray for the answer she hoped for.
The morning light filtered through the blinds of Dr. Lim's office, casting long shadows across the room. Jiyong entered with a brisk, commanding stride, his face betraying a mix of anticipation and control. Dr. Lim sat at his desk, papers neatly arranged, but the tension in the air was palpable.
"You said you have the result," Jiyong stated, his voice firm, though a flicker of excitement glinted in his eyes.
Dr. Lim nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "Yes, Mr. Kwon. I have the HLA typing results."
Jiyong's heart raced, though he kept his composure, leaning forward slightly, ready to hear the news. But before Dr. Lim could continue, he reached into his desk drawer, pulling out the suitcase Jiyong had given him days ago. It thudded onto the desk with a dull, heavy sound.
Jiyong's smile faltered, the sight of the suitcase extinguishing the spark of victory in his eyes. His expression hardened as he watched Dr. Lim push the suitcase across the desk toward him.
"I'm afraid I cannot accept this," Dr. Lim said, his tone calm but firm. "I told you before, Mr. Kwon, I won't compromise the integrity of the process. The results will be shared with all parties at 8:00 AM as per protocol."
Jiyong's jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists at his sides. He stared at the suitcase, anger simmering beneath the surface. He had expected Dr. Lim to bend, to let him know first. But now, his control was slipping.
"You're making a mistake, Dr. Lim," Jiyong said coldly, his voice low and dangerous. "I offered you more than enough. And yet, here you are, sticking to your precious protocol."
Dr. Lim didn't waver, his steady gaze meeting Jiyong's fury. "This is about a child's life, Mr. Kwon. I understand your frustration, but I cannot, and will not, betray the trust placed in me."
The words landed like a blow, and Jiyong felt his chest tighten with frustration. He couldn't stand it-being so close, yet still denied the information he desperately wanted to control. He had hoped money could buy him what he needed, but now, standing in front of Dr. Lim, it was clear that no amount of wealth could sway him.
Jiyong's face darkened, his nostrils flaring as he reined in his anger. Without another word, he snatched the suitcase off the desk, the metallic click of the latch echoing in the room.
"I'll remember this," Jiyong hissed, his voice barely above a whisper, filled with barely concealed rage.
Dr. Lim didn't flinch, his eyes steady as he replied, "The results will be available at 8:00 AM. I hope you'll be there."
Jiyong turned on his heel and stormed out of the office, fury boiling beneath his calm exterior. As the door slammed shut behind him, Dr. Lim let out a slow, steady breath, feeling the weight of the encounter. He knew he had done the right thing, but the tension still lingered in the room. He could only hope that the morning would bring better news-for everyone involved.
