Ransomed Fiancée (Michaeng) ✔️

Summary (Part 12)

A/N: Since readers asked for it, here you go. It's amusing how you guys are not tired of this book yet. Anyway, enjoy reading ^^

[Book 2–Sequel]

Chapter 1:

Chaeyoung stared at the small window, the light crept in. She had been serving her sentence for a few months and was placed in a cramped cell with other inmates. It was hard for her to adjust, especially after living a life of luxury, but she knew she deserved to be here. She kept to herself, staying quiet and reserved. One of her cellmates knew who she was and despised her. Chaeyoung became the target of verbal and physical abuse. Despite the mistreatment, she didn't fight back. She wanted to behave well to increase her chances of an early release.

Luckily, there was a middle-aged woman in the cell who always protected Chaeyoung from the bullying. Surprisingly, the bully listened to her. Chaeyoung learned that the woman's name was Miyeon. She had been sentenced for aggravated assault after years of suffering from domestic violence. In a final act of self-defense, she had severely injured her abuser.

Miyeon also told Chaeyoung more about the other cellmates. The bully, named Yuqi, had been sentenced for vandalism and property destruction. Yuqi's hate toward Chaeyoung was personal. She was the daughter of one of the victims from the Peninsular Project before it was discontinued— which was led by Chaeyoung's father. The other two cellmates, Minjeong and Jimin, had their own stories. Minjeong had been imprisoned for hacking into unauthorized computer systems, accidentally triggering a major data breach. She claimed she did it for fun. Jimin, on the other hand was serving time for shoplifting.

As Chaeyoung sat quietly, she turned to Jimin, who was applying lipstick. Chaeyoung frowned, suspecting that Jimin had smuggled it in. Jimin seemed indifferent to her surroundings. Meanwhile, Minjeong seemed more interested in Chaeyoung, constantly asking about her life as an heiress. Her bubbly, childlike nature made her come across as a bit of a troublemaker.

One day, after a confrontation between Jimin and Yuqi, the argument quickly escalated. Before anyone could intervene, Jimin shoved Yuqi against the wall and causing Yuqi to lose her balance. She nearly fall into a sharp metal corner.

Chaeyoung, who had been watching from the corner, instinctively rushed over and caught Yuqi before she could get hurt. Surprised by the action, Yuqi pushed Chaeyoung away but didn't retaliate.

From that day on, Yuqi stopped bullying Chaeyoung. While her hatred didn't disappear overnight, the physical and verbal attacks ceased. The other cellmates noticed the change and even Miyeon who had always protected Chaeyoung, saw it as a small victory.

Chapter 2:

Chaeyoung's relationship with her cellmates improved over time, and she had become accustomed to life behind bars. It wasn't as bad as she had expected, except lack of freedom and the horrible food. Yet, Chaeyoung had never felt so free—maybe from guilt, fear, and the control the Chairman had over her life.

Her routine remained unchanged. The day began at 6:00 AM with the ringing of the bell, and Chaeyoung would spend a few quiet moments reflecting before starting her day. After roll call, she joined the other inmates in the cafeteria for breakfast. The meal was basic, and she ate quietly, either alone or with Miyeon. She kept her distance from the rest of the groups, avoiding confrontation.

After breakfast, Chaeyoung would head to her cleaning duty, which, unfortunately, she shared with Jimin who despised cleaning. Chaeyoung did most of the work without complaining while Jimin made up for it by telling her random stories. Jimin was sentenced for a few months, was released, and then returned shortly after and that kept repeating. She would update Chaeyoung about the outside world, the changes, and what was happening.

After the roll call, Chaeyoung would have lunch in the cafeteria. This was when she occasionally interacted with other inmates especially answering Minjeong's never-ending questions about her past.

In the afternoon, she attended the shoe-making workshop. Here, Chaeyoung learned to design and create shoes, stitching leather, assembling soles, and working with various materials. She also learned to repair shoes, fix stitching, and refurbish damaged footwear. Chaeyoung worked diligently, knowing that the small pay she earned would support her when she got out. It was one of the few ways she could feel productive and prepare for the future.

After her shift, there was recreation time. Chaeyoung would head to the yard for exercise, walking laps to clear her mind. Sometimes, other inmates invited her to play soccer. Initially, she agreed just to avoid confrontation but over time she grew to enjoy the exercise and the activity.

After dinner, Chaeyoung had some downtime. She usually sat in her cell, reading or writing. Another roll call followed, and once counted, she might talk briefly with her cellmates. The night was typically quiet. Chaeyoung spent it journaling. She often wrote down how her day went, her thoughts on life, the mistakes she had made, and the goals she had for when she was eventually released.

As the day wound down, Chaeyoung prepared for bed. The lights went off at 10:00 PM, and she fell asleep, often thinking about a certain someone. She wondered where she was, what she was doing, and how she had been. Chaeyoung drifted to sleep clutching a picture of the woman in her hand, the only item she had left of her.

Chapter 3:

The routine continued for over three years, and by then, Chaeyoung had grown close to the familiar faces of both inmates and guards, particularly those at the shoe-making workshop. She was diligent, polite, and respectful, and serving her time had somehow changed her completely. She was no longer the same person, and though she could barely recognize herself, she liked the changes. Over the years, she made some genuine friendships, especially with her cellmates.

Yuqi had been released and it became a dramatic moment, especially for Miyeon, who had formed a near mother-daughter bond with her. Yuqi would occasionally visit Miyeon which brought some warmth to the otherwise cold prison environment.

Jimin continued her usual cycle, getting released and then caught again. It wasn't until Minjeong was released that Jimin failed to return. Chaeyoung suspected Jimin was intentionally letting herself get caught just to be around Minjeong. Chaeyoung shook her head when Minjeong eventually returned to the cell with a reduced sentence and not long after Jimin was caught again. This confirmed Chaeyoung's suspicions. Miyeon was released not long after, leaving Chaeyoung alone with new inmates. Chaeyoung wouldn't deny that she missed her old cellmates at times.

Chaeyoung greeted the officer as she entered the workshop. The officer smiled and asked, "You must be excited for tomorrow. Do you have any plans or places to go?"

Chaeyoung chuckled shyly, rubbing her eyebrows. "Umm, I don't have any plans yet. I'll probably look for a job first."

"I heard you have a wife. She must be happy to see you," the officer added, his grin widened.

Chaeyoung didn't reply and only smiled in return, then walked to her desk, her thoughts briefly drifting to her. Today was Chaeyoung last day and she made sure to spend it meaningfully. Due to good behaviour, she was released early, she served three years and six months. She took the time to greet every guard and officer, including the clinic staff, to thank them for their care and to bid farewell. They joked with her, telling her to never come back and hoping they'd never meet again: an indirect reminder not to commit another crime. Chaeyoung smiled and nodded.

During exercise time, she went to say goodbye to the soccer group she had played with so often. They were saddened to lose a teammate but genuinely happy for her. They laughed and promised to greet each other if their paths ever crossed outside, wishing her the best.

-to be continued-