DISGRACE ──── ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ ✔️

29 ── ⁿᵒ ᵗᵘʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ

ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ

The next day, Mi-hee arrived at the designated meeting spot, her mind swirling with everything that had happened the previous night. She had barely slept, her thoughts on Rian’s confession, her own dangerous game of revenge, and the fact that she was about to make decisions that could destroy everything in her life. Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Jae-i asking her to meet.

When Mi-hee arrived, she was surprised to see Kang-ha sitting across from Jae-i, a serious expression on his face. He barely acknowledged her as she walked in, but she could feel the tension in the air.

Jae-i greeted her with a nod, her eyes filled with both determination and anxiety. It was clear she had something important to discuss, something that involved all of them.

“I need help,” Jae-i began, her voice steady, but Mi-hee could tell the weight of her words was heavy. “I’m going to New York soon. But before I go, I need to find out who’s behind the threats. The fact that they’ve been targeting me is bad enough, but now they’re trying to bring Rian down too.”

Mi-hee’s gaze shifted toward Kang-ha, who looked more contemplative than before. He didn’t say anything, just waiting for Mi-hee to respond.

Jae-i continued, her voice laced with urgency. “I can’t leave until I know who is doing this. I can’t let Rian be dragged into this anymore, not if I can stop it.”

Mi-hee felt the weight of her decision hanging over her. Last night’s conversation with Rian echoed in her mind: he had been hurt, and he had hurt her too. The emotions swirling in her chest were difficult to process, and the truth she had confessed still stung like an open wound.

But now wasn’t the time for sentimentality. Now wasn’t the time to soften. Mi-hee had made her choice. She had to stay focused.

She tuned out of Jae-i and Kang-ha’s conversation, her mind racing. Her thoughts kept returning to Rian, the man she had said she would destroy. She had made the decision last night—Rian would pay for his cruelty. She was going to see it through, even if it meant she had to leave behind the friendships she once cared about.

Mi-hee couldn’t help but scoff at herself, the conflict raging inside her. She had chosen what she thought was right. But was it?

She took a deep breath and stood up, interrupting the conversation. Jae-i and Kang-ha both looked at her, surprised by the sudden change in her demeanor.

“Jae-i, I care about you, truly,” Mi-hee said, her voice cold but steady. “But that will never change the fact that Kim Rian is wrong. He needs to learn his lesson before getting a clean slate. I am afraid, I will not be able to help you with that.”

Her words felt harsh as they left her mouth, but Mi-hee couldn’t take them back now. This was her fight, her path to follow, and she couldn’t let anyone—least of all Jae-i—stand in the way of her revenge.

Without another word, Mi-hee turned on her heel and walked away, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t look back. Not at Jae-i, not at Kang-ha. She had made her choice, and now it was time to see it through.

As she walked away, the weight of her decision sank in. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but one thing was certain: there would be no turning back.

ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ