Yoona's phone vibrated again, startling her in the silence and suspense of the wait. She saw the number and quickly answered it. "Hello?"
"Yoong. Bad news. Fany's heading your way along with Himchan," said Yuri.
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah. I was going to tell you but that call from Seungjin, asking me to put Jiyoon on the phone, kinda distracted me. Fany wouldn't take no for an answer. Stop her. They took Sooyoung's car."
Yoona ended the call and cursed. "This is getting worse by the minute," she said.
"What now, Captain?"
"Tiffany unnie and Himchan are coming our way."
"What?!"
"Is she crazy?!"
"She's trying to stop Taeyeon unnie," Yoona said. "Yuri unnie just told me that she wouldn't take no for an answer. We need to stop her. Be on the lookout for Sooyoung unnie's car."
—-
Taeyeon turned her head at the sound of the rolled door opening and saw a man walking inside. Her eyes widened when she recognized him but before she could say or do anything, Seungjin's thug that had been standing behind her rushed forward, grabbed the visitor and pulled harshly, causing the man to stumble until he almost fell face first on the ground.
The door slid close and Taeyeon watched Mr. Hwang get to his feet while frowning at him in silence.
Mr. Hwang felt the eyes on him, looked up after dusting his hands and knees off and bowed to Taeyeon.
He then straightened up and turned to face the smirking Seungjin. "I did what you told me to do now let her go."
"You broke the deal," said Seungjin.
"Huh?"
"You weren't supposed to come here."
"I..." Mr. Hwang swallowed and clenched his fists. "I want to make another deal. Let her go and you can take me instead."
Seungjin burst out laughing. "What? Are you senile, old man? You're of no use to me now. No one cares what I do to you. She, on the other hand," he pointed at Taeyeon, "is the key to everything."
"Oh come on. I know you're targeting my daughter. You want to make her suffer, right? You want her to know how it feels to lose everything. What better way to do it than to get her father?" Mr. Hwang tried to bargain.
"Do you think I'm that dumb?" Seungjin stood up from his seat and approached Mr. Hwang menacingly. His smile was long gone, replaced by a furious expression. "I know she doesn't give a damn about you. Killing you won't hurt her at all." He pushed the man back until the latter fell on his butt, looking up at him in fear.
Taeyeon now understood what was going on.
"So it was all a lie?" she asked the man on the ground. "What you told me... about asking for her forgiveness, about wanting to pay for your mistakes... all lies?"
"I-I'm sorry," said Mr. Hwang. "I had no choice. But it wasn't all a lie," he quickly added. "I do love her and I wish she could forgive me but..." He looked away.
The warehouse grew quiet for a few minutes before Seungjin suddenly exclaimed in excitement.
"This is great! I take it back, old man. Thank you for being such an idiot. Now I can have an even better revenge."
"W-what?" Tiffany's father stuttered in surprise.
Taeyeon turned her head and watched Seungjin smiling happily to himself. "What are you up to?"
