Chapter 59 - She's not the same person

The blinding light outside the prison feels refreshing. However, no light in the world can dismiss the darkness in her eyes. As she walks toward the car, the memories of that day return to her mind. Her tranquil face doesn't waver as she gets into the car. She's not drenched in someone else's urine this time.

She doesn't notice the eyes that seem to be following her everywhere. The person follows her car. The distance between them is long enough that she doesn't think much of it. Ahn Hana makes a quick decision and decides to visit the hospital first. She should see the victim with her eyes and then, decide whether this defendant can be saved or not.

After an hour, her car stops in front of the hospital. A bike comes to halt a little behind the car. The person gets down and takes off his helmet. He wipes his sweat from his forehead. After two minutes, he gets on his bike away and leaves the vicinity.

Ahn Hana doesn't know anything about this. After a quick inquiry, she finds the victim's ward. The boy is 18. He has no father and the family is in debt. The mother still insists on punishing the defendant. The defendant insists that he didn't push the boy off the roof.

It could have been a suicide. That won't save the defendant.

"Who are you?" Ms. Kim looks up at the woman with an icy demeanor. There is no warmth in her eyes. She seems like a person who has died and come back to life. Ms. Kim is intimated by her aura.

"I am Mr. Ji's lawyer." Ahn Hana glances at the young boy breathing on the machine. "How is your son?"

"Get out." Ms. Kim is afraid of the woman, but she's a mother. She won't back down when it comes to her son. "I am not settling the case. I will fight until the end."

"I am not asking you to end the case." Ahn Hana's voice is low and lacking empathy. Her body is devoid of any emotion. "I want to know how it happened."

Ms. Kim widens her eyes in anger. She yells at her, "Want to know how it happened? That rich boy bullied my son every single day. The school wouldn't do anything because his father is powerful. When he wasn't satisfied, he pushed my son off the roof."

"Why didn't you transfer him?" Ahn Hana asks with a monotonous voice.

"That..." Ms. Kim steps back a little. She hesitates before she says, "He wanted to continue studying there."

"It was the scholarship." Ahn Hana reveals the real reason. "The school also paid a monthly stipend to the honorary students from a poor background. He also won other scholarships. He was quite talented."

"My son..." Ms. Kim regrets not transferring him. "It was only a year."

There was only a year left to graduate. "How was his mood before he left that day?"

Ms. Kim denies answering any question of this cold woman. She pushes her out of the room. Ahn Hana falls on the floor due to the sudden impact.

"Leave. I don't want to see your face. I am going to make sure that he rots in jail for his life."

Ahn Hana sighs. Why does she never have a good conversation with parents? She tries to stand up. She winces when she feels the pain in her ankle. This pain is nothing compared to what she had gone through.

Her presence is as quiet as the air. She limps as she walks to the elevator. She doesn't want to get her foot checked. It's likely to get healed on its own. She can't make a quick drop at the school today.

She goes to the apartment. She realizes that she has forgotten the code again. She looks behind her. The feeling of being watched makes her paranoid. Unsatisfied with this delay, she calls Do Sejin.

"What is the code?"

Do Sejin chuckles when he hears her voice. "9387."

The call is disconnected right away. Do Sejin looks at Jung Kwang-Soo. "Nothing happened so far. The magnolia killer is quiet."

"Perhaps, he's not interested in Ahn Hana anymore?" Jung Kwang-soo can only hope that is the case.

"I don't think so." Do Sejin can't believe that the killer will let go of Ahn Hana. He's worried that Ahn Hana might have been in contact with the killer. Then, why she is back? He has checked her phone. Jung Kwang-soo is also keeping an eye on her.

"Perhaps, something happened to the killer." Jung Kwang-soo says hopefully, "He had an accident or he died of cancer. There's always outside factors."

"We aren't that lucky." Do Sejin narrows his eyes on Jung Kwang-soo, "Why did she not come back for a year? We have to know where she was. I have to find my son."

"Then, are you sure about your next step? Ahn Hana might find you irritating."

"She's not the same person. I am afraid that... " Do Sejin purses his lips. She might have changed too much. He's been living with her for a week. Her presence has changed. Though she laughs while watching the television, she doesn't sound natural. She avoids him most of the time. When she can't avoid him, she acts warmly. She doesn't speak much. She hasn't answered his single question.

She keeps telling him that Ha-Neul is not his son.

Then, who is the father?

He is afraid to know the answer.