Chapter 98: [Bonus Chapter 2/2] Truth Comes Out (2)

"I thought you had changed, but I was wrong," YuWon said, shaking his head. "First, you protected Hoon, and now this? Like father, like daughter. You're all the same—a bunch of backstabbers."

Yeji flinched upon seeing the coldness in his eyes. It was only then she realized by stopping YuWon; she had made a terrible mistake. Even so, she didn't want to believe her father could do something so heinous...not till he had confessed.

"He... he hasn't admitted to anything," she cried, holding on to YuWon's leg as she looked at him, pleading. "This could all be a misunderstanding—"

"A misunderstanding," YuWon scoffed. "Sure, let's clear everything, shall we?"

A moment later, YuWon brought out a sword and pointed it directly at Seok's head.

"You love your father, but does he love you?" YuWon said coldly, "If he does, he'll confess the truth. Won't you, beloved stepfather?"

However, even with the sword aimed at him, Seok didn't speak a word.

"I knew you wouldn't," YuWon said, looking at Yeji. "That's why I wanted to do this."

Without another word, YuWon snapped his fingers. The slave brand around Yeji's neck flared up. Yeji's eyes widened in shock, and she immediately let go of YuWon's leg.

A second later, her body convulsed, and she fell to the ground, whimpering in pain. Seok averted his eyes, unable to watch, but he couldn't ignore his daughter's, and soon he couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop!" Seok yelled. "Yes! I was the one behind it all!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yeji stopped convulsing. Slowly, she stood up, her body steady, as if nothing had happened.

Seok's eyes widened as Yeji stared at him. There wasn't a hint of pain in her. She was completely fine. Only then did Seok realize Yeji had pretended to be in pain and tricked him into confessing.

YuWon's face turned expressionless. Then he felt his heart stop for a moment. He had always believed that his father had abandoned them, leaving for America, and never returned. But if that was the case, then what did Seok mean?

"What did you do?" YuWon growled, his fists shaking with rage.

"Do I need to spell it out for you?" Seok grinned like a madman.

Min-Ji gasped as all colors were drained from her face. Like YuWon, she too believed that her husband had simply left them. After all, that's what it said in the letter he had left behind.

But now she fell to her knees, clutching her chest as if she had been struck by a physical blow.

"I got him killed!" Seok laughed. "I killed him because that bastard stole Min-Ji from me! That bastard knew I loved her, yet he took her from me. How could I let it go?"

He continued, "So I did what any lover would. I waited for my turn and slowly manipulated for his business to fail. Then I lured him in, dangling the carrot of an investment before him."

"He came to discuss the terms of collaboration, only to be drugged and kidnapped! I will never forget his screams, as I had him tortured and killed."

YuWon was too stunned the speak. The father he had hated for leaving him behind had never left. But was... killed by Seok. However, the bastard wasn't done yet. YuWon wanted to know the truth, so Seok would tell him everything.

"I paid some men to do it," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "They tortured him for days before dumping his body in the sea. No one ever found him."

He turned to look at Min-Ji, who was staring at him with hatred. "And those letters you got? The ones saying he left for America? I wrote those. It was so easy to get someone to copy Jihno's handwriting."

As Min-Ji glared at him, Seok couldn't help but take another jab.

"Seeing Min-Ji curse his name while she was with me was the best revenge ever. She kept blaming him for leaving her, not knowing her name was the last thing Jihno spoke... It was the best feeling."

Min-Ji covered her ears, not wanting to hear anymore. The man she had loved, the father of her child... he hadn't abandoned them. He had been murdered, and all these years, she had cursed him, never knowing the truth.