Chapter 173 - Freedom

The smile on Eun-sun's face didn't fade till this morning. For the first time in ten years, she felt happy, safe, and accepted and valued. She looked at Dan-Han who had a serious look on his face as he spoke to secretary Chang-wok who had come to the hospital with a few documents to sign and also to inform him about his schedule.

"Clear my schedule till 10 pm, and after 6 pm" He ordered.

"Yes sir" Secretary Chang-wok replied before looking at Eun-sun.

"Ms Park, are you getting better?" He asked with concern, while Eun-sun nodded, "Yes thank you" She replied with a smile.

Dan-Han lifted his eyes to look at Eun-sun and as expected she was smiling at him. Why was she always smiling at everybody except him? Well, she had smiled at him last night even hugged him, but she should do it more often.

"Wait outside" He ordered.

"Yes Sir," Secretary Chang-wok said before stepping out of the office.

Eun-sun looked at him with disbelief. She understood what he had done.

"You should stop smiling at other men," Dan-Han said with a cold tone as he continued signing the documents. Eun-sun shook her head and looked away from him.

Was there anyone as possessive as he was? She didn't think so.

Soon Dan-Han reluctantly agreed for Jae-Hyun to discharge Eun-sun. Jae-Hyun knew Dan-Han's worries weren't baseless. He had experienced a lot to make him this cautious.

"She'll be fine" Jae-Hyun assured him for the umpteenth time.

Eun-sun walked to the bathroom and got herself ready, Hei-Ran had brought some clothes for her last night, so I get quickly changed out of the hospital gown.

Dan-Han didn't miss the smile in Eun-sun's eyes when she finally got discharged. She was that ecstatic to leave right? He left with Jae-Hyun to go sign the discharge papers, so she could have her freedom.

A few minutes later, they were both ready to leave. Dan-Han had just opened the door for her when someone appeared in front of the room.

Dan-Han's brows furrowed when he looked at him.

"In-Ha you're here?" Eun-sun called out in surprise, a smile breaking on her face at the sight of her friend. Doctor Jae-Hyun had chased him away yesterday.

"What do you mean by I'm here? Don't tell me you don't want to see me?" In-Ha asked with an accusing tone.

"Ermm–"

"In-Ha, what are you doing here?" Dan-Han asked interjecting Eun-sun.

In-Ha looked at him with a contemplative look in his eyes. He looked at the man in front of him. With the way, he was looking quite dishevelled, unlike the usual Lee Dan-Han which everyone knew. Giving the fact that he hadn't been home in the last two nights since Eun-sun was admitted in the hospital In-Ha was almost tempted to assume something was going on with Dan-Han. He was suspicious of his recent attitude.

No! He didn't want to assume things.

"You know I have to say I'm more surprised to see you here" In-Ha replied not bothering to reply Dan-Han's question. He looked at Eun-sun who was looking at Dan-Han's face with so much intent, forgetting about his presence. He cleared his throat to gain her attention.

Eun-sun snapped her head to look back at In-Ha. She bit her lips when she realized she had just be caught gawking at Dan-Han, who had that look whenever there was a man around her. She had noticed it last night and she simply wanted to confirm it again.

"Are you leaving now? Did you get discharged?" He curiously asked.

"Yes," She replied with a nod. He turned to Dan-Han and asked, "Can I take her home?"

Eun-sun looked at Dan-Han the moment In-Ha asked him that. She had a feeling Dan-Han wasn't going to agree to that, and as expected he said, "No"

"Why?" In-Ha stubbornly asked. Dan-Han looked at him with his usual stoic look.

"It seems you have a lot of time on your hands. Maybe a bit of fluctuation on the price of your company shares will keep you busy" He threatened cooly. In-Ha's eyes almost fell from his socket.

"Dan-Han you're just a bully. Stop bullying me like that, I'm your friend!" In-Ha told him before turning to Eun-sun, "Pumpkin, don't stay too close to this man. He's evil" In-Ha warned dramatically making Eun-sun chuckle. If there was one thing she liked about In-Ha it was bubbly spirit unlike the cold man beside her.

Dan-Han glared at him before pulling her hand and dragging away.

"Hey! Lee Dan-Han!" In-Ha called as he tried to catch up, but Dan-Han pulled Eun-sun into the elevator before In-Ha could reach them.

Dan-Han led Eun-sun to the car and opened the door for her to step in before rounding the car to the other side.

He leaned towards her and buckled her seatbelt. Eun-sun froze when Dan-Han leaned towards her like that. Their bodies were practically touching, and it brought back the memory of them hugging last night. Her cheeks began to feel warm as she thought about the way she had hugged him, how nice he smelt and how warm he felt. She took a whiff of his hair and as expected it smelled nice too.

Dan-Han turned to look at her, "You should keep –" He slurred when he noticed her red face.

"Are you cold?" He anxiously asked.

"No" She replied, shaking vigorously shaking her head.

"Then why is your face red?" He asked pointing his chin towards her red face. Eun-sun's face reddened more when she realized he had noticed her flushed cheek.

Turning her face towards the window, she replied, "Nothing"

Dan-Han looked at her sceptically before turning on the ignition. He looked at the rearview mirror and he saw In-Ha approaching them.

His lips curled upward when he notice he was about to knock on the window, he waited till In-Ha touched the car and at that very second Dan-Han floored the pedals and zoomed off. In-Ha almost lost his bearing.

"Damn you, Lee! Damn you" In-Ha cussed angrily.

Dan-Han chuckled when he looked at him from the rearview mirror.

Eun-sun who had noticed his childish action, couldn't help but shake her head.

'This guy is just too crazy' She reasoned to herself.

.....

Eun-sun's and Hei-Ran's apartment

Dan-Han had only stopped in front of the apartment when In-Ha pulled over. He rolled his eyes inwardly when he saw him approaching with a gloomy look on his face.

"You could have broken my arm!" In-Ha yelled as he approached Dan-Han who was carrying Eun-sun's bag from the back seat.

Dan-Han turned to look at the hand he was complaining about, "You look just fine to me" Dan-Han said nonchalantly.

"What?" He was about to say something else when Eun-sun stepped out of Dan-Han's car. He glared at Dan-Han before sauntering over to Eun-sun.

"Come let me help you" He offered.

"No, I'm fine. I can walk " She wasn't hit by a car, neither did she hit her head somewhere or break her leg, but Dan-Han has been treating her like an egg he didn't want to fall, and now In-Ha wants to attach himself to the list.

"Are you sure?" He inquired. Eun-sun nodded her head to assure him she was fine. She had only been drugged and had sustained a small cut on her calf so she was perfectly okay.

Dan-Han observed the way In-Ha was acting towards Eun-sun, he couldn't help but notice the way he looked at her when she spoke. He understood In-Ha most and he was more than convinced In-Ha was falling for her without realizing it.

Him being at the hospital with a woman was just as a rare In-Ha doing the same. He has been with In-Ha since childhood so he could see the changes in his friend.

One thing was certain, there was going to be trouble when In-Ha realizes his feeling for her.

"Come on, let's go," Dan-Han said from where he stood.

Eun-sun nodded her head and turned to leave while In-Ha followed suit.

*********

In a regal mansion in country Y, a middle-aged man was sitting in his private study when his phone rang. His face turned gloomy when he saw the number calling him. It was one of his subordinates.

"Boss" The person greeted from the other side of the phone.

"What?" The man replied in a very cold tone.

"Sir someone is looking for the young miss" The guy reported.

"Who?"

"We've not been able to find out–"

"Then why are you calling me?" He drawled.

"You said we should call to inform you if anyone tries to look for her"

"You're just useless" The man hissed, annoyed.

"Find out who that person is, you know what to do after that" The man instructed.

"Yes boss"

"Make sure no one finds out about her" He ordered before disconnecting the call. The look on his face turned dark after the call. He didn't like the sound of this at all. He has been protecting this secret for the past twenty-five years and he was going to keep doing so.