Chapter 347: Lee Hyung-Moon (1)

Chapter 347: Lee Hyung-Moon (1)

We arrived at the parking lot of Seven Star Hospital located in Gangbuk.

I helped Haru put on a hoodie, a baseball cap, and a mask. Because of the incident at the Table of Mukbang finals where his lost mother appeared, Haru became the most talked-about person in Korea.

As such, we had no choice but to disguise him to avoid causing a scene at the hospital.

"Even though your mom's memory is back, it's not completely restored yet. So don't be too surprised when you see her," I explained.

Haru nodded. "Yes, I understand."

I explained everything that had happened to Natalia on the way to the hospital, and Haru handled it calmly.

"Wait a moment. I need to make a quick call."

When I called Kim Chul-Soo, he informed me that Natalia had been moved from the emergency room to a VIP room.

-She's in VIP Room 1101. We couldn't put her in a general room considering Mr. Haru's situation.

"Oh, then we'll take care of the hospital bills—"

Just then, Haru interrupted beside me. "Hyung, let me pay. Please, let me do this."

Haru never bought anything for himself, but he held out his card and insisted on covering the over 1 million won per night cost of the VIP room for his mom.

Nonetheless, Kim Chul-Soo responded first.

-I've already paid for it. Don't worry and you can just come up right away.

Kim Chul-Soo ended the call, saying it was no trouble.

Haru tilted his head and asked, "Hyung, who is this Dr. Kim?"

Although I had a general idea, I only told Haru what I knew to avoid giving him any preconceived notions.

"He's the one who's been taking care of your mom for the past five years."

Haru paused for a moment. "He's a good person...I owe him."

Haru's voice was filled with complex emotions.

"Come on, let's just think about your mom for now and go see her."

I got out of the car first and guided Haru while shielding him as we moved through the VIP entrance.

***

VIP Room 1101 was over 50 pyeong in size.

Haru's mother was lying on the bed and resting after receiving a sedative.

A doctor and two nurses were monitoring Natalia's condition, while Kim Chul-Soo stood nearby and watched over her with a worried expression.

Seeing his mother's pale face, Haru, who had remained composed until now, started to tear up again. "Mom..."

At that moment, Doctor Choi Ill-Joon gently patted Haru's back. "Mr. Haru, your mom will wake up soon after she finishes the IV drip. So don't worry too much."

Haru nodded with tears streaming down his face.

Kim Chul-Soo stepped aside and said, "Haru, take a seat here."

Haru thanked him and sat down on the stool next to the bed. He held his mother's hand tightly and stared at her closed eyes.

When the IV bag was nearly empty, Natalia let out a faint moan. "Ugh..."

Haru instinctively cried out, "Mom, are you okay?"

Hearing her son's voice, Natalia struggled to open her eyes.

At that moment, tears began to pour from her eyes as if a faucet had been turned on.

The VIP nurse rushed over to wipe Natalia's tears and adjusted the electric bed.

With a soft whirring sound, the backrest of the bed slowly rose to a vertical position.

Natalia tried to speak. "Aah... Aah..."

However, the nurse intervened. "Please don't force yourself. Take it slow."

Haru held his mother's hand tightly and said, "Mom, I'm okay. Just take your time... slowly."

Natalia gently caressed her son's cheek and struggled to speak. "H-Haru... I'm... really, really... sorry..."

"No, Mom. I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have found you sooner... I didn't know you were going through so much while I...I..."

"No, if I hadn't left the house like that..."

Overcome with emotion, Haru couldn't hold back any longer and hugged his mother tightly. He let out all the feelings he had been holding back and cried out loudly. "Mom... I missed you! I missed you so, so much! Mom!"

Haru's tearful voice filled the room.

At the same time, Natalia burst into tears and released everything she had held in. "Yes... I missed you too..."

Kim Chul-Soo, the medical staff, and I turned away to give them some privacy.

***

A little while later, Haru barely managed to calm down and held Natalia's hand. "Mom, do you remember everything now?"

"Some things are still a bit hazy, but I remember everything about you."

"Even my birthday?"

"Of course. It's November 1st. And I'm sorry for leaving you alone for so long. I wanted to bring you back sooner, but it didn't work out."

"Don't worry. I won't let him lay a hand on you or your mom," I assured Haru.

"Yes, hyung."

Just then, a rough voice came from outside the room.

-Let me go! Let go of me! Who are you to stop me from seeing my wife and kid!?

'Speak of the devil,' I thought.

"Let him in."

When I signaled the guards posted at the VIP room entrance, they opened the door.

"Let him through."

As the security guards outside the room stepped aside, the fuming Lee Hyung-Moon stormed in.

"How dare you! Who gave you the right to slap a restraining order on me?"

Lee Hyung-Moon was holding the restraining order in his hand, waving it around angrily.

"Don't you understand what a restraining order is, Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon?"

Lee Hyung-Moon strode up to me, standing nose to nose. I could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath.

"You think this piece of paper can stop me? You're messing with the wrong guy!"

Seething with anger, Lee Hyung-Moon looked past me and shouted at Natalia and Haru. "Oh, so the runaway wife is here! And the ungrateful brat, too!"

Though Lee Hyung-Moon's vulgar threats filled the room, I let him continue without interference since we were recording everything.

Natalia held Haru's hand and responded firmly. "Go away. We have nothing to say to you!"

"Hah! Listen to her speak! Where do you get off talking like that to her husband? Hey, you want to die?"

Lee Hyung-Moon tried to lunge toward the two, but I stepped in and blocked him before he could get any closer.

"Get out of my way! Who do you think you are to stop me?" he yelled.

I warned him, "You should leave while you can—unless you want things to get ugly."

Lee Hyung-Moon snorted. "Ugly? The only one who'll get hurt here is you!"

Then, he turned to Haru and shouted. "Hey! Lee Haru! Come over here right now! Break your contract with that worthless company! I've found a much better one for you!"

Haru stood his ground. "No! Who are you to tell me to break my contract?"

"Hey! I'm your guardian, you little brat! You think you're safe just because you haven't been hit for a while? Do you want to get beaten again?"

The moment Lee Hyung-Moon raised his hand out of habit, I instinctively grabbed his wrist. "Your bad habits haven't changed, have they, Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon? And I'm the one with guardianship now, not you. Did you forget about the contract?"

"That contract is void! And let go of me! I said, let go!"

Lee Hyung-Moon struggled to free his hand, but I didn't let go.

I called Yang Hyung-Sik immediately. "Mr. Yang. Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon is here at the hospital causing trouble."

-He's at the hospital despite the restraining order?

"Yes, and he's brought the order with him."

Yang Hyung-Sik responded coldly.

-I'll send an officer right away. They'll be there from the nearby precinct in three minutes. Please wait.

"Thank you, sir."

As soon as I hung up, Lee Hyung-Moon started thrashing around even more.

Then, I heard footsteps outside the room.

It seemed too soon for the police to arrive, and I realized it was none other than his lawyer: Kim Yong-Suk from KY Law Firm.

I released my grip on Lee Hyung-Moon's wrist and told the guard to open the door.

When the door opened, Kim Yong-Suk rushed in with a panicked expression. "Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon! What are you doing here?"

"What do you think I'm doing? I'm here to get my runaway wife back!"

"P-please, let's talk outside. Now!"

Kim Yong-Suk grabbed the still-furious Lee Hyung-Moon and dragged him toward the exit.

Kim Yong-Suk was the kind of person who could twist the situation and even use this as evidence that Lee hadn't violated the restraining order.

I couldn't let him get away with that and quickly added, "Mr. Lee, have you heard that Ms. Natalia plans to file for divorce?"

At that moment, Lee Hyung-Moon stopped in his tracks. "What did you say?"

Lee Hyung-Moon glared at Natalia. "Hey! Natalia! Is that true?"

Still holding Haru tightly, Natalia shouted back, "Yes. We're already over!"

Lee Hyung-Moon cursed. "Th-that bitch! Just because I haven't hit you in a few years, you think you can disrespect your husband?"

Enraged, Lee Hyung-Moon shoved Kim Yong-Suk's arm aside and charged at me. "This is all your fault, you bastard!"

Click.

Just then, the door to the hospital room swung open and the police officers I had been waiting for arrived.

'Perfect timing.'