Chapter 325 - The Beginning of the End (7)

The following day, all the newspapers were rife with Somi and Hyun Jung's engagement,shocking the world. 

"Nation's True Love is Engaged!" one newspaper wrote. "Set to marry her commoner boyfriend."

The whole country was rocked by the news. Only months ago, the Nation's Idol had gotten married and now the Nation's True Love was also off the market.

"I can't believe she's actually getting married!" one use wrote.

"Is he after her money?"

"The guy is so lucky! I bet he's a golddigger!"

"I heard he's a cop."

"She must be desperate to get married!"

"You guys should back off and let her be happy!"

"Somi deserves all the happiness and she seems to be happy with him!"

Even the news channels were more interested in Somi's love life than other news. All the reporters were commenting on the impact it would have on her career and how she was 'over'.

"Who do you think will replace her as Nation's True Love?" one reporter asked on a talk show.

"I don't know but I think Goo Aera will make an excellent choice," another reporter claimed. "She's pretty, young and very talented. The audience will love her."

"Somi will lose many endors.e.m.e.nts too since she'll be getting married," another reporter opined. "Married actresses have no commercial value."

Somi turned off the television. She was in her office with Mirae and KJ, who were looking at her with apprehension but to their surprise, Somi shrugged it off.

"You don't seem to be worried about this news," Mirae snickered.

"I've thought a lot after saying yes to Hyun Jung," Somi replied. "And he was right. The people I've been worrying about did not think twice before casting me aside. So why should I care about what they think of my relationship or my past? If my marriage to Hyun Jung bothers them this much, then screw them! I'll keep working for the little number of real fans I still have."

After accepting Hyun Jung's proposal and finding out that she was accepted by his mother despite her past, she was more carefree. Mirae was happy to see that her old friend was returning as Somi was now more assertive. She was concentrating on her new role as the PR director of Mystic Entertainment, something which Somi surprisingly enjoyed.

"Once you let go of that fear, life does become easier," KJ agreed. "We need some good news anyway in the midst of all the stuff that's been happening…"

The danger hovering over them was inching closer everyday. There were only two days left to the party and they had gone over their plans several times. Everything was set in motion and yet, KJ could not help but feel that something was going to go wrong.

Mirae, who could read his worries, patted his shoulder. "KJ, nothing will happen to us," she said firmly. "We'll make it through the crisis."

"I hope so," he sighed. Based on Songil's words, they had formulated a plan but would it work? Will the Cartel fall for it? And what about Ash? What was he up to?

"Just relax," Mirae assured him. "Sunye told me that she had put SD in charge of gathering information and she also closed all the loopholes so that he can't betray us. Besides, SD agreed that he won't share any information about you or Abyss to anyone else. And he keeps his word."

"How much do you really trust him?" Somi asked.

"I don't," Mirae admitted. "But he's our best bet right now and we have to work with it."

"If he betrays us, then it's going to create a whole new mess," KJ muttered. What was SD doing?

….

Sunye winced at the man in front of her. SD was slurping hungrily on the ramen like a starving lion.

"What is the matter with you?" she snapped. "Did you call me here to watch you eat?"

She was in the middle of a hearing when he texted her to meet him up at a shady ramen shop for lunch. As much as she wanted to ignore him, it was hard because he was the one collecting all the intel on the Cartel. They needed him.

SD ignored her jibe and put down his empty ramen bowl before turning around to yell, "Ahjumma! Two more bowls please!"

"Why are you eating so much?" she frowned. "This is so unlike you."

"Haven't eaten in two days," he muttered as he slurped on the remaining ramen.

"Why?"

"I was busy collecting the intel you asked for," he revealed. Sunye was taken aback by his gesture. He did not eat because he was working on her request?

"I told you to collect information!" she snapped. "Not to starve yourself!"

"It was a request from you," he shrugged. "I put my heart and soul into it."

Sunye rolled her eyes. She knew very well how shallow his heart was and yet, somewhere in her heart, she was pleased that he was working hard for her.

"What did you find?" she asked.

SD sighed and buried his head in his hands as if trying not to remember something unpleasant.

"Nothing," he finally admitted. "Nothing at all!"

He was angry at himself. For the first time in his life, he failed to find information that too something Sunye had asked for! This was killing him inside.

Even Sunye was surprised. SD failed at finding information? Impossible!

"That can't be true," she said, shaking her head. 

"It is," he gritted bitterly. "The Cartel has been quiet. After that meeting with your spy, they have been awfully silent. Even their illegal businesses were shut down and everyone was sent away!"

"No way!"

Sunye bit her lip, worried at the news. The Cartel was silent? What were they doing? 

"There must be some way you can find information on the President," she urged. "Anything!"

SD thought for a moment. "They are definitely going to strike on the day of the party," he stated. 

"Yes."

"Then," he leaned forward. "There might be one way I can gather the intel we need. But if we use my way, then we'll have very little time."

Sunye was in a dilemma. Should she listen to SD? But what if they did not get the intel?

"What's your plan?" she finally asked.

SD sat back and grinned, narrating his idea to her. When he was done, he added, "Just remember this.Once we succeed in getting the information, we might not get enough time to warn the others. Are you willing to take the risk?"

Sunye was in a fix. But she could see no other way. 

"Fine," she agreed. "We'll do it your way."