Moment of clarity pt.2

A/N:

To my patient readers, I'm sorry for being mia lately. I'm quite busy on 2x2 comeback content.

Just in case you're unaware, txt's new mini album-The Name Chapter: Temptation will drop on January.

Preorders are ongoing and Beomgyu's C-Bars already sold 20k in just 4 days compared to the last cb.

And I'm truly sorry if there's inconsistency or weird phrasings. I sometimes get double vision or distracted that I forget to edit certain chapters. I'll make sure to do so as soon as I finish the book.

Thank you for understanding.

~

Beomgyu's pov

We arrived at the hotel I usually spend my birthdays, just around two hours later using a helicopter.

My mom greeted the male receptionist who welcomed us at the rooftop and lead the way down to the ground floor using the newly replaced elevator and guided us to the office.

"You all can leave now." My mom ordered the staffs and gestured on her personal bodyguard to open the file at a specific timeline in the laptop on the treated wooden desk.

"Huh? Isn't this my birthday party?" I said as I watched the guests pour in from the main entrance and I was busy welcoming my classmates.

"Yes."

"But Cass never came." I got confused because the clips I'm seeing still couldn't explain anything.

"That's what you thought."

She ordered the guy sitting on a swivel chair at my left to fast forward around the time the most popular singer at my school came and the security camera by the entrance showed a person wearing grey suits and with the bowlers hat, I thought the guest was a guy at first.

"Wait, is that Cassandra?" My eyes squinted to make sure I'm not hallucinating.

She was carrying a gig bag and sat on the lounge like a lost puppy yet here I was, picking a one sided fight on her at the phone the next day for ditching my birthday and held a grudge for years ever since.

I still can't even explain why I was that upset. It didn't help how she went mia on me that time too so we never settled the rift.

Come to think of it I was being an idiot who got totally disappointed at something trivial. I just kept on leaving rude voicemails which are all unanswered and pissed me even more.

All because I discovered my own father's secret and their relation to it. I mentally sighed. No wonder Soobin was so angry at the mere sight of me.

"What happened to her hair?" I asked despite the absurdity of it. Her long hair was always styled differently and it made me get used to the creativity.

"It appears that she had an accident prior." She heavily sighed and sat on the swivel chair. "She had been working since then."

"Working?" I raised a brow at her. "She's like twelve."

"Thirteen to be exact but I want you to know that it still breaks my heart at how young these siblings are being exposed to this kind of life."

"Unbelievable! You mean she's already doing shady stuff back then?" I brushed my palms over my face in shock.

"It's not what you think."

"Yeah right." I sneered and thought she'd be triggered since I'm being rude.

"Technically, the job was different back then."

"Don't tell me you were involved?"

"Of course not."

I heaved a sigh of relief. "Thanks but no thanks to their greedy dad I guess?"

"Believe it or not he doesn't want this either. He just trained them to be able to protect themselves because of his bad reputation."

"Huh? W-wait," I unconsciously spouted after seeing Cass stand up and left without even greeting me a yard away. I cleared my throat in embarrassment and asked her to continue playing.

I swallowed a lump in my throat as the camera caught her walking further, till a van stopped across and took her away.

"What the fuck…" My heart sank at the lack of response from the guards. "Why isn't anyone helping her?"

"The guards said they were forced to control the crowd because of Lee Ji."

I was about to snap but hearing a very good reason got me speechless instead.

"Her family managed to find her not long after."

"Is that why she's got marks on her body?"

"Not all. Some are from her training."

"You mean there are other times she got injured? That's crazy!"

"I've told her time and time again she doesn't need to work that hard but she always say that all her efforts are for their clan's sake."

I can only shake my head in disbelief.

Mi Young doing all sorts of stuff against my will despite the fact that it feels good made me hate myself and still get nightmares from that horrible experience, yet here she is, openly welcoming hardships that could get her killed one day.

"Now, do you understand why we wanted you to marry her?" She said while walking towards the wide, glass windows and stared at the sea of buildings, big or small. "She's too broken. Physically and mentally. You just don't see it because she's quite a fighter. At this rate, no one will accept her but you."

"This is so unfair." I brushed all my fingers over my hair in frustration. "I pictured myself to be spending my lifetime with a woman I love."

"Son, in reality you don't end up with the person you really like. Opposites attract. And besides, don't you like her?"

"A lifetime decision yet I'm being forced to agree to it." I completely ignored the part where she sent me a meaningful stare as if she's telling me that she knows my secret. "I thought you were on my side?"

"I was but look at what it got us." She approached the desk and pulled a pile of papers from the third lowest drawer. "Sign it Beomie. I would die peacefully knowing you are in good hands."