Chapter Fifteen - Where Is She? (Part 1)

Chapter Song Suggestion - "Hurt People by Two Feet ft Madison Love"

— Kang Dae

Something's wrong.

Aera won't answer my calls. My texts remain unread. And it's been three days.

The last time we met, we happily made a promise to spend our final weekend at Jeju Island. But now she's ghosting me, and she hasn't been home too. I checked. Something must have happened. Have I done something wrong?

Pent-up frustration claws my insides. Where is she?!

My phone rings and I answer at once. "Aera, is that you?"

"No." Mun Hee snaps frostily, colder than the Arctic. "It's your wife."

"What do you want?" I snarl, not in the mood for any of her antics.

"Have you forgotten about our son? Yun Kang-Dae!" She shouts on the other line. "It's fine if you hate me, but Ji-Hoon is waiting for you to pick him up from school. Don't tell me you forgot your promise to spend the next three days with him." Venom seeps into her voice. "You've been acting strange lately, and your father has been asking questions. You better get your act straight, Kang-Dae. If this Aera woman is responsible for your bad behavior of late, then you better fix it. I won't tolerate it." CLICK! She hangs up.

My temper skyrockets and my phone smashes into the wall. "Fucking bitch!"

Joo Mun Hee is the bane of my existence, a barb I can never get rid of. Once upon a time, I married her for her family's connections and to get my father off my back. It secured my spot as the company's President, and treacherous snakes like my power-hungry cousins are put in their place. Until the next election in two years, my throne will never be usurped.

I jab impatiently at the intercom button. "Secretary Park, I need you to pick my son up and take him to my town house. He'll be staying with me for the next three days. And get me a new phone immediately."

"Understood, sir."

Pacing back and forth, I teeter on the edge of restlessness, my mind a chaotic mess. I'm fucking miserable. I can't eat, I can't sleep and I damn well can't concentrate at work. Aera's fucked me up and I need to know what I've done wrong. The last time I felt this tied up in knots was when I fought hard to become the President of Yun International Group.

This can't go on. Swiping my coat off the rack, I decide to pay Aera's friend a visit.

The lounge is relatively full for a weekday night. I wend my way to the bar, rapping on the counter for the bartender's attention.

"What can I get you, sir?" The bartender walks over.

"I want to see the owner of this lounge." I demand in a clipped manner. "Cho Nari, where is she?"

The young man visibly tenses. "Umm, I'm afraid she's not in-"

I fist his shirt, yanking him over the bar roughly. My tone is a blade of whispered warning. "I'm not going to ask again. I want to see her. Now."

He swallows anxiously, hands in the air. "A-alright, I'll go get her." Releasing him with a shove, he scurries around the bar and disappears to the back room.

Three minutes later, the sound of heels clicking against the floorboard notifies me that she's here. In a haughty tone, she announces. "I don't care who you are sir but it's poor form to browbeat my employee the way you did. State your business, and if I don't like it, I'm calling security."

I turn to fully face her.

Momentary surprise crosses her features, but she's quick to conceal it. She's going to be a tough nut to crack. "President Kang."

"I want to know where your friend Aera is."

In a split second, pure rage contorts her beauty and her slight frame pounces at me, claws primed to draw blood. "It's you! You're the one responsible for Aera's condition!"

I deftly evade, imprisoning her flying hand. Concern fills me at the notion that Aera might be sick. "I'm not here to fight with you." I grate out, my patience wearing thin. "Is Aera ill? I need to see her."

"No, you don't, you bastard!" She growls, struggling to pull free. "I don't know what the fuck happened between the two of you, but I've never seen Aera like this. What did you do?"

Brows drawn, I am genuinely puzzled. "That's what I'd like to find out. I don't know what's wrong. She won't answer my calls or reply my texts. The last time we met, Aera was fine."

Cho Nari pulls an expression, telling me she's putting two and two together. Her red lips flatten. "Are you seeing each other?"

"Yes."

She squeezes her eyes shut for a few heartbeats. "Damn it! I can't believe she kept this from me. If she wasn't so sick, I'll beat her ass for it."

I frown, grip tightening enough for the woman to wince. "How sick is she? Tell me where she is!"

"You're a smart man." She bares her fangs at me when I jostle her. "The fact that she ghosted you means she doesn't want to see you. Period."

"No!" I almost shouted, mindful that we're in public and everybody's watching us. "I need to talk to her. I can't let it end like this."

"Can't let what end?" Her lips pull back in nasty sneer. "Your little affair? Did you have fun playing with my best friend's feelings, huh, President Kang? Does it boost your tiny ego to have a woman play to your tune?" Her other fist comes flying. "Does your wife know? You're despicable!"