Reborn: The Unexpected Twist

Garnering up all of her courage, Jinhee pressed the call sign beside name Han Taeho, and nervousness brewed within her. 

As the call was picked up, Jinhee questioned, "Do you have free time today?"

"Jinhee?" 

Jinhee's eyes widened due to surprise when she realized Taehee responded to her from the other side. 

Removing the phone from her ear, Jinhee looked through the screen in order to see whether or not she mistakenly called Han Taehee.

However, seeing 'Han Taeho' written in bold, black letters, Jinhee questioned, "Where is Han Taeho?"

A nervous chuckle left Taehee's mouth.

"Taeho, uhm...He is busy currently, and I'll tell him to call you once he is not."

"Alright then," Jinhee replied as she hung up the call.

Hearing no more words from Taehee made Jinhee feel empty in a way, and this left her wondering on why she felt that way.

'I'm happy that Taehee stopped annoying me after we've reached South Korea. Aren't I?'

°°°

Sitting on the couch, Jinhee looked around the entire office. It was neatly organized, and everything was coloured in neutral shades.

Being a CEO of such a big group at the mere age of seventeen was an extremely hard task and not something everyone can handle.

Han Taeho was truly admirable in this aspect! 

Han Group was the current leading group in the entire South Korea and made profits beyond the numbers Jinhee could imagine.

The door opened, revealing a teen, masked man. Nonchalance was shown on his face, and the mature look worn by him made it hard for others to guess his actual age.

"I apologize; The meeting went on longer than I expected," Taeho politely voiced out as he closed the door behind him. His assistant, who was following him, stayed back.

"Coffee or tea or something else?" Taeho questioned.

Removing his coat, he placed it on the back pillows of the couch and took a seat on the coach facing Jinhee. Staring at him with expressionless eyes, Jinhee shook her head.

"I don't need anything," Jinhee answered, "Before I can come up with a definite answer, I want to hear your entire story. How were you reborn?"

A deep and distant indecipherable look appeared in Taeho eyes whilst he let out a sigh. Jinhee's sight turned sharper, trying to scan all the emotions that crossed over his face. 

"After your death, I went over to Jinkyung's apartment to let her know of the news. However, before I could open the door to her bedroom, I heard her talking inside loudly with someone.

When I heard my name, I halted. Listening into her conversation, I heard her calling me a big fool, something that I really am. 

For her, I was a discardable waste after your death. I had no use to her anymore. That's what she said, and seeing this side of hers, I did not want to believe it.

That sweet and innocent Jinkyung of mine never existed. Like a coward, I ran away from there. 

Never did she ask me to directly ruin all of you; It was me who took the final decision for everything. 

In the end, Jinkyung wanted to hand all this information on me to the police so that she can get rid of me. What a joke I was the entire time to her!

When Jinkyung cried her heart to me a week that her grandfather Dowon mistreated her and abused her, showing some bruises along with it, I was angered and wanted to destroy him.

Although I never planned on killing him and rather paralyze him for life, that did not happen. When I let Jinkyung of this matter, she cried and was afraid. I comforted her, saying that I'll be taking the blame for entire matter.

In Hyunki's case, Jinkyung once again cried to me on how she was forced by him to draw designs for him, and using her designs, he gained popularity. If she was to reject him, he beat her up.

I believed her then too, just like a fool. Enraged, I paralyzed him for life. I destroyed his life entirely. Guilt— I didn't feel it at that time," Taeho voiced out. 

The regret— Jinhee could perfectly see it in his eyes now. She did feel pity for him to some extent, but that did not mean she was anywhere close to having a soft spot for him.

"What about me?" Jinhee questioned whilst she tried to control the overwhelming emotions that came over her.

"When it came to you, Jinkyung once again came to my apartment, and her complexion was pale. Her body lost a couple of weight, and it seemed that she hadn't slept for ages.

When I asked her what happened, she used the similar excuse again. You bullied and abused her, and few marks on her body was enough to convince me.

I went mad with fury and, hastily, drived out of my house to search for you. That time, you stood before my car. 

All I saw was red, and before I could process what I was doing, I ran the car over you. Without turning back, I continued to drive forward."

Trying to absorb everything Taeho informed her on, she tightly gripped the material of the couch and sucked in the warm air.

Nonetheless, she was not going to be a coward and run away this time. She was going to face Han Taeho, instead of hiding.

Closing her eyes, Jinhee bit her lips hard and bought all of her emotions into control. She could not let herself show a speck of emotion.

'Lee Jinhee, be strong! You know that you can do it!'

"Then?" Jinhee questioned as she opened her eyes. Her eyes were blank as if Taeho's words had no affect on her.