Pay With Your Heart

Eun-Sun arrived at the field quite earlier than most people. She found a few people trying to set up the place before the medical team – which were to conduct the free medical check-up, arrived – amongst other things.

She willingly offered to help, and they let her even though they didn't want to. To them, she was part of the benefactors, and they could remember Mrs Lee addressing her as her daughter-in-law, so they didn't want her to work. But seeing the enthusiastic spirit she had, they let her.

Eun-Sun carried out the portion of work allocated to her, and in no time, she was done.

"The miss is hardworking." some of the locals said.

"And don't forget to add, humble. She's a humble one." Another added as they watched Eun-sun assist the others..

"Mrs Lee is blessed to have a daughter-in-law like her. Some of us are not so lucky." An older woman amongst them hissed, making the others look at her sympathetically. They knew why she sounded that way, but that was a topic for another.

While Eun-sun was busy working, she didn't notice the pair of eyes that had been staring at her. She was so engaged in helping that she didn't detect the presence of the others.

"You see, I'm being praised for having a great daughter." Mrs Lee taunted her husband before walking away to Eun-sun, with Soomin walking alongside her like a robot.

"Eun-Sun dear." Mrs Lee called, surprising Eun-sun when she turned to see them.

"Mother, Aunty." She bowed.

"You shouldn't be working too much. Dan-Han might not like it." Mrs Lee said as she removed the stuck sweat hair from Eun-sun's face.

"Thank you, mother, but Dan-Han wouldn't mind."

"And who said he wouldn't?" Mrs Lee tilted her chin at her. "Anyway, stop working too much."

"It's okay. I can-"

"No Eun-sun." She interrupted. "I wanted you to come here because I thought you could use this as a form of vacation. We've all been going through a lot lately. And later this evening, you and I will have some mother-daughter time, okay?" She said while Eun-sun could only nod her head.

"Good girl. Now, why don't you take Soomin around to see the fields? I'll get someone to guide you." Mrs Lee said while Eun-sun turned to look at the woman who was still giving her that awkward gaze. She thought she would at least stop today, but it appears not.

She bowed to Mrs Lee before approaching Soomin. Mrs Lee beckoned on someone to show them around.

Eun-Sun was about to leave when she saw Father Lee approaching. She paused as she stood in front of the man. Quickly bowing to him, she greeted, "Good morning, sir."

"Mmm," He nodded before glancing at Soomin.

"Going for a walk?" He asked.

"Huh?" Eun-sun muttered in surprise. Was he talking to her? Did he just ask her a question, and with such a tone at that?

Her eyes blinked at the surprise of Father Lee talking to her. She shouldn't be that surprised, right? But she couldn't help it. The man has never been nice to her. He has always shown his animosity towards her, but she has noticed slight changes in him since yesterday. He had replied her greetings, and now he was talking to her, and politely at that?

Mr Lee's lips twitched when he saw the surprised look on her face, and that stunned Eun-sun even more, but she quickly regained herself and nodded, "Yes, we are." She replied.

"Good." The man replied.

Okay, something was wrong! Did he get brain surgery? Or did he forget that he disliked her for his son? Eun-Sun couldn't help but stare at the man. Questions and confusion were swirling in her eyes.

"You should go." He said, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Okay, sir." She nodded before holding onto Soomin.

Eun-Sun had only turned to leave when she heard him call her name.

"Eun-Sun," She turned to look at him again, hoping it wouldn't be like last night when he just turned around and left. She waited for a few more seconds before he opened his mouth and said, "Well done." before walking away, leaving a stunned Eun-sun behind.

What was really happening?

...

Dan-Han's Hotel Room.

Dan-Han watched the footage over and over again. His brain was desperately trying to remember where he had seen the tattoo marked on the men's forearm in the footage.

He could swear he had seen it before, but where?

He watched as they chased the woman around the airport. The woman was Soomin.

She was heavily pregnant, and she seemed to be running for her life. She looked very lean and battered for a pregnant woman, almost as if she was being starved. A loose rope was hanging over her hand like she had been bound.

Her footprint left bloodstains on the floor. It was obvious her feet were bleeding, but she kept running, her hand firmly wrapped around the big baby bump sitting on her stomach in a protective manner. Dan-Han couldn't imagine the pain she must have been enduring at the time.

A pregnant woman running away from heavily built and agile men? She was bound never to make it.

One of the men caught her by her hair and pulled her backwards, making her fall. There was no audio, but Dan-Han could see the way she screamed, but despite the fall, she still protected her baby bump by landing on her head. Blood began to slip out of her head, and he could tell she was unconscious. The men immediately bagged her, leaving a small space for her breath before carrying her away. It seemed they needed her alive.

But one of the men who looked like their leader answered a call, all the while bowing to the person speaking over the phone.

Dan-Han could not believe what he had just seen. That woman...she must have endured a lot. He thought.

There was no wonder she looked the way she did. But who were those people who had captured her? What business did they have with her? And were they the ones who took her baby?

But despite all the questions blaring through his head, there was just one that was mind-boggling. It was something he found strange throughout the video. The airport. Why was it empty?

If this was what he was thinking, then whoever was behind this had a lot of power and influence.

But who could they be?

Dan-Han picked up his phone and called Tae-Ho.

"Boss."

"Bring the leader to me." He ordered.

.....

A/N: Hi, guys!

Please I want to ask for a favour. Please vote my book, 'THE WRONG BRIDE!' currently participating in the WPC #221 contest.

Thanks a lot.