Three days later.
Seoul National University Hospital.
Secure ward. Fourth floor.
The culprit lay cuffed to a bed.
Machines beeped rhythmically around him.
Monitoring vitals. Heart rate. Oxygen levels.
The poison had been flushed from his system.
Leaving him weak. Pale.
But alive.
Guards rotated shifts outside his door.
Police wanted him conscious.
Wanted answers.
But he hadn't spoken since waking up.
Just stared at the ceiling.
Waiting.
★☆★☆★☆
Late that night, the corridor was empty.
Visiting hours long over.
Only the distant sound of nurses at the station.
A figure approached.
Full scrubs. Surgical mask. Cap covering hair.
Gloved hands carried a clipboard.
The guard glanced up.
"Shift change already?"
The nurse nodded.
Voice muffled behind the mask.
"Vital check. Won't be long."
He waved her through.
She entered the room.
The door clicked shut behind her.
The man's eyes were closed.
Chest rising and falling steadily.
She moved to the monitors.
Checked them with practiced efficiency.
Then leaned close.
Her voice was gentle.
Almost loving.
"You can open your eyes now. I'm here."
His eyelids fluttered.
Recognition flooded his expression.
Pure. Disturbing joy.
"Boss..." His voice was hoarse. Cracked.
"I did everything you asked. Turned myself in. Took the fall for the plan."
The nurse smiled behind her mask.
Her hand stroked his hair.
Maternal. Affectionate.
It made his skin prickle.
Something felt wrong.
But he pushed the feeling down.
"You've been so loyal," she murmured. "So very good."
He swallowed.
Throat dry.
"Will you... will you fight for my release? Get me out?"
Her smile sharpened.
Invisible but felt.
She reached into her pocket.
Produced a syringe.
Uncapped it slowly.
The sound loud in the quiet room.
"Why wait for release," she whispered, "when you can have one now?"
Before he could process her words.
She grabbed his jaw.
Forced his mouth open.
He tried to struggle.
But the restraints held.
She injected the contents directly under his tongue.
An untraceable compound.
Fast-acting.
His eyes went wide.
Pain exploded in his chest.
Crushing. Suffocating.
Like his ribcage was collapsing inward.
His heart stuttered.
Skipped a beat.
Then seized.
Fire spread through his veins.
Every nerve screaming.
He couldn't breathe.
Couldn't scream.
His mouth opened in a silent gasp.
Foam bubbled at the corners.
His body convulsed.
Straining against the cuffs.
Metal biting into skin.
The nurse watched.
Clinically.
Detached.
As the light faded from his eyes.
His struggles weakened.
Slowed.
Stopped.
The heart monitor flatlined.
A long, steady beep.
She moved quickly.
Wiped every surface she'd touched.
Rearranged his body.
Made it look peaceful.
Like he'd simply slipped away in his sleep.
Adjusted the sheets.
Checked the monitors one last time.
Then slipped out.
Just as a real nurse rounded the corner.
"Code blue! Room 427!"
The nurse ran past.
Not seeing the figure disappear into the stairwell.
★☆★☆★☆
The woman walked three blocks before removing her disguise.
Stuffed the scrubs into a public trash bin.
Pulled on a coat over her regular clothes.
Let her hair down.
Dark. Shoulder-length.
Became just another person on the street.
She hailed a cab.
Gave an address in Gangnam.
Sat back.
Watched the city lights blur past.
Her expression was blank.
Calm.
Like she'd just finished grocery shopping.
Not committed murder.
The cab dropped her at a high-rise apartment complex.
Expensive. Modern.
She rode the elevator to the 12th floor.
Unlocked her door.
Stepped inside.
The apartment was cozy.
Warm lighting. Soft textures.
A cream-colored couch. Bookshelves lined with romance novels.
Plants by the windows.
A small kitchen with pastel dishware.
Everything perfectly curated.
Sweet. Innocent.
The kind of space that screamed "harmless."
She set her bag down.
Kicked off her shoes.
Padded to the bathroom.
Washed her hands thoroughly.
Checked her reflection.
Not a hair out of place.
Her phone rang.
Manager Park.
She let it ring twice.
Composed her expression.
Then answered.
"Hello, Manager Park." Her voice was bright. Professional.
"Jiwon. Sorry to call so late."
"No problem, sir! I'm still up. What's going on?"
"Need you in the office tomorrow morning. 8 AM. CEO wants a full briefing on something that came up."
"Of course. I'll be there."
"Good. And Jiwon?"
"Yes?"
"Make sure you have all the security logs compiled. He's going to want details."
"Already done. I'll bring everything."
"You're efficient. That's why we keep you around."
She smiled.
Even though he couldn't see it.
"Just doing my job, sir."
"See you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Manager Park."
The line went dead.
Jiwon stared at the phone.
Then her smile dropped.
Replaced by something cold.
Sharp.
She walked to her bedroom.
Pulled a burner phone from her nightstand.
The same one she'd given her pawn.
The one used to send threatening messages to Soorin.
The one used to post the blurred photos.
She scrolled through the messages.
Read them one by one.
Then deleted everything.
Factory reset.
Removed the SIM card.
Snapped it in half.
Tossed it in the trash.
The phone followed.
She'd dispose of it properly tomorrow.
Burn it. Crush it.
Make it disappear.
Just like she'd made him disappear.
Jiwon sat on her bed.
Stared at the wall.
And then.
She laughed.
"Hahaha!!"
Softly at first.
"HAHAHAHAAA!!"
Then louder.
"HEHEHEHAHAHEHE... BWHAHAHA!!"
Hysterical.
Unhinged.
The sound echoed through her apartment.
Bouncing off the walls.
She doubled over.
Clutching her stomach.
Tears streaming down her face.
Not from sadness.
From pure. Twisted. Joy.
"Stupid. Stupid. STUPID."
She gasped between laughs.
"Did he really think I'd save him?"
More laughter.
"A pawn. Just a pawn. And he played his part perfectly."
She wiped her eyes.
Took a shaky breath.
Composed herself.
Stood.
Walked to her mirror.
Studied her reflection.
The sweet PA.
The helpful assistant.
The one everyone trusted.
"They have no idea," she whispered.
Her smile was demonic.
"No idea at all."
She thought of Soorin.
Scared. Shaken.
Probably couldn't sleep.
Good.
She thought of Haejin.
Protective. Worried. Cornered.
Probably blaming himself.
Even better.
Everything was falling into place.
The mystery lady scandal.
The fake relationship with Yura.
The attack.
All of it.
Orchestrated.
Controlled.
By her.
And no one suspected a thing.
Jiwon opened her laptop.
Pulled up a hidden folder.
Files upon files.
Photos. Videos. Documents.
All meticulously organized.
Evidence of every move she'd made.
Every string she'd pulled.
She scrolled through.
Smiled at each one.
Then opened a new document.
Titled: [Phase Three.]
Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
Detailing her next steps.
The next target.
The next manipulation.
When she finished, she saved it.
Encrypted it.
Then stood.
Changed into silk pajamas.
Brushed her teeth.
Set her alarm for 6 AM.
Crawled into bed.
But before turning off the light, she pulled out her personal phone.
Opened her photo gallery.
Scrolled to a hidden album.
One photo stopped her.
A portrait. Old. Faded. Torn down the middle.
On one side: a young Jiwon with her mother.
On the other: a man she'd ripped away.
His face scratched out viciously.
But his name—Jung Sejin—remained visible at the bottom.
The autograph's calligraphy, elegant. Mocking.
She traced it with her finger.
Her smile returned.
Sharper than before.
"Soon," she whispered to the destroyed photograph. "Very soon, you'll understand what you took from me."
She locked her phone.
Set it on the nightstand.
Her eyes started to close.
Then.
Buzz.
Her personal phone lit up.
A notification.
Unknown number.
She sat up.
Opened it.
[I need your help.]
Her eyebrows raised.
'Interesting.'
Another message.
[I want to join hands with you. As per the invitation you extended.]
Jiwon's smile widened.
'So someone finally took the bait.'
She typed back.
[What do you need?]
The response came quickly.
[Power. Popularity. The ability to take down my enemies.]
Jiwon's fingers paused over the keyboard.
'A golden fish just swam into my net.'
Her mind raced.
What to ask for.
What to demand.
The possibilities were endless.
She typed carefully.
[How far can you go to serve me to gain the popularity and power you need to take down your enemies?]
She hit send.
Waited.
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
Finally, the response.
[As far as it takes. But I need something first.]
[What?]
The next message made Jiwon's grin turn savage.
[I need a certain blonde gone. Permanently.]
Jiwon stared at the screen.
Her heart raced.
Not from fear.
From exhilaration.
'Perfect. Absolutely perfect.'
She typed back.
[Consider it done. But you'll owe me. Everything.]
[Agreed.]
Jiwon set her phone down.
Lay back on her pillow.
And laughed again.
Softer this time.
More controlled.
But infinitely more dangerous.
She had a new pawn.
One with resources.
One with desperation.
One who would do anything she says as long as it aligns with their shared plan.
'Two birds. One stone. Haejin dear, how long can you hold up till that thick wall is pulled down?'
She closed her eyes.
Peaceful.
Content.
Like a spider who'd just felt the web vibrate.
Another fly caught.
And this one was big.
★★★☆☆☆
Author's Note
How did you see the reveal on the newly introduced mastermind?
A - Saw it coming
B - Skeptical
C - Didn't expect that!
D - Mindblown!
Pop quiz:
Can you guess her motive or driving force?
Who's her new pawn recruit?