The sound of sirens pierced the night.
An ambulance screeched to a halt in front of a towering hospital building. The back doors flew open, and three unconscious figures were rushed out on stretchers, nurses shouting orders as they split toward three different emergency rooms.
The hospital was thrown into immediate chaos. Doctors, nurses, and security flooded the halls as word spread like wildfire—the victims were none other than the Choi family.
A family so powerful their name alone carried weight across the country. Known for their immeasurable wealth, countless companies, and their dominance as the leaders of CHN's Organization, the Choi family was untouchable… until tonight.
A severe car crash.
The news erupted everywhere.
Outside the chaotic hospital, a female reporter stood firmly in front of the camera, the flashing red and blue lights reflecting off the glass doors behind her as she reported live.
"We are currently live here at Han Hospital, where shocking and heartbreaking news has just been confirmed," she said solemnly.
"Earlier tonight, a severe car accident involving the prominent Choi family occurred under circumstances that are still under Investigation. Mr Choi Han-Sol, his wife Mrs Kim Eun-Jae, and their eldest daughter Miss Choi Min-Sol were all rushed into the emergency room upon arrival and are currently undergoing critical medical treatment. "
"Choi Minjae, the Second daughter of the Choi family, was not involved in the accident, as she was not present at the scene. At this time, it remains uncertain whether she has been informed of the incident, as she has yet to arrive at the hospital... "
Just then, the reporter caught sight of Choi Minjae, stepping out of a black car that had just parked in front of the hospital.
Without hesitation, the reporter rushed toward her, motioning for the cameraman to follow.
"Miss Choi Minjae!" she called out while running after her.
Minjae didn't stop. She continued walking forward, clearly ignoring the voice behind her.
"Miss Minjae!" the reporter called again, quickening her pace until she moved in front of her.
"Miss Minjae," she asked hurriedly, holding the microphone up, "do you have anything to say about the tragic accident involving your parents and sister? Have you received any updates on their condition?" she asked, but no response.
Silence fell between them as Minjae stopped on her track
She turned to the reporter.
Her gaze, empty, cold, and unblinking.
The reporter froze.
A shiver ran down her spine as she swallowed hard. Though she had approached with confidence, she now found herself unable to look away. The stare pinned her in place, heavy and suffocating. There was no anger on Minjae's face. No grief. Not even a twitch. Just a dead, emotionless stare, Even the cameraman felt it. His hands tightened around the camera as he instinctively took a step back.
Minjae subtly tilted her head, her eyes lowering to her wrist.
The reporter followed her gaze, and realized she was still holding Minjae's arm.
She released her immediately, startled, stepping back and bowing quickly, avoiding Minjae's eyes—even though she was clearly older.
Minjae didn't spare her another glance.
She turned and walked straight into the hospital.
As she passed, people instinctively stepped aside, avoiding any contact. Her posture remained straight, her steps calm and graceful—nothing like someone who had just possibly received the most heartbreaking news of her life.
And as she headed toward the doctor's office, her mind betrayed her.
It replayed the last time she had stood in front of her family.
Just two days ago.
[Flashback]
"Choi Minjae!"
Mr. Choi's furious voice thundered through the living room as he glared at his youngest daughter. Minjae stood opposite him, arms folded tightly against her chest, her own glare unwavering.
"What?" she scoffed mockingly. "Did I say something wrong? Do you hate me even more now that I know the secret you all swore your lives to keep?"
She dropped the thin file she was holding onto the table.
"I honestly thought it was a lie at first," she continued, her eyes darting from face to face.
"I thought... even if my family hated me, they wouldn't go that far. But it seems I underestimated just how deep that hatred runs."
"Minjae-ah…" her mother called tiredly, her voice trembling.
"Please… just stop." Tears filled Mrs. Kim's eyes. She was exhausted, worn down by the endless arguments. But Minjae had no intention of stopping.
"Grandfather willed the organization to me!," Minjae snapped. "Out of everyone around him, he chose me. Not even his own son."
A small, disbelieving smirk curved her lips.
"And what did Father do?" she continued coldly. "He hid it from me… then handed it over to my sister. So now I'm the bad guy for asking back what already belongs to me?"
"Enough!" Min-Sol finally stepped in.
"You know now! We admit it, the organization was willed to you. But was it really then necessary to shut down the construction project that had been going on for over a month now? Do you have any idea how long it took me to secure that deal?!"
Her voice cracked, not from rage, but disappointment. She knew her sister would go to extreme lengths to prove a point, but this… this was too much.
"I don't care how long it took," Minjae replied coolly.
"I guess i just needed to flex my authority a little. Watching everyone follow my orders, even when you're the official chair woman, made me realize something."
She laughed bitterly.
"That i was the only fool in the dark. Everyone else knew. Everyone, except me. Cast aside by my own family."
She turned fully toward Min-Sol.
"Maybe I wouldn't have been so surprised if this was Father's doing alone," Minjae said quietly.
"But you?" She tilted her head slightly. "Don't you think you're being a little too greedy?"
"What…?" Min-Sol breathed.
"Of course Father would hand all his assets to you, his one and only favorite daughter," Minjae continued calmly.
"But even the single company Grandpa left me… you wanted that too?"
Min sol eyes hardened.
"Do you realize that company was never meant for our family alone? That in the wrong hands, everything we have could be stripped away."
"So I'm the 'wrong hand,' and you're the 'right' one?" Minjae let out a soft, humorless laugh.
"I'm supposed to be grateful that you've been warming my seat and running my company on my behalf?"
She clapped slowly, mock applause filling the room. "Fine. I'll admit it, you've done a great job, Truly. Now step down. I'll take over from here."
"Never!" Mr. Choi roared.
"That will never happen! The day you take that company is the day I die!"
Minjae took a step forward, her smile widening.
"Good," she said calmly. "Then I suggest you hurry. I'm already running out of patience." She added and next thing a slap landed across her cheek.
The sound echoed through the mansion,
Mrs. Kim's trembling hand hung in the air as silence swallowed the room. A faint gasp could be heard.
Min-Sol, who hadn't been slapped, looked more shocked than Minjae herself.
She had expected retaliation… but not from her mother. The calmest person in the family.
"How dare you say such cruel thing!" Mrs. Kim shouted, pointing angrily at her daughter.
Minjae slowly turned her head, touching her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Mom," she said with a twisted smile. "Did I say it wrong?" She asked as silence failed the air,
Suddenly, she grabbed a flower vase from the table and hurled violently it to the floor as it Crash loudly, the porcelain shattered violently as everyone jolted backward.
"Let me rephrase then" Minjae gritted.
"I hope you all die! All of you!!" she yelled.
---
'You all die!!!…'
The words refused to fade.
They echoed relentlessly in Minjae's head as the scene from three days ago replayed over and over. She stood among a small crowd in a quiet cemetery, her tall figure unmoving before two coffins__Her parents.
"I'm sorry, Miss Choi. We did everything we could, but it was already too late. They were gone before they even arrived."
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't silence the doctor's voice telling her that both her parents were dead.
[Back at the Hospital]
"And… my sister?" Minjae finally asked.
The doctor let out a slow breath before answering.
"Fortunately She made it through the surgery," he said carefully. "But she has fallen into a coma."
Minjae remained silent, absorbing the words without reaction.
"Miss," the doctor called hesitantly. "I want to be honest with you. The chances of your sister waking up are very low. She suffered severe trauma, it's even a miracle she's still breathing." He said as she said nothing, just staring at nothing in particular, her expression unreadable.
He continued,
"I'm not saying this to take away hope," he continued gently.
"I just don't want to give you false expectations, in case… things don't go the way we want." He said, then gestured down the corridor.
"Would you like to see her?" He asked
"No." She replied, the refusal came instantly, and without another word, she turned away and walked off.