Soon rain stated in small droplets and fell harder.
The rain fell harder.
Cold droplets splashed against the deserted street, washing away the traces of the fight.
Kim Hana lay motionless on the wet pavement.
Her soft cream-colored sweater clung to her slender frame, completely soaked by the rain, while her comfortable black trousers were stained with dust and water.
A thin stream of blood trickled from the cut near her hairline, disappearing into the rain beneath her.
Her right arm rested awkwardly at her side.
The painful strike from the baseball bat had already caused it to swell.
A few steps away, Kang Tae-jin stood silently.
His white dress shirt was stained crimson where the axe had cut across his shoulder.
Blood slowly seeped through the torn fabric, but his expression never changed.
His cold gaze swept across the alley.
Three attackers lay groaning on the ground.
One had escaped.
Without another glance, he pulled out his phone.
The call connected almost immediately.
“Young Master.”
“I’ve been attacked.”
The voice on the other end immediately became serious.
“Are you injured, sir?”
“Nothing serious.”
“The attackers failed.”
“One escaped.”
A brief silence followed.
“I understand.”
Tae-jin’s voice remained calm.
“Find him.”
“Understood.”
The call ended.
Only then did Tae-jin lower his gaze toward the unconscious girl.
“…Troublesome.”
He walked over and crouched beside her.
Two fingers rested lightly against her neck.
Her pulse was weak…
But steady.
His eyes moved from the blood on her forehead to the swelling around her arm.
The rain was making everything worse.
Without another word, he removed his black suit jacket.
He carefully draped it over Hana’s body before slipping one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back.
The moment he lifted her—
“…Mm…”
A faint whimper escaped her lips.
Her brows furrowed in pain.
He paused briefly and adjusted his hold so her injured arm rested securely against her body.
Then he carried her toward his car.
Every step pulled painfully at the wound on his shoulder.
Still…
He never slowed down.
By the time they reached the black sedan, both of them were completely drenched.
He carefully laid Hana across the back seat, covering her once more with his jacket before closing the door.
Moments later…
The black sedan disappeared into the rainy night. This story is hosted at g.com.
Nearly forty minutes later…
The gates of Silver Pine Estate slowly opened.
The black sedan rolled beneath the grand entrance before coming to a stop.
The front doors opened.
Mr.
Park, the Kang family’s longtime butler, immediately stepped outside.
“Welcome back, Young Mas—”
His greeting stopped.
Kang Tae-jin stepped out of the driver’s seat.
Rainwater dripped from his hair.
His white dress shirt was stained with blood around his shoulder.
Without saying a word, he opened the rear door and carefully lifted Hana into his arms once again.
As soon as her head rested lightly against his chest…
He frowned.
She was unusually warm.
Even through the cold rain, he could clearly feel the heat coming from her body.
“…She’s running a fever.”
Mr.
Park’s expression immediately became serious.
“Doctor Han is ready, Young Master.”
Tae-jin gave a small nod and walked straight inside.
The few staff members standing nearby silently stepped aside.
No one dared ask questions.
Inside the estate’s private medical suite…
Doctor Han was already waiting.
The moment he saw Hana’s injuries, his expression became serious.
“Lay her down.”
Tae-jin gently placed her on the examination bed.
Doctor Han immediately cleaned the blood from the wound on her forehead.
“The scalp has split.”
“Fortunately, the wound isn’t too deep.”
“But scalp injuries bleed heavily.”
He then examined her injured arm.
The slightest touch caused Hana to frown unconsciously.
Doctor Han immediately stopped.
“I don’t want to move her arm.”
“Mr.
Park.”
Mr.
Park immediately opened a nearby medical cabinet, retrieved a pair of sterilized scissors, and handed them over.
Doctor Han carefully cut open the soaked sleeve of Hana’s cream-colored sweater.
The fabric fell away.
Dark bruises had already spread across her fair forearm.
The swelling had become much worse.
Doctor Han sighed softly.
“The impact was severe.”
“I suspect a fracture.”
“I’ll stabilize it first.”
After securing her arm with a temporary splint, he examined her pupils before checking her temperature.
A few moments later, he looked up.
“She has a concussion.”
He turned toward one of the nurses.
“Prepare an IV.”
“Yes, Doctor.”
The nurse immediately obeyed.
Doctor Han looked back at Tae-jin.
“It’s fortunate you brought her here immediately.”
“If she had remained out there in the rain much longer…”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
Instead, he removed his gloves.
“She’s stable for now.”
“The fever is my biggest concern tonight.”
Tae-jin gave a small nod before turning toward Mr.
Park.
“Prepare the east guest room.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“After the IV has been started, have Madam Yoon help her change into dry clothes.”
“She’s completely soaked.”
Mr.
Park bowed respectfully.
“Understood.”
Only then did Doctor Han turn toward Tae-jin.
“Young Master.”
“Now…”
“It’s your turn.”
Tae-jin looked down at the blood staining his sleeve.
“I’m fine.”
Doctor Han sighed.
“No.”
“You’re bleeding onto my floor.”
Without another word, Tae-jin sat down.
Doctor Han carefully cleaned the wound across his shoulder before stitching it.
“You’ll need to avoid unnecessary movement for a few days.”
Tae-jin simply buttoned a fresh black shirt after the bandage had been secured.
He walked out of the room without saying a word.
The hallway was quiet.
Rain continued to fall outside the tall windows of Silver Pine Estate.
He took out his phone and made another call.
The line connected almost instantly.
“Young Master.”
It was his assistant.
Tae-jin looked out into the rainy night.
“I trust you’ve found him.”
“Yes, sir.”
A brief silence followed.
“You know what to do.”
“…Understood, Young Master.”
The call ended.
Tae-jin slipped the phone back into his pocket before quietly walking away.
Behind him…
In the east guest room…
Kim Hana remained unconscious, completely unaware that her life had just become entangled with the Kang family in a way neither of them could have imagined.