The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of Silver Pine Estate.
The heavy rain from the previous night had stopped, leaving only tiny droplets clinging to the flowers that decorated the vast garden.
Inside the estate, everything was unusually quiet.
Doctor Han had barely finished examining Kang Tae-jin’s shoulder when his phone vibrated.
He glanced at the caller ID.
Old Madam Kang.
He sighed softly before answering.
“Good morning, Old Madam.”
“How is that stubborn grandson of mine?” came the familiar voice.
Doctor Han adjusted his glasses.
“He sustained a shoulder injury last night.”
There was silence.
Then…
“What?”
Doctor Han smiled bitterly.
“It isn’t life-threatening, but he refuses to rest.
I doubt he’ll even take his medicine unless someone forces him.”
Old Madam Kang frowned.
“I knew something was wrong.”
Doctor Han hesitated.
“There is…
another matter.”
“Oh?”
“Young Master has a guest.”
“A guest?”
Her brows rose.
“At Silver Pine Estate?”
“Yes.”
Doctor Han nodded instinctively before remembering she couldn’t see him.
“I thought you should know.”
The call ended.
Nearly forty minutes later…
A black luxury sedan stopped in front of Silver Pine Estate.
Before the driver could open the door, Old Madam Kang had already stepped out.
She walked inside with surprising speed for someone her age.
Mr.
Park immediately greeted her.
“Old Madam.”
She looked around.
“Where is he?”
Mr.
Park smiled politely.
“Young Master is—”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Park.”
He immediately straightened.
“Yes, Old Madam.”
“You’ve served this family for over thirty years.”
“Yes.”
“So don’t even think about lying to me.”
Mr.
Park forced an awkward smile.
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Good.”
She folded her arms.
“Now tell me…”
“What is my grandson hiding?”
Mr.
Park remained silent.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Park.”
He sighed. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“…There is a young lady staying here.”
Old Madam Kang blinked.
“A young lady?”
For a moment…
She wondered if she had heard him incorrectly.
“My grandson…”
“Brought a girl…”
“To Silver Pine Estate?”
Mr.
Park gave a helpless nod.
“Take me to her.”
The guest room door opened quietly.
Old Madam Kang stepped inside.
The room smelled faintly of medicine.
The curtains had been drawn halfway, allowing soft morning light to filter inside.
Kim Hana lay asleep on the bed.
Her face was unusually pale.
Her lips had lost their usual rosy color.
Strands of black hair rested gently against the white bandage wrapped around her forehead.
Her right arm was secured in a sling across her chest.
Even in her sleep, she looked effortlessly beautiful.
Yet her brows remained tightly knitted, as though the pain refused to let her rest.
Beside the bed sat Madam Yoon, gently replacing the cold towel on Hana’s forehead.
She looked up and immediately stood.
“Old Madam.”
Old Madam Kang’s eyes never left Hana.
“…Hannie?”
She slowly walked closer.
Her heart tightened.
“What happened to this child?”
Doctor Han stepped forward.
“She suffered a concussion.”
“A fractured arm.”
“A deep bruise caused by blunt force.”
“The wound on her forehead required stitches.”
“She also developed a high fever after being caught in the rain.”
Old Madam Kang’s expression darkened.
Doctor Han continued calmly.
“Fortunately, Young Master brought her here immediately.”
“Had she remained outside much longer…”
“The situation could have been much worse.”
Madam Yoon sighed softly.
“Such a beautiful young girl…”
“It breaks my heart seeing her like this.”
Old Madam Kang gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from Hana’s forehead.
She whispered,
“You poor child…”
Then she turned.
“Where is Kang Tae-jin?”
A few minutes later…
The study door closed.
Kang Tae-jin looked up from the document in his hand.
His grandmother stood before him.
She didn’t speak.
She simply looked at him.
“…Explain.”
Tae-jin calmly closed the file.
“I was attacked after leaving the banquet.”
“I escaped.”
“On the way, I ran into Kim Hana.”
“The attackers reached us.”
He spoke as though he were reporting yesterday’s weather.
No emotion.
No hesitation.
Old Madam Kang stared at him.
“…That’s it?”
“Yes.”
Smack!
She hit him on the shoulder—
Unfortunately…
It was the injured one.
Tae-jin’s brows twitched almost imperceptibly.
His grandmother froze.
“…Did I hit the wrong shoulder?”
“…Yes.”
She coughed awkwardly.
“I meant to hit the other one.”
Without warning…
She smacked his other shoulder instead.
“There.”
“Now we’re even.”
Tae-jin remained silent.
She glared at him.
“You call that an explanation?”
“You brought an injured young lady here without telling me?”
“You nearly scared me to death!”
“I only found out because Doctor Han called.”
Tae-jin replied calmly,
“There was nothing to report.”
“Nothing to report?”
Old Madam Kang almost laughed.
“Hannie is lying in one of your guest rooms unconscious!”
“And you call that nothing?”
He simply looked at her.
“I took responsibility.”
She folded her arms.
“And now?”
“I’ll continue taking responsibility until she recovers.”
Old Madam Kang looked at him for several long seconds.
Finally…
She sighed.
“You really are your grandfather’s grandson.”
Tae-jin raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t.”
For the first time that morning…
The corner of Old Madam Kang’s lips lifted slightly.
Then she pointed toward the door.
“Now stop pretending you’re made of steel.”
“Doctor Han said you’re injured too.”
“Go and rest.”
“I still have work.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
A brief silence followed.
“…Understood.”
Old Madam Kang nodded in satisfaction before leaving the study.
As the door closed behind her, Tae-jin looked out the rain-speckled window.
His shoulder still ached.
But his mind wasn’t on the injury.
It was on the attacker who had escaped.
Somewhere…
Someone believed they had failed.
And somewhere else…
That same person was undoubtedly preparing their next move.