Apollo’s Heart - Chapter 24 - The Price of Deception

Chapter 24 – The Price of Deception

Tae-jun reflexively opened his eyes.

What was that all about, this nasty nightmare?

He automatically reached for the cigarettes on the bedside table. With the cigarette held unlit in his mouth, he brushed back with both hands his hair that was drenched with sweat.

How did she feel every time she was with him, when he moaned and cried the name of another woman? Tae-jun found it difficult to contain himself.

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The next day, Mr. Lee clucked his tongue at the state that Tae-jun was in. His face was pale and his eyes were bloodshot. Not even the thick-rimmed Tom Ford eyeglasses were able to conceal his poor complexion.

Did something happen to him? No, will he be able to survive the day? Mr. Lee felt restless, only to be consoled by Jin-wook’s appearance. He couldn’t see what Jin-wook had brought with him, but he was hoping that it would calm their boss, who was starting to resemble a starving beast.

“What’s that girl’s name?” This was Tae-jun’s first question.

“It’s Yuri Han. Yu-ri-Han,” Jin-wook carefully articulated each syllable of her name.

Yuri Han. Tae-jun etched the name into his brain.

“She was born in Seoul, but went to middle and high schools in Jin-seong. She entered H Arts University to study painting, but dropped out. She grew up with Hye-yeon Jin. They went to middle school and high school together, and as Miss Han’s father was Mr. Jin’s chauffeur, they lived in the same house. She is highly regarded by those around her, and has won an impressive number of awards at school. She seems considerably talented.” Jin-wook produced a picture of her, and documents including newspaper articles on the awards that she had won.

It’s you, Yuri Han.

Her father wasn’t Myeong-Je Jin, but his driver, Su-won Han.

The information about the woman continued to pour onto Tae-jun, under the new name of Yuri Han.

“And apparently she has often filled in for Hye-yeon Jin at Jinseong Hotel. I’ve confirmed this with the former manager at the hotel.”

“Filled in?” His lips, with a cigarette lodged in between, distorted imperceptibly.

I see. That’s how it all began.

“But Hyeon-ah Kim said that she didn’t recognize her from the photo. Why did she lie?”

“I’m not sure. I was suspicious about that too and pressed her a bit more, but she didn’t give an answer. I couldn’t figure her out. And there’s a questionable rumor that she used to be Mr. Jin’s mistress. Shall I dig around?”

“There’s no need. She’s not important.” Tae-jun picked up the photo of Yuri. It seemed to have been taken when she was in the university. That smile from his memory, the one that filled him with a burning desire to have her. Feeling every single one of his cells simultaneously react, he inhaled the cigarette smoke deep into his lungs.

“Where is Yuri Han now?”

“I apologize, but I have not figured that out yet. According to the immigration records she left for the US four years ago, and returned to Korea only recently.”

“Why go to the US?”

“Her uncle, that is, the elder brother of her late mother, appears to be married to an American citizen and running a business there. With her father deceased as well, he would have been the only family left for her to depend on.”

“How did her father die? Was he ill?”

“In fact…” Jin-wook brushed his chin. “It was a hit-and-run. And interestingly this accident occurred around the time Yuri Han went missing.”

A hit-and-run. Tae-jun slowly blinked. On the day of her disappearance, Yuri’s face in the CCTV footage seemed extremely urgent. What if this was because her father had just died? Only Yuri herself would know the answer. He put out the cigarette against the ashtray.

“I’ll look into the American side of things. What about Hye-seong Jin?”

“I have located him.”

“Took you long enough.” Seo-in Group’s resources, along with Jin-wook’s personal research network, were impressive. He could name any politicians or executives at a rival company, and have detailed information on their family and bank accounts delivered within hours.

But Hye-seong hid so well, that it took Jin-wook days to find him? Was there a reason for him to disappear?

Jin-wook shrugged. “I hadn’t had this much difficulty in a long time. He didn’t report his new address to the city government, doesn’t have any bank or credit card accounts in his name, and he doesn’t have a cell phone, either.”

“Can I meet him today?”

“I will make it happen. But sir, is it necessary to meet him, when we now know that the girl is Yuri Han?”

Tae-jun set down the picture of Yuri on the table. His gaze deepened.

“I want to know why he made her pretend to be Hye-yeon. And he needs to pay a price for deceiving me.”

“Understood, sir.” Jin-wook lowered his head and walked out of the office.

Tae-jun instructed Mr. Lee to block any calls or visitors. He spent the day looking carefully through each piece of information about Yuri Han that Jin-wook had brought.

You’re mistaken.

Shit, you must have come that day to disabuse me of my notions. Tae-jun could hear Yuri’s voice from that meeting. He had not listened to her, and connected her with Mr. Jin. He recalled Yuri’s face, turning pale with fright. Mr. Jin probably threatened you.

To you, I’m just a doll named ‘Hye-yeon Jin’.

Numerous memories involving Yuri replayed in his head. Why she hadn’t wanted to leave any pictures while living together, why she had hesitated whenever he called her name, why she hadn’t told him anything about herself.

He lit his cigarette and talked to himself while gazing at the photograph of the girl, “Excellent. You’ve played the role of ‘Hye-yeon Jin’ perfectly”.

He had thought that learning her name would get rid of this suffocating feeling, but there was no end to it… It also didn’t help that Yuri was smiling so beautifully in the picture.

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