82. I Am Sorry

"I am dissatisfied with your excuses young man. Is this how you were raised? To be irresponsible after marking your fated? You've hardly spent time with him leaving the rest of us to take responsibility for your own actions? Perhaps you thought the scar would go on it's own and yet again you show up briefly and abandon him just like before. What is your excuse this time?"

"I apologize madam. We had a little argument..."

"What misunderstanding will lead you to leave my son in such a state of turmoil? He was spending sleepless nights in search for you for six weeks and what- you show up out of the blue only to be with him for two weeks? I hardly thought I'd have seen the sights of you if it weren't for the fire incident."

"That was not the case. I did intend to stay with him until his mark healed completely."

Elric's mother sneered. "So that was your time frame? What happens after it heals? Do you olan to disappear once more?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that."

"Then please, explain it to me however you meant."

Niel took a deep breath, forcing his mind to come up with better words to defend himself but figured whatever words came out of his mouth would only sound as an excuse which judging by Elric's mother's mood, it was the wrong time, wrong place to the wrong person.

Sighing, his mother spoke seeing that Niel had nothing to say. "I understand my son can be a handful however, you marked him therefore you must meet up to his imprint. If this responsibility seems too much for you, I assure you, the mark will continue to pull you towards him, a result of your shared spiritual essence. Isn't that why you came here today?"

"I wanted to make sure he was okay..."

"I've heard enough excuses from you. Do as you please but keep in mind, you'll account to me each and every of your actions, including going physical on my son." Seeing the surprised look on Niel's face, she added. "I'm in a cheerful mood since you helped my son with the paperwork however, to catch you just about to leave while Elric was asleep, I fear I'll regret having you as a member of my family. We do not run away from our problems here. We take them head on. I presume Elric has briefed you of your duty to produce an heir for me."

"He did but..."

"But...?" Elric's mother turned sinister. "Are you aiming to change the flow of atmosphere by uttering such a pointless word? Was marking my son a joke to you or perhaps you go by doing the same to others?"

"I'm sorry."

"Apologize when you understand the situation otherwise keep your mouth shut." Standing up, Elric's mother gestured for Niel to sit down. She reached down for her drawer under her desk and pulled out a package, which looked like a phone, judging from the picture on it." My son told me to give you this incase you came visiting when he wasn't here. It appears he was right about you passing by. If he can sense you already, I fear he'll be the only one loosing in this relationship."

"I'm saving money to buy a new phone, hence no need..."

"This is not a request. He took time to charge it and save his number saying you'll be coming in today. How dare you make a mockery of his efforts...?"

"I'm sorry." Niel nervously took the package from her and began unboxing it and just like Yeon's, it had been the same cellphone, except a different colour. "I'll make sure to use it well."

"You had better. Now, in other matters regarding your habitation, you must relocate here immediately before you two proceed to stay at my son's apartment. I want to monitor you upclose if you are truly fit for my son." Seeing that Niel was about to object, she raised her hand to stop him and continued. "I will not have you abandon Elric again considering how nonchalant you are of his welfare. Aren't you ashamed his mark has not yet healed two months down the line? It's embarrassing. Therefore, this is not up for discussion. Elric knows his duties as the heir of this family and will follow them to the latter. I admit I wasn't expecting him to meet his fated this soon, in fact I was against him being fated, wishing he'd pair but what's done is done. Once the current state of events simmer down with the case we are both working on, you two may leave but only when I'm satisfied. Understood?"

"Mom, stop scaring him will you?" Elric's voice echoed like music to Nie's ears for the tension he was feeling in the presence of his fated's mother was chocking him.

"Everyone's here. Shall we proceed?"

Standing up, Elric's mother gave Niel a piercing glance as she spoke. "We are not done. I presume you will be spending the night or do I need to persuade you further..?"

"Not at all." Niel acknowledged immediately, pulling his chair back to stand too.

"Then let us proceed."

From Yeon's parents to Stan and Yeon, everyone sat patiently waiting for Elric's mother to arrive and as she sat opposite them, Elric next to him, she went on to brief them why she'd called for an impromptu meeting in the middle of the night.

"My apologies for the late summon. The news I have for you all is something that can not be dragged further than today. Before I make any decisions regarding Yeon's and Stan's case, I had to make sure all of us were gathered here since the information received has a verified source." Glancing at Elric, she nodded and everyone watched as he obediently stood up and left the room.

"We have reached a dead end to the case. Any potential witnesses are unwilling to testify both privately and publicly. My representatives have informed me we can't subpoena our culprits without concrete evidence which is what we do not have. As far as Yeon's case is concerned, he was already intoxicated when found and his medical reports have indicated that. However, him ingesting illegal substances makes him appear more as an accomplice than a victim despite what happened to him. We all know this to be untrue but we can't convince the jury he was taken advantage of unwillingly. To them, it was a collage party in a cheap bar filled with irresponsible students. If we follow up his case further, that is exactly where we will end even if we appeal upon loosing.

Secondly, Stan's case is related to Yeon's in many ways than one since the same culprit had a similar drug in his system. A heat inducing drug which was consumed prior to Stan's attempted attack. The opposing argument is that the gentleman is a victim too and be sure as long as they have chosen to go that way, they will win since none of the criminals are willing to call him out as an accomplice. My assumption is they have been given a huge sum of a bribe, or perhaps threatened to keep their lips sealed and as per the police reports, they all share the same story despite numerous confined and segregated interrogations.

Now, with regards to our last discussion related to the fire incident, I brought the subject of finding someone from the inside to help us out, labeling the son of the people we are against a victim rather than a criminal and it appears this was not just a thought but factual assumption. That's why you are all here. I want you all to get the chance to meet the key witness in person since it was requested we arrange a meeting with them at such a special time because of the sensitivity of this case."

"They are here?" Yeon's father asked, looking surprised and relieved at the same time.

"It is against protocol to do this with you all here but yes. Their condition was to meet you all before agreeing to be on our side. We prepared a contract which can only be sighed once they have spoken to specifically all of you."

"Then bring them in." Yeon's father said impatiently.

It was then that Elric came back in, notifying his mother everything was set up and after nodding, he walked towards the door once more, opening it wide for Mora to appear from it.

"Mora?" Both Yeon and Niel exclaimed in surprise.

"Hello." She waved and appeared to look nervous. Elric took the chance to pull his chair and gestured for her to sit next to his mother.

"Thank you." She replied timidly, bowing her head gently in respect.

"Everyone, as you've heard, this is Mora, our key witness. She will be helping us in her brother's stead, who seems to be under constant surveillance therefore may become a problem if we are to reach out to him. Mora got in touch with one of my informants today and informed me of her willingness to work with us. She is the one who informed me of her brother being a victim of her family's...well, her father's cruel deeds. Perhaps you would care to elaborate more as per your request."

"I'm...a bit nervous you see..."

"Not a problem. I'll brief them in your stead." Elric's mother assured and shifted her gaze to everyone else. She went on further to update the rest on the cruel deeds of her father, from bribes, to money laundering and being physically and verbally abusive to their mother and mostly Mora's brother. With each accusation, Elric pulled out a file as evidence and Niel noticed it had been documents he'd earlier helped him organize.

"We also have illegal transactions, more than enough to put the entire family under ruins but, I promised Mora to protect her, the brother and her mother. Therefore, we shall only be focusing on the drugging issue unless otherwise stipulated. Is that right?" Elric's mother asked, her gaze returning back to Mora.

"Of course madam. Allow me to add new information. My father has been helbent on taking revenge on those that brought shame to our family using my brother. The events of yesternight were my last straw for he forced me to witness a crime I'm too ashamed to speak of."

Patting her shoulder in assurance , Elric's mother encouraged. "You are in a safe place Mora so do not worry. Speak freely."

"Well you see...Mijin was fated to my brother and..."

"What?" Yeon's father stood up in shock. "What do you mean fated?"

"Sweetheart you're making her nervous than she already is so please calm down." Yeon's mother assured.

"Y...yes sir but...my bother was forcefully paired to someone else with the same drug used on Yeon...but he couldn't move on after he came to his senses. This incident happened more than three years ago. Their marriage was dissolved after my brother's violent tendencies on his new wife. Yesterday....I was forced to watch my brother and Mijin...." Mora stopped, looking around nervously and Elric's mother took a hold of her hand and asked if she needed help explaining the story but she insisted she wananted to be brave.

"My brother was given the same drug together with Mijin to induce their heat...and he bit her....and....she imprinted on both of us..." Mora finished off, tears falling from her eyes as she leaned on Elric's mother's shoulder and began crying.

"No...! This can't be true!" Yeon's father was on his feet again. "Where is she? Where is my daughter right now?"

"I...I don't know. I was taken out of the room afterwards, my father warning me that it was a lesson in case I betray him or turn out like my brother...always causing trouble..."

"That's enough. You do not need to say anymore beyond that." Elric's mother assured her.

"I'm sorry...I'm so scared....I don't know what to do....or where to go. My father has eyes everywhere and if he were to find out I came here..." Mora kept quiet all of a sudden and grew still. She appeared to be trembling from fear and upon seeing this, Elric's mother adviced her to not speak up anymore.

"Elric, take her to one of the guest rooms."

Once outside, Elric led on while assuring a hysterical Mora. "Calm down. My mother will take care of this. Do not underestimate her networks. Our families have been business partners for years and despite our limited interaction, I know you are aware how formidable my family is."

Without looking at Elric, she opened the door gestured to her and replied. "I'm aware...but...you do not know my family well. It's not just my father you need to be afraid of but the rest of the people he's partnered with illegally."

Seeing how sullen she was, Elric urged her to get some rest and upon closing the door, he began walking to her mother's study where the rest were. It was then that he'd spotted Yeon pacing fast towards him and whispered for him to go back but Yeon refused, shaking his head.

"Where is she?" Yeon whispered back.

"I took her to one of the guest rooms. She'll spend the night here then leave tomorrow morning..."

"Do you believe a word she says?" Yeon cut in, unable to endure it any longer.

"What? Why would you ask me that? She risked her life coming here in person."

"Exactly. Why now? Why this time of the night? I have a hunch she is keeping more from us."

"Yeon...let's return before anyone sees you sneaking around."

"I don't believe a word she says Elric..." Yeon insisted.

"Neither do I so let's go back before someone comes looking for us okay? We'll talk about this later."

Smiling, Yeon nodded in agreement. "I almost thought she fooled you you know."

"The only person capable of fooling me is my one and only Zaddy"

They both giggled quietly at Elric's remark as they strode back to the room.