BREACHING THE CONTRACT

Kim took a deep breath as he dialed a number, the tension palpable in the air.

“Hello?” came a woman's voice, warm yet tinged with concern.

“Hey, it’s Kim,” she replied, trying to keep her tone light. “I wanted to update you—Shawn's keeping tabs on Anna. I think John might have a hint about what’s happening, or at least he knows part of our plan.”

Her voice brightened slightly. “That’s great news! Things are unfolding just the way we hoped.”

Kim hesitated, the weight of their secret pressing down on him. “Yeah… um, how are you holding up? And him?”

A single tear glistened in the lady's eye as she spoke. “We’re managing. It’s tough, but we’re alright. I am afraid for John. He is struggling with the past. He doesn't talk to me about it, but I know he wakes up in the middle of the night and can't sleep. What about you two?”

“We’re doing well. We miss you two. I’ll check in with you later,” Kim replied, feeling relief and empathy. “Just take care of yourself—and him.”

Kim wants to express his feelings to the lady as he often does, but he hesitates, believing that doing so would make him appear weak. At this moment, he feels the need to be strong because a long journey lies ahead for them.

“Of course, dear. Speak soon. Bye for now,” She said, her voice softening.

“Bye, take care,” Kim replied, ending the call, his heart heavy yet hopeful.

The lady sighed deeply as she sank into the plush couch in the dining room, her gaze fixed on some distant point. Lost in a whirlwind of memories, her thoughts drifted back to the day Kim called her—an unexpected moment that had shifted everything.

On that unforgettable day, a wave of relief washed over her as she finally realized that her son was safe and sound.

[Flashback start]

In a cozy living room, an elderly lady in her 60s shares a moment on the couch with her bright-eyed grandson. The atmosphere is thick with anticipation as they both turn their attention to the television, where breaking news unfolds. On the screen, a determined agent from GIA, the Intelligence Agency, has uncovered a shocking scandal involving one of the city's top businessmen. Their eyes widen as they lean forward, eager to catch every detail of this drama that could change everything.

Marco Morrow is one of the top 3 businessmen and the biggest rival of Matthew Corporation. They have a long-term enmity and are competing with each other for the position of the top businessman in the world. But Marco made one mistake: he chose an illegal business supplying ladies and children. GIA takes note of his illegal business and starts investigating him, and they discover during their investigation that the Morrow family has been doing this business for a long time.

Today's headlines are buzzing with a remarkable story that's capturing the attention of many. As a proud mother sits at home, her heart swelling with joy as her son takes the reins of the GIA. While news outlets remain in the dark about the agency's leadership, this woman knows the truth: she once held the title of owner herself. It's a tale of legacy, pride, and the intriguing connections that weave through public service.

She vividly recalls the day her father established this organization, a vision that would shape their family's legacy. It was here that she first crossed paths with her husband, sparking a romance that would change their lives forever. Together, they welcomed a son who eventually took the helm of the organization, continuing the family tradition. However, tragedy struck one fateful day when her son and daughter-in-law were involved in a harrowing accident alongside a family of friends. In an instant, both their lives and dreams were shattered, leaving her with the painful uncertainty of their disappearance.

[Flashback ends]

GIA headquarter

Kim can't shake the haunting memory of that day when he and his wife had to walk away, leaving their son alone in a cold, sterile hospital bed. The murderer remains at large, cloaked in shadows, and the truth lies just out of reach. But now, as a flicker of hope emerges with a new lead, the stakes are higher than ever. They need to be absolutely certain—this time, they can't afford to be wrong.

At night

The trio returned from the office and had dinner in silence with Ria, who observed them from across the table.

The next morning, after breakfast, Shawn, John, and Alex headed to the studio. John was eager to see how Shelly would react when she breached her contract.

Shawn was very excited about today’s show. John had prepared everything and didn’t want to miss a single moment. Just like when you're watching a movie, you wouldn't want to miss the opening ads and introductions; the same was true for today. None of them wanted to miss any part of the show. Shelly was about to break the main rule of her contract, and having an affair with the producer was definitely not right.

The envelope that John gave to Shawn the previous day contained an adult video of Shelly and her former producer. In the video, the two were clearly enjoying each other's company, and the date and time were noted on the side. This video had already been leaked to the media and was scheduled to be released just before the press conference.

The producer also crossed John's boundaries, so he plans to seize this opportunity. As the saying goes, "kill two birds with one stone," and he intends to use that strategy in this situation.

As the media settled into their designated seats, John entered the room where Shelly, the producer, and other staff members were present.

John already had a room at the location for rest, but he didn’t want to miss a single moment. It was exciting to see them take pride in their work, even if it was misplaced. Soon, he anticipated, the color would drain from their faces.

When Shelly noticed Alex standing behind John, she smirked at him before turning back to her makeup. Alex ignored her completely. John noticed this exchange but chose not to comment on it.

Unaware that John had seen her, Shelly continued to maintain her attitude toward everyone. Eventually, the press conference began.

John stepped into his room, where he had already set up the CCTV around the conference area. Shelly, the producer, and the director were seated, while John opted not to join them.

The host switched on the screen and projector, revealing a scene of a man and woman in a very intimate moment. The sounds of their moans and groans echoed clearly in the room as they called each other’s names in need.

Both Shelly and the producer, Mr. Miller, were taken aback by what they saw. Mr. Miller rushed to the stage to turn off the projector, but one of the bodyguards intervened to stop him.

Meanwhile, Shelly lost her balance upon seeing John standing in the corner. She approached him and pleaded, "John, trust me. It’s not me. I’ve never been with anyone else."

John pulled his hands away from hers and glared at her. Taken aback, Shelly stepped back. Shawn then stepped forward and said, "Miss Shelly, we’ve given you two chances. This time, you’ve broken the main rule of your contract: no scandals involving the organizer, producer, or director. You’ve recently had a drug case, and now this. Our company cannot afford to support such a scandalous artist. You have two weeks to pay the fee for breaching the contract. Please leave."

John said nothing as he pivoted on his heel and strode away, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. Alex and Shawn exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued, and fell into step behind him, the tension of the moment thickening as they wondered what had just transpired.

In Evans Mansion

The trio returned to the mansion after finishing some work at the office. After dinner, when everyone had retired to their rooms, Anna's phone rang. It was Madam Rey calling.

Anna picked up the phone and said, "Hello, Aunt Rey. How are you?"

Madam Rey responded, "Hello, Anna. I'm fine. What about you?"

"I'm fine too. What happened? You suddenly called me. Is everything okay?" Anna was tense because Madam Rey usually didn't call her at night unless there was a problem at the orphanage.

In a low voice, Madam Rey replied, "Anna, I need your help. Can you come here? It's urgent."

"Okay," Anna responded. She decided to go and ask Shawn for a leave of absence. She went to his room, but he wasn't there. When she asked the maid for his whereabouts, she was told he was most likely in John's study room. Anna thanked her and headed to the study room.

In the study room, John and Shawn were sitting opposite each other when they heard a knock at the door. Shawn stood up from his chair and opened the door to find Alex standing there.

“Do you need anything, Alex?” Shawn asked.

Alex replied, “Mr. Smith, I need to talk to you about something urgent.”

Shawn looks at John, who is engrossed in his work. He then gestures to Alex to move, and Alex complies as Shawn closes the door behind him.

Shawn asks, “Yes, what’s the matter?”

Alex explained, “I would like to request tomorrow off as a holiday.”

Shawn asked, “Why do you need it?”

Alex replied, “I have an urgent matter to attend to, and I need to be there. Can you grant me one day off?”

Shawn glanced at John, who was focused on his computer, before turning back to Alex and saying, “Okay, but only this time.”

Alex thanked Shawn and then left.