The chilly night air pressed against my face as I stood trembling on the dimly lit balcony, clutching my phone with white knuckles. Inside the warm apartment, Joon and his father were still speaking in hushed, urgent tones, unaware that their secret had just breached the quiet threshold. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs as the line began to ring, every dial tone sounding like a ticking time bomb counting down to my daughter’s absolute heartbreak.
Emily answered on the third ring, her voice bright and breathless amidst the background hum of her busy Seoul office. Hearing her innocent cheerfulness made my stomach drop into a dark, hollow pit as I tried to force words past the lump in my throat. I pressed my back against the glass door, watching Joon’s silhouette pace nervously across the living room floor while his father shook his head in bitter disappointment.
“Mom? Is everything okay?” Emily asked, her smile fading through the receiver as my silence stretched too long. I took a sharp, ragged breath, desperately trying to keep my voice from cracking as I prepared to shatter her world completely.
What terrible confession was Joon hiding behind his perfect smile? Go to the next part to discover the horrifying truth…
