乱录目伦短篇小说

Chapter 347: Lee Hyung-Moon (1)

As such, we had no choice but to disguise him to avoid causing a scene at the hospital.

"Even though your mom\'s memory is back, it\'s not completely restored yet. So don\'t be too surprised when you see her," I explained.

Haru nodded. "Yes, I understand."

I explained everything that had happened to Natalia on the way to the hospital, and Haru handled it calmly.

"Wait a moment. I need to make a quick call."

When I called Kim Chul-Soo, he informed me that Natalia had been moved from the emergency room to a VIP room.

-She\'s in VIP Room 1101. We couldn\'t put her in a general room considering Mr. Haru\'s situation.

"Oh, then we\'ll take care of the hospital bills—"

Just then, Haru interrupted beside me. "Hyung, let me pay. Please, let me do this."

Haru never bought anything for himself, but he held out his card and insisted on covering the over 1 million won per night cost of the VIP room for his mom.

Nonetheless, Kim Chul-Soo responded first.

-I\'ve already paid for it. Don\'t worry and you can just come up right away.

Kim Chul-Soo ended the call, saying it was no trouble.

Haru tilted his head and asked, "Hyung, who is this Dr. Kim?"

Although I had a general idea, I only told Haru what I knew to avoid giving him any preconceived notions.

"He\'s the one who\'s been taking care of your mom for the past five years."

Haru paused for a moment. "He\'s a good person...I owe him."

Haru\'s voice was filled with complex emotions.

"Come on, let\'s just think about your mom for now and go see her."

I got out of the car first and guided Haru while shielding him as we moved through the VIP entrance.

***

VIP Room 1101 was over 50 pyeong in size.

Haru\'s mother was lying on the bed and resting after receiving a sedative.

A doctor and two nurses were monitoring Natalia\'s condition, while Kim Chul-Soo stood nearby and watched over her with a worried expression.

Seeing his mother\'s pale face, Haru, who had remained composed until now, started to tear up again. "Mom..."

At that moment, Doctor Choi Ill-Joon gently patted Haru\'s back. "Mr. Haru, your mom will wake up soon after she finishes the IV drip. So don\'t worry too much."

Haru nodded with tears streaming down his face.

Kim Chul-Soo stepped aside and said, "Haru, take a seat here."

Haru thanked him and sat down on the stool next to the bed. He held his mother\'s hand tightly and stared at her closed eyes.

When the IV bag was nearly empty, Natalia let out a faint moan. "Ugh..."

Haru instinctively cried out, "Mom, are you okay?"

Hearing her son\'s voice, Natalia struggled to open her eyes.

At that moment, tears began to pour from her eyes as if a faucet had been turned on.

The VIP nurse rushed over to wipe Natalia\'s tears and adjusted the electric bed.

With a soft whirring sound, the backrest of the bed slowly rose to a vertical position.

Natalia tried to speak. "Aah... Aah..."

However, the nurse intervened. "Please don\'t force yourself. Take it slow."

Haru held his mother\'s hand tightly and said, "Mom, I\'m okay. Just take your time... slowly."

Natalia gently caressed her son\'s cheek and struggled to speak. "H-Haru... I\'m... really, really... sorry..."

"No, Mom. I\'m the one who should be sorry. I should have found you sooner... I didn\'t know you were going through so much while I...I..."

"No, if I hadn\'t left the house like that..."

Overcome with emotion, Haru couldn\'t hold back any longer and hugged his mother tightly. He let out all the feelings he had been holding back and cried out loudly. "Mom... I missed you! I missed you so, so much! Mom!"

Haru\'s tearful voice filled the room.

At the same time, Natalia burst into tears and released everything she had held in. "Yes... I missed you too..."

Kim Chul-Soo, the medical staff, and I turned away to give them some privacy.

***

A little while later, Haru barely managed to calm down and held Natalia\'s hand. "Mom, do you remember everything now?"

"Some things are still a bit hazy, but I remember everything about you."

"Even my birthday?"

"Of course. It\'s November 1st. And I\'m sorry for leaving you alone for so long. I wanted to bring you back sooner, but it didn\'t work out."

Wiping away his tears, Haru held his mother\'s hand tightly and began to share everything that had happened. He talked about how he became an actor and how he was living in Seoul.

I hadn\'t realized Haru could talk so much as he spent the next hour telling his mom everything he had been through.

After listening quietly, Natalia patted Haru\'s hand. "Haru, I have something to discuss with your talent agent. Can we continue talking later...?"

Haru nodded reluctantly and got up. "Okay..."

As Haru left with Kim Chul-Soo, I was left alone with Natalia.

She clasped her hands together and bowed her head. "Thank you. I\'ve regained my memory thanks to you."

"Not at all. It\'s because you found the courage to see Haru, Ms. Natalia."

"No, if you hadn\'t come to find me, I wouldn\'t have had the courage to do this."

After repeatedly thanking me, Natalia\'s expression turned serious as she asked, "You said Haru\'s father came looking for him, right?"

"Yes. He even filed a lawsuit just a while ago. He\'s determined to get his hands on Haru\'s money."

Natalia frowned and made up her mind. "I\'ve had enough of running from Haru\'s father. I don\'t care what happens to me, so please just make sure Haru doesn\'t get hurt."

She said she was even considering divorce and asked me to use any means necessary for Haru\'s sake.

"I will do everything in my power to help."

Now that Haru\'s mother had hardened her resolve, it was my turn to take action.

I immediately called reporters Jang Moon-Ki and Choi So-Hye. Since the KY Law Firm was involved, I planned to go all out.

\'Mr. Kim Yong-Suk, let\'s see how well you can defend yourself this time,\' I thought.

I intended to take this opportunity to settle things with Kim Yong-Suk, who had also troubled Eun-Ah.

Next, I called the publicity and legal divisions to inform them of the situation, and also called Kang Gam-Chan to give an update.

After making several calls and handling the necessary arrangements, Natalia smiled and said. "I understand now why Haru trusts and relies on you, Mr. Jung. You\'re so capable..."

"You flatter me. Ahem."

Clearing my throat, I asked Natalia for a favor. "Oh, but there\'s something I\'d like you to help with."

"I\'ll help you with anything. Just say it."

"If you agree, I would like to have Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon come here."

Natalia gripped the blanket tightly and trembled. "Is it for Haru\'s sake?"

"It\'s for both Haru and you, Ms. Natalia."

I began to explain my plan to Natalia.

After listening to my explanation, Natalia nodded. "If it\'s for that reason, I have no choice. I\'ll do as you say, Mr. Jung."

With Natalia\'s consent, it was time to set the trap.

I immediately called Seo Jae-Ill. "Mr. Seo, I have a favor to ask..."

Seo Jae-Ill replied warmly.

-How can I help?

***

A day passed, and the story of Haru and Natalia\'s reunion at the Table of Mukbang finals was all over the news.

With the support of the promotion division at Hoop Entertainment pushing articles written by reporters Choi So-Hye and Jang Moon-Ki, public opinion quickly swung in our favor.

[Table of Mukbang Winner Mr. Haru\'s Tragic Family Story]

[Haru\'s Father\'s Unreasonable Demands: "My Son is Mine, So His Money is Mine Too!"]

[Haru: "Now, I Want to Protect My Mom!"]

(Comments)

-Wow, that scumbag should be thrown in jail immediately.

-What the hell? He\'s demanding all the money Haru earned saying he should control Haru\'s finances because he\'s his father? Is he even human?

-Is this really a country ruled by law? He beats his wife and kid, then extorts money from his son? And he\'s not in jail yet?

-What a piece of trash. And he calls himself a parent? Disgusting.

As expected, the public opinion was overwhelmingly in support of Haru.

I showed the phone to Haru and his mother and reassured them. "If we\'re lucky, they\'ll come to the table within two days, or at most, a week. And since Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon has already taken the bait, things could wrap up even sooner."

Yesterday, I met Seo Jae-Ill, who introduced me to his colleague, Yang Hyung-Sik.

Yang Hyung-Sik was a prosecutor specializing in domestic violence cases, and he advised me to file a restraining order after seeing the evidence of abuse we had recorded when Haru first joined us.

Following his advice, I applied for a restraining order under Haru and Natalia\'s names. I received news this morning that the restraining order had been delivered to Lee Hyung-Moon.

Just a moment ago, Lee Hyung-Moon called me, screaming and demanding to know where I was. I told him exactly where I was because I knew he would be too impulsive to consult his lawyer and would come straight to me.

When I told Haru that his father might be coming to the hospital soon, he began to tremble.

Despite her own fear, Natalia gripped her son\'s hand tightly. "Don\'t worry, Haru. We just need to do what Mr. Jung says."

"I-I know. But just thinking about seeing Dad makes my heart feel like it\'s going to explode..."

I calmed them both down and assured them there was nothing to worry about.

For their safety, I had stationed two security guards inside the room just in case—and one of them was recording the entire scene on his phone.

"Don\'t worry. I won\'t let him lay a hand on you or your mom," I assured Haru.

"Yes, hyung."

Just then, a rough voice came from outside the room.

-Let me go! Let go of me! Who are you to stop me from seeing my wife and kid!?

\'Speak of the devil,\' I thought.

"Let him in."

When I signaled the guards posted at the VIP room entrance, they opened the door.

"Let him through."

As the security guards outside the room stepped aside, the fuming Lee Hyung-Moon stormed in.

"How dare you! Who gave you the right to slap a restraining order on me?"

Lee Hyung-Moon was holding the restraining order in his hand, waving it around angrily.

"Don\'t you understand what a restraining order is, Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon?"

Lee Hyung-Moon strode up to me, standing nose to nose. I could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath.

"You think this piece of paper can stop me? You\'re messing with the wrong guy!"

Seething with anger, Lee Hyung-Moon looked past me and shouted at Natalia and Haru. "Oh, so the runaway wife is here! And the ungrateful brat, too!"

Though Lee Hyung-Moon\'s vulgar threats filled the room, I let him continue without interference since we were recording everything.

Natalia held Haru\'s hand and responded firmly. "Go away. We have nothing to say to you!"

"Hah! Listen to her speak! Where do you get off talking like that to her husband? Hey, you want to die?"

Lee Hyung-Moon tried to lunge toward the two, but I stepped in and blocked him before he could get any closer.

"Get out of my way! Who do you think you are to stop me?" he yelled.

I warned him, "You should leave while you can—unless you want things to get ugly."

Lee Hyung-Moon snorted. "Ugly? The only one who\'ll get hurt here is you!"

Then, he turned to Haru and shouted. "Hey! Lee Haru! Come over here right now! Break your contract with that worthless company! I\'ve found a much better one for you!"

Haru stood his ground. "No! Who are you to tell me to break my contract?"

"Hey! I\'m your guardian, you little brat! You think you\'re safe just because you haven\'t been hit for a while? Do you want to get beaten again?"

The moment Lee Hyung-Moon raised his hand out of habit, I instinctively grabbed his wrist. "Your bad habits haven\'t changed, have they, Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon? And I\'m the one with guardianship now, not you. Did you forget about the contract?"

"That contract is void! And let go of me! I said, let go!"

Lee Hyung-Moon struggled to free his hand, but I didn\'t let go.

I called Yang Hyung-Sik immediately. "Mr. Yang. Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon is here at the hospital causing trouble."

-He\'s at the hospital despite the restraining order?

"Yes, and he\'s brought the order with him."

Yang Hyung-Sik responded coldly.

-I\'ll send an officer right away. They\'ll be there from the nearby precinct in three minutes. Please wait.

"Thank you, sir."

As soon as I hung up, Lee Hyung-Moon started thrashing around even more.

Then, I heard footsteps outside the room.

It seemed too soon for the police to arrive, and I realized it was none other than his lawyer: Kim Yong-Suk from KY Law Firm.

I released my grip on Lee Hyung-Moon\'s wrist and told the guard to open the door.

When the door opened, Kim Yong-Suk rushed in with a panicked expression. "Mr. Lee Hyung-Moon! What are you doing here?"

"What do you think I\'m doing? I\'m here to get my runaway wife back!"

"P-please, let\'s talk outside. Now!"

Kim Yong-Suk grabbed the still-furious Lee Hyung-Moon and dragged him toward the exit.

Kim Yong-Suk was the kind of person who could twist the situation and even use this as evidence that Lee hadn\'t violated the restraining order.

I couldn\'t let him get away with that and quickly added, "Mr. Lee, have you heard that Ms. Natalia plans to file for divorce?"

At that moment, Lee Hyung-Moon stopped in his tracks. "What did you say?"

Lee Hyung-Moon glared at Natalia. "Hey! Natalia! Is that true?"

Still holding Haru tightly, Natalia shouted back, "Yes. We\'re already over!"

Lee Hyung-Moon cursed. "Th-that bitch! Just because I haven\'t hit you in a few years, you think you can disrespect your husband?"

Enraged, Lee Hyung-Moon shoved Kim Yong-Suk\'s arm aside and charged at me. "This is all your fault, you bastard!"

Click.

Just then, the door to the hospital room swung open and the police officers I had been waiting for arrived.

\'Perfect timing.\'