**Kael's POV**
The hospital corridor was too bright. Too loud. Too everything.
I sat in the waiting area, phone clutched in my hand, watching doctors and nurses rush past.
*Your father collapsed.*
*A journalist with documents.*
*Sunshine won't answer.*
Everything was falling apart at once.
"Mr. Kim?"
I looked up. The doctor stood there, clipboard in hand.
"Your father is stable. We've got his blood pressure under control. It was stress-induced, but he's regained consciousness. You can see him now."
I followed him to the room.
My father lay in the hospital bed, looking smaller than I'd ever seen him. Older. Frailer. The machines beeped steadily around him.
"Jae-won," he said quietly when he saw me. Using my real name. The one nobody called me anymore.
"You should rest—"
"I saw your performance." He cut me off. "Before everything happened. I watched you win that award."
I didn't know what to say.
"I'm proud of you, son."
The words hung in the air between us.
Nine years. Nine years of distance and silence. And now this.
"Dad—"
"Whatever's happening out there," he said, voice weak but steady. "We'll handle it. Like we did before. You're not alone this time."
My throat tightened. "I need to go. There's someone I need to find."
He nodded. "Go."
---
I gave my driver Sunshine's address.
The whole drive, I kept calling. Over and over.
*The number you have dialled is not available. Please try again later.*
I texted:
**Kael: Sunshine, please. I need to talk to you.**
**Kael: Where are you?**
**Kael: Please just let me know you're okay.**
Not delivered. Her phone was still off.
We pulled up to her apartment building. I went to her door. Knocked.
No answer.
I knocked again. Harder.
"Sunshine? Are you there? Please, I just need to talk to you."
Nothing.
Either she wasn't home or she was ignoring me.
Both options felt like knives.
I stood there for ten more minutes, knocking, calling her name, until a neighbour opened their door and asked if I needed help.
"No," I said. "I'm leaving."
I got back in the car.
"Take me home."
---
When I walked into my house, Mrs. Choi was there.
"Kael! How's your father?"
"He's stable." My voice sounded hollow. "He's going to be okay."
"Oh, thank God. You must be exhausted. Let me make you something to eat—"
"I'm fine. I just need to—"
The doorbell rang.
Director Han stood outside, face tight with worry.
"We need to talk. Now."
She came in, and Mrs. Choi quietly disappeared into the kitchen.
Director Han looked at me. Really looked at me.
"You're not okay."
"I'm fine—"
"Don't lie to me." She sat down on the couch. "Your father is stable, right? The hospital called me."
I nodded.
"Then what's wrong? You look like you're about to collapse."
I couldn't tell her. Couldn't say *the woman I love found out my secret from drunk strangers at a party, and now she won't answer my calls, and I think I've lost her forever.*
"I'm just tired."
"Kael." She pulled out her phone. "We have a bigger problem right now. Take a look at this."
She showed me her screen. A text message from an unknown number.
**I have documents from Seoul International Academy. School records. A witness statement that wasn't in the official report. I want Kael Devereaux's side of the story. On record. Or I release everything by tomorrow morning.**
My blood ran cold.
"Do you recognize this number?" Director Han asked.
I stared at it. Shook my head.
"Who would have access to those records? The case was sealed. Your father made sure—"
The voices started.
Quiet at first. Then louder.
*Murderer.*
*Killer.*
*He got away with it.*
The room started spinning.
I saw it. All of it.
**The rooftop. Min-ho's angry face. "You're heartless!"**
**The fight. The punches. Getting too close to the edge.**
**His eyes going wide.**
**My hand reaching..**
**The fall.**
**The scream.**
**The impact.**
**Everyone staring up at me.**
**"He killed him!"**
And then Sunshine's face in that elevator.
*"Someone died. And you never told me."*
*"Stay away from me."*
The doors closing.
Her face disappearing.
I couldn't breathe.
"Kael? Kael, what's wrong?" Director han asked after noticing that I was drifting away.
I stood up too fast. The room tilted.
"I need—I have to—"
I ran.
Up the stairs. Third floor. The room at the end of the hall.
The hidden room.
I locked the door behind me and slid to the floor.
And everything came crashing down.
**Director Han's POV**
I stood in the living room, staring at the staircase where Kael had just disappeared.
"What just happened?" I asked Mrs. Choi.
She looked worried. Scared, even.
"He went to that room," she said quietly. "The one he goes to when things get bad."
"Bad how?"
She hesitated. "When he came home earlier—before you arrived—he looked devastated. He's been on his phone constantly. Texting someone. Leaving voicemails. Saying things like—" She lowered her voice. "Like 'Sunshine, please call me. I can explain. Please don't give up on me.'"
My eyes widened. "Sunshine?"
"I don't know who that is. But he sounded desperate."
"Sunshine," I repeated, my mind racing. "That's his assistant. What—" My stomach dropped as realization hit. "Oh no. Has she—has she found out too?"
I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.
Straight to voicemail.
I tried again.
Still voicemail.
"Where is she?" I muttered, pacing the living room.
---
**Sunshine's POV**
I hadn't left my room in two days.
My mom and I lived together in a two-bedroom apartment in Mapo that i was able to rent from my first 2 salaries. I was paid working at KDX Entertainment. She usually cooks before she leaves for her business.
Usually, she gave me space. But today she knocked on my door.
"Sunshine? You didn't touch the food I made you yesterday. Or this morning. Are you okay?"
I didn't answer.
"I'm coming in."
The door opened. She sat on the edge of my bed and looked at me.
I must have looked terrible. Eyes swollen from crying. Hair a mess. Still in the same clothes from two days ago.
"What happened?" she asked gently.
And I told her everything.
About Kael. About falling in love. About what I'd overheard at the party. About someone dying.
About him never telling me.
She listened without interrupting. Then she took my hand.
"This boy—do you love him?"
"Yes." The word came out broken.
"And before you found out—was he good to you?"
I thought about Kael. His gentleness. His kindness. The way he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.
"Yes."
"Then you owe it to yourself—and to him—to hear his side. He was fifteen, Sunshine. A child. Whatever happened clearly traumatized him. The question is: can you love someone who's been through something terrible? Or will you let fear decide for you?"
I stared at my hands.
"I don't know if I can—"
"You don't have to decide right now. But at least listen. Give him a chance to explain. And then decide."
I nodded slowly.
"I'll think about it."
She squeezed my hand and left.
That gave me so much relief and I was able to eat and slept throughout the rest of the day.
---
**Day Three**
I finally found my phone under the couch. Dead battery.
I plugged it in and went to take a shower.
When I came back, it was buzzing nonstop.
73 missed calls. 58 text messages.
Most from Kael.
**Kael: Sunshine, please. I need to talk to you.**
**Kael: Where are you?**
**Kael: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please let me explain.**
**Kael: I love you. Whatever you heard, please just let me explain.**
**Kael: Please don't give up on me.**
The messages stopped after the first day. Then nothing.
My chest tightened.
Then my phone rang. Director Han.
I answered. "Hello?"
"Sunshine! Finally! Where have you been? Are you okay? Have you—have you resigned?"
"What? No, I—my phone was dead. I just charged it. I'm sorry, I should have called—"
"Are you okay?" she asked again, voice tight.
"I'm fine. I'm getting ready for work actually—"
"Sunshine." She cut me off. "Kael hasn't left his room for three days."
My blood ran cold.
"What?"
"He locked himself in a room at his house three days ago. Won't come out. Won't eat. Won't talk to anyone. He's been—" Her voice broke. "He's been calling you. Texting you. And I didn't know why until now. What happened?
Guilt crashed over me.
"I don't know what happened between you two, but please. Can you come?"
I was already grabbing my keys.
"Send me the address."
---
**Kael's POV**
I didn't know what day it was anymore.
I switched off my phone because it kept buzzing with calls and notifications.
Time had stopped meaning anything.
I heard voices downstairs. Mrs. Choi. Director Han. Someone else.
Footsteps on the stairs.
Then—
"Kael? Kael, are you in there?"
I froze.
That voice.
No.
It couldn't be—
"Please, where is he? Which room?"
"Here. This one."
Footsteps stopped right outside my door.
Then sobbing.
And knocking. Desperate. Frantic.
"Kael? Kael, please!"
My head snapped up.
"It's me. It's Sunshine. Please open the door!"
She was here.
She was actually here.
"Kael, please! I'm so sorry! I should have answered! I should have been there! Please just open the door!"
I crawled to the door. Pressed my hand against the wood.
She was crying on the other side.
"Please, Kael. It's Sunshine. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Please."
My voice came out broken. Hoarse. "Sunshine?"
Silence.
Then: "Yes! Yes, it's me! It's Sunshine! I'm here!"
I leaned my forehead against the door.
She came.
After everything. After the article. After three days of silence.
She came.
"Sunshine?" I said again, because I couldn't believe it was real.
"Yes!" She was sobbing harder now. "It's me, Kael. I'm here. Please open the door. Let me see you. Let me help you."
My hand found the lock.
For the first time in three days, I moved.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
And there she was.
---
**END OF CHAPTER 13**