Global Awakening: Only I Can Respawn

"I thought you had changed, but I was wrong," YuWon said, shaking his head. "First, you protected Hoon, and now this? Like father, like daughter. You're all the same—a bunch of backstabbers."

Yeji flinched upon seeing the coldness in his eyes. It was only then she realized by stopping YuWon; she had made a terrible mistake. Even so, she didn't want to believe her father could do something so heinous...not till he had confessed.

"He... he hasn't admitted to anything," she cried, holding on to YuWon's leg as she looked at him, pleading. "This could all be a misunderstanding—"

"A misunderstanding," YuWon scoffed. "Sure, let's clear everything, shall we?"

A moment later, YuWon brought out a sword and pointed it directly at Seok's head.

"You love your father, but does he love you?" YuWon said coldly, "If he does, he'll confess the truth. Won't you, beloved stepfather?"

However, even with the sword aimed at him, Seok didn't speak a word.

"I knew you wouldn't," YuWon said, looking at Yeji. "That's why I wanted to do this."

Without another word, YuWon snapped his fingers. The slave brand around Yeji's neck flared up. Yeji's eyes widened in shock, and she immediately let go of YuWon's leg.

A second later, her body convulsed, and she fell to the ground, whimpering in pain. Seok averted his eyes, unable to watch, but he couldn't ignore his daughter's, and soon he couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop!" Seok yelled. "Yes! I was the one behind it all!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yeji stopped convulsing. Slowly, she stood up, her body steady, as if nothing had happened.

Seok's eyes widened as Yeji stared at him. There wasn't a hint of pain in her. She was completely fine. Only then did Seok realize Yeji had pretended to be in pain and tricked him into confessing.

"How could you—?" Seok said, wanting to call her out.

But Yeji had other plans and slapped him hard across the face. Seok staggered back, clutching his cheek in disbelief. Unable to hold back, Yeji rushed to YuWon, burying her face in his chest as tears flowed down her eyes without stopping.

"I'm... sorry..." she sniffed between sobs.

"You did good," YuWon mumbled, patting her head while his eyes remained fixed on Seok. "The bastard would have never confessed without your help."

YuWon nodded at Gina and Lysandra. The two stepped up and took Yeji away from there. No matter what kind of relationship the father-daughter had, she wouldn't want to see what would happen next.

YuWon took a step towards Seok, who was on his knees with his head hung low in defeat. He knew it was the end for him since the only two people who could stop YuWon weren't on his side anymore.

However, YuWon would not kill him. No matter how much he wanted to. More than Seok's death, YuWon wanted answers.

"Why?" YuWon demanded. "Why did you do it?"

As Seok realized he had nothing to lose, he let out a bitter laugh.

"Haha, you want to know?" he laughed. "I will not tell you jack shit, ungrateful brat!"

"It was because of my father... was it?"

Seok's confidence wavered for a moment. He could see YuWon's indifference, and it unsettled him. But then he realized something.

Even if he was going to die, he wanted to see YuWon's desperate face again. The same face YuWon had made when he got thrown out of the family.

"I did it because I wanted to get rid of you," Seok said, laughing maniacally. "Just like I got rid of your father."

YuWon's face turned expressionless. Then he felt his heart stop for a moment. He had always believed that his father had abandoned them, leaving for America, and never returned. But if that was the case, then what did Seok mean?

"What did you do?" YuWon growled, his fists shaking with rage.

"Do I need to spell it out for you?" Seok grinned like a madman.

Min-Ji gasped as all colors were drained from her face. Like YuWon, she too believed that her husband had simply left them. After all, that's what it said in the letter he had left behind.

But now she fell to her knees, clutching her chest as if she had been struck by a physical blow.

"I got him killed!" Seok laughed. "I killed him because that bastard stole Min-Ji from me! That bastard knew I loved her, yet he took her from me. How could I let it go?"

He continued, "So I did what any lover would. I waited for my turn and slowly manipulated for his business to fail. Then I lured him in, dangling the carrot of an investment before him."

"He came to discuss the terms of collaboration, only to be drugged and kidnapped! I will never forget his screams, as I had him tortured and killed."

YuWon was too stunned the speak. The father he had hated for leaving him behind had never left. But was... killed by Seok. However, the bastard wasn't done yet. YuWon wanted to know the truth, so Seok would tell him everything.

"I paid some men to do it," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "They tortured him for days before dumping his body in the sea. No one ever found him."

He turned to look at Min-Ji, who was staring at him with hatred. "And those letters you got? The ones saying he left for America? I wrote those. It was so easy to get someone to copy Jihno's handwriting."

As Min-Ji glared at him, Seok couldn't help but take another jab.

"Seeing Min-Ji curse his name while she was with me was the best revenge ever. She kept blaming him for leaving her, not knowing her name was the last thing Jihno spoke... It was the best feeling."

Min-Ji covered her ears, not wanting to hear anymore. The man she had loved, the father of her child... he hadn't abandoned them. He had been murdered, and all these years, she had cursed him, never knowing the truth.