Emergency Instinct - Chapter 42

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A smile spread across Park Soon-ja’s lips at the words that followed, and she relaxed languidly.

 

She felt it instinctively. The thick scent of money wafting out.

 

***

 

Dusk was falling.

 

The sky descended rapidly.

 

Ji-an couldn’t just sit there and cry.

 

She barely managed to compose her tears as work time approached.

 

Since she had to live through today, she left her mother behind and went to work.

 

She covered her disheveled face with a mask and began her duties.

 

It was Kyung-seok’s day off, so there was a lot to do.

 

Ji-an thought it was rather fortunate. At times like this, it was better to stay busy seeing patients.

 

Just then, ambulances came in one after another.

 

After handling a TA patient, though her body was tired, her mind became clearer. Her distracting thoughts disappeared, and her emotions had settled when it happened.

 

As she was going to the next patient, a nurse quietly called Ji-an.

 

“Dr. Hong? It’s a fall patient, but they want to see you first before registration.”

 

“…Me?”

 

“Yes. Bed number 1.”

 

Who could it be…

 

Ji-an felt puzzled as she headed to bed number 1 at the innermost area.

 

Opening the carefully drawn curtain and entering, Ji-an immediately recognized the patient.

 

Lee Mi-so, who had recently visited the emergency room with her daughter.

 

The wife of Member of Parliament Kang Chi-han, and the mother of the child Ji-an had saved.

 

She was lying curled up, clutching her right wrist.

 

When their eyes met, she slightly averted her gaze and bit her lip.

 

Ji-an, who remembered her name, immediately asked.

 

“Lee Mi-so, right?”

 

“…How do you even know my name…”

 

“When you came to the emergency room last time, I saw the guardian’s name written on the chart.”

 

“You have a good memory.”

 

She gave an awkward smile with her pale face.

 

“…I, I missed my step on the stairwell. It was my mistake. It’s just a simple fall, but it wouldn’t be good if word got out. I want to receive treatment quietly – you can take care of me, right, Doctor?”

 

“…Yes. Of course.”

 

Ji-an didn’t like the feeling from her anxious eyes.

 

Did she really miss her step?

 

The naturally flowing expression “simple fall” was particularly bothersome. As if this wasn’t the first time. Her somewhat unstable gaze was the same.

 

“Let me take a look first. Where does it hurt the most?”

 

“…My, my right wrist.”

 

Her voice cracked low as she continued clutching her wrist.

 

“Let go and lie down straight.”

 

Ji-an quietly rolled up her right sleeve. And she saw a vivid bruise on the inside of her wrist.

 

Overlapping marks like handprints.

 

This was definitely not an injury that could result from a simple fall.

 

Ji-an quickly examined other areas.

 

Her sides and abdomen.

 

Repeated bruising marks in hidden, unexposed areas.

 

Deep, ugly scars carved into her back as if whipped – old and repeated scars.

 

The image of a leather belt striking a woman’s back flashed through her mind, and Ji-an’s head grew hot.

 

This wasn’t a fall.

 

What her body was telling was clearly evidence of cruel violence.

 

As she quietly swallowed and gritted her teeth with rising anger.

 

Buzz, buzz.

 

Her phone beside the bed vibrated.

 

The name on the screen was Husband.

 

Lee Mi-so’s eyes shook roughly with terror.

 

Ji-an recalled the day she came to the emergency room with her daughter. After taking her husband’s call, she had hurriedly said she was going home with an anxious face.

 

That was exactly why she had felt uneasy all along.

 

‘My mother is sick.’

 

She also remembered what the child had muttered deliriously with fever in the emergency room last time.

 

Ji-an had thought it meant the mother’s heart ached because her child was sick.

 

But looking at it now, that wasn’t it.

 

The child had wanted to tell Ji-an about her mother’s physical condition.

 

Recalling that day when she had let them go without noticing, goosebumps rose all over her body.

 

Ji-an quickly snatched the vibrating phone and turned it off first.

 

“Cell phone use isn’t allowed in the emergency room.”

 

“…I, I have to answer it. My husband will worry…”

 

“Let’s do the examination first. The hospital can contact your guardian separately.”

 

Her throat felt hot. But Ji-an spoke calmly. And she tried to reassure her.

 

“We’ll take an X-ray and go to the CT room. You might have injured your head during the fall. There could be damage to your ribs, lungs, or internal organs. Let’s admit you for thorough examination…”

 

“No, no. Admission is absolutely not allowed!”

 

A terrified voice immediately burst out. But the woman who had raised her voice in pain soon clutched her side and spoke with difficulty.

 

“Please, just look at my wrist. It’s just a small crack. You don’t need to process insurance, so please don’t leave any medical records. My husband is a public figure, so I don’t want to cause a commotion.”

 

Without even breathing, she spoke as if reciting from memory. As if someone had instructed her.

 

But Ji-an had already noticed that she felt pain in her side every time she breathed. She absolutely couldn’t let her go like this.

 

“Lee Mi-so. I can help you in other ways too.”

 

Ji-an no longer hid anything and looked into her eyes as she spoke.

 

“…You can just nod slightly.”

 

But she shook her head with a terror-stricken face.

 

“Right now, do you need help?”

 

“…No. I’m, I’m fine. I won’t be admitted.”

 

“Lee Mi-so. No, Su-jin’s mother…”

 

“Our Su, Su-jin is waiting at home right now.”

 

As soon as she heard her daughter’s name, her eyes visibly shook.

 

“Doctor, I have to go. To Su-jin. Our daughter is at home right now…”

 

Tears flowed down her trembling cheeks.

 

The reason she had no choice but to refuse help was her daughter.

 

Right now, the child was being held captive.

 

Ji-an’s heart grew heavy as she saw her own mother in this woman.

 

Her mother, as seen through eight-year-old Ji-an’s eyes, had exactly those same eyes.

 

She had foolishly endured and endured again to protect her daughter.

 

Unable to ask anyone for help, she just persevered.

 

She endured Grandmother’s violence, verbal abuse, and exploitation.

 

Believing that was the way to protect her daughter, she sacrificed herself.

 

Not knowing that her daughter would inherit that foolish heart and have to endure as well…

 

Choked up, Ji-an looked at her and spoke firmly.

 

As if telling herself to come to her senses.

 

“Lee Mi-so! If that’s the case, you need help even more. You have to speak up for Su-jin’s sake too. Grab onto anyone and cry out for help.”

 

“…!”

 

She shook her head as if to say it wasn’t possible.

 

“I can help you.”

 

Ji-an didn’t back down and extended her hand.

 

The hand she had desperately hoped someone would extend to her when she was young. With earnest eyes.

 

“Ms. Lee Mi-so. Did you really accidentally fall down the stairs?”

 

When Ji-an asked again, she shed tears and only trembled her lips.

 

“Are you being threatened for your safety?”

 

“…Doctor, please just put on the cast. I, I have no power. If they take away our Su-jin, I can’t live. I’ll never, never see her again. Please….”

 

“Su-jin’s mother. If you just endure like this, will Su-jin be safe?”

 

When she asked about Su-jin’s safety, her eyes shook violently.

 

“No, they don’t lay a hand on the child. That, that kind of thing….”

 

“Are you certain?”

 

Ji-an asked, recalling the slap she received from Grandmother.

 

Most people suffering from family violence think it will end if they just endure it alone. But violence, unless its cycle is broken, continues to evolve.

 

It never stops on its own.

 

Grandmother, who tormented Mother, was the same way.

 

At first, it was subtle mistreatment from her mother-in-law. When Father was there to serve as a shield, it was bearable. But when Father left, she tormented her more cruelly to get her to sign away her inheritance rights.

 

In the end, Grandmother threatened to take away Ji-an’s custody, got her to give up the inheritance, and drove her out.

 

Within that were countless acts of violence and verbal abuse directed at me. And I’m still being controlled by it.

 

If she couldn’t break free herself, the cruel cycle of family would probably continue for life.

 

Ji-an desperately hoped Lee Mi-so would make the right choice before it was too late.

 

For her daughter, and for herself.

 

“Su-jin’s mother, now is your chance.”

 

Ji-an persuaded her once more with a churning heart. As earnestly as if speaking to herself.

 

“Take my hand.”

 

Please, grab hold of this helping hand.

 

“If it’s for Su-jin, you need to fight back even more.”

 

As if her heart had been reached.

 

“Sob sob, Doctor. Please help me.”

 

Finally, the mother’s heart that had been fleeing in fear collapsed. As if hoping for salvation.

 

“Please, please save me and our Su-jin. Please….”

 

Ji-an firmly grasped her trembling hand. While nodding her head vigorously.

 

***

 

Tae-jun ran along the riverside at dawn.

 

He thought if he poured out sweat and pushed his body hard, he would calm down.

 

But his body and heart were still in turmoil.

 

After finishing his shower and coming out of the bathroom, his phone rang, cutting through the silence.

 

He sat down and calmly pressed the call button.

 

-The investigation you ordered is complete.

 

Manager Kim’s voice came through.

 

“Tell me.”

 

-The grandmother’s name is Park Soon-ja. She’s the chairman of Dongsan Hospital’s board of directors. The deceased Hong Ji-an’s father was the hospital director of Dongsan Hospital and the largest shareholder. Currently, his younger brother Hong Chul-ho is the hospital director, and the largest shareholder is Park Soon-ja.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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