The Idol's Wife

He looked from his teacher to the President of his company. Ms. Sohee looked unabashed while President Jung was sheepish.

"How come you never mentioned it?" he asked them. "Why did you hide this?"

"Who said I was hiding?" Ms. Sohee shrugged. "I just didn't think it was important enough to be mentioned. Besides, you could have just asked."

Even though he had been training under her for many years, Jiwon never asked Ms. Sohee about her family. They were always focused on his well being. 

"It wasn't really something we flaunt," President Jung said. "We've been married for almost eighteen years. Your father was my best man at the wedding."

"It was such a beautiful wedding," Sohee smiled at her husband and gave him another peck on the lips. Her usually stern demeanour was completely stripped off. Instead, there was a tenderness in her eyes whenever she looked at her husband. 

Jiwon's mouth fell in surprise. It was difficult to decide which was more shocking: President Jung and Ms. Sohee's marriage or the gentle expression on Ms. Sohee's face. Personally, Jiwon felt it was the latter.

"Where's Mirae?" Sohee asked her husband.

"She is at her friend's house," he replied. "I asked her to come but she said that she had exams and needs to study."

"Mirae is studying?" Ms. Sohee asked in astonishment. "She never even touches her school books! The only thing that girl is an expert in are gaming and computers."

"Well, she did mention her friend bought a new gaming console," President Jung admitted.

Ms. Sohee snorted. Her daughter was quite useless when it came to studying but the girl had an in-depth knowledge of all kinds of gadgets.

Meanwhile, Jiwon was still trying to process the new revelations. 

"So, the property papers were simply an excuse to meet Ms. Sohee?" Jiwon asked President Jung.

"Yes," President Jung admitted. "It's our wedding anniversary today. I booked a special cottage for us a few blocks away from the school."

Jiwon kept a neutral expression but he registered the last words very carefully. This meant that Ms. Sohee would not be in the school that night…

"I'll join you in a minute," Ms. Sohee told her husband. "Can I have a word with my student?"

"Sure," President Jung replied. "I'll wait in your room then."

He turned to Jiwon. "I'll see you later, Jiwon," he said, giving Jiwon a slight bow. Jiwon nodded and watched him exit the room. It was just him and Ms. Sohee now.

"Jiwon," Ms. Sohee started. "I know that you wanted to go to that party. I wish I could allow you to go but that area is too dangerous. It is frequented by the Cartel's men. We have no jurisdiction there and even our men cannot put surveillance there. If anything happens there, then it will be very difficult for us to reach you."

"I understand, Ms. Sohee," Jiwon lied. "I will not go there."

Sohee was not totally convinced, but she had no choice. She would increase the security around the school to make sure Jiwon did not sneak out. 

Jiwon read the hesitation in her voice. "I promise that I won't attend the party," he quickly said. "I won't break my word , Ms. Sohee."

Sohee gave him a small smile. "Don't break your promises, Jiwon," she advised him. "Ever."

Jiwon felt a twinge of guilt for lying. He did not like to lie especially to Ms. Sohee. But he pushed aside those thoughts. It was only one night and he had trained for years. He can handle the Cartel's underlings for one night. There was no guarantee that they will even try to harm him.

It will be fine, he assured himself.

….

In the present, the door to CEO Ahn's office flew open. Ash barged in, followed by Dasom and Jinhyun.

"Ash!" Dasom exclaimed as the former flung open drawers, scanning through the papers. "What are we doing here?"

Ash ignored him and kept on going through the doc.u.ments. He emptied the files, throwing out any doc.u.ment which he deemed unimportant. He was searching frantically.

"Ash?" Jinhyun called him. "What are you doing?"

On Ash's insistence, they cancelled their remaining tour and returned to their country. Upon landing, Ash drove straight to the studio instead of the hospital. On the way, he even called Hyun Jung.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching. Within seconds, Hyun Jung came running in.

"What's going on here, Ash?" he demanded. Ash ignored him and turned on the computer on CEO Ahn's desk. 

"Ash?" Hyun Jung called him. "What's going on?"

"Why are we here?" Dasom asked. "We should go and visit KJ!"

"Ash, are you hiding something?" Jinhyun questioned him.

"Hyun Jung," Ash finally spoke up. "Ask the CEO of Abyss to get this computer thoroughly scanned for any information which might link CEO Ahn to the Cartel."

The three of them were shocked at his words.

"CEO Ahn?" Dasom frowned. "With the Cartel? Impossible!"

"Are you sure of this Ash?" Jinhyun asked with uncertainty. "He is our CEO! Why would he try to harm KJ? And let's for argument's sake even if we agree he is with the Cartel. Why would he try to harm Dasom? Shouldn't he go for KJ, who is currently vulnerable at the hospital?"

Ash thought hard. There was only one explanation to this.

"That's because the lines Dasom sang last night were originally KJ's lines, Ash said slowly. "In the previous concert, however, I was the one who took over KJ's lines. But last night, Dasom took over for KJ…"

"They were after you," Hyun Jung concluded. 

"That still doesn't explain why they would target any of us," Dasom reasoned.

But Ash and Hyun Jung knew why the Cartel may have targeted the former. They must have found out that Ash spied on Madam Hong. 

"But how are you so sure that CEO Ahn might be behind it?" Hyun Jung asked.

"The girl I bumped into before going on stage looked very familiar," Ash explained. "I didn't pay any attention to her when I bumped into her. But after the incident at the concert, I checked the CCTV footage and recognized her as one of CEO Ahn's previous mistresses."

The other three were shocked. 

"She could have been one of our haters too," Jinhyun said. "Haters do go to extreme lengths to harm idols. She may have held grudges after CEO Ahn dumped her?"

"True, but only CEO Ahn can answer us now," Ash said. "Let's go to his house."