Speak of The Devil

It was a hellish night. As I was mesmerized by the surreal scene unfolding before my eyes, I snapped back to reality to find Jung Yiyeon lying in a pool of blood in my brother’s hands. Literally, a pool of blood. His face, crushed under my brother’s violence, was drenched in blood. Yet my brother’s fists didn’t cease.As I struggled to get up, men dressed in black rushed into the room. The horrified screams echoed in my ears.The men lunged at my brother, who was assaulting Jung Yiyeon. Amidst the chaos, there was a scuffle to restrain my brother, who seemed utterly mad. No, he was undoubtedly insane. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to face people with such a blank expression, devoid of any sense of remorse.My brother coldly attacked those who tried to stop him, dodging and occasionally receiving blows himself. But he retaliated fiercely, kicking and punching those who struck him.However, numerical superiority prevailed. The men finally managed to overpower my brother, pinning him to the ground. Despite the blood streaming down his face and his swollen features, they managed to control the situation.Voices calling for an ambulance and contacting others rang in my ears like a distant echo. All I could do amidst the chaos was stare blankly.Even when one of them released me, I remained numb. I mechanically adjusted my robe with trembling hands.The men assessed Jung Yiyeon’s condition. Lying motionless on the floor, he resembled a corpse. His blood-soaked face was as pale as death. Soon, men who appeared to be paramedics arrived and carried Jung Yiyeon away on a stretcher.A face covered in blood. Limbs sprawled helplessly.I could only stare blankly at the scene. The arm that had resisted my brother’s violence was twisted at an unnatural angle. I prayed it was just a trick of my eyes.As they left, the police arrived. My brother was handcuffed before my eyes. Resisting fiercely, he was dragged away by them.Only then did I regain my senses, desperately calling out to my brother and trying to follow, but I was restrained by the rough men.“Move along now,” one of them ordered forcefully.Forced out, I struggled against them, insisting on going to my brother, but I couldn’t resist the men. I was forcibly placed into a car, which followed the ambulance.That night. My brother was arrested, and Jung Yiyeon was taken to the hospital. I, too, found myself confined to a hospital bed.I wasn’t hurt at all. I was the only one in that room without a scratch. The doctors were well aware of this fact.However, as I shouted that I needed to see my brother, the men grabbed me and administered a sedative. After receiving a shot, I instantly felt weak all over. My vision swirled, and I collapsed onto the bed without any chance to even think about feeling drowsy.And when I woke up in the morning, I was still in the hospital. The dizziness overwhelmed me the moment I opened my eyes in the entirely white hospital room.I had come to the hospital with a perfectly healthy body, yet I had become completely immobilized. In a stunning irony, I lay on the bed unable to move, and two men entered the room.What greeted me in the early morning hours were investigators.“Ah, you’re awake. Can we have a moment to talk?”I could only manage to sit up in bed, but I couldn’t refuse to talk. I stared at them intently from my bed.“Normally, we would have called you in for questioning, but considering your condition, we came to see you. Could you tell us about the incident from last night?”“My brother…”My voice sounded unpleasant even to my own ears.“Could you first tell us about the details of the incident?”“Don’t we need to know what’s going on before we can talk? What happened to my brother?”The two investigators exchanged glances before speaking.“Last night, we received a report of trespassing and assault, and the police responded. When they arrived, the situation had already been resolved, and the suspect was subdued. Based on witness statements, the suspect was immediately arrested and is currently in custody. As you can see, the investigation into the incident is ongoing.”“The suspect is Lee Nan’s brother. I’d like to know why the brothers were at the victim’s villa and what the reason for the assault was.”“You’re talking strangely. I… I wasn’t with my brother at Jung Yiyeon’s villa. Instead, I went there with Jung Yiyeon a few days ago. We had been staying there for a few days.”“I heard that you used to work as the victim’s secretary before resigning. Why did you go to the villa with him after his resignation?”“Just… just got invited. We used to see each other occasionally even after he resigned.”“Then why did the suspect, Lee Nan’s brother, suddenly show up?”I was tongue-tied. I couldn’t figure out what to say. I was confused about how much the other party knew and how much I should disclose. I worried that my words might work against my brother.“…Haven’t you heard why I was there…?”The reason my brother had beaten Jung Yiyeon so badly was that I was crying while tied up. Seeing me in such a state, they might have misunderstood and thought I had been raped. There was no chance to explain. I was overwhelmed by my brother’s violence, rendered speechless and pale.Then the bodyguards came, subdued Jung Yiyeon, and released me. There was a witness to the fact that I was tied up during all of this—Jung Yiyeon’s bodyguards.“Well, I don’t know about that yet. How were you tied up?”I remained silent.If I honestly said I was tied up, they would ask for the reason. And then I would have no answer. I couldn’t tell anyone why Jung Yiyeon had tied me up. If I were a woman, maybe, but as a man, I couldn’t disclose the sexual relationship between Jung Yiyeon and me. Warning bells rang loudly in my head, insisting I must not speak.“…Do I have to answer right now?”“Well, eventually, once the case is referred to the prosecution, you’ll have to testify as a witness.”“Referred to the prosecution…?”“The suspect… Lee Won wasn’t alone. The members he brought with him assaulted the bodyguards guarding the villa. There were signs of forced entry, broken windows, and doors. With just those facts, prosecution seems inevitable.”I hadn’t realized the villa was so well soundproofed. When the mystery of how they got past the guards was solved, my heart sank.“And the victim… is it Jung Yiyeon? The heir of the ‘Eunha Group.'”Thump. Thump. My heart pounded too loudly.“If it’s this afternoon, the detention will be confirmed, and the suspect will be transferred to the detention center.”Feeling drained of blood from my body, every mention of the word “suspect” ignited an explosive wave of anxiety that had been quietly spreading within me. It seemed the investigators no longer expected any more answers from me as they left. Just before leaving the room, one of the investigators muttered in a tone that seemed almost audible.“It’s funny how the law works, isn’t it?”***By lunchtime, the effects of the sedative had worn off, and my condition had slightly improved. I forced myself to eat the meal that was served and got up from my seat. My thoughts were still jumbled, and the current situation felt surreal. But I couldn’t just dismiss it as a dream and let go.I thought it was just a regular hospital room, but as I opened the door and stepped out, there was another room. I almost forgot my predicament, my mouth agape. It was an appropriate space, with a living room equipped with a sofa and a table under bright, soft lighting.After a moment of astonishment, I resumed walking. I crossed the living room and opened another door. And once again, I was taken aback. Two men were standing guard in front of the hospital room door.Their imposing stature was as intimidating as my brother’s. Clad in black suits, they appeared to be bodyguards.“Are you awake?”Were they personnel prepared to detain me? Their demeanor was courteous, making it difficult to gauge.“…Is Mr. Jung Yiyeon here?”Even if they were here to confine me, they wouldn’t prevent me from meeting Jung Yiyeon. When I asked, one of the men replied politely.“Please come this way.”I followed the man. After walking a short distance down the quiet corridor, the man stopped. After two knocks, he opened the door.“Please come in.”Guided by the man, I entered the room. It was an anteroom similar in structure to the one I had been in, with a sofa and a table instead of a patient’s bed.“Oh, you’re awake.”The man sitting on the sofa suddenly stood up.“Do you need anything?”“…Who…”“I’m Yoo Seokjun from the Eunha Group’s secretary office.”I was momentarily taken aback by the mention of the Eunha Group’s secretary office. There was no doubt that it was a different organization from the secretary office I was familiar with while working under Jung Yiyeon. I also recalled hearing that Jung Yiyeon had recently become the director of the headquarters planning and strategy department.For a moment, I felt an unfamiliar sensation. But quickly snapping out of it, I looked at him.“Is the boss…”“He’s asleep after taking painkillers. Would you like to go in?”I silently nodded and took a step forward. The door to the room with the bed was already open. As I approached, the outline of the bed became visible.The closer I got to the room. And as the bed came more into view, my steps grew heavier.Why were my hands trembling like this, and why was my strength leaving my legs? I found myself biting my lips involuntarily. I tried to put strength into my legs to walk, but my steps felt too heavy. My heart was pounding so hard it was agonizing.And finally stepping into the room, as his bed came into full view…I felt like I might scream without realizing it. It felt like something had pierced through me, leaving a hole.Unlike me, who felt no pain, there were monitors indicating vital signs next to Jung Yiyeon. There were also IV fluids attached.Wasn’t what I saw yesterday wrong? His left arm was in a cast.And as I raised my gaze a bit more, the moment Jung Yiyeon’s face came into view.I couldn’t bear to look at him any longer, so I turned my head away. That alone was enough for me to not be able to stay in the room any longer, so I rushed out.This is insane. This is crazy, Lee Won. Is my brother really in his right mind? How could he do this to someone? How could he turn that handsome face into such a sight?“Mr. Lee Nan, are you okay?”At that moment, a man named Yoo Seokjun approached me.“How is Jung Yiyeon… Is his condition… severe?”“They say there are no other fractures except for the left arm. However, due to the extensive contusions throughout the body, the pain seems severe, so it seems he’ll need to continue receiving painkillers for a while.”I didn’t want to recall it, but the image of Jung Yiyeon, soaked in blood after being beaten by my brother at the villa, came to mind. The moment I thought of his face splattered with red liquid, a shiver ran down my spine.Amidst all that, should I admire Jung Yiyeon for enduring with just one broken arm? Or should I admire Lee Won for not injuring his bones while beating someone so violently?Lee Won, you crazy bastard. If only you could control the intensity of your violence, you should have just held back and not hit him in the first place. Only a heavy sigh escaped my lips.“My Hyung… my Hyung…”“When the boss wakes up, it’s his matter to handle. You don’t need to worry too much.”“I heard he’s being arrested. They say he’ll be transferred to prison this afternoon.”“…Well, it’s because it’s an assault case.”A third party. A stranger, so it’s easy to speak. Moreover, he was the perpetrator who made Jung Yiyeon look like that.Neither a victim nor someone working for him. What could I expect from Director Yoo Seokjun?It felt like I was sinking into a bottomless pit, with darkness engulfing me. In the depths of despair, my mind became distant. At least, if Jung Yiyeon had been awake, if he could have given me some certainty, would the situation have been different?Can I rely on Jung Yiyeon in this situation? As thoughts of Jung Yiyeon’s gruesome appearance, which I couldn’t even properly look at, came to mind, I felt like I was going crazy. I couldn’t stay in this space any longer.“I should go now.”“Wait until the boss wakes up.”“No. I’m leaving.”How could I stay sane? When Jung Yiyeon is lying there like that. When it’s my brother who put him in that state.For now, I wanted to meet my brother. Whether to find out how the situation was unfolding or to seek a lawyer or testify, I needed to know.“Anyway, there’s probably nothing you can do, Mr. Lee Nan. Even if you meet the police and testify, I’m not sure if it’ll help.”“I can’t just sit still like this.”“Then ask me instead.”I was speechless. I couldn’t grasp his intentions, which only left me feeling confused.“Even if you go to see a lawyer, it’ll just be a waste of time.”“So, are you saying Mr. Yoo Seokjun will provide legal advice or something?”“Within my capacity, yes. It would be better than hiring a lawyer.”I stared at the man who spoke as if he knew the current situation best, feeling bewildered.“Unless Mr. Lee Won takes direct action, there’s little significance for Mr. Lee Nan to appoint a lawyer. It’s not easy even to find out the case number.”As this was my first experience with such a situation, I had no knowledge of the law. In fact, I didn’t even know where Hyung was right now. I simply vaguely hoped that a lawyer might have some solution.“And if you do decide to see a lawyer, how much do you plan to disclose?”“…”“Lawyers are bound by confidentiality, of course. But this involves the heir of the Eunha Group. Even the smallest gossip shouldn’t circulate. If that happens, it will involve the entire group, which wouldn’t be good for Mr. Lee Nan and his family.”Was this a threat? I shuddered at the dry tone.“Wait until President Jung Yiyeon wakes up. That’s the best option.”Best for whom, I wanted to ask. But my lips wouldn’t move as if glued shut. My body trembled. I felt anxious and scared. It was becoming unbearable if I didn’t do something.Yet, when the man pointed out my helplessness, I couldn’t help but feel humiliated. Sitting still and waiting for Jung Yiyeon to wake up felt like torture to me.Jung Yiyeon’s swollen and bruised face. I didn’t even have the courage to face it.“I’ll figure it out on my own.”I didn’t know what the right direction was. But I didn’t want to stay in the hospital room where Jung Yiyeon lay anymore. Even if there was nothing I could do, I wanted to run away from here.Director Yoo Seokjun, who had been expressionless all along, let out a small sigh. Surprisingly, a positive response came from his lips.“I understand. Then I’ll assign someone to assist you.”My voice came out stiffly.“Are you trying to monitor me?”“No, this is simply to assist Mr. Lee Nan.”“I don’t need it.”“In your current state, it might be difficult for you to change into hospital clothes.”I fell silent at Yoo Seokjun’s suggestion.He was right. I couldn’t think of anyone to ask for clothes right away. Moreover, I didn’t even have my phone with me. The only number I memorized was Hyung’s. Hyung, who was currently in jail.“It would be more comfortable for you to change clothes in the room. If you decide to go back, we’ll send someone.”Even in this situation, I had no choice. I just had to do as I was told. The fact that they weren’t actively obstructing me made me surprisingly grateful.Who was all of this for? In that moment, something hot surged within me. It was a feeling of injustice and anger.“Okay, then.”Anyway, this person was offering me assistance. In this terrible situation, I decided to willingly accept it. I wasn’t in a position to pick and choose right now. I just wanted to get out of here somehow and know exactly what was happening with Hyung.“Please also bring my phone. If you can find mine, return it to me, otherwise, I don’t mind getting a new one.”“We’ll prepare it soon.”“Please hurry. If it’s delayed, I’ll just leave in hospital clothes.”I was just anxious. Emotions like anxiety and humiliation mixed together, making rational thinking impossible. But I couldn’t stay like this.Waiting for the person to come back with clothes felt like an eternity. I didn’t know where to start, but just waiting silently felt unbearable.I was being driven to panic by a situation I had never imagined experiencing. I had lived a life where I never even set foot in a police station. No matter how much I tried to understand, I didn’t even know what I didn’t know.First, I went home and searched about assault cases as much as I could. Since I had never been a victim or perpetrator in such a situation, the procedures and even the terminology seemed unfamiliar to me.Even if someone was arrested on the spot as a current offender, it seemed that they were not often immediately detained with a warrant in assault cases. It seemed to take time even for the case to be referred to the prosecution.Just by looking at internet posts, it was evident that Hyung’s situation was not good. Feeling like I was sinking deeper into a swamp, I closed the internet window and took out my phone.What Yoo Seokjun had passed on to me was my phone, which Jung Yiyeon had taken and not returned. As I scrolled through countless names in my contacts, I searched for names that could help me.But my family was the perpetrator. Moreover, if I wanted to talk, I would have to talk about myself too. And the fact that the victim was a chaebol’s third generation complicated matters. Though I agonized over it, I eventually contacted a senior lawyer whom I had known.At my request for a recommendation for a lawyer specializing in Hyung’s case, the senior, with whom I had barely been in contact a few times a year, sighed and hung up. Then, shortly after, he sent me a business card.All I could do was visit the lawyer. I hoped the person he recommended was trustworthy.Thanks to the referral, the lawyer quickly arranged a meeting. I quickly changed into suitable clothes and left the house.But it was when I exited the apartment entrance.“Mr. Lee Nan.”A man in a black suit followed me. He was one of the operatives Yoo Seokjun had assigned to me. He introduced himself, but I couldn’t remember his name. I was completely out of it.“Are you going out? Let me drive you.”“No, I’ll just take a taxi…”“Please get in.”Without waiting for my response, he opened the car door. After a moment of hesitation, I got into his car. I had already taken his car from the hospital to home earlier. Now, I wasn’t in a position to refuse.“Where to?”“XXX Law Firm.”The man’s hand, about to enter the address into the navigation, hesitated for a moment. However, without asking me further, he entered the name of the law firm. Perhaps it was a well-known place, as just entering the name was enough for the address to appear on the car’s navigation.The sedan, which felt too grand for me, glided along the road. It was rush hour, so traffic was heavy. Anxious about possibly being late for my appointment, I nervously bit my lip in the car. Shouldn’t I have taken the subway instead? Regrets flooded in.I should have visited the lawyer sooner.From what I learned, even if someone was detained in prison, their family might not be notified if the detainee didn’t inform them. Only in cases where a guilty verdict was reached and formal detention in court occurred would one family member be notified, but that hadn’t happened yet.And Hyung, my Hyung, would never be the one to inform me of the situation. I might not even know which prison Hyung was in until he received his sentence.In the end, it seemed the only conclusion was that I could do nothing.But I wanted some confirmation. Was there truly no way, or could a lawyer suggest another option? At the very least, I was desperate to know if I could find out which detention center Hyung was in and if visitation was possible.As the car stopped and started repeatedly, we gradually approached our destination. As the appointment time approached, my anxiety grew.Lee Won, you crazy bastard…I never expected a day would come when I missed Hyung so much. So, in reality, I felt like crying uncontrollably.As soon as the car arrived at the underground parking lot, I quickly made my way to the lawyer’s office.However, I had to leave the lawyer’s office before even 30 minutes had passed, walking out with weak, trembling steps.Even though the lawyer assured me that secrets would be kept confidential and urged me to speak up, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.Hyung… hitting someone… Because of a misunderstanding, thinking I was in trouble, he… But Hyung wasn’t alone; it was because he was with the people he worked with…I stumbled through those words. Unable to articulate properly, the consultation couldn’t progress.No matter how many times I gathered the courage to speak properly, each time, the voice of Yoo Seokjun echoed in my mind.“It’s concerning the third generation of Eunha Group. Even a slight rumor should not circulate. If that were to happen, it would involve the group, and that wouldn’t be good for you and your family.”