41 If I didn't have any choice, you wouldn't asking me

It smells like a hospital.

Nam Ji Won wakes up, feeling odd and drowsy at the same times. She tries to move, but her body is completely strapped to the bed. She can't open her mouth or move her head. She struggles against the bed violently in vain. She realizes that the room is spinning. She feels like throwing up.

"She is awake." She hears a woman's voice.

Are they crazy? What are they doing to her?

"Stop the spinning, Ku Song-Hee." She hears a man's voice. "It's distracting."

The room stops spinning. Nam Ji Won tries to lift her head to see, but she can't move an inch. She realizes that her clothes have been changed. She has no idea what these people did to her.

"Release her."

The straps are gone. Nam Ji Won doesn't move for a few moments. She is afraid. Where is Tae Il? What did they do to him? Where are her sister and mother?

"They are fine." The man answers her questions calmly. "Your boyfriend is also fine. They are at home, thinking that you went to study traditional medicine."

"What?" She sits up suddenly. She realizes that there is a black glass wall in front of her. She can't see the people on the other side. "What does it mean?"

"It means what it means." The man, on the other side of the glass wall, speaks in a casual tone. "Don't blame us though. That's Mr Choi's work. He is good at memories manipulation. He can make people believe what he wants them to believe."

She purses her lips. Is that fox in this? Did he plan this?

"Mr Choi is currently looking for you everywhere. With his skills, he will find you soon." She hears him sigh loudly. "Now, we know why he has such interest in you."

"Who are you?" She jumps off the bed. There are red strap marks on her wrists and ankles. She feels like she has been drugged. She notices needle marks on her arm. She has passed out, but she didn't come out of her body as a ghost. What did that boy do to her? Is her ability gone?

"You have a lot of questions, Miss Nam." The black glass wall slides away, exposing three men and a woman watching her. She knows one. It's the same guy whom she met on the roof. The second man is tall, skinny, lithe, dressed in a black suit, and oozing a dangerous aura. His dark hair is combed back. There are wrinkles in the corner of his eyes. She can't guess his age.

She instinctively steps back and frowns when she realizes that she is afraid. The third man is shortest with an average build and ordinary looks. He has a warm smile, but his eyes are cold.

The most normal person is the woman in the white coat. Her hair is tied into a bun. She looks like she is curious. She must be Ku Song-Hee.

"Who are you?"

"Miss Nam, you are currently at one of the Monarch Company's branches." The tall man gives her a half smile. Nam Ji Won takes another step back. Everything about him screams that he is dangerous. No, all the people here are dangerous to her. "My name is No Ye-Joon. Mr In sent me in his place to speak with you."

Nam Ji Won has no idea who Mr In is. She has no idea why No Ye-Joon is introducing himself like this. She makes a note to remember these names. These people are mad. She clenches her fists and asks, "The accident that killed my father and sent me to sleep for the last five years...are you people behind it?"

No Ye-Joon lets out a deep sigh. "We had no idea that you had such gifts, Miss Nam. We deeply apologize for the pain we caused you. If we had known, we would have never attacked our own. That's our policy. We never harm our people in any way."

Nam Ji Won chuckles mockingly. "Can your apology bring my father back?"

He clicks his tongue. "The dead can't be brought back. However, we can take revenge for you. If you want Miss Lee, we can bring her any time. We can give you anything you want whether it's money, power, or fame."

"Why?" She crosses her arms. "Why would you bring me anything that I want?"

"The Monarch Company wants to make use of your gifts." No Ye-Joon gives her a straightforward answer. "Miss Nam, you are currently the only one of your kind. At first, we thought that you were another person with some special gifts. After running some tests, we saw some surprising results."

Nam Ji Won isn't interested in results. She shakes her head and grits her teeth. "Will you give me the person you sent after me five years ago? I want him."

Jasper's lips curl up. This girl is something. She is clearly afraid, but she is talking back to this person. How long will she last if he plays with her?

"Okay," No Ye-Joon replies after some thoughts. "We will give you that person. Then, do you agree to let us utilize your gifts?"

"Hah!" Nam Ji Won rolls her eyes. "You don't harm your people, do you? It only took you a few seconds to decide that I am worth more than that person. You are willing to give him up for me. Is this your loyalty? Stop this joke. Even if you give me the world, I am never ever coming to your side."

No Ye-Joon stares at her darkly. "Miss Nam, do you think that you have a choice?"

"If I didn't have any choice, you wouldn't be asking me." Nam Ji Won smirks at him. "You kidnapped me from my home. You kept me strapped to the bed and took my blood without my permission Now, you are asking for my permission. So, you are afraid of some authority. You can't kill me either. You need my formal consent for whatever that you want to do to me."