The CEO of forbidden redemption

Rain fell in impatient slaps, soaking the roads, the trees, an

hing a torn plastic bag that held vegetables barely worth the trouble. H

or lightning. She was used t

ct a car to come fly

Headlight

es from her body. Her knees gave out,

e driver, a man in a crisp black sui

die?! This is why street rats li

ed up, dazed

door opened. S

a silver crest, stepped out. Nine years old, tall for hi

he sai

r scowled

s ble

his polished shoes, her eyes wide with disbe

hat," he said. "The city

e handkerchief

s your

ted. "Y-Yo

'm Jae-min. K

her to the hospital. Pay for everyth

o object. "You

at her.

-

That N

tal bench, her scraped knees ban

ke this? Do you know how much this cost?! And w

lm her. "Please ma'am

he soun

ing. Her aunt grabbed her by

ched through the window. His eyes narrowed. He s

r pull

-

t N

storage closet. A singl

he handkerchief still

whispered. "Like a

aunt banged on the door and yelled, "No

-

Across t

rble dining table, untou

ng business mergers on the phone. His mother,

Jae-min sa

up, mildly irr

o transfe

le

asked, her

t want some

re going to Seongnam Internatio

the

iscus

r son. A smile

use of Sera

didn't

lementary, isn't she? I cou

. "That's a me

y," she said. "If he wa

small nod. "Tha

-

ng Yeonhwa Ele

ll of noise-children

the gate, flanked by her two best friends, Mina an

fer student today," Mina s

me loser," J

black car

s. The new tra

d out, adjusti

ealed. Bo

d forward. "Jae-min?! You're

itely. "Good

ned the crowd. They landed

shoes, old uniform,

Ha-

when she

eyes l

He didn't wave.

ep back, conf

e twisted with jealousy. She foll

king at that los

ou mean that cha

he probably smells

er hair. "She's disgusting. Dirty. You sho

ond. Not a word. No

mained lock

ed. Her fingers grip

bell

ension di

d as she watched t

he whispered u

Chapt