86. I'm Not Going Anywhere

There was a brief moment of awkwardness before they ended their brief conversation.

Josh knew he was guilty of not being able to keep the promise he had made. And Ashley was probably having a hard time yesterday to bear it all by herself without knowing why and what happened because Josh didn't inform her at all. But yesterday was really too difficult and complicated for him. He didn't even remember the lunch appointment with his mother-in-law until just a few moments ago when he saw Ashley's figure.

The incident with Sharon had completely taken away all of his sanity. And it was all beyond his control. 

Clearly, at the moment, Josh still couldn't divide his mind to resolve what happened between him and Ashley. Because his heart and mind are still full of regret and guilt that feels very excruciating.

Later. Later, when Sharon's condition was stable enough and the situation he was facing was calm again, he would try to explain it slowly to Ashley. He thought Ashley would understand because his current difficulty was not trivial.

After hanging up with Ashley, Josh made another call to his secretary.

“Yes, Mr. Lim?”

“Mr. Jung, my wife is sending my clothes to the office. Can you deliver them to the hospital after you receive them?”

“Yes, Sir. I will deliver them for you.”

“Please remember my request, Mr. Jung. Do it alone, don't let anyone know if you're meeting me at the hospital. And, make sure you answer correctly if my wife asks.”

“Of course, sir. I'll say you're out of town on business. There's no need to worry.” Mr. Jung replied with full understanding. 

The man who had devoted himself to working with Josh for almost two years did not know what kind of condition his boss was in. He just thought that he should just do what he was instructed to do without asking further questions or looking around. For some reason his feelings prevented him from interfering. After all, the less he knew about something that was none of his business, the better and safer it would be for himself.

“Thank you. Let me know if you will come to the hospital.”

“Yes, sSr.”

Josh went straight up the elevator to the room where Sharon was being treated.

She had already been moved to the regular inpatient room before Josh left for a while to meet Mr. Jung.

When he opened the door to Sharon's hospital room, the man—Somun—was sitting by the bedside. And when he noticed Josh's arrival, he turned his head and stood up.

Josh looked at him with an uncomfortable look that held a lot of anger. But unfortunately, right now there were many reasons why he couldn't just explode what was stuck in his head. Instead, he spoke in a nonchalant tone of voice.

“You can go home. Thank you for looking after Sharon.”

Josh looked away after saying those words. He felt sick to his stomach and didn't want the man to be here—near Sharon.

Although Josh couldn't avoid the fact that it was the man who saved Sharon yesterday and managed to keep him informed when he didn't have his cell phone with him. If not because that man, who knows what might have happened to Sharon. He honestly didn't dare to imagine it in the slightest. 

However, he still couldn't bring himself to let that man stay connected to Sharon—for any reason.

Josh took over the chair that Somun had been sitting on. He didn't look at Somun at all and began to ignore him—not intending to say any more words because he thought what he had just said was clear enough to convey what he meant.

Somun, on the other hand, might not have been so sensitive to Josh's attitude, so he was seen shaking his head spontaneously, “It's okay. I'll wait until she wakes up again. Well, I'll be outside if you need me.”

Josh still didn't turn to Somun who was standing behind him. Instead, his head was raised straight ahead, looking at the window opposite him, with a sharp gaze and hardened jaw.

“I told you to go home,” his tone of voice turned cold and stiff, ”And henceforth, you don't need to come here anymore.”

Somun frowned. He just realized the treatment he was getting really hurt his pride. His easily angered nature instantly prompted him to grab Josh's collar very firmly and roughly and pull him up until Josh was standing parallel to him.

Shock graced Josh's face. He was not expecting and was not prepared for the barbaric act that happened to him at that moment. But instead of retaliating with violence, Josh kept himself silent and grinned mockingly at Somun.

“This is a hospital. I can make you regret it if you do violence here.”

Somun jerked his hand on Josh's shirt collar more roughly without letting go. His eyes stared wide at Josh as he rattled his teeth.

“You should be thanking me for saving your girlfriend, dumb-ass!”

“I know. I've said it,” Josh kept his cool while his neck was about to choke.

“Shit. What kind of attitude is this? You're insulting me?!” Somun glared with a flushed face. He simply couldn't contain his anger in the slightest. “You owe me a huge debt, do you know that?! If it wasn't for me, that bitch would be dead!” his voice rose even higher and ended with a shout.

Josh, who heard Sharon being insulted, started to lose his temper a little. His hand suddenly grabbed Somun's wrist, which was still holding his collar, with full force and tried to twist it.

“I told you. I'm thankful to you. But, the chronology of how you were with Sharon when that horrible incident happened, I can't just believe it. Because it's too strange. It's too coincidental. Who can guarantee that you saved Sharon—not hurt her and pretend to save her?”

Josh was baiting. And Somun fell into his trap. His anger really couldn't be assuaged anymore. He almost raised his other hand to deliver a punch to Josh's face. But the sudden sound of Sharon's small moan, instantly awakened and restrained him.

Josh and Somun both gasped and turned to Sharon at that moment. As Sharon was seen slowly getting up and whimpering in pain, Josh quickly disentangled himself from Somun and approached the girl.

However, Sharon did not seem to be fully conscious and was still under the influence of the tranquilizer. Her head was wriggling slightly but her eyes were still closed.

Josh tilted his head towards Somun who was still standing pensive.

“I will find out what really happened. I'll repay you with the appropriate reward if you really did save Sharon. But if not, you must be prepared to face the consequences.”

Somun snorted. He was deeply troubled by his agreement with Sharon, but also afraid that Josh would find out what truly happened. After a few moments of wrestling with his own confusion, Somun simply walked out of the room.

“Josh...” Sharon mumbled in a very weak voice, almost inaudible.

“Yes. It's me,” Josh gently grasped Sharon's hand whose wrist was wrapped in gauze. “I'm right here.”

“Don't go,” Sharon winced. Her voice was still mumbling incoherently. Meanwhile, her eyes began to open slightly when she realized that the voice she heard was really Josh's. She tried to look at the figure in front of her with all her might.

Josh could catch the girl's words well. The pain that pierced his heart was getting more and more painful. 

“I'm here, baby. I'm not going anywhere else. I'm here.”