YISO'S POV

There, in our bed, was Marshall, his shirt discarded, tangled sheets around his waist and Karen! Karen!

My best friend!

Her eyes were locked with Marshall's, her lips pressed against his as if they belonged to each other.

She didn't notice me at first, too absorbed in the moment.

Marshall's eyes, however, snapped toward me, possibly from the sound of the glass shattering which I couldn't even be bothered to know at this point and wide with shock, his hands froze mid-movement.

I couldn't breathe. My body went numb.

The words didn't come at first. All I could do was stand there, paralyzed by what I was seeing.

Finally, I managed to choke out the question I already knew the answer to. "What is this?"

Marshall scrambled to sit up, but Karen remained unmoved, her gaze cold.

I could feel the betrayal burning through me. It wasn't just that he'd done this. It was Karen, the one person I thought I could trust with anything. Even my life!

She has been there for as long as I can remember even when I was bullied in school she was the one who stuck with me and helped me overcome my fears.

She literally knew everything about me.

She was there the day I married Marshall she was my maid of honor, she was the one person I would call first everyday before I met Marshall so how could she do this to me.

Karen finally looked over at me, her lips curling into a cold and an unremorseful smirk. "Oh, Yiso... You're home early."

"Early?" It's almost 12 am and you say early?". I still couldn't process what was going on. "What... What are you doing?".

Karen casually stood up, slipping into her clothes as if nothing was wrong. "What does it look like? I'm taking what's mine."

The anger inside me was growing and suffocating me.

I couldn't see clearly at this point.

"Taking what's yours? What the hell are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," she sneered, crossing her arms.

"This perfect life you've built, this perfect marriage you've flaunted. It's all so..so fa..fake!"' Karen screamed, stuttering and shaking with rage.

I couldn't understand her rage.

I should be the one angry, I should be the one to scream, so why was she so angry when I'm the one badly hurt by the two people I have come to trust and love the most in the whole world.

Compared to how loved and lucky I felt earlier today, I feel cheated, betrayed and most of all lied to.

I tried to find my voice again.

"Karen, please." My voice cracked as I took a step toward her. "Why? Why would you do this?"

"You never saw it, did you?" she mocked. "You never saw how much I hated you, how I envied your life. Your husband. You've had everything, and I've had nothing. But not anymore."

"No..not anymore! I have tolerated you for so long. As it stands, and I can barely stand your goody two shoes nature longer than you can blink right now Miss Kenoly".

Before I could get in any more words, she continued in her raged monologue.

"I couldn't stand you for a long time Yi. I always had to hear people say 'she's so nice'. 'She's so beautiful'. 'She has the best personality I've ever seen'!. 'It must be nice to be her friend'.

"The constant subtle comparisons were too much but I took it all in silence knowing I would watch your downfall soon and I guess the wait made this look on your face even much sweeter to look at".

"I could take a picture and frame it Yi , that's how satisfying it feels right now". She said falling to the bed with her hands spread wide open.

I could barely breathe. "You're my best friend. How could you..?"

Karen's laugh cut through the air. "You really think Marshall wants you? You're wrong. He's mine now, he has always been mine. I'm not going anywhere."

"What do you mean by that?". I whisper, scared of what her reply would be.

"He has always been mine Yi..let's just say I lent him to you for some time". Her smile gets even colder and more sinister if that were possible.

She continues without stopping, making my heart shatter even more with her cruel words.

"I convinced him to get on the dating app you know..it took a lot but he agreed and I knew convincing you would be a piece of cake and in no time you fell right into my trap".

She slowly lifts herself up from the bed revealing her face better to me

"Don't you see Yi he was never yours to begin with and you have been living a lie. The love, care and affection was all just an act from my Marshall...and you can admit he acted excellently well". She said laughing loudly.

I turned toward Marshall, my voice rising in desperation. "How could you do this to me? To us?"

Marshall opened his mouth, but before he could say another word, Karen stepped in front of me, blocking my view of him.

"You're nothing but a fool if you think he ever cared about you."

And then, with a cold look in her eyes, she grabbed something from the nightstand . It was a hammer.

I froze, confusion and fear flooding my system.

I took a shaky step back " what are you doing with that Karen..I know you hate me but you wouldn't harm me would you?"

For the first time Marshall stood up from the chair he was so comfortable sitting in and said "Karen.....relax it hasn't gotten to this. Stop!".

"Don't stop me Marshall we have waited for so long for this remember? How could you stop me now! You...you don't care about her, do you?". She cut him off, turning her attention fully on him still holding the hammer.

"No Karen, she is shocked enough as it is". He whispered, planting a kiss on her forehead.

They let go of each other and she turned to me and screamed

"I hate you! Go to hell".

Before I could react, she swung it.

The world exploded into pain, and everything went blank.

YISO'S POV

Pain is all I feel. Dull, throbbing, spreading through my skull like thick, hot lava. I try to move, to scream, but my body won't respond.

I hear voices. Their voices.

"Why did you kill her?!" Marshall's voice is shaky, almost unrecognizable.

"Kill?", the word sounds foreign as it echoes in my head.

"You know we just wanted to force her to sign the deed of transfer."

My pulse, if it's still mine, slows and then quickens.

A wave of nausea rolls through me. Pieces come back like tiny shards of memory about Karen, the hammer and the sharp crack against my skull.

I'm dying.

Karen exhales sharply. "Don't yell at me, Marshall. It's done already."

"No. No, it's not. Please no", I yell, although I'm sure no one can hear me.

I try to swallow, but my throat is thick, and filled with something metallic and warm. Blood.

Marshall's voice lowers. "What do we do now?"

Karen, answers without hesitation. "Call 911. Let's drag her body to the bathtub. We'll say she slipped and hit her head."

" I can't let them do this to me. I have to fight. I have to.."

A siren wails in the distance distracting my thoughts.

The sound pulls me in. My body feels lighter. I'm slipping.

"No", is all I can say as I hear orders barked and feel myself being lifted. And then..the light.

It floods my vision, not harsh like in a hospital, but warm and golden, like sunlight.

I shut my eyes, trying to focus only on the warmth the light provides.

A figure steps forward, she feels familiar in a way that breaks my heart.

"Do I know you? ", I call out.

She steps closer and I gasp. She looks exactly as in the pictures I've seen, strong, beautiful, her eyes filled with something I can't quite figure out.

"My baby," she whispers, her fingers brushing against my cheek. "You were not meant to leave like this."

Mom?" My voice is barely a whisper.

She nods, stroking my cheek.

She cups my face in her hands, and I feel everything, the love, the pain and the regret.

"You have another chance," she says.

Another chance. The words echo in my mind, filling the space where fear should be.

A shiver runs through me. "A second chance? A way back? ", I whisper.

"But if you choose to return," she continues, "you cannot return as you were."

A deep, chilling fear moves through me. "Then who will I be?" My voice barely comes out.

Mom smiles, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"That is for you to discover." She whispers.

Why am I being given another chance?", I ask.

"Because you need to see and fight for the truth.", she replies.

Before I can ask what she means, the golden light around us shifts. The warmth fades and the air grows heavier, thick with something dark.

Suddenly, we are standing somewhere else.

It's a familiar office. I look around and notice Mama stands beside me, calm and silent, as if she expected this.

At his desk, Marshall and Karen sit together. Papers are spread between them, the faint scent of whiskey lingering in the air.

Marshall leans forward, fingers tapping against the polished wood.

"We need to move fast. Once the papers are finalized, everything will be under my name." Karen smirks, crossing her legs.

"And Yiso?" Marshall sighs, rubbing his temples. "I told you, I've been working on her. She's stubborn, but once she signs"

Karen cuts him off. "She won't sign."

Marshall's jaw tightens. "She will. She has to."

Karen leans in, voice dropping into something cold."..And if she doesn't?"

Silence. A heavy, knowing silence. Marshall looks away, exhaling sharply.

He doesn't answer, but the unspoken words settle between them like a thick fog.

Karen's lips curl. "You know there's another way."

A chill runs through me as I realize that they planned this.

They had been planning it long before tonight.

My stomach twists.

I turn to mom, my voice barely a whisper. "He was going to do this anyway. Even if I hadn't caught them."

She nods, sadness in her eyes. "Yes, my love."

The scene shifts again. Now, it was the place where it happened. Where Karen raised the hammer. Where I felt my skull shatter.

I watch as it happens again.

Marshall standing frozen in shock. Karen breathing heavily, the hammer slipping from her fingers.

Marshall's voice shakes. "Karen, what the hell?"

"You said we needed her out of the way.Not like this!"

Karen scoffs, stepping over my fallen body like I'm nothing.

"Well, it's done. Now we clean up the mess."

The sirens. The panic. The rush to hide the truth.

I squeeze my eyes shut, willing it all to disappear.

When I open them, I am back in the golden light, back with mom.

Tears slip down my cheeks, my hands shaking. "He never loved me."

Mama wraps her arms around me. "No, baby. He didn't."

A sob rises in my throat, but she pulls back, holding me steady.

"But this isn't the end of your story."

I shake my head, confused. "Then what is?"

She touches my chest, right over my heart. "You will know soon."

She sighs, tilting her head. "Because some things cannot be undone, my love. But a new life can be made, and you're stronger than you know."

I want to ask more. I want to understand but the light around us flickers.

Her hands tighten around mine. "Time is slipping. You must choose now".

The golden glow dims. A cold breeze brushes against my skin, and suddenly, I feel my body again, heavy, aching, broken.

I look up at mom, panic rising. "I don't know what to do."

Then she leans in and kisses my forehead and suddenly the warmth vanishes and then I fall.

Air rushes into my lungs. It feels like I've been drowning, and suddenly I'm here, but where is here?

Beep. Beep. Beep is all I hear. I can smell the scent of antiseptic and feel a soft mattress beneath me.

I slowly open my eyes and all I can see above me is a White ceiling and then it registered that I'm in a hospital.

KAREN'S POV

I stood outside the ICU ward while Marshall was still talking with the doctors about Yi's condition. I began pacing not because I wanted her to live but because I didn't want to imagine what would happen if she survives.

I had a lot of questions running through my mind

'What are the doctors saying to Marshall', ' what if she survives', ' what if she heard all that we said'.

I was beside myself with worry at this point although I'm very excited about the fact that we were able to fill up the tub in their bathroom and carry her in so that it looks like her accident happened in the bathroom.

Thank the stars for my quick thinking. I mean a lot of people have passed on while having a bath either by drowning, or hitting their heads and bleeding out which helped make our story more believable to the paramedics and the cops when we called the ambulance and the cops.

I go to meet Marshall after the doctor is gone "What's going on? What did the doctor say..will she make it?".

"Slow down with your questions Karen...are you actually worried? You put her in this state, remember?". Although he whispered the last part only to my hearing.

"Of course not Marshall I'm just trying to weigh our chances". I whispered right back to him angrily. It felt like he didn't even appreciate my efforts in all these.

"If you didn't swing that hammer from your uncontrollable rage, this wouldn't have gotten to this don't you think so?". He whisper-screamed to my face.

I cautiously looked around before looking him dead in the face and saying " Do you want to be CEO of Jang foods or not Marshall? Because it's starting to sound like you want to chicken out".

"Of course not Karen, it's just that the last few hours have shaken me a little bit" He replied, going to sit on one of the chairs in the resting area.

I quickly moved to join him, then I held his hand and rested my head on his shoulders.

"Nobody will suspect us Marshall if that's what you are scared about . Our plan is foolproof Okay? Now please tell me what the doctors said".

"The doctors said that everything is looking bleak and they don't know if she will survive...turns out you swung a little to hard my love". He smiled tiredly.

"Well she infuriates me so you can't really blame me. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens".

We remained silent for some time when I remembered and asked him " Have you told her father what happened ?".

"I have been very unsure Karen. I mean the old man is sick enough as it is". He got up from the chair and ran his hand through his hair, pacing a little.

"Calm down Marshall, I just told you that everything will be fine, don't you trust me? You have to tell the old man and if he dies from a heart attack, then so be it....even better for us". I said smiling cautiously because I noticed someone pass by.

He looked at me and I saw the love in his eyes when he said "That's why I love you...you are so heartless". He whispered to my ears which caused me to smile.

I bring out my cell phone to check the time and realize that it's already 5 am and I become a little furious because why won't she just die and save us from the suspense.

My neck and back had already started to hurt at this point. I'm still trying to stretch a little when the doctors and some nurses start running towards Yi's room.

I didn't want to go in there and see her during all the hours we sat here because I was scared I would finish what I had already started.

Not because I was scared but because the amount of hate, jealousy and contempt flowing inside me would not allow me to walk out of her room without finishing her off and this was a public space with CCTV cameras everywhere so I had to be very careful of how I act.

Not too long after the doctors run in, they come out and one of them walked up to us and took off the face mask he had on shaking his head. Immediately I saw him shaking his head, I quickly sprang into action and with teary filled eyes I asked.

" Doctor what's wrong... is Yi alright? She will be okay right?".

" I'm very sorry miss but we lost her...her time of death is estimated at 5:15 am. I'm really sorry but we tried our best".

" No!...no! Yi please don't do this to me!". I screamed dropping to the ground.

Marshall got the memo looking dejected to and came to try pull me up from the ground of which I gave a little resistance still trying to make sure my acting was on point.

I was still a little shocked at the fact that despite how exhausted I was, I was still able to will myself to cry but I knew that this was just the beginning and I had many more fake tears to shed.

After I pretended to calm down and stop crying, I noticed the cops walking towards us and i felt my heart rate increase a little and I could feel the literal goosebumps on my flesh. I tried my best to look like a very heart broken friend and I stood here hoping the cops won't even try to suspect me.

"Miss Karen Jim? Can we get your statement once again, for documentation please".

"Of course officer...anything for my friend". I squeezed Marshall's hand a little and left with the cops. The question section was very annoying and become too long and when I noticed the cop asking too many questions. I pretended to be dizzy and he finally let me go

"I just spoke to Yi's father Karen the line just went silent....what if he had a heart attack". Marshall said to me with worry filled eyes after pulling me away from the cops.

"I guess the stars are in our favour then". I said with a very satisfied smile.