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.

KAREN'S POV

I was getting really tired of all the drama but not too long after Marshall got off the phone with Yi's father.

I saw the familiar black Mercedes of Yi's father's car packed just outside the hospital and in no time, he came out.

Before he got to where I and Marshall were standing, I quickly whispered to him "Act accordingly...he should not suspect anything".

I did not even let him speak first and immediately ran to Mr. Jang and hugged him really tight, pouring out my fake tears.

"Oh father I really don't know how this happened. I feel like I have lost everything in life. How could Yi leave us behind like this?".

He gently pulled out of the hug and said to me " Where is Marshall?".

Marshall stepped forward and before he could speak, Mr. Jang slapped him across the face and I was shocked, and thrown off balance for the first time since all this began playing out.

"Where were you when this happened? What were you doing?". He said, grabbing Marshall by the collar.

" I want to see my daughter? Where is my daughter?". He screamed which caused some of the nurses to come running out.

I was suddenly grateful that the cops had left because if they hadn't gone, this reaction might have raised suspicions in their minds and that was the last thing we needed.

I quickly held him "Father please get a hold of yourself we are all deviated as it is and I am very sure Yi won't want us to be acting this way over her death . Please don't be upset father".

I was trying my best to console the foolish old man at this point but he kept repeating 'I want to see my daughter'. Until he eventually passed out.

I and Marshall looked at him through the door of his room and he said to me "Do you want to go and see Yi?".

I didn't want to at first. I decided to just say my final goodbyes and Marshall told me he was going to make the preparations for her funeral.

I walked into the room and the smell of drugs was very prevalent and I slowly walked up to her still body and pulled away the cloth from her face. She laid there lifeless and so cold and I felt very relieved that she was gone

"Goodbye Yi. I hope you won't hate me too much and I promise you that I and Marshall will take very good care of JANG FOOD INDUSTRIES".

I was about to leave when I turned around and said " And as for your father, don't worry either I will spare him just for your sake okay?". I slowly put the cover back over her and walked out of the room.

I have always hated wearing the color black as opposed to many opinions about how it made one look elegant and sophisticated...but I was of a completely different opinion.

I have always loved bright and sunny colors like yellow, pink and the likes but today, I felt pure joy wearing the color black.

I specifically went shopping for this funeral since I didn't really have any black dresses in my closet and even though it was quite on the pricey side, I didn't mind and I paid very happily.

It was annoyingly sunny today so I had to take my sunglasses and besides my eyes has become very puffy due to all the fake tears I have been shedding and I was prepared to shed even more today because I carried some eye drops that would aid my shedding of fake tears.

As I sat in the chapel inside the hospital building , and listened to the priest talking about death and how sometimes it could mean the person has been taken to a better place, I scoffed to myself Yi did not deserve to be in a better place if anything she should be burning in hell.

I have never let myself be fooled by her goody two shoes attitude. I knew that she loved the fact that people always praised her.

I had never let it get to me at first but soon I unknowingly started competing with her and it always infuriated me that no matter what I did, I couldn't beat her.

But that is all in the past as I have won and now she's the one laying in that casket. She is gone and it is my turn to shine and that too without any obstacles.

I looked over to the other aisle and I noticed that Marshall was seating with Mr. Jang and I felt a little sorry for Mr. Jang. I mean the old man has been through a lot. First he lost his wife while trying to have Yi and now Yi is gone too.

He looked so sick and distressed. I was surprised that the old man did not have a cardiac arrest. But that's okay I'm not worried about him he can be very well taken care of.

Before we all walked out of the church to go and lay Yi to rest, I quickly went to the restroom and applied the eye drops because frankly I was running out of tears.

I walked up to Mr. Jang making sure I was sobbing profusely and held him "Oh father how will we live without Yi. I still can not believe that she has gone and left us".

Thankfully, he accepted my hug and did not act funny so I began to console him. While we both walked together with the priest, leading the procession.

As we walked along, I noticed a doctor coming to join us, there was a woman behind him with long straight hair. She looked like she was involved in an accident.

I and Marshall walked up to Yi once again to pay our last respects when I noticed the same lady crying bitter tears just in front of Yi's picture.

She had long straight hair and looked devastated. I was about to tap her and ask how she knew Yiso when Marshall slipped a piece of paper in my hands and when I opened it, it read.

"LET'S BEGIN THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR PLAN!"