Chapter 30: The Stranger

The morning air was heavy with the scent of dust and car fumes as Ilene made her way down the cracked sidewalk. Her shoes were thin, the soles worn out from weeks of walking, but she pushed forward, ignoring the dull ache in her feet. She had finished work late again—another long shift that paid just enough for food and bills. There was nothing extra, nothing for herself. Every spare coin she managed to tuck away had been going into a small tin box at home, hidden carefully at the back of the cupboard.

Gyu’s birthday was coming soon. She wanted—no, needed—to make it special. Even if life had been cruel to them, she wanted him to laugh, to eat cake, to feel like a normal child if only for one day. That thought alone kept her moving, even as fatigue weighed down her body.

Her heart leapt when she heard the familiar voice call out from a distance.

“Mom!”

Ilene’s lips curved instantly into a smile. Just the sound of him was enough to erase the heaviness pressing on her chest. She quickened her steps, crouching low with open arms as her little boy came running toward her.

Gyu barreled into her embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around her neck. She held him just as tightly, breathing in his warmth as if it could mend every crack in her weary soul.

“I’m sorry, Mom was late,” she whispered, guilt lacing her voice as she kissed the top of his head.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Gyu said with a small grin that made his eyes shine. “As long as you’re not hurt.”

The words froze her for a moment. Her breath caught, though she quickly smoothed over her reaction, not wanting him to see. He was just a child, yet he spoke as if he carried worries no child should bear. She forced her smile to stay.

“You seem happy,” she said gently, trying to guide the conversation away. “Did something good happen today?”

“Yes!” Gyu beamed, his small hands fumbling to open his school bag. He proudly pulled out a badge, holding it up for her to see. “Teacher Shawn said I’m smart! Look, Mom, I got another badge!”

Ilene’s eyes softened. Inside the bag was a growing collection—little tokens of recognition that meant the world to him. Each badge represented his efforts, his innocence, his ability to shine despite everything. She had been told by his teacher that he was exceptional, a child other parents envied. Ilene believed it. Gyu was her miracle—her reason to endure.

“Oooh, this is amazing,” she praised warmly, brushing her fingers against the badge. “My baby is such a good boy. You deserve a reward for this.”

“Really?!” His eyes widened, excitement bubbling over.

“Yes,” she chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Mom will buy you anything you want.”

“I love you, Mom!” Gyu blurted out before hugging her again with all his tiny strength.

“I love you too, baby,” Ilene whispered back, her throat tightening. Her heart swelled with pride and pain all at once. How could he be this sweet, this pure, after everything? After the nights of fear, after the screams and threats inside Jungkook’s mansion, after the bruises she had hidden so carefully from him…?

She prayed silently that he would never lose this light. That he would grow up without the shadow of their suffering following him. That he would never know the weight she carried.

But that fragile moment was interrupted when her eyes caught a shadow ahead.

A pair of unfamiliar shoes stood directly in front of her.

Her body stiffened. Instinctively, she rose to her feet and pulled Gyu into her arms, clutching him protectively against her chest. Her eyes lifted slowly, meeting the figure of a man. He was taller than Jungkook, broader too, but what unsettled her most was the way his cap dipped low, concealing most of his face.

Her pulse quickened. Fear prickled down her spine.

“Who are you?” she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady. “What do you need?”

The man raised his hands slightly, his tone calm, almost too calm. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. I’m a friend.”

Ilene’s brows furrowed. Something about the way he spoke made her uneasy. People who claimed to be “friends” rarely were.

“Just… just leave us alone, please,” she muttered, turning her body as if to walk away.

But his next words rooted her in place.

“Come with me, Ilene. I can help you and your son escape from Jungkook.”

Her entire world stopped.

Her breath hitched audibly, and she turned back to him, eyes wide. No one—no one—ever spoke about Jungkook so directly. No one dared. For years she had kept quiet, burying her suffering, wearing her silence like armor. And yet this stranger stood here, speaking the words she had only whispered to herself in the dark.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied quickly, fear lacing every syllable. Her grip on Gyu tightened until he whimpered softly against her shoulder. She knew she had to deny it—if Jungkook ever found out she had admitted anything, the consequences would be unthinkable. But deep inside, a spark of desperate hope flickered to life. How did he know? Why would he say that?

“You don’t have to be afraid,” the man continued gently, his voice steady. “I can assure your safety—and your son’s. Don’t you want that? To finally live without fear? To stop suffering from Jungkook’s cruelty?” His eyes flicked toward Gyu, his words cutting through her defenses. “He’s just a child. He doesn’t deserve to grow up in fear. He should be happy, carefree. And you—you deserve to be the kind of mother he can be proud of. One who can protect him, not one who has to shield him with silence.”

Each word sank into her like a blade. Ilene’s lips trembled. She hadn’t meant to cry, but the tears came anyway, spilling hot and fast down her cheeks. Just the thought of a life free from Jungkook’s control—of waking up without dread, of Gyu smiling without fear—was enough to unravel her completely.

“Is… is that really true?” Her voice cracked, raw with longing. She clutched Gyu tighter, as if holding onto him was the only thing anchoring her. “You don’t understand. Jungkook—he wouldn’t care if we disappeared. He’d rather see us dead than let his image be ruined.” Her voice broke into a sob. “He’d kill us before he let that happen.”

The man’s gaze didn’t falter. “We’ll talk about that,” he said firmly, “but not here. It isn’t safe. We need to leave this place first. Then I’ll explain everything.”

Ilene’s tears blurred her vision, but through the haze she managed a trembling nod. This was her chance—the chance she had been silently praying for. If she let it slip away, she knew she might never see another.

She pressed her lips to Gyu’s hair, whispering a promise only he could hear. I’ll protect you. No matter what it takes, I’ll give you the life you deserve.

And with that fragile hope burning in her chest, Ilene accepted the stranger’s hand.

As they went away, a shadow from far away was watching them leave the road before pulling out a phone and contacting a certain someone.