Anhedonia

We Got Your Back

One week quickly passed by. Jerry is still in a coma due to the impact of his head hitting the ground and the operation of removing the bullet close to his chest. The kidnapping incident became a huge topic around the whole country since the kidnapper is Jayvee's brother. All of Jared's men were captured but he wasn't as he quickly fled after shooting Jerry.

Jayvee was thrown to jail for the meantime while her trial is ongoing. His case was abusive towards his wife. The Kim Group warned him that if he ever said anything about Akiro being Jerry's son they wouldn't help him in his case.

Liam already contacted his clan and asked for support since The Kim Royal family still insisted on taking Akiro. His grandmother and Jerry's grandfather both agreed to discuss the issue in Thailand and today is that day.

After Rosie explained to her family about their situation, they promised to help her. The battle is still up to whomever the two elders will make the decision so everyone is still waiting. But Mr. Kim was already reprimanded for what he did to the Thailand's Prince and he was removed to his company and Mrs. Kim replaced him as the CEO of their company.

Jeremy stayed with the Manoban while they were still waiting for Jerry to wake up. It's not hard for the kid to understand the situation but he was distraught. He already lost his mom and now, his dad is in the hospital and no one could tell when he will wake up.

"Don't worry, we all got your back." Liam said while rubbing Rosie's back as they made their way to the boarding area heading to Thailand with Rosie's Dad and sister.

They are going to attend the meeting between the former Chairman of the Kim Group and the Queen of Thailand, who is Liam's grandmother.

"I know, but I'm still worried about how it will turn out." Rosie let out a shaky breath.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure that at the end of the day, Akiro will stay with you."

"And if not, we're going to meet them at the court and for sure that the Kim Group doesn't want that to happen as they needed to hide this issue for the sake of Jerry's name." Mr. Park said with certainty in his voice.

"Okay then, I'll just trust all of you about this." Rosie smiled at Liam and to her Dad.

The four boarded the plane and sat facing each others since they took the first class ticket so they still have a private space after rejecting Liam's grandmother who offered to lend them their private plane but Rosie refused to it as the old lady already doing a lot of favours to her such as standing for her so the Kim Group won't take her son away from her.

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"Are you sure it's okay to leave them to you?" Hayley asked with worry about leaving all the kids to Juhyun since she needed to go to the hospital and Seul-ki turned to go home after putting an all nighter just to check on Jerry.

There were a lot of bodyguards outside Jerry's room but they still needed to make sure that no one would get inside without the former chairman's permission. And only Jerry's friends are allowed to take care of him while he's still in a coma, not even Jerry's parents after Mr. Kim slapped the Thailand's Prince.

"It's fine, don't worry. I can handle them all and Rosie's mom is with me, so relax. We got this." Juhyun said to assure her friend with a warm smile.

"Okay then, I'll get going." Hayley turned to Akisha, who's sitting on the sofa with the other kids and Mrs. Park. "Akisha, behave okay?"

"Mom, I'm always behaving." Akisha whines, making the three adults laugh.

"Fine, don't fight with Jeremy."

"If he stops nauseating me then we're good." Akisha rolled her eyes when Jeremy made a face at her.

Hayley shook her head but still waved her hand to Mrs. Park and Juhyun led her to the door. After Hayley left with the driver and some convoys behind them, Juhyun locked their main door just to make sure because Jared is still out there hiding from police.

After 10 minutes, Hayley arrived at the hospital and went straight to room 327 where she still needed to be searched even though she's a Kim. They were just doing their job so Hayley didn't mind it at all. After the lady bodyguard checked her bag, they let her in.

"Hi, I'm sorry I was late."

"No worries, I'm not in a rush." Seul-ki said as he stood up and kissed Hayley's cheek. "How's the kids?" He asked, referring to Jeremy and Akiro.

"They're fine and I left them with your wife."

"Much better. Last night, there was a bodyguard who tried to get in here but those real bodyguards didn't allow him and they found out that he's not one of them."

"Oh my God." Hayley gasped. "Did they know who it was? Was it Jared?"

"No it wasn't him but he works for Jared and they found a poison with him, he was gonna try to kill Jerry with that." Seul-ki explained. "I didn't bother to call everyone last night since he was caught immediately."

Hayley shifted her sad eyes to her best friend and released a lungful sigh. "His life is still in danger as long as Jared is still out there."

"Not only him, so we really need to be careful as much as possible." Seul-ki said while picking up his things. "I should get going. He's all yours."

"Thank you so much, Seul-ki."

"He's my friend and a part of our family, you shouldn't have to thank me for taking care of him."

"But still." Hayley half smiled and hugged Seul-ki. "Thank you."

"You're always welcome." Seul-ki mumbled and kissed Hayley's head before he left the room and just like Hayley, he was ushered with bodyguards and a convoy. That is the former chairman's order, all of Jerry's close friends needed to protect from Jared and his men.

Hayley sat on the chair after she put down the flowers she bought on her way. "Jerry, you need to wake up, Rosie needs your help." She uttered, her voice laced with worry and certain sadness. But no response from her best friend and the only sound she could hear is the beeping noise from the machines that are attached to Jerry's body. "Please wake up." She mumbled as her tears started to roll down on her face.

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After almost 6 hours with no delays and disturbance. Rosie's group finally arrived in Thailand and they were fetched with luxurious cars outside the airport and a lot of bodyguards. All of the people in the palace were so happy and excited to see their Prince after not going home in 8 years. Even the people in Thailand who acknowledge the Royal family are happy to hear that the Prince of Thailand came to visit, though they don't know what the reason is, nevertheless, they are still happy to have him back.

"Dad!" Liam exclaimed when a Swiss man in his 60s was standing at the entrance of the palace.

"Liam!" Marco exclaimed upon seeing his son. Liam ran to his old guy and threw himself onto him.

"I missed you so much Dad!"

"I missed you too, Son." Marco tightened the hug. His eyes shifted to Liam's company and he immediately pulled away when he saw Rosie. "Come here, sweetheart. Give your second old man a hug." Rosie giggled and she engulfed Marco tightly. "How are you, sweetie?"

"I'm good, Uncle." Rosie replied after she pulled away.

"Your husband should rot in jail." Marco scoffed.

"That's what I'm trying to do." Mr. Park said and the two old men laughed before they did a handshake and the same with Alice. Park family is close with Manobans way back since Liam and Rosie are in highschool so they already know each other.

"We should get inside, the old lady has been waiting to see this kid for so long." Marco said and he ruffled Liam's hair.

"Where's mom?"

"She's helping with the preparation of your arrival and the Kim Group." Marco said as they all went inside. Everyone in the palace greeted Liam happily to see him, until they reached the throne hall and there was the old lady sitting and glaring at Liam.

"Grandma— ouch!" Liam was shocked when a wooden sandal hit his head after his Grandma threw it at him. "What the—."

"Liam." Marco called his son with a warning tone.

"But she hit me with this!" Liam groaned gutturally.

"How dare you to step in here!" The old lady yelled as she stood up from her throne. Rosie, Alice and Mason were all shocked by that and they thought that it's not a good idea to fly in Thailand at all.

"Grandma!" Liam whines like a kid and stomps his feet on the floor.

"Imbecile! Heartless! You—!"

"I miss you." Liam pouted as he made his way to meet his grandma halfway.

"Tss! You're only saying that because you need my help for your best friend." The old lady made a hissing sound and she looked away hastily.

Liam wrapped his arms around the old lady's waist and kissed her head. "It's true, but I also missed you." He mumbled.

The old lady huffed a breath and she slapped Liam's arm who just laughed at it and tightened the hug.

"You're lucky I love you." The old lady said, finally pulling a soft smile and leaned her head against Liam's chest. "I missed you too, kid."

"I'm not a kid anymore, but it's okay. I'll let you slide for now." Liam teased and they both laughed.

The old lady looked at Rosie and she smiled at her softly, spreading her arms to the woman and Rosie gladly initiated a hug with the old lady.

"I missed you, grandma." Rosie said.

"You grew up so gorgeous, young lady. Don't worry Dear, I will do my best to convince my best friend not to take away your son."

"Thank you so much for your help, Grandma." Rosie said delightfully.

"It's not yet sure but I can call our friendship over if Jiyong still insists on it." The old lady joked and they all laughed.

"By the way Grandma, I brought Dad and my sister for some legalities just in case we needed it."

"Oh no problems, the more people in the meeting, the merrier."

"Royal Highness, Kim Majesty and his company have already arrived, should we let them in?" One of the courtiers announced.

"Let them in." The old lady ordered and they all turned around to face the door and when it opened, there was Jerry's grandfather and Jerry's mom along with some of the members of Kim Royal family. "Look at this old guy already crippled." The old lady whispered to Liam, referring to Jerry's grandfather who was sitting in a wheelchair and was pushed by his own courtier.

"Grandma!" Liam exclaimed in disbelief.

"What? It's true."

"Are you talking bad about me huh?" Jiyong asked the old lady.

"Yeah, I told my grandson that you are a poor crippled guy." The old lady said and everyone gasped.

Jiyong glared at Chaem and the latter held his gaze. "You are full of wrinkles!" Jerry's grandfather yelled and it's Liam's grandmother's turn to gasp.

"You!" Chaem yelled and pointed her crane at the old guy. "Are so ugly!"

"Okay, stop it." Mrs. Manoban chimes in as she makes her way to the center. "You guys are too old for this bickering."

"Right." Jiyong and Chaem both agreed and they both laughed as well.

"Come here my old friend." Jiyong expanded his arms and Chaem, though slowly, still made her way to her best friend and they hugged each other.

"I'm sorry about that, they have always been like that since I was a kid." Mrs. Manoban said to other people who witnessed the bickering of the two elders who built their powerful clans in Korea and in Thailand.

"I really thought that they were going to bite off each other's head with those dentures." Liam whispered to Rosie who didn't have the chance to hold back her laughter and got everyone's attention.

"So, you're here." Jerry's grandfather commented when he saw Rosie. The latter quickly bowed her body in 90 degrees. "Where's my grandson?"

"I left him in Korea." Rosie replied with her body still in a 90 degree bow.

"Please tell me that he's in the South and not in the North." Jiyong said, earning a soft slap from his best friend.

"Silly, why would you ask that to your granddaughter in law." Chaem Choi said and everyone looked at her in shock.

"Ah it's because she's Jayvee's wife, right?" Mrs. Kim asked and there was an obvious nervousness in her voice.

"You haven't received the divorce papers? Tsk, I told them to send you the papers so you could sign it and the marriage between you and Jerry would happen as soon as he woke up." Jiyong said and another gasp could be heard from everyone.

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