Arranged by chance and Married by choice - Chapter 16：Sixteen

It was silent after the truth was finally out in the open.

Timo: (breaking the ice) well the telecast is about to start-

Mui: (switching on the TV and whistling) sis-in-law looks stunning.

Kai: (rolling his eyes) she always does.

Ray: (raising the volume) now be quiet everyone. I don’t want to miss a minute of this.

The start of the talk show, Min-Soe was calm and collected. To anyone who saw, she looked pleasant as a warm spring day but Kai could tell that she was angry. Her cheeks had that red glow to them- which clearly wasn’t from make-up. She barely had any make-up on than her usual stuff.

She welcomed the country’s top model Lee In-Soo so warmly and for a second even In-Soo seemed confused. She opened her mouth after the greetings were exchanged and everyone was settling in.

In-Soo: (blinking her eyes innocently) Miss Yoo, we have met before, I don’t think you’d remember.

Mel: (pretending to remember) Oh! Is that so?

In-Soo: (nodding) yes, we met at Kai’s house a few months ago.

Mel: (face lighting up in recognition) ah! Right, now I remember it. (Sounding sorry) Sorry, Miss Lee, I keep losing track of people I meet since I interview so many every day.

In-Soo: (face growing red in anger and embarrassment) it’s ok but I still don’t understand why you were there?

Mel: (smiling angelically at her) I think we have enough room for jealousy Miss Lee. (shrugging) It’s obvious that I was there for my job.

Ray: (eyes open wide in shock) did I actually see and hear that?!

Timo: believe it. By the end of this show, she would be in the top searches.

Mui: sis-in-law clearly makes an awesome actress.

The whole crew present at the set were under a fit of laughter at Min-Soe’s witty comeback. In-Soo could only wish for the ground to open up and swallow her. She had dug her own grave in her anger but now it felt like she was two feet under. The message given by Mel in that single reply was clear- I did warn you and now you are finished.

She was desperately trying to signal to her manager to wrap up this shoot but he had disappeared somewhere in the crowd.

In reality, Vic had planned it with his manager to not let anything disrupt the broadcast.

Mel: (smiling at her guest) the country recognises you as their fairy Miss Lee and you are soon going to have a huge breakthrough in the movies. Tell us about it.

In-Soo: (catching the bait) yes, the shooting has already started. It will be released by the end of next month.

Mel: (looking grim and slightly shocked) we received a report just now from the sets of the movie Miss Lee. There was a recent rumour about you abusing one of the staff in a fit of anger.

In-Soo: (paling) a-no, it is not true.

Mel: (looking extremely sad) but our sources say that it was the truth and the girl whom you hit has been hospitalised.

In-Soo couldn’t believe her ears. This news had been buried and dealt with by her men; there wasn’t a way in which anyone could’ve gotten a gist of it.

Mel: there is a clip that has been recorded about this incident, let’s watch it.

To In-Soo’s horror, the clip was 100% legit. It showed her dragging the girl by her hair out from her trailer and out into the open and kicking her. Her palms started to sweat and she started to lose her confidence.

In-Soo: (chuckling brokenly) people these days, they would stoop to any level to defame the other.

In-Soo got the hint from Mel’s words.

Mel: (smiling fondly at her) So Miss Lee you are a huge fashion icon in the country. Your current clothing also screams that you are trendy with a capital T. I also heard that you are the owner of a leading fashion brand in the country?

In-Soo: (nodding warily) yes, I like clothes and I like to dress up and look cool.

Vic: (excited) sis-in-law is again setting the trap.

Ray: Shhh!

Mel: really! I am also a lot into fashion. So, what is the name of your brand? I’ll make sure that I buy some from your brand too.

In-Soo: (unaware of the bait again) It’s called Hana.

Mel: Hana? (Feigning confusion) I think I’ve heard about this. Ah! Now I remember; it is that controversial brand.

In-Soo: (paling more) c-controversy?

Mel: I think you don’t watch the news much. I saw it this morning; a guy has sued the current owner of Hana for sealing the ideas. He has also presented the court with proofs. By the looks of it, the verdict would be out by today. (Patting her hand) I really hope that you win Miss Lee; I know that the truth is on your side.

In-Soo: (nodding her head) yes, thank you.

Mel: you look a little un-well Miss Lee, what is your opinion if we take a short break? Everyone, don’t go anywhere, we’ll be returning soon with Lee In-Soo.

When the director signalled cut the whole room knew of In-Soo’s true colours but Mel wasn’t done with her yet. She sipped water from her glass while In-Soo stood up towering over her glowering in anger.

Mel: (coolly looking up) is something wrong Lee In-Soo?

In-Soo: you-

But before she could get a word out from her mouth the director signalled for them to get ready as they would be going air the next second.

Mel: (smiling into the camera) welcome back everyone. We are here today with our favourite star Lee In-Soo. (facing the guest) Miss Lee, I’ve heard that you started your career as a model, is that right?

In-Soo: yes, I entered the industry as a model.

Mel: and there were many scandals surrounding you in the industry as you were growing?

In-Soo: (nodding) that’s a given, considering the tough competition-

The interview went on for another hour until Mel had exposed the top ugly truths about Lee In-Soo; in reality, she had completely destroyed her career.

On the other hand, In-Soo was losing her grip on reality. Mel had exposed that In-Soo was addicted to drugs and her anger outbursts were a result of her drug abuse. She had a strong alibi to support her claim, being the threat calls In-Soo had been receiving from the people she owed, the people she had abused and most importantly the psychologist who treated her.

To prove her point, In-Soo had a breakdown right there on the show. She towered over Min-Soe looking dangerously out of her mind. Shrieking in anger she attacked the host and tried to choke her but Mel was exceptionally fast. She held her hands tight in her grip twisted them behind her back. She wasn’t going to let this drug-crazed bitch hurt her much further.

In-Soo: (shouting in anger) you bitch! You will have it from me. I tried all ways to get rid of you, I tried to frame you in a theft case, I tried to even get you killed but every time I tried it, you escaped but no more.

Kai: (shocked) k-kill?

Vic: (equally shocked) I really didn’t know about this?

Mel: (surprised) kill me?

In-Soo: (breathing heavily) yes, I tried to have you killed in an accident but you escaped.

Mel didn’t have to do anything else as the stage crew came ahead to help their friend and boss. Having a pleasant working environment sure was a help and came handy for her.

In-Soo: (still shrieking) you took away my Kai from me! I’ll not leave you. You kicked me out from his house that day and now you pretend that you don’t even know me.

Mel: (shaking her head and on the verge of tears in fear) no Miss Lee, I didn’t even talk with you that night, I just nodded once at you before heading out with my previous assistant after finishing my interview with Kai. I remember my previous assistant commenting in the passing on how much unstable you looked that night- like you were completely drunk and high.

In-Soo: you lying bitch! I’ll not leave you.

Mel started to tear up and turned away from the camera. Her current assistant wrapped a shawl around her and gave her a bottle of water trying to calm down her shivering.

The program was cut short for half an hour. It was crystal clear to everyone that, Lee In-Soo was in need of urgent help. She had lost her grip on reality under the influence of narcotics and alcohol.

She was dragged away by the medic followed by police under charges of abuse, attempt to murder and defamation, along with the use of narcotics.

The quintet sat shocked to the tip of their hairs in their little brothers home. The next program aired on the TV but the guys were still trying to wrap their head around what just happened.