Chapter 5 - The Financial Fire
By 4:00 AM, the corporate empire of the Park family was experiencing a fatal, irreversible hemorrhage.
Inside the high-tech operations room of the Kang Syndicate in Koreatown, dozens of financial analysts and forensic accountants sat behind rows of monitors, executing trades, recalling loans, and filing official reports directly with federal regulatory agencies. Jae-min stood at the center of the room, a glass of dark whiskey in his hand, watching the numbers drop on the primary market display.
"Don Jae-min," a senior analyst reported, looking up from his screen. "The Park Corporation's stock has entered a freefall on the pre-market exchange. Their primary investors in Seoul have just pulled all capital after receiving the forensic files we provided regarding their embezzlement schemes."
"And the Beverly Hills estate?" Jae-min asked, his voice low.
"The federal marshals have already drafted the asset seizure warrant," the analyst confirmed. "The property will be locked down by 7:00 AM. Raymond Park’s private assets have been completely liquidated to cover the sudden margin calls."
Jae-min took a slow sip of his whiskey, his phone buzzing with a direct call from the hospital director. He answered it instantly.
"Speak."
"Don Jae-min, this is Dr. Choi," the medical director said respectfully. "Chef Naomi has undergone the primary epidermal cool-laser treatment. The burn was severe, but because of the immediate application of sterile sheets, the skin tissue will regenerate perfectly. There will be no permanent scarring, but she needs rest."
Jae-min let out a long, heavy breath, the massive tension in his shoulders finally easing slightly. "Is she awake?"
"Yes, sir. She is resting in the VIP suite. She is asking for her grandmother in Georgia."
"Fly her grandmother in on my private charter immediately," Jae-min commanded, hanging up the phone. He turned to Leo, who had just returned from the precinct. "What about the criminal complaints?"
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"Vivian Park was picked up by the Beverly Hills police thirty minutes ago," Leo reported, a grim smile touching his face. "We provided the 4K kitchen camera footage directly to the District Attorney. Because the assault involved a weapon—the boiling stone bowl—and caused significant bodily harm, they are charging her with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Bail has been denied due to her flight risk with her offshore accounts."
Jae-min nodded, his eyes fixing on the digital display showing Vivian Park's booking photo. Her white designer gown was wrinkled, her perfect pearl necklace gone, her face pale and broken as she stared into the police camera.
