Secrets Between Us E-Book

Danniel Paraiso Da Silva

• Herausgeber: epubli
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 80

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

After a tumultuous marriage and a secretive divorce, Han Ji-eun, a talented florist in Seoul, finally finds balance when she shares custody of her daughter, Hye-rin, with her ex-husband, Kang Min-ho, a renowned and controlling surgeon. However, her peace is shattered when her first love, Seo Jun-won, unexpectedly reappears, bringing with him not only feelings from the past, but also a dangerous secret that could change everything. Jun-won, now an elite criminal investigator, is involved in a case that seems to revolve around Ji-eun and Min-ho. As mysteries emerge, Ji-eun realizes that her life is intertwined with a conspiracy greater than she imagined. Between silent threats, stalking and lies, she must decide who to trust. But when secrets from the past come to light, her decision could be a matter of life or death.

Leseprobe

Copyright Notice

©2025, Danniel Paraiso. All rights reserved.

This book/work is protected by copyright laws and international treaties. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.

This model can be adapted according to the author’s needs and the type of work.

Synopsis

After a tumultuous marriage and a secret-filled divorce, Han Ji-eun, a talented florist in Seoul, finally finds balance when she shares custody of her daughter, Hye-rin, with her ex-husband, Kang Min-ho, a renowned and controlling surgeon. However, her peace is shattered when her first love, Seo Jun-won, unexpectedly reappears, bringing with him not only feelings from the past, but also a dangerous secret that could change everything.

Jun-won, now an elite criminal investigator, is involved in a case that seems to revolve around Ji-eun and Min-ho. As mysteries emerge, Ji-eun realizes that her life is intertwined with a conspiracy greater than she imagined. Between silent threats, stalking and lies, she must decide who to trust. But when secrets from the past come to light, her decision may be a matter of life or death.

Secrets Between Us

Daniel Paradise

Index

• Lily meets Jun-won again

• Small incidents at the flower shop start to scare her.

• Min-ho finds out about Jun-won and tries to separate them.

• Hye-rin mentions a “man in a suit” who is watching her.

• Jun-won becomes suspicious of Min-ho and investigates his past.

• An anonymous letter warns Ji-eun to run away.

• Soo-ah reveals that Min-ho threatened her in the past.

• Ji-eun begins to realize that her marriage had more secrets than she imagined.

• An attack on the flower shop nearly kills Ji-eun.

• Jun-won discovers a name: Black Gold Society.

• Lawyer Tae-hwan seems to know more about Min-ho.

• Ji-eun finds Min-ho’s secret diary.

• Jun-won’s investigation intensifies.

• A person close to Ji-eun disappears.

• Min-ho’s diary reveals suspicious transactions at underground clinics.

• Ji-eun discovers a shocking connection between Min-ho and her mother.

• Min-ho threatens Jun-won directly.

• Soo-ah is attacked, leaving a clue about a “code”.

• Hye-rin mentions that Min-ho has a “secret room.”

• The flower shop is set on fire.

• Ji-eun receives a USB from a mysterious informant.

• Jun-won discovers that Min-ho has fake documents.

• Ji-eun tries to escape with Hye-rin, but is intercepted.

• Min-ho confesses something scary about Hye-rin.

• Ji-eun discovers that Hye-rin may not be Min-ho’s biological daughter.

• Tae-hwan reveals a connection between Ji-eun and the Black Gold Society.

• Jun-won is kidnapped.

• Ji-eun receives an ultimatum from Min-ho.

• The police discover a list of victims linked to Min-ho.

• Jun-won’s boss Woo-jin starts acting suspiciously.

• A witness appears, but disappears shortly after.

• Ji-eun finds a secret recording of Min-ho.

• Hye-rin starts having nightmares about a “dark room.”

• Jun-won returns, but something about him has changed.

• New evidence emerges against Min-ho.

• Ji-eun must choose between safety and truth.

• A kidnapping changes everything.

• Ji-eun discovers who is really behind everything.

• Jun-won’s past comes to light.

• Soo-ah reveals her final ace up her sleeve.

• Min-ho is cornered, but he has a trump card.

• Hye-rin mysteriously disappears.

• The truth about the Black Gold Society shocks Ji-eun.

• The final confrontation between Ji-eun, Min-ho and Jun-won.

• Ji-eun’s ultimate choice.

• Justice or revenge?

• Is the Black Gold Society over or is there something bigger behind it?

• Prologue – The Return of Darkness

Act 1 – The Reunion and the First Mysteries (Ch. 1-12)

Chapter 1 – The Reunion

The soft scent of lavender and roses filled the air at the small flower shop in Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood. Han Ji-eun, now 30, was arranging the arrangements in the window when a shiver ran down her spine.

Someone was watching her.

The doorbell rang, and she looked up. Her heart skipped a beat. Seo Jun-won, her first love, was standing there in the doorway, his eyes intense and a half smile on his lips.

— Ji-eun… — He murmured, as if testing the sound of his name after so long.

She blinked, confused. It had been years since he had disappeared without a trace. No letters, no explanations. The pain of his departure still lingered inside her.

— What are you doing here? — His voice came out hesitant.

Jun-won took a step forward, but stopped when he noticed his stiffness. He seemed more mature, his facial features marked by time, but his eyes still had the same intensity as before.

— I came back to solve a case… and it seems it has something to do with you.

Ji-eun felt her chest tighten. Before she could ask more, the sound of footsteps echoed outside. A black car was parked on the street.

Inside, someone was watching them.

The reunion that was supposed to be exciting was now shrouded in mystery. And Ji-eun had a feeling that her life was about to change again.

Chapter 2 – Warning Signs

Ever since meeting Seo Jun-won again, Han Ji-eun felt that something was wrong. She tried to convince herself that it was just her imagination, but the small incidents that started happening at the Spring Flower Shop said otherwise.

That morning, when she opened the store, a strong, sour smell hit her nostrils. Confused, she went to the back and found one of the arrangements completely destroyed, the petals ripped off and mixed with a dark liquid. It looked like blood.

A shiver ran down his spine.

— Maybe some animal came in here at night… — she muttered to herself, trying to calm down.

But that didn’t explain the fact that the night before she had closed all the doors and windows.

A few hours later, while he was sorting through new orders, he heard a loud noise coming from the display window. He ran to look and found a broken vase on the floor. There was no one around.

His heart raced.

That same night, as she closed the store, something even stranger happened. When Ji-eun turned the key in the lock and took a step back, her gaze fell on the glass door. There was a handprint there.

A large mark, stained with something dark.

Fear began to take hold of her. This was no coincidence.

Picking up the phone with trembling hands, she hesitated before dialing a number she hadn’t used in years. Seo Jun-won’s name flashed on the screen.

Something was going on. And she needed answers.

Chapter 3 – Warnings and Threats

Breakfast with Hye-rin should have been a peaceful time, but Han Ji-eun was restless. Ever since the strange incidents at the flower shop, a feeling of being persecuted had been haunting her.

When his phone vibrated, his heart almost jumped. Kang Min-ho.

She hesitated before answering.

“Ji-eun.” His voice was cold and controlled, as always. “I heard that Seo Jun-won is back.”

She felt her blood run cold.

— So what? — he tried to sound indifferent.

— I don’t like the idea of him hanging around you and Hye-rin.

Ji-eun gripped the phone tightly. Min-ho always knew where to hit to unsettle her.

— You have no right to tell me who I can talk to.

On the other end of the line, there was a short silence before he let out a low laugh.

— You know what I find funny, Ji-eun? That whenever something bad happens to you, this man is around.

She held her breath.

— What are you talking about?

— From the flower shop. From the “incidents”. Don’t you see the pattern?

Ji-eun felt a chill run down her spine. He knew. How did Min-ho know that?

— Stay away from Jun-won, Ji-eun. For everyone’s sake.

The call has been terminated.

For a moment, Ji-eun stood frozen, her fingers trembling over the phone screen. Min-ho knew something. He always knew.

And now, more than ever, she was sure that being close to Jun-won meant plunging into a much greater danger than she had imagined.

Chapter 4 – The Man in the Suit

That night, Han Ji-eun tried to ignore the feeling that she was being watched. Ever since Min-ho’s warning, she had been unable to relax. Fear grew like a shadow around her.

After dinner, while combing Hye-rin’s hair, her daughter looked at her in the mirror with a curious expression.

— Mom, does that man in the suit know you?

Ji-eun stopped combing her hair instantly.

— What man, my dear?

— The man in the black suit. He watches me.

Ji-eun’s heart raced.

— When did you see this man?

Hye-rin frowned, as if trying to remember.

— At school. And also near the flower shop. He’s always there, but he never says anything. He just looks at me and then leaves.

A shiver ran down Ji-eun’s spine.

— Did you tell anyone?

— No… I thought he was your friend.

Ji-eun forced a smile so as not to scare her.

— If you see this man again, let me know immediately, okay?

Hye-rin nodded and went back to playing with her colored pencils, but Ji-eun couldn’t ignore the knot in her stomach.

Who was this man? Was he connected to the strange incidents? Or was it Min-ho’s doing?

Taking out her cell phone, she hesitated for a second before sending a message to Seo Jun-won:

“We need to talk. Something is going on.”

Chapter 5 – Min-ho’s Hidden Past

Seo Jun-won read Han Ji-eun’s message and felt his detective instincts kick in. Something was wrong. Ever since he returned to Seoul, he had noticed an unsettling pattern around her—small incidents, subtle threats, and now, a mysterious man watching Hye-rin.

He had been suspicious of Kang Min-ho ever since he first heard his name. A renowned surgeon, but with an unblemished reputation. People like that were always hiding something.

That night, Jun-won sat down at his computer and began his research. Min-ho was a powerful name in the medical field, associated with several private clinics and prestigious hospitals. But something didn’t add up.

Among the financial records, he found a series of suspicious transactions—large amounts of money moving between anonymous accounts and an underground clinic on the outskirts of town.