The shocking news of Minjin’s capture spread rapidly throughout South Korea, stirring waves of concern and urgency. Her older brother, Park Tae-sung, was deeply disturbed by the reports and, driven by a mix of fear and determination, booked a flight without hesitation. The same was true for her mother, who lived in LA with her older sister. 

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When Minjin finally had the chance to go outside the hospital, she saw chaos and a few people who were injured and severely affected physically. Some of the citizens approached Minjin to pull her into the ruined building as the gunshots started firing.

The citizens spoke in their native language, which the volunteer translated as follows: "She said you'll be safe here." 

Suddenly, some soldiers burst into the ruined building, introducing themselves as troops. They claimed to be there to evacuate Minjin and her team for their safety. As the tension mounted, Minjin faced a critical decision: whether to trust the soldiers.

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Minjin was quickly rushed to the hospital as media swarmed and rushed to them after they boarded the white van in front of the emergency entrance. The doctors first attempted to repair the stitches on her arm and later focused on her mental state, conducting some evaluations. 

However, she found out that false reports about her and her team being captured by the rebels circulated through international news outlets. The government’s swift evacuation order only heightened the confusion.

To combat the misinformation, Minjin and her team arranged an important conference.

At the conference, despite her visible anxiety, she delivered a heartfelt and well-prepared speech. With every word, she recounted the harsh reality of their situation. Her account offered a raw and emotional depiction of the chaos as she struggled to hold back tears while describing the suffering she witnessed.

Global reactions polarized. Social media and news outlets erupted with conflicting opinions—some hailed Minjin as a hero for her resilience, while others labeled her a traitor.

Intense scrutiny led her university to suggest a leave of absence due to pressure, but she insisted she was fine and chose to persevere. 

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After a few months of being caught up in war, the divorce hearing in Boston finally took place.

Oliver Wright approached her with a concerned expression. Seeing this, Minjin managed a forced smile in response.

Before the hearing, Minjin and Oliver Wright spoke in a private room. They sat across from each other without a table separating them.

Oliver Wright was the first to apologize and tell her that the divorce was his fault. He rationalized that he had tried to remain with her in the spotlight, but he couldn’t. 

She sighed deeply, without a trace of tears in her eyes. “I have loved you not because I wanted to be in love, marry, and be a wife. I loved you and wanted you in my life because I knew you felt the same. But I have seen worse in the war, and that made me stronger. The hurt you caused has turned to ashes that I’ve already thrown into the sea."

She then smug. "I’m glad you asked me to go. I’ve known my worth ever since I was younger. Although I’ve often been foolish in love, I always ended up choosing myself despite the men I’ve been with. After all, I deserve better now that I understand my worth as a woman beneath the fame and achievements.”

###

It took only six weeks after the divorce was finalized; despite this, the media continued to generate buzz about it.

Minjin attempted to hide her struggle by attending classes. She felt relieved and happy that the students appreciated her teaching. Some recorded videos during class, highlighting its liveliness. Icebreakers like games and singing gained attention on social media, helping to shift public scrutiny towards her image as a great professor.

The situation shifted when a global superstar began her concert tours in America after many years. Minjin, with friends and students, attended concerts in every state. They recorded videos singing along, especially during the bridge, which became a social media trend that captivated fans of all generations.

This gained her more admiration for being a natural woman despite her own fame and scientific achievements.

By the end of the year, Time magazine honored her as the woman of the year, celebrating her humanitarian efforts, scientific achievements, and identity as an Asian-American woman.

It boldly proclaimed her " the woman who defined gravity."

The previous uproar in South Korea was replaced when she was honored by a historic magazine. She was all over the news again, but this time, she was appreciated.

Her Time magazine feature sold out in America and South Korea. She has also been featured in numerous news articles and social media reactions.

The public proclaimed her a national figure alongside women like IU and Lee Hyori.

But the harrowing experiences Minjin faced during the war profoundly impacted her, worsening her chronic insomnia. The weight of her memories and public scrutiny intensified her struggle for rest.

The stress had also made her hormonal imbalances worse than before since she had stopped taking the pills after her divorce.

She consulted her gynecologist about her unusual menstrual cycle again. Diagnosed with hormonal imbalances during her PhD, she took pills to regulate it.

After marriage, these pills proved beneficial, and she didn't regret taking them, even though she told Oliver she wanted to finish her Quantum Gravity studies first.

Afterward, she sought help from a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with severe insomnia and PTSD, trapping her in a cycle of sleepless nights and exhaustion.

The psychiatrist encouraged her to participate in therapy, particularly with the therapist who specialized in trauma. Minjin followed her psychiatrist's advice. The trauma therapy has cost her a significant amount of money, but she continued to pursue it.

The first session had made her cry a lot, deep diving since the death of his father when she was younger, and the anger still lingered on about what her mother had done to the entire family.

Minjin continued to attend sessions without everyone's knowledge. Keeping it to herself allowed her to feel solitude.

As the sessions continued for the following weeks, she reflected on her memories with Minjun.

She shared, without shedding a tear but with a melancholic gaze, that she had regretted leaving him for herself during her time at MIT.

To help herself move on from Minjun, she secretly contacted Lee Hawoon and Lee Deji to ask about him and do things for him. She felt she needed to do this to find comfort and aid her recovery from heartache, which was why she hadn’t dated anyone since him. 

She acknowledged seizing the chance to enjoy freedom in America while continuing to care for Minjun, although she experienced loneliness for many years.

But when she wore her academic gown during her graduation at MIT, the moment she walked on stage to receive her diploma and reached out her hand to the university's head, she stood center stage under the spotlight and realized that she and Minjun were meant to be apart.