Chapter 6
Yeongsook smiled slyly, hiding her true intentions.
“She’s not the kind of girl who just lets some guy kiss her and suck on her lips when I’m not around, right, Seorin?”
Seorin froze in shock. How did Yeongsook know about the kiss between her and Taeyoon? No one had seen them under that secluded tree.
Seorin’s panicked eyes couldn’t move away from Yeongsook. Yeongsook glanced at her and gave a cold chuckle.
“Yeah, I know. I can tell it wasn’t your intention. Even just looking at you, it’s clear. I’m sure it was Taeyoon who forced himself on you, right? Hmm?”
“But even so, what can you do? Now that you’re under me, if you don’t act according to my will, you’ll face consequences like this. You used to boss people around too, so you should understand how this works, right?”
Yeongsook casually motioned with her eyes toward Seorin’s foot, which was trembling in pain. Seorin finally realized why Yeongsook had been tormenting her all morning—it was punishment for the kiss with Taeyoon.
While Seorin was struggling to respond, Yeongsook’s face suddenly brightened as someone appeared behind Seorin.
“Oh! Chaehui, over here!”
The moment she heard that name, Seorin’s entire body tensed.
“Mother!”
The calm voice approaching was all too familiar.
When Seorin saw Chaehui, it felt as if all the air around her had disappeared.
Yoo Chaehui. A long-standing nemesis.
They had gone to the same middle and high school. For reasons Seorin never understood, Chaehui always showed subtle, persistent hostility toward her.
It was never obvious—just strange sabotage at unexpected times. Her artwork for evaluations would be mysteriously ruined, or her prized possessions would vanish. There was no proof, but whenever something happened, Chaehui was always nearby.
The moment Seorin became certain it was Chaehui was “that incident.”
In their second year of high school, Seorin had to give up her dream of becoming a ballerina after falling down the stairs and injuring her leg. Officially, it was dismissed as an accident, but Seorin knew it wasn’t.
She remembered the push from behind and the glimpse of a black ribbon hairpin—something Chaehui had received that very morning from her uncle abroad.
Even now, Seorin often dreamed of that day.
She had thought she would never have to deal with Chaehui again after avoiding her into adulthood.
So why was she here now?
Chaehui, now noticing Seorin, smiled sweetly.
“Oh my gosh, is that you, Seorin?”
The overly sweet tone brought back a flood of bad memories. Pain Seorin had locked away surged up like a tidal wave—but she couldn’t show it.
Holding herself together, Seorin lifted her chin and forced a smile.
“Yes, Chaehui. It’s been a while since you transferred. Good to see you again.”
Her voice came out smoothly—thankfully hiding the chaos inside her.
“What brings you here? Shopping?”
Chaehui scanned her outfit up and down.
Before Seorin could answer, Yeongsook stepped in, placing a hand on Chaehui’s shoulder.
“Seorin’s staying with me these days, Chaehui.”
“With you?”
“Yeah. You heard what happened with her family, right?”
Yeongsook trailed off with a strange look, and Chaehui nodded knowingly.
Seorin wished she could block her ears and disappear. She knew this was just the beginning of the humiliation she’d face from now on.
Yeongsook winked at Chaehui and said, “Let’s go up. We have things to talk about.”
Then to Seorin, she waved her hand lazily. “Seorin, take those bags up ahead and tidy up.”
As she turned away, Chaehui suddenly stopped her.
“Mother, let’s take Seorin with us.”
“With us?”
“Yes. It’s been so long, and… shouldn’t she know?”
Chaehui glanced at Seorin and smiled brightly.
“After all, she’s going to be part of the family soon. I’m marrying Baeyul oppa.”
Her words struck Seorin like a thunderbolt.
Taeyoon’s fiancée was Yoo Chaehui.
Of all people… her.
The cruel reality hit her so hard that she felt her knees might buckle. Seorin quickly bowed her head—too afraid to reveal the expression on her face.
Watching her, Chaehui smiled and said, “Let’s go, Mother.”
“Yes, let’s.”
As they walked ahead, Yeongsook called back, “Seorin, come along.”
Letting out a deep breath, Seorin dragged herself behind them, every step heavy.
—
At the VIP lounge on the top floor of the department store, Yeongsook and Chaehui laughed loudly.
Not far from them, Seorin stood still, arms full of shopping bags, looking like a child being punished.
Her injured foot throbbed—red, swollen, and bruised. But she clenched her teeth and bore it. She didn’t want to show weakness. That was her last remaining pride.
She kept telling herself: If I just keep holding on… this pain will end someday.
Then, long legs strode into view.
“Oh, you’re here!”
Yeongsook cheerfully greeted the man—Taeyoon.
She had told him to drop by before meeting Chaehui. Now she worried what he would think seeing Seorin here too.
But she assumed Taeyoon would be discreet. After all, Seorin was just a servant girl now.
But Taeyoon shattered her expectations.
Ignoring Yeongsook and Chaehui completely, he walked straight to Seorin.
Chaehui’s face froze. Yeongsook’s mouth fell open.
Even Seorin was stunned.
Taeyoon silently looked at her. His eyes drifted down from her tired face to the bags in her hands, then to her swollen foot.
He didn’t say a word.
Yeongsook, panicked, quickly approached him.
