It happened one day.

An invitation arrived for Madam Kim Mi-hyang.

“You need to leave a good impression on the Chairwoman of the Yuseong Group.”

“As if you even needed to tell me that.”

In response to Minister Ji Kang-do’s words, Mrs Kim Mi-hyang dressed Se-jeong in pretty clothes and spoke to her softly.

“Se-jeong, you know what kind of gathering we’re attending tomorrow, right?”

“You said it’s a salon party.”

“That’s right. Since it’s being hosted by the Yuseong family, many important people will be there. Just like last time, you need to make a good impression on the madams.”

“So I just have to greet everyone politely and behave properly, right?”

“Our daughter is so smart. Since your father and I won’t always be able to stay by your side, make sure to keep the bodyguards with you. And don’t behave rudely toward the older boys and girls either.”

“Mhm! But what about Yeon-ha?”

Yeon-ha stood quietly to one side under a sharp gaze.

The look in Madam Kim Mi-hyang’s eyes made it clear that she was not welcome.

Yeon-ha immediately lowered herself as submissively as possible.

Even at her young age, she had already learned that this was the only way to survive in that household.

“She can’t come.”

“Why not?”

“There’s a reason for that.”

“Then I’m not going either!”

“Ji Se-jeong!”

At Se-jeong’s loud burst of tears, Yeon-ha grew flustered.

“No! If Yeon-ha doesn’t come, then I won’t greet the adults there either!”

Se-jeong flung herself onto the floor and started sobbing loudly.

Yeon-ha envied her ability to express her emotions so openly.

Even when she lived with her mother, she had always forced herself to suppress her feelings.

She hated seeing her mother cry because of her, so, except when she was very young, she hardly ever threw tantrums.

“This child, honestly!”

Hearing the helpless frustration in Madam Kim Mi-hyang’s voice as she failed to calm Se-jeong, Yeon-ha finally moved.

“Se-jeong, it’s okay if I don’t go.”

She lowered herself to meet Se-jeong’s eyes as the girl lay on the floor.

The troubled expression on Yeon-ha’s face must have reached her.

Se-jeong abruptly stopped crying and sat up.

“I’ll bring you a present!”

“Okay. I’ll wait for you.”

Se-jeong, whose emotions shifted quickly, immediately broke into a bright smile again.

Yeon-ha wanted to smile back at her but Madam Kim Mi-hyang hated it whenever she did.

“Our daughter is such a good girl.”

Madam Kim Mi-hyang embraced Se-jeong affectionately, but gave Yeon-ha an icy stare and pushed her away.

Yeon-ha quietly left the dressing room and cried silently.

She had a mother, too. Yet, for some reason, she was overcome with the terrible fear that she might never see her again.

It had been over a month since she last saw her mother, who had promised to return after ten nights.

“Mom said Yeon-ha can come with us too!”

Several hours later, Madam Kim Mi-hyang changed her mind suddenly.

Although this unexpected decision took Yeon-ha by surprise, she was excited at the prospect of staying with Se-jeong again the following day.

The next morning, they left early and arrived at a beautiful villa at around noon.

“Wow…”

The villa surrounding the crystal-clear lake was far more luxurious than Yeon-ha’s previous residence.

The private pool villas were arranged separately, resembling a small village.

While servants busily carried their luggage inside, an elegant and graceful woman approached them.

“Welcome.”

“Hello, Madam. This is my daughter. Se-jeong, you should greet her properly.”

“Hello. My name is Ji Se-jeong. Thank you for inviting me.”

Holding the edges of her dress delicately with both hands, Se-jeong lowered herself slightly and offered a confident smile.

“She’s just as beautiful and clever as I heard.”

“Compared to your dependable son, Madam, my child is still immature.”

“Hehe, it’s such a shame. If their ages were a little closer, they could have formed a wonderful match.”

“I believe relationships can be built over time.”

“That may be true. But may I ask who the child beside Se-jeong is?”

“Ah, perhaps you already know, but she is my husband’s…”

“I see. Then the two of you made a wise decision. Especially you, Madam—I truly admire your generosity.”

“Thank you for thinking kindly of us.”

“The other guests should arrive soon as well, so let’s move to the reception room.”

A place where she was not welcomed felt terrifying.

The only thing Yeon-ha could rely on was Se-jeong’s hand.

“Se-jeong, Mother has something to say to Yeon-ha. Hold your father’s hand and go ahead first.”

“Can’t I hear it too?”

“You promised you’d behave if we brought Yeon-ha along.”

“…Okay. But you have to come quickly.”

The moment Se-jeong walked away, Yeon-ha could no longer stop her trembling body.

“Listen carefully. If anyone asks who you are, keep your mouth shut like a mute.”

“Yes…”

“And if Se-jeong starts calling you her older sister or anything like that, tell them you’re just a distant cousin.”

“…Yes.”

“Remember this well. If your vulgar behavior embarrasses our family, neither you nor your mother will live comfortably ever again. Understood?”

“Hic… yes.”

The vicious words of her stepmother were so terrifying that the indifference of her biological father seemed preferable in comparison. They haunted her dreams.

She knew that crying would only result in an even worse beating, so she desperately held back the tears threatening to spill.

“Don’t cry—”

Loud, bustling voices suddenly drowned out the sharp reprimand.

As a group dressed in riding attire approached nearby, Madam Kim Mi-hyang slowly curved her lips into a smile.

“Don’t lift your head. Just hurry inside.”

Fearing the consequences of moving too slowly, Yeon-ha hurried forward on her short legs, almost running.

Then she tripped over a stone.

The moment she stumbled, her body was suddenly lifted upright.

Someone had grabbed her around the waist and steadied her, then looked her directly in the eye.

“You should watch where you’re walking.”

The instant Yeon-ha saw the face before her, she forgot how to speak.

He did not even seem human.

It was the first time in her life she had ever seen such a handsome older boy.

“You should go.”

At the casual hand placed atop her head, Yeon-ha’s heart pounded wildly.

When that warmth disappeared a moment later, a small sound escaped her lips before she realized it.

“Ah…”

“Tae-moo, hurry up.”

A beautiful older girl looped her arm through the handsome boy’s and glanced briefly toward Yeon-ha.

“Take your arm off.”

“You’re so mean. Be nice to me too.”

Even the annoyed expression on his face looked unbearably handsome.

Watching his retreating back, Yeon-ha finally realized what she had been feeling.

Disappointment.

***

The next day, she saw that boy again.

Yeon-ha’s heart swelled with anticipation.

‘Will he recognize me?’

Yeon-ha stood on the deck of the superyacht for a long time, hoping to catch the attention of the older boy she had seen the previous day.

However, the group of university students were completely absorbed in enjoying each other’s company and never once noticed her.

Se-jeong and Yeon-ha were the youngest of all the children brought along by the adults.

People naturally gravitated towards those close to their own age, and before long, the guests had divided themselves between the two yachts.

“Who are you staring at?”

At Se-jeong’s question, Yeon-ha timidly pointed toward him with one finger.

“Brother Seong Tae-moo?”

“You know him?”

“He’s related to the madam who owns this villa. And the other brother beside him is his cousin. They’re both university students, apparently. Brother Seong Ji-woo is handsome too, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“But I like brother Ji-woo more.”

Se-jeong liked the older boy with the warm, easy-smiling face. In contrast, the boy who helped Yeon-ha yesterday was extremely handsome.

They had completely different personalities, too.

“Why?”

“Brother Tae-moo is scary. But brother Ji-woo always calls me cute and smiles at me.”

“Miss Se-jeong. The wind is cold.”

“Mr. Lee is calling us. Let’s go play downstairs.”

“Okay.”

As Yeon-ha hurried downstairs, a massive impact suddenly struck.

She fell hard.

Screams erupted everywhere.

“Yeon-ha!”

Through her blurred vision, Yeon-ha could make out one of the bodyguards carrying Se-jeong away.

Instinctively, she reached out her hand.

But the violently surging water swallowed her whole.

She was dragged beneath the raging waves and could no longer breathe.

The terror of death gripped her chest painfully.

Then, suddenly her body was lifted upwards.

“Gasp!”

Coughing violently as she spat out water, her vision finally cleared.

She was being held tightly in someone’s arms.

“Just hold on a little longer. Don’t move.”

The person holding her was Tae-moo.

“There’s someone over there!”

A desperate shout echoed from far away.

A rescue tube was thrown from a nearby yacht and landed close to Tae-moo.

He grabbed onto it, and the two of them were finally pulled aboard.

“You were scared, weren’t you?”

At the gentle question, the tears Yeon-ha had desperately held back finally burst free.

“Hic…”

As though lending her the safety of his embrace, he stayed beside her until her sobbing gradually stopped.

“All done crying?”

“Yes… th-thank you.”

“You could cry like before if you wanted, but smiling suits moments like this better.”

He lightly touched the corner of her mouth with his fingertip.

He was the kind of person who was waiting for her to smile.

Looking at the older boy who made her heart swell, Yeon-ha slowly lifted the corners of her lips.

“Thank you… brother.”

“Good.”

His smile soaked softly into her heart.

“You can stay here alone, right?”

His attention had already shifted toward the people still being rescued one after another.

“Yes.”

She didn’t want to be left alone.

However, afraid that he might dislike her if she tried to stop him, she nodded anyway.

Just when she thought he had gone for good, Tae-moo came back a little while later.

He held a blanket in his hands.

After gently wrapping it around her shoulders, he headed back towards the nearby crowd.

At some point, the yacht racing across the waves slowly came to a stop.

By then, a large number of adults had gathered at the dock.

“Se-jeong!”

After stepping off the yacht, Yeon-ha approached Madam Kim Mi-hyang, who was desperately searching for Se-jeong.

“Why are you here?!”

The horrified expression directed at her made Yeon-ha realize something was terribly wrong.