Chapter 1.3

“What do you mean by that?”  

“If I had been adopted back then, would I have received a marriage proposal by now? You, from to a congressman father and a professor mother, became the best ballerina. I, on the other hand, became a nobody office worker. I envy you. Care to explain again?”  

Moonkyeong lowered her gaze. The invisible wall between them was so thick that it was impossible to gauge anymore. Her voice sank.  

“No. There’s no need.”  

“Marry him. What’s there to lose? It’s like adding another feather to your already glamorous life. Who cares if he’s a scoundrel or a delinquent? You’re becoming the daughter-in-law of Leehan Group.”  

A glamorous life, huh. Moonkyeong let out a self-deprecating laugh.  

“Bora.”  

“What?”  

“So, do you envy me?”  

“Isn’t it obvious?”  

“I…”  

Before Moonkyeong could finish, Bora cut her off with a cold glance.  

“You mustn’t refuse.”  

Moonkyeong loosened the tied-up hair around her neck and massaged the area. Crossing her legs, the elegance she had displayed at the restaurant vanished, replaced by a rebellious glint in her eyes.  

“What do you think?”  

“About what?”  

“About me disappearing before the wedding.”  

“What are you talking about?”  

Moonkyeong swept back her disheveled hair, laughing brightly at the same time.  

“Just kidding. I’ll go through with the marriage.”  

“Y-yeah, you should.”  

“Right. I don’t have a choice anyway.”  

“……”  

“But you know… If, by any chance, I get another opportunity to choose, I’ll run away.”  

“What?”  

“I want to live under my original name, not as Seo Moonkyeong.”  

Having said her piece, Moonkyeong gestured with her eyes toward the dressing room door to her right, as if to say Bora could take whatever she liked.  

It had always been like this. Bora would often visit her house, asking, ‘Can I take this? How about that?’ She would then pick only the most expensive items—bags, shoes, and more—and take them with her. Even the things Bora was adorned with now were all gifts from Moonkyeong at some point. Smiling slyly, Bora grabbed two bags and an apricot-colored dress hanging in the wardrobe, clutching them in her arms as she walked out.  

She acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.  

“I’ll be going now.”  

“Mm.”  

Once Bora disappeared from view, Moonkyeong went into her bedroom and curled up on the bed.  

Her life was perfect in every way, but it felt a little sad. No. Not just a little—immensely so. Moonkyeong pulled the blanket over her sorrowful face.  

***

The marriage talks between the two families progressed faster than expected. A proposal came from Kim Seouk’s side, suggesting they meet before the wedding, and Moonkyeong had to attend. 

As she stepped into the hotel restaurant, her eyes caught sight of a familiar man.  

‘Kim Seojun?’  

Startled by the familiar face, she hesitated briefly, but the man turned his face toward the window, leaving her no time to confirm.  

At that moment, Kim Seouk noticed Moonkyeong and stood up.  

“Seo Moonkyeong?”  

Contrary to the rumors Bora had mentioned, his first impression was relatively clean-cut. Moonkyeong straightened her posture.  

“Yes, hello. I’m Seo Moonkyeong.”  

“I’m Kim Seouk. You’re even more beautiful than I’d heard. Please, have a seat.”  

Dinner was far from pleasant. Though she answered Seouk’s questions kindly and attentively, her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t stop wondering about the familiar man she’d seen earlier and kept glancing in that direction. However, the man had left the restaurant shortly after she began her meal.  

After he left, her remaining composure shattered entirely. Setting down the glass of water she had hurriedly sipped, Moonkyeong spoke.  

“Let’s end today’s meeting here.”  

“What? Why?”  

“I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well.”  

Though Seouk seemed a bit taken aback, she asked him to escort her home instead.  

Moonkyeong knew all too well how to act without offending the other party. Soon, Seouk’s face brightened.  

“Alright, I’ll personally take you home.”  

“Thank you.”  

Back at her apartment, Moonkyeong grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and drank it down in one go. She was furious.  

She had always known she would have to marry a man her family chose for her. Though she had boldly declared she would go through with this marriage, it wasn’t her true desire.  

“I hate this.”  

She truly despised it.  

When she first became the daughter of Seo Jaewoo and Do Hyeran, Moonkyeong had been overjoyed. But as time passed, the couple began imposing countless expectations on her.  

Moonkyeong’s life was so controlled that she couldn’t even indulge in simple pleasures like snacking. Whenever she showed even the slightest defiance or stubbornness, Hyeran would provoke her without fail.  

[Daughter, you must repay kindness, right?]  

Those words haunted her even in her sleep, like a recurring nightmare, constantly reminding her that she wasn’t their biological child but had been adopted at age nine.  

Though she understood why her parents had chosen to adopt, young Moonkyeong had foolishly dreamed of becoming a good and loving daughter. Every night before bed, she would chant to herself as if reciting a spell, promising to be that kind of daughter.  

But as time went on, she came to realize the truth: what they truly wanted wasn’t a daughter but a puppet to fulfill their desires.  

She wasn’t allowed to do anything her way. Hyeran always smiled as she tamed her.  

[What would happen to your orphanage friends if I stopped supporting them? You begged me to help them, but I’m not really interested in those things. So, you must repay kindness, right?]  

To a young girl starved for love, those words were like a blade, cutting deep.  

Moonkyeong, who had never once cried out loud, lived the life they wanted for her. She didn’t even know what she genuinely liked because all her preferences had been shaped by Do Hyeran.  

This marriage would happen, no matter what. Hyeran would eventually marry her off to Leehan Group. Once again, she would use those words as a weapon to sell her off.  

Still, she hated the idea of a husband who would treat her as a mere plaything.  

Moonkyeong stared blankly at her toes, which had been ruined by years of ballet practice.  

Late at night, she called Hyeran.  

“Mom, it’s me.”  

Hyeran’s voice, slightly groggy, suggested she had been about to go to bed.  

– Daughter, why are you calling at this hour? It’s bad for your skin. You should sleep early.  

“Am I getting married soon?”  

– Of course. The Executive Vice President seemed very fond of you. They’ll send over the date for the formal meeting soon. We won’t let this year pass.  

“So soon?”  

– Executive Vice President Kim is older, you know. You may still be young, but…  

“I have a favor to ask.”  

– A favor?  

“If I get married, I’ll quit ballet.”  

The sound of Hyeran stirring restlessly suggested she was caught off guard.  

– What are you talking about?  

“I want to stop ballet.”  

Moonkyeong, gazing pitifully at her big toe, which often lost its nail, strengthened her voice.

If you love it so much, you can do it yourself. You know, don’t you? I’ve never once enjoyed this wretched ballet.  

“I want to stop. Please let me.”  

With that, Moonkyeong ended the call first, without even saying goodbye.  

She had no regard for Hyeran’s immense “kindness.”  

Late into the night, Hyeran tried calling again, but Moonkyeong did not answer. 

It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that she finally picked up after repeatedly rejecting the calls. 

Suppressing the anger that surged to the top of her head, Hyeran tried to console her daughter. She was curious about what had caused Moonkyeong, who had never shown such strong defiance before, to act this way.

“What on earth are you saying? I must have misheard you, right?”

– No, you heard me correctly.

“Seo Moonkyeong!”

Hyeran abruptly stood up from her seat. She couldn’t comprehend her daughter’s sudden declaration that she wanted to quit ballet.

Moonkyeong’s journey as a ballerina had been extraordinary. Not only had she become a soloist at a young age, but she had also been promoted to principal dancer within just four years. Even though many ballerinas dedicate their lives to ballet, it was common for them to retire after their time as soloists. 

When Moonkyeong transferred from the prestigious Olga Ballet Company in Russia to a ballet company in Germany, she had faced fierce competition from ballerinas across 80 countries. The odds of a Korean ballerina becoming a principal dancer were incredibly slim. Yet, Moonkyeong had achieved that title before anyone else.

She had returned to Korea like a triumphant hero and was just beginning to exert her influence at the National Ballet Company. And now, she was suddenly saying she wanted to quit ballet?

Moreover, one of the reasons the Leehan Group had taken an interest in Moonkyeong was her status as one of the world’s top ballerinas. While retirement was inevitable in the future, the company had expected her to remain active for at least two more years.

The shock hit Hyeran like a hammer to the head, and she bit her lip.

“Moonkyeong, say it again. I need to hear this properly.”

– I said I’m quitting ballet.

“What’s your reason? Is it because I’m suddenly trying to arrange your marriage? Is that why you’re rebelling?”

– Mom, do you know what I hate most in this world?

“Don’t tell me you’re about to say it’s ballet?”

– You already knew.

“……”