“Mom.”

Seo Ha approached Hae Sun, barely steadying her trembling legs.

“How did you come all the way here? Mom, what’s with this appearance? Are you hurt? Aren’t you hungry?”

Her hair was disheveled and her white patient gown was covered in dirt. She must have fallen on the way, as there were stains on her knees.

“Seo Ha. Look at this. Mom made this for Seo Ha.”

Hae Sun smiled brightly, holding handfuls of withered clover in both hands.

No. It wasn’t just clover, but gifts for Seo Ha. A crown, bracelet, ring, necklace… all woven from what seemed like every clover flower in the park.

Seo Ha sat down on the grass. She put on the tiny crown and wrapped the bracelet around her wrist. She even slipped on the limp, wilted ring.

“So pretty. Just like a princess, Mom’s baby.”

Hae Sun smiled broadly as she caressed Seo Ha’s cheek. Tears burst forth, wetting Hae Sun’s palm and dripping down her wrist.

“I missed you. Mom. Really.”

“Oh my. It’s already gotten so late.”

Hae Sun looked around startled. It seemed she just realized how dark it had gotten, though the sun had set long ago.

“Let’s hurry home. Mom will make you a delicious dinner.”

Seo Ha held Hae Sun’s hand tightly as they left the flower bed. From a distance, Kyung Jun, who had been looking around, spotted the two and ran over.

“Chairman Kang!”

The streetlight illuminated Kyung Jun’s face as he ran up.

“Are you alright? I’m so relieved you’re safe.”

He genuinely looked relieved. Traces of worry were evident on his face.

Why? Why do you, a spy, care so much about my mom and protect the company and my designs?

“I don’t recognize you. Who are you?”

“…I’m Ryu Kyung Jun, Chairman. I recently joined the secretarial office.”

Yet Mom doesn’t even remember you.

Seo Ha gripped Hae Sun’s hand even tighter. Only then did Kyung Jun’s gaze sweep Seo Ha up and down.

“What’s that?”

Seo Ha knew she must look quite ridiculous. Dirty clothes, messy hair, a tiny crown, tattered flower bracelets, and wilted flower rings.

Seo Ha grinned widely with that appearance.

“Seo Ha’s mother made them for me.”

Kyung Jun looked back and forth between Seo Ha and Hae Sun with an unreadable expression, then reached out to Seo Ha’s head. The already small crown looked even tinier in his unusually large hand.

“She’s been making these every day to give to Yoon Seo Ha.”

“She must have thought I was Yoon Seo Ha. We have the same name, Seo Ha.”

“But why does your face look like that?”

Of course it must be a mess, with Hae Sun touching her tear-stained face with dirt-covered hands. But that didn’t matter at all. Seo Ha roughly wiped her face with the back of her hand.

“It’s fine. Now that we’ve found Chairman Kang…”

Her mouth suddenly closed as she was about to say “contact the hospital.”

Lee Seung Oh, Lee Ji Soo.

If Hae Sun disappeared, all assets would be inherited by the vegetative Yoon Seo Ha, naturally becoming Lee Seung Oh’s.

Can we be certain that Lee Seung Oh, who attempted contract killing to take the house and company, won’t covet that wealth?

Kyung Jun took out his phone. Seo Ha, who had been in a daze, startled and snatched the phone just before he could press the call button.

“No!”

“What are you doing?”

Kyung Jun’s brow furrowed. Seo Ha briefly wondered if she could really trust this person. And concluded that, trust or not, Ryu Kyung Jun was her only option right now.

“Earlier when Chairman Kang first went missing, what did the call say? How did she disappear?”

“Lee Ji Soo took her out for a walk and then…”

Kyung Jun trailed off, seemingly noticing something odd. Seo Ha gripped Hae Sun’s hand tighter and spoke earnestly.

“If anything happens to the Chairman, all remaining assets and shares go to Yoon Seo Ha. But Yoon Seo Ha is in a vegetative state now, and her husband is Lee Seung Oh. Lee Ji Soo is Lee Seung Oh’s lover.”

“…”

“Let’s say today was an accident. But can we guarantee there won’t be another such ‘accident’? Why did they contact the director so long after the Chairman disappeared in the first place? If someone vanished while using the restroom, they should have noticed within 20 minutes at most.”

Seo Ha returned the phone to Kyung Jun. After staring at the dark screen for a moment, he put it back in his inner pocket.

“We can increase security personnel and dedicated caregivers at the hospital.”

“Lee Seung Oh might discharge her and take her home. Then she’d be completely vulnerable.”

Even Ok Soon, who had served the family her whole life, turned out to be just like Lee Seung Oh. That house Ok Soon had taken over was no longer a palace for Seo Ha and her mother.

“You may be right.”

Kyung Jun took off his jacket and draped it over Hae Sun’s shoulders. He looked deep in thought.

“…There’s no safe place. I’d like to take her myself, but I’m not in a position to do so.”

Seo Ha already knew that answer.

“I’ll take her. I have a small room. Who would imagine the Chairman staying at our unrelated house?”

“Why should I trust you with the Chairman?”

Kyung Jun’s gaze was full of wariness.

“We’ve been running around together all this time, what are you saying? Besides, what benefit would I get from doing anything to the Chairman?”

“I mean the environment. The Chairman needs proper meals and professional care. But you’re dirt poor.”

“Oh, come on.”

Seo Ha boldly held out her hand.

“Give me your card. You receive a generous allowance, don’t you?”

“Yip! Arf arf arf!”

Even before approaching the “Beware of Dog” sign on the gate, Minji’s barking echoed through the alley. Seo Ha handed Hae Sun’s hand to Kyung Jun and opened the gate.

“Yip!”

“Kim Minji, come here.”

“Yip.”

The Chihuahua wagged its short tail as Seo Ha picked it up. Jae Wook appeared behind, scratching his head.

“What time do you think it is to be coming home now? You’ve completely lost your…”

“We meet again.”

As Kyung Jun entered with Hae Sun and gave a slight bow, Jae Wook’s face scrunched up terribly.

“Jo Seo Ha, who is this person you keep bringing? And who’s the lady next to him?”

“Lady?”

Seo Ha and Kyung Jun glared at Jae Wook simultaneously. Confused, Jae Wook flinched and quickly changed his words.

“No, I mean… madam. It’s my first time seeing the madam. And she looks unwell too…”

“She’ll be staying with me in the rooftop room from today. The landlord doesn’t need to worry. There’s no clause prohibiting cohabitants in the contract, right?”

“Well, there isn’t, but…”

“Then it’s fine. She’s a close friend of mine staying temporarily due to circumstances, so please be considerate when you see her. Thank you!”

Seo Ha quickly pulled Hae Sun up the stairs. Kyung Jun followed, tossing a casual remark to Jae Wook.

“Excuse us then.”

“Why are you going up too?”

Kyung Jun ignored the question.

The rooftop room was a bit messy from rushing out in the morning. To be frank, it was a complete mess.

If it were Yoon Seo Ha, she would have backed out immediately, but Jo Seo Ha was sufficiently immune to discomfort and untidiness.

“Come in. Watch your step. Why are you following us in, Secretary Ryu?”

Seo Ha asked while pushing aside clothes strewn on the floor with her foot. Kyung Jun’s face hardened.

“To check where the Chairman will be staying.”

“She’ll be staying here.”

It was the room Jo Seo Ha’s maternal grandmother had used. There was no bed, just a red blanket chest with a purple floral microfiber blanket neatly folded on top, and a small folding table and sewing box covered in dust.

“Whose room is this?”

“My late grandmother’s room. I’ll clean up a bit, so please take the Chairman to my room.”

Kyung Jun was practically pushed into Seo Ha’s room.

The first things to catch his eye were a nightstand that looked picked up from somewhere and a character drawer with a teddy bear drawn on it. Instead of a vanity, there was a folding table with a few samples and a mirror on top.

“…Dirt poor indeed.”

He had Hae Sun sit on the creaky bed while he perched on the desk chair.

We lived in a room just like this, Mom and I. Dirt poor, everything was terrible, and Mom hit Kyung Jun.

That’s why he hated women. Whether old or young, pretty or ugly, he just hated them. Chairman Ryu appreciated this aspect of Kyung Jun. Not that he overvalued it, but that he saw its ‘usefulness’.

It’s better not to have women hanging around you. They’ll just be a nuisance when it comes time for a business marriage.

That’s what Chairman Ryu had said.

“Where did our Seo Ha go?”

Hae Sun’s gaze, which had been wandering around, suddenly met Kyung Jun’s. If he had been this person’s son, he might have been happy even living in a rooftop room paying monthly rent.

“What a handsome young man. Have you seen our Seo Ha by any chance?”

“…”

Even sitting in this shabby rooftop room wearing a flower-stained patient gown, Hae Sun was beautiful. Thanks to Hae Sun always searching for her daughter, Kyung Jun could recall every outfit Seo Ha had worn back then.

“Where did that child go? If you find her, please let me know. She’s about this tall, with big round eyes and very pretty. She’s wearing a brown checkered dress.”

“She must have been pretty.”

She was pretty even as a child. It’s just her personality that was rotten.

“Of course. She’s my treasure. Let’s see, what time is it now? I need to feed my child.”

Right. Dinner.

They hadn’t eaten dinner yet, Seo Ha and Hae Sun, even if he had. Kyung Jun opened the door to ask Seo Ha what to order for delivery, but he stopped short.

“Ms. Jo Seo Ha?”

Seo Ha was standing in front of the door with a rag in her hand. Tears were silently streaming down her face, her lips turning purple as they quivered.

Then she mumbles something. Mom, Mom.

“Seo Ha!”

Belatedly, Hae Sun came out and rubbed Seo Ha’s face with her hands.

“Why are you crying? Who made my baby cry? Should Mom punish them?”

“…Mom.”

The rag she was holding fell with a thud. Seo Ha spread her arms and hugged Hae Sun tightly.

“Mom. I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Mom, it’s me, me. Your daughter, Seo Ha…”

She smelled just like Mom. Even if it wasn’t a two-story house with a garden, but this rooftop room, it felt like a palace because Mom was here.

If only I hadn’t married Lee Seung Oh.

Mom had sent Lee Seung Oh to study abroad and made him her son-in-law for the sole reason that he was the man Seo Ha chose. She was always like that. Whatever Seo Ha chose, Mom supported and encouraged.

But this is how it turned out. Yoon Seo Ha, neither alive nor dead, barely breathing as half a corpse, and Mom trapped in the past.

Seo Ha slowly raised her head from where it was buried in Hae Sun’s shoulder. Kyung Jun looked at her with a puzzled expression, then frowned.

“Anyone would think you were her real daughter.”

I am her real daughter, the words rose to her throat but were swallowed back down.