Ju Ri heard company rumors faster than anyone else. This was because she never missed any drinking gatherings and boldly participated in other team dinners.

Executive Director Cha Yong Hee was known for taking good care of her people. Ju Ri’s colleague envied her, saying she had reversed her life by catching Yong Hee’s eye.

She who used to borrow money from colleagues for her father’s hospital bills was now said to be living in the most expensive apartment in Hannam-dong.

However, getting into Yong Hee’s line wasn’t easy. As much as she took care of people, she was also picky about them.

Ju Ri sought ways to get money. She didn’t mind investing to join the upper class.

Eventually, Ju Ri persuaded her landlord to return her deposit and took out a loan for the rest. She planned to stay with Ji Hwa for a while. Though their personalities clashed, she could bend over backwards when broke.

Excited about her new future, Ju Ri remembered something she had forgotten when she saw a missed call on her phone.

The caller was Young Hoon. The nightmare of that day resurfaced. Hyang Mi’s scream. Her blood on her hands. The smell that wouldn’t wash away no matter how much she scrubbed.

Ju Ri called Young Hoon back.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Ah, I stopped by the house and someone from the real estate agency came.”

“I put the house up for sale. I need money urgently. Please move your things out as soon as possible.”

“Alright. Take care.”

The call ended quicker than expected. Judging by his lack of words, it seemed Hyang Mi hadn’t regained her memory yet. Ju Ri let out a sigh of relief.

How long would she have to live trembling in fear like this?

It would have been better if she had just died. Tough old hag.

Ju Ri put her phone in her pocket and left the house. She had a lot to do.

Yong Hee asked Ju Ri to be an assistant at Chairman Cha Myung Il’s birthday party. It was Yong Hee herself who contacted her, not her secretary. Ju Ri agreed without hesitation. It seemed like a good opportunity.

This time, she had to prepare perfectly.

Ju Ri headed to a luxury secondhand store to sell the brand items Young Hoon had given her.

Young Hoon had showered Ju Ri with gifts to win her favor. At first, he gave her a wallet, necklace, ring, and bag. Ju Ri gladly accepted them and filled her closet.

“These are all fake,” said the employee, snickering after carefully examining the items.

“What? That can’t be. They were all gifts.”

“From your boyfriend, right?”

“…Yes.”

“We see a lot of customers like you. They give fake gifts because they can’t get them back after breaking up anyway.”

The employee pushed Ju Ri’s fake bags on the table towards her. With her face burning red, Ju Ri packed them into the dust bag she brought and left the store.

I thought it might be, but you really were trash, Go Young Hoon.

She put the bags and accessories into a trash can she saw and smoothed her disheveled hair.

“Right, if they were genuine, he would have asked for them back. He was the one asking to borrow money saying he didn’t have enough for hospital bills.”

Ju Ri hailed a taxi and moved to her next destination, Lumière.

It was to buy clothes and accessories to wear at Chairman Cha Myung Il’s birthday. Cha Yong Ju, Myung Il’s second daughter, had caused a stir when she wore Lumière clothes to her prosecution appearance. Not just Yong Ju, but Yong Hee often wore that brand too.

Wearing Lumière clothes made her feel like she could become part of the Myung Il family too.

Ju Ri got out of the stopped taxi and stood in front of her destination building with an elegant gait.

As she tried to enter, a large employee blocked her way.

“Do you have a reservation?”

“Reservation? No.”

“I’m sorry. We operate on a reservation-only basis.”

“What, you can’t even wait? You can’t enter without a reservation?”

“That’s right.”

Inflexible employees.

Well, Cha Yong Ju and Cha Yong Hee wouldn’t wear clothes that just anyone could wear.

As she turned around with a deep sigh, Da Eun entered Ju Ri’s field of vision. Fortunately or not, Da Eun didn’t notice Ju Ri.

Da Eun went inside without any special procedure, guided by an employee.

What the, Song Da Eun. How did she…!

That grimy Song Da Eun who used to peep over her own house wall, that Song Da Eun who was struggling with a poor man, why is she in a better position than me now?

Then suddenly she remembered Yong Hee’s words about Yu Kwon having a hidden woman.

Right, you’re just a placeholder. I’ll be the one to take the place beside Cha Yu Kwon, just wait and see.

Ju Ri hailed a taxi with an improved mood.

“Da Eun. Have you been waiting long?”

Da Eun, who was waiting for Lee Ra while having tea in the VIP room, looked up. Lee Ra was gorgeous and beautiful today as well.

“No, I just got here. But why…”

Lee Ra smiled brightly and guided Da Eun into the store.

“I thought this would be good for you to wear tomorrow.”

Lee Ra showed her the dress and accessories she had coordinated in advance.

It was a pale sky blue dress with elegant lines. It was pretty enough to make Da Eun’s eyes, who didn’t know how to dress up, sparkle. However, Da Eun still couldn’t afford clothes worth millions of won.

“It’s so pretty. But I’m not well off enough to buy all this. I’ve already received many clothes as gifts too.”

Da Eun honestly revealed her thoughts.

“You should be the one receiving the money, Da Eun.”

“Pardon?”

“The promotional effect will be tremendous. This is an opportunity for me. If you wear it, that is.”

When Da Eun hesitated, Lee Ra pushed her into the fitting room.

“Hurry up and try it on. I’m so excited.”

Da Eun had no choice but to change clothes. As she awkwardly came out of the fitting room, Lee Ra clapped her hands as if she had been waiting.

“I knew it. It suits you so well. Can I take a picture?”

Lee Ra made a fuss. Da Eun nodded unconsciously as she quite liked her reflection in the mirror.

Da Eun had been working part-time jobs to pay living expenses and debts since she was in school. Ordinary daily life like traveling abroad or buying pretty clothes was not allowed for Da Eun.

But these days, a daily life of eating expensive meals and wearing expensive clothes continued. Along with responsibility, of course.

Lee Ra tried various things on Da Eun as if playing with a doll.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

Da Eun was puzzled because people who weren’t family never treated her well without a purpose. Lee Ra burst into laughter as if she had heard a joke at Da Eun’s cautious question.

“If I intentionally treat you well, you might cry.”

Lee Ra stared at Da Eun’s particularly clear eyes for a moment before continuing.

“I first saw you at the wedding hall.”

“At the wedding hall? How…”

Da Eun’s cheeks flushed as she remembered the moment she called off the wedding with the microphone.

“I was looking around to acquire a wedding hall while launching our wedding line, and I happened to see you, interestingly enough.”

“Ah, I see…”

Lee Ra didn’t bother to explain that she recognized Da Eun from the photo Yu Kwon had, since Da Eun didn’t question it.

“You were really dignified and cool. I couldn’t do that.”

Lee Ra smiled bitterly and spoke again.

“Both times were marriages my family wanted. After divorcing twice, I gained freedom.”

Freedom came late, but by then she had already lost the person she loved. If she had gone against her parents’ wishes, if she had been more assertive, he would be by her side now.

Lee Ra, who was lost in meaningless imagination, smiled.

Because Da Eun’s eyes were full of concern as she looked at her.

“I said something unnecessary.”

“No, it’s alright.”

Da Eun waved her hands.

Just then, an employee came up to the second floor.

“Ma’am, Executive Cha is here.”

“Ah, Yu Kwon must be here. Tell him to come up.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The employee bowed slightly at Lee Ra’s words and went back down to the first floor.

Da Eun’s eyes widened at the mention of Yu Kwon.

“Executive?”

“Ah, I told him this morning that I made a reservation for you, and he said he might be late, so I asked him to come a little earlier and sent a picture. But I didn’t expect him to come this quickly.”

A moment later, Yu Kwon came up to the second floor. He raised one eyebrow when he saw Da Eun.

“Take good care of Da Eun.”

Lee Ra gave Da Eun an eye greeting, patted Yu Kwon’s shoulder, and went down to the first floor.

Da Eun blankly looked up at Yu Kwon’s face. He had been appearing in unexpected places these days.

“Didn’t you say you were taking the day off today?”

“That was the plan.”

Da Eun felt shy under his gaze, which was more direct than usual.

“…Does the dress suit me?”

“It’s passable.”

Yu Kwon approached quickly and stood behind Da Eun.

His fingers touched the nape of her neck. When Da Eun tried to turn around, he gently gripped her shoulders. Then he put a necklace around Da Eun’s neck.

It was a diamond necklace set on a chain of just the right thickness, not too burdensome for her delicate neckline. It wasn’t flashy, but it had a distinct presence, like Da Eun herself.

“A return gift for the bracelet.”

It wasn’t even an expensive silver bracelet, but she was getting a diamond necklace in return. The calculation didn’t add up.

“It’s too much…”

“Then think of it as an item essential for the contract.”

An item essential for the contract.

It seemed better to just keep quiet rather than trying to save face with her tiny conscience and end up embarrassed.

“Thank you anyway.”

Da Eun expressed her gratitude with a heavy heart.

On the day of Cha Myung Il’s birthday.

Da Eun and Yu Kwon arrived at Hyanglimjae in time. The impatient Myung Il took the stage earlier than scheduled.

Unlike typical summer weather, the sun wasn’t too hot and a cool breeze was blowing, making it comfortable even outdoors.

“I’m grateful to all of you who have taken the trouble to come for my mere birthday,” Myung Il said with a friendly smile as he started speaking.

Yong Hee and Yong Ju had prepared a grand party, trying to outdo each other.

The most attention was paid to opening Hyanglimjae for the first time. Even though only high-ranking officials from political and business circles and Myung Il’s executives were invited, it was crowded.

“I was going to say let’s keep it simple as usual, but thinking there might not be many left, I told them to do as they pleased, and my children prepared such a grand event.”

“Oh my, you should have at least fifty more,” said Director Kwon, a founding member, making Myung Il burst into laughter.

Da Eun looked at him with eyes full of respect – a man with a warm appearance more suited to hiking clothes than a suit.

And Yu Kwon couldn’t take his eyes off Da Eun’s appearance.

Dressed elegantly, with hair and makeup done by professionals. It reminded him of her wedding day when she was annoyingly pretty.