“……Mother, I have arrived.”
Su Yeon bowed her head as soon as she stepped into the mansion in Seongbukdong, standing still as if nailed to the spot.

As always, no one bothered to greet her, let alone acknowledge her presence.

It was only after feeling the suffocating silence that she truly realized she had returned in her own body.

A bitter smile curled up at the corner of her mouth as she slowly lifted her head.

It was clear where her motherinlaw would be.

Even when she knew Su Yeon had arrived, she used to sit on the living room sofa, maintaining her formality.

It was certain to be the same today. However……

“……”
Su Yeon’s eyes widened, shaking minutely.

The spot she habitually looked at was empty.

She looked around the living room with a startled face.

Yet, she couldn’t find her motherinlaw anywhere.

Only then did she sense something was amiss.

Although she never felt at ease in her inlaws’ house since the fact of her adoption was revealed, today was particularly filled with chilliness.

The reason was obvious.

The sentiment of her motherinlaw, Yeong Seon, must have been warped.

Su Yeon felt a sigh welling up in her throat.

She was already worried about the day when In Ho was discharged from the hospital and talked to Yeong Seon on her behalf.

Yeong Seon, who had clearly hinted that In Ho shouldn’t know about her daily visits to Seongbukdong, let alone the events happening there.

And then, out of nowhere, not only did In Ho pick up the phone on her behalf, but she even told him not to contact her anymore, revealing her indignation. It was more than enough for Yeong Seon to misunderstand.

“Even so……”
Su Yeon muttered lowly.

Although that was a big problem, she had a hunch that it was not everything.

The air in the house was too cold.

Moreover, she couldn’t find Mrs. Yeong Cheon, who used to secretly acknowledge her from the kitchen entrance.

As if Yeong Seon had laid down the law, not even a nose should peek out.

“Ah, could it be……”
Suddenly recalling something, Su Yeon hurriedly pulled out her cellphone.

For the two days since her body changed, she rarely had her cell phone with her.

She had clearly thought that she had to check if there was any contact during that time.

“How could I forget about that like a fool……”
Su Yeon muttered anxiously, scanning her call history and message box.

Her swiftly moving finger suddenly stiffened.

And from Su Yeon’s lips, a sigh of despair escaped.

“Sigh, what on earth……”
Yeong Seon’s name was densely recorded in the recent call list.

What was more despairing was that most of the records were marked as missed calls.

Su Yeon clenched her lower lip with her teeth and tightly closed her eyes.

“There.”
“……Yes?”
“I would like to have a talk.”

She recalled In Ho requesting a conversation the previous evening.

Apparently, they should have had a talk at that time.

However, she was too tired last night.

The fact that her body had returned to normal, the unexpected visit to In Ho’s workplace, and the unwelcome woman she met there again.

And the past memories that resurfaced because of that.

Everything was bewildering, and the overwhelming fatigue weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Because of that, she overslept, overlooking the fact that she had to head to her inlaws’ house in the morning.

“Sigh……”
Su Yeon let out a heavy sigh.

Just a moment of carelessness, and the weight of the burden she had to bear was enormous.

What should she do first?

‘Should I try to find out where she is……’
She even thought of that in her urgency, but she could only let out a sigh without taking a step.

‘If I run around in confusion, she’ll dislike it. If I keep my place……’
That would also be likely to displease her.

No matter which choice she made, she wouldn’t be able to avoid disapproval.

Despairing, Su Yeon bowed her head.

“Huh, what are you doing here today?”
At the sudden voice, she instinctively raised her head.

There, she saw her motherinlaw coming out of the bedroom.

“I’m sorry, Mother. I intended to come earlier, but there was a bit of traffic……”
Su Yeon muttered whatever excuses came to mind.

The shaky voice, devoid of any confidence, crept in, and the eyes directed at Youngseon trembled with fear, unable to find a place to land.

Habitually, she cast her gaze downwards.

Over Su Yeon’s head, a chilly snort was let out.

“Didn’t I ask why you came here? Who was blocked on the way here, whether they were blocked or not, that’s what you were curious about, right?”
There was a twisted resentment full in Youngseon’s voice.

Even though it wasn’t the first or second time hearing this, she felt her throat tighten and her breath stop.

It was the pain she had forgotten for a few days.

Just because she hadn’t felt it for a few days, her chest felt suffocated and a heavy headache surged as if she were experiencing this for the first time.

Su Yeon slowly closed and opened her eyes.