Ju Hwa put down her spoon on the dining table.

The Gi Taek family tensed up, as she had barely taken a few bites.

The Blue House staff standing nearby felt the same way.

She asked the butler.

“I let it slide yesterday because it was late, but what on earth is this smell? Why does the house smell like this?”

The butler quickly approached and answered.

“I apologize, Madam Chairman.”

Jeong Mi also pointed out with an irritated expression.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Butler Park, how are you managing the house? Just because Sophia and I were away briefly yesterday, you let it get like this? What’s with this food waste smell?”

Sensing an opportunity, Sophia chimed in.

“That’s right, Butler. My dear and I couldn’t sleep a wink all night because of this smell. With every breath, it was so nauseating we felt like throwing up.”

“I apologize.”

“Don’t just keep saying sorry, answer me. What is this nauseating, rotten smell?”

Butler Park wore a troubled expression.

“Speak up, now!”

Jeong Mi’s voice rose as she pressed him.

As if he really had no choice, Butler Park answered.

“It was Young Lady Ha Eun’s doing.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Ju Hwa’s sharp gaze turned towards Ha Eun.

As soon as their eyes met, Ha Eun quickly lowered her head.

A flustered Jeong Mi intervened.

“Hey, Butler Park. Why are you picking on our innocent Ha Eun? What did our Ha Eun do?”

Butler Park replied.

“It seems Young Lady Ha Eun returned home after I left work yesterday. Finding the house empty and herself alone for once, she must have felt free and in a good mood, so she drank alcohol.”

“…Alcohol?”

“Yes.”

At the mention of alcohol, Gi Taek’s family collectively looked troubled.

Their expressions suggested they could imagine what happened without even seeing it.

Ha Eun couldn’t say anything and just kept her head down.

“Director Pyo was at fault too. No matter how lonely the young lady felt eating alone, he should have refused as an employee, but the two of them get along so well that they seem to have gone overboard.”

Jeong Mi’s gaze immediately turned to Director Pyo.

It felt like she was thinking, ‘So you were the cause of our Ha Eun’s downfall!’

“The staff nearby tried to stop them, but you know how stubborn Young Lady Ha Eun is. Director Pyo also yelled at them not to interfere, threatening ‘dismissal’. In the end, the two of them had a drinking party in the central living room on the second floor.”

As disapproving gazes poured in from the family members, Ha Eun and Director Pyo lowered their heads even further.

“Head Chef Baek, who couldn’t stand by any longer, tried to intervene, but the two drunk individuals wouldn’t listen. Thinking there was no other choice, Head Chef Baek called me. So I hurriedly returned in the middle of leaving work. But I was a step too late. The intoxicated young lady had gone to the kitchen herself to get snacks for the alcohol and brought them up to the second floor, and it was fermented yellow croaker.”

“What, what did she bring? Fermented yellow croaker?”

To Jeong Mi’s incredulous question, Butler Park calmly replied.

“Yes. She brought up a three-year-old jar of fermented yellow croaker from the kitchen to the central living room on the second floor. But then, as if she suddenly felt upset, she started opening the lid and pouring it onto the living room floor. When Yeo Reum tried to stop her, she pushed her away, causing Yeo Reum to hurt her back. In the end, the two drunk individuals slipped on the spilled fish sauce on the floor, tumbling greatly and then blaming each other, slapping faces and fighting.”

Ju Hwa’s brow furrowed as she received Butler Park’s report.

In contrast, Jeong Mi and Gi Taek didn’t know what to do.

Sophia and In Pyo looked at Ha Eun even more disapprovingly.

Ha Eun just kept her head bowed low.

She recalled what Butler Park had said to her and Director Pyo yesterday.

‘Today’s incident was caused by the young lady and Director Pyo drinking and making a scene. I will report it to the Chairman as an incident that occurred due to the misconduct of the two of you, so understand it as such.’

‘…What are you saying? That Jung Yeo Reum did this to me! That b*tch hit me! She dared to slap my face! I won’t let her get away with this!’

‘If you do that, it won’t be good for you or Director Pyo.’

‘Hey, don’t defend that b*tch! I’ll make sure my mother grinds not only her but also you, Butler Park, who defended her, to dust!’

‘What you two did to Yeo Reum today was clearly attempted murder in addition to confinement.’

‘…What?’

Despite his calm words, the butler’s eyes were icily cold.

‘Confinement and attempted murder, do you understand?’

‘D-Don’t exaggerate. It was just a little prank…’

‘A prank? Yeo Reum could have died from hypothermia. She could have fallen trying to escape from the bathroom.’

‘T-That was exactly what Director Pyo did, I didn’t order it!’

Butler Park said,

‘I’ve already heard from the staff that you defended Director Pyo, who was confining Yeo Reum. If the Madam interrogates me, I will tell the Chairman the whole truth of this incident.’

‘…Hey!’

‘No matter how much the Chairman hates Yeo Reum, she won’t leave you and Director Pyo alone for being complicit in attempted murder. How can we live in the same house with such horrible people?’

Ha Eun and Director Pyo’s throats bobbed involuntarily.

After taking a short breath, Butler Park spoke to the two as if admonishing them.

‘If this incident comes to light as it truly happened, probably your entire family will be kicked out of this household, young lady. Then you’ll be subjected to concentrated attacks from your family members. Can you handle that?’

Ha Eun couldn’t give any answer.

The butler then spoke to Director Pyo.

‘Director Pyo, you should keep your mouth even more shut. From the habitual abuse of Yeo Reum to confinement and attempted murder, you’ll probably end up in prison properly.’

At the mention of prison, Director Pyo’s face turned ghastly pale.

‘So I’m telling you. Let’s bury this incident as drunken misconduct by the two of you. But if you ignore my kindness, I can’t help it. Go ahead and spread rumors that you tried to kill Yeo Reum but ended up covered in fermented fish sauce and got slapped instead.’

“I told her to fix her drinking habit, but Ha Eun still hasn’t broken that habit?”

At Ju Hwa’s lowered voice, Ha Eun suddenly came to her senses.

But being unable to speak even with a mouth, she just lowered her head.

“I’m sorry, elder sister. I will scold her again.”

Jeong Mi quickly changed her attitude and apologized to Ju Hwa.

“I’ve already heard that several times from you?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Sister. I have failed in educating my daughter. I apologize.”

Eventually, even Gi Taek stepped forward to apologize.

Ju Hwa looked at Director Pyo, who was also bowing his head, and said,

“I heard you also broke the dish I cherished?”

“Pardon?”

She looked at Butler Park with bewilderment.

But he pretended not to notice.

“Now that I look at it, Director Pyo makes a lot of mistakes.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Although full of resentment, Director Pyo also just apologized.

Ju Hwa looked back and forth between the two, then got up with a displeased expression and went outside.

The butler followed behind her.

*

“People can do such things when drunk. Why are you so irritated?”

At Jeong Mi’s words, Gi Taek’s head whipped to the side.

“Your daughter has turned the whole house into this state, and that’s what you say as her mother?”

“Ha Eun is reflecting on it too. Right?”

Ha Eun quickly nodded her head.

Gi Taek said,

“You, if you drink and do this one more time, Dad will cut off all your cards. Got it?”

“…Yes.”

An angry Gi Taek also went outside.

In Pyo and Sophia also glared at Ha Eun before leaving the dining room.

“When you drink, can’t you drink nicely? Why are you throwing tantrums you’ve never done before? Are you tired of hitting people now? So you decided to sprinkle fermented fish?”

“Mom, that’s…!”

Ha Eun wanted to tell the truth right away.

That that damned Jung Yeo Reum had actually hit her instead.

But she swallowed it down hard.

As frustrating as it was, the butler was right.

“How much did you drink and make a scene for your face to look like this? It’s all bloodshot.”

Jeong Mi stroked Ha Eun’s cheek with concern.

Then she spoke to Director Pyo, who was standing with his mouth tightly shut.

“Director Pyo, aren’t you going to come to your senses?”

“…Pardon?”

“How could you drink with our Ha Eun just because she asked you to? Are you in your right mind? From what I see, you used our Ha Eun as an excuse to drink yesterday, didn’t you? That’s why your face looks like that. All swollen up nicely.”

“Madam, that’s…”

But Director Pyo also swallowed his words.

“Director Pyo, I’ll let it slide just this once. But I won’t forgive such a mistake twice. Understand?”

“…I apologize.”

“Ah, really ruining my appetite in the morning. Ha Eun, let’s go eat outside. We can’t live in a house that smells like this.”

As Jeong Mi stood up, Ha Eun also got up and went outside.

Walking down the hallway, Ha Eun said quietly,

“But Mom.”

“What?”

“It seems like Aunt really doesn’t care about Jung Yeo Reum at all. Even though I said I pushed her and hurt her back, she didn’t scold me or ask anything about it.”

“That’s why I’ve told you repeatedly. To my elder sister, Jung Yeo Reum is just the daughter of her enemy, Kim Se Jin.”

“Right, Aunt’s enemy.”

Just wait, Jung Yeo Reum.

I’ll get my revenge soon.

As Jeong Mi laughed out loud, Ha Eun also laughed along.

*

The butler entered the kitchen.

Yeo Reum, who was scooping a spoonful of rice into her mouth, greeted him cheerfully.

“Good morning, Butler.”

“Are you alright?”

“Of course. Have you eaten, Butler?”

“Yes.”

Yeo Reum ate her rice.

On the table, a hot pot was piled high with thick, glossy braised short ribs, almost to the point of overflowing.

The other side dishes were also plentiful.

Despite yesterday’s commotion, Yeo Reum looked robust.

“You seem to be in good condition?”

“I turned the boiler up full blast when I slept, and my stiff body felt refreshed. I should really sleep in a room after all. Plus, there’s plenty of hot water. And with Head Chef Baek making these delicious dishes because he’s worried about me, how could I not feel energetic?”

“I see.”

The butler smiled gently as he watched Yeo Reum eagerly tear into the ribs.

“I told the Chairman that this incident occurred due to Young Lady Ha Eun’s drunken behavior.”

“Is that so?”

“Are you disappointed that I reported it that way? You almost died.”

“No, I’m not. I know you did it for my sake.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“I’m the one who should be thankful.”

Yeo Reum smiled brightly.

“Well then, enjoy your meal.”

The butler gave a light bow and went outside.

Just then, the phone left on the table rang.

The caller was Director Ahn.

She quickly wiped her hands, cleared her throat, and answered.

“Yes, Director.”

―Young lady, your father was safely admitted to the hospital a short while ago. He’s in stable condition now. Although we need to do a more thorough examination, the medical staff who looked at the data sent from Korea say it’s hopeful.

“…Really?”

―Yes. And we’ve chosen an apartment right next to the hospital for your mother to stay in while caring for him. The household items will be moved in today. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure there are no inconveniences.

“…Ah, thank you.”

―I’d like to send you photos of the local situation, but due to the Chairman’s strict orders, that’s difficult. I’ll make sure you can see a video of both of them next time.

“Thank you so much.”

―It’s nothing. Well then, I’ll be going now.

He hung up after delivering the happy news.

Yeo Reum closed her eyes involuntarily.

‘Thank you.’

…Thank you so much.

She felt like crying from happiness.

“If you’re done eating, let’s go to the laundry room.”

At the sudden words, Yeo Reum opened her eyes and looked ahead.

It was Hye Sook.

“I’ve taken down all the living room curtains. You need to wash them by stepping on them.”

“Did Director Pyo order that?”

“He’s the director of this house. Don’t call him by name carelessly.”

“But what can I do? I can’t do laundry today. I’m going out.”

“Are you saying you’re going to disobey the director’s instructions? Jung Yeo Reum, have you just decided to leave?”

At Hye Sook’s incredulous look, Yeo Reum said,

“Ah, right.”

“Pardon?”

“I just remembered, I forgot about you yesterday?”

“…What?”

“The person who was supposed to be covered in fermented yellow croaker.”

Yeo Reum stood up, rotating her wrist.

A shocked Hye Sook ran out.

Yeo Reum smirked.

“Scared, huh.”