“Are you alright?”

An Shiljang, sitting in the passenger seat, asked as he observed Yeo Reum in the back seat.

Her bangs were damp, and her chubby but fair face was shining.

It seemed she had washed her face to erase signs of crying.

“I’m fine.”

Yeo Reum answered, looking out the car window as darkness began to fall.

“I’ll contact you when young master Jung Hyun arrives at the hospital. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you.”

“And young lady, if I may be so bold as to offer some advice.”

At those words, Yeo Reum looked at An Shiljang.

“Please don’t provoke the chairman’s temper any further. I’m saying this out of concern for you. The chairman doesn’t forgive anyone who defies him. He’s a fearsome person. So please keep a low profile.”

“I’d like to do that too.”

At this calm response, An Shiljang didn’t say anything more.

Meanwhile, the luxury sedan entered an alley.

There was a building like a security checkpoint at the entrance, with people standing guard.

Not a single person was passing through the wide, long alley.

The car drove through and entered a place.

Due to the considerable size of the area, it took quite some time to reach the building even after passing through the main gate.

“Please get out.”

An Shiljang, who got out first, opened the back door.

After briefly thanking him, Yeo Reum looked up at the building in front.

The beautiful two-story building with soft light seeping out was more like a castle than a house.

“This way, please.”

An Shiljang guided her, and Yeo Reum followed behind.

A middle-aged woman standing at the entrance bowed deeply to Yeo Reum.

“Welcome. I’m the head housekeeper. You can call me Park Housekeeper.”

She appeared to be in her 50s, but had an elegant appearance and a calm voice.

Yeo Reum also bowed to her in return.

Soon, she followed the housekeeper’s lead inside.

Everything was luxurious yet refined.

Yeo Reum walked down a long corridor to the interior.

And arrived at a living room reminiscent of a palace.

Ju Hwa was seated in the place of honor on a massive gold sofa, with people she had seen at the hospital beside her.

Behind them stood men and women in white shirts and black skirts or pants, standing neatly.

They seemed to be the staff of this house, numbering easily twenty people.

“Chairman, the young lady has arrived.”

At the housekeeper’s cue, Yeo Reum approached Ju Hwa.

She was drinking tea.

The people seated next to her seemed surprised by Yeo Reum’s appearance, each with a startled expression.

Ha Eun was among them.

“You…”

She looked at Yeo Reum in disbelief and tried to stand up.

Yeo Reum was equally dumbfounded.

Who would have thought they’d meet as relatives in this place.

“What’s wrong?”

When the woman in her 50s sitting next to her asked quietly, Ha Eun sat back down.

“Nothing.”

Ha Eun closed her mouth.

The housekeeper Park spoke to Yeo Reum, who was standing blankly.

“Young lady, please have a seat.”

As Yeo Reum approached the sofa, Ju Hwa spoke.

“Who said you could sit?”

At those words, Yeo Reum stopped.

“Who said you could sit in my house so casually?”

Jeong Mi and Ha Eun, who had been tense for a moment, snickered.

“You want to sit on my sofa looking like that?”

Compared to Yeo Reum in jeans and a padded jacket, everyone seated on the sofa was dressed elegantly.

Among them, Ju Hwa in a white dress with abundant lace looked like the queen of lilies, with an added air of haughtiness.

As the housekeeper Park looked flustered, Yeo Reum instead said to her:

“It’s okay.”

She smiled brightly.

However, she could see the staff standing around stirring.

As if trying to break the awkward atmosphere, the housekeeper Park cleared her throat and continued:

“Young lady, allow me to briefly introduce the people here. Mr. Kang Gi Taek is the chairman’s younger brother. He would be your great-uncle.”

A slightly thin middle-aged man smiled kindly at Yeo Reum.

“Welcome. We’re glad to have you.”

“Ah, yes.”

“This is his wife, Mrs. Song Jeong Mi. She would be your great-aunt.”

The woman with an ample figure looked at Yeo Reum with an arrogant expression.

Having already seen her at the hospital, her gaze was full of disapproval and disdain.

“These are the representative’s son and daughter-in-law, and daughter. They would be your second cousin, his wife, and second cousin respectively.”

Yeo Reum said:

“Wow, that’s really complicated. In short, they’re Chairman Kang Ju Hwa’s younger brother’s family, right?”

Though she seemed flustered for a moment, the housekeeper soon replied:

“That’s correct.”

“So they’re my fourth or fifth cousins?”

“Yes.”

“I see. Now I understand.”

At that moment, Ju Hwa spoke as she set down her teacup on the table:

“You, aren’t you supposed to start working at school tomorrow? Gamsan High School, was it?”

“That’s right.”

“You waited over a year after passing the teacher certification exam until you got appointed, right?”

“Yes.”

“I canceled that. To be precise, I contacted them saying you’re resigning. That’s how you should understand it.”

“…What did you say?”

Ju Hwa smiled as she spoke:

“You’re supposed to live here for the next 20 years, so how could you work as a teacher in Busan? Don’t you think?”

“Even so, you should have let me explain the situation to the school and resign properly! Do you know how hard I worked to pass that exam?”

Ju Hwa said:

“I couldn’t care less about your efforts.”

Jeong Mi and Ha Eun snickered again.

The son and daughter-in-law sitting across from them also covered their faces with their hands.

They seemed to be holding back laughter.

“What, are you angry?”

Ju Hwa stood up from the sofa.

She approached Yeo Reum.

“Of course I am. Wouldn’t you be angry in my place, Chairman?”

“But there’s nothing you can do. Your 20 years belong to me.”

In contrast to the angry Yeo Reum, Ju Hwa smiled brightly.

The staff surrounding them could be felt stirring again.

“Give me your phone.”

Ju Hwa said.

Though frustrated, Yeo Reum rummaged through her pocket and took out her phone.

“Did you delete your mother’s number?”

“I’m a person who keeps my promises too. I was going to do it soon…!”

At that moment, Yeo Reum’s phone flew through the air and fell into a beautifully sculpted fountain nearby.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Yeo Reum looked at Ju Hwa standing in front of her.

“I prefer certainty. Remember that.”

With those mocking words, Ju Hwa turned around.

The people seated on the sofa all stood up at once.

The staff lined up did the same.

Everyone hurriedly assumed their postures and bowed deeply to her as she entered the inner rooms.

‘…Queen’

Kang Ju Hwa was clearly the absolute ruler not only of the PR Group but also of this house.

That fact was clear in Yeo Reum’s eyes.

And she could see that her life here would be difficult, as she was thoroughly disregarded by her.

The relatives seated on the sofa and the staff standing nearby instantly changed to looks of disdain towards Yeo Reum.

Gi Taek smiled awkwardly at Yeo Reum before quickly following after Ju Hwa.

Once he left his seat as well, Gi Taek’s family members, unlike their behavior in front of Ju Hwa earlier, crossed their legs arrogantly and looked Yeo Reum up and down as if observing a monkey in a zoo.

Ha Eun looked like she was having the time of her life.

Though the situation was ridiculous, Yeo Reum couldn’t say anything back.

Ju Hwa had gone inside without a word, and she was in the middle of the living room of an unfamiliar house.

At that moment, Jeong Mi, who was called her great-aunt, spoke to Yeo Reum:

“There’s no need to complicate things by calling me great-aunt. From now on, just call my husband ‘Representative’, my son ‘Executive Director’, and me ‘Elder Madam’. That’ll do.”

“What?”

“Why are you taking offense? I’m being considerate and telling you to address us comfortably. My daughter-in-law Sophia is ‘Younger Madam’, and our daughter Ha Eun is ‘Young Lady’. You understand?”

She forcibly crossed her plump legs the other way and said to Yeo Reum:

“Oh, and you’re the daughter of Kim Se Jin, our elder brother’s enemy. Nothing more, nothing less. So from now on, live like a mouse. Got it?”

Though there were many people present, not a single one raised any objection.

She stood up from the sofa as if she had said all she needed to say.

“Oh, and Manager Pyo.”

At her call, a woman in her late 40s with a cold expression promptly answered:

“Yes, Elder Madam.”

“Give that child the room at the far west end.”

“Understood.”

Her cold eyes looked at Yeo Reum.

“And everyone listen carefully.”

Jeong Mi spoke to the staff standing around:

“I’ll say it again, that child is the daughter of Kim Se Jin, the chairman’s enemy. She’s just Jung Yeo Reum, nothing more. And everything related to that child will be delegated to Manager Pyo. Keep that in mind and behave accordingly. Don’t get on the chairman’s bad side and get fired.”

The staff all bowed their heads and answered in unison:

“Yes.”

Seemingly satisfied with their response, Jeong Mi went inside with her family members.

*

“This is it.”

Manager Pyo, who had guided Yeo Reum to the room she would use, spoke in a cold voice.

“I can’t believe there’s a room like this in such a grand house.”

The room, reminiscent of an old motel, had only a wardrobe doubling as a closet, a low desk, and a coat rack.

It was even worn out.

If there was any consolation, it was that there was a bathroom right next to it and the room had large windows.

“This used to be the maids’ room.”

“You mean it’s not currently in use?”

“That’s right. And the boiler is broken, so it will take a few days to repair.”

“A few days?”

“Yes.”

Her confident expression challenged Yeo Reum as if asking what the problem was.

Just then, Manager Pyo’s phone rang.

“Yes, Elder Madam.”

After receiving a call from Jeong Mi, she went outside as if she had completed her task.

“What is this, Cinderella or something?”

Yeo Reum muttered as she scanned the room again, devoid of any warmth.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

An Shiljang entered carrying large bags in both hands.

“What’s all that?”

“I packed some clothes and other things. You came in a hurry, didn’t you?”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. And here.”

What he handed over was a latest model smartphone and a memo with the phone numbers of the people in this house.

“Did you buy this, Manager?”

“Yes.”

“Is it okay for me to accept this?”

“Don’t worry. I didn’t install anything strange.”

Yeo Reum smiled and said:

“What do you mean by strange things?”

He smiled awkwardly.

“I’m truly sorry. You shouldn’t be staying in a place like this…”

“It’s okay. And thank you. I’ll use it well, really.”

“Then, please rest.”

With an apologetic expression, he bowed politely before withdrawing.

Yeo Reum sat down on the bare floor, as there wasn’t even a single chair in the chilly room.

‘Our princess, you shouldn’t sit directly on the floor.’

Suddenly, she was overcome with sadness.

She was reminded of her father’s face, who always laid down a handkerchief for her.

Tears welled up again, but she wiped them away firmly with both hands.

Though she tried to comfort herself, she felt stifled.

She wanted to talk to someone about this absurd situation.

But as Yeo Reum looked down at her phone, she made a ruined expression.

Because she always just pressed the call button, she didn’t have any of her friends’ phone numbers memorized.

“That damn old hag.”

Though she held the phone, she couldn’t make any calls.

With no other choice, she opened the zipper of the bag she had been carrying, thinking she should at least wash up.

“Huh?”

There was a crushed cake in a zipper pack.

Yeo Reum was reminded of San Ha’s face.

Along with his phone number.

She quickly took out her phone and typed a message.

「 Are you doing well? I’m not sure if you know me. This is Jung Yeo Reum. Hot Summer! I really enjoyed the cake from before. Next time we meet, I’ll treat you to a meal for sure. 」

She was briefly excited with anticipation, but no reply came.

Somehow, she felt even more deflated.

As she sat blankly leaning against the wall, suddenly a short notification sound rang.

She quickly picked up her phone and checked.

「 Didn’t I tell you not to call? 」

The displeased message was undoubtedly his reply.

Yeo Reum wanted to cheer out loud, but quickly suppressed the urge and typed a message.

「 Didn’t you say you were going to change your number? 」

This time his reply came quickly.

「 I was too lazy, so I thought I’d just keep using it. What about you, magpie? You changed your number? 」

「 It just ended up that way somehow. Um, can I text you occasionally? 」

「 No. Don’t. 」

「 I’ll only do it occasionally. Right now, you’re the only person I know in Seoul. 」

「 I don’t live in Seoul, you know? 」

「 Don’t lie. When I asked for your contact info at the resort after reporting you as a violent offender, they said it was a trade secret and wouldn’t tell me. But they definitely said ‘Seoul customer’. 」

There was no reply for a moment, then another short vibration sounded.

「 Once a day. No more than that. 」

Though his answer was gruff, Yeo Reum was overjoyed.

「 Okay! I will! 」

As she put down her phone with a feeling of instant relief, another short notification sound rang.

A mobile gift card for hamburgers, cola, and even expensive fruit had arrived.

「 Congratulations on your arrival in Seoul. Don’t reply. It’s bothersome. 」

Yeo Reum finally let out a cheer.

And quickly saved his name.

「 Really Nice Tiger! 」

Looking fondly at that name, Yeo Reum approached the window.

Suddenly becoming a separated family.

And Cinderella on top of that.

But soon she clenched her fists.

“Alright, let’s see who wins in the end.”