It was the year when Seo Yeon turned twenty-two.

Her mother suggested that now that she had become an adult and had some free time, why not use her major to volunteer teaching piano to children from broken homes.

Nodding as if enchanted by her mother’s explanation that it would be a meaningful experience, Seo Yeon met little angels there that day.

“Teacher, I’ll play the piano for you. I practiced at school yesterday to show you.”

“Really? Let’s see how well our Ji Oh plays.”

As Ji Oh nodded and began to play, the children burst into laughter.

“Hey, what’s that? That’s an airplane. I can play that too, you know?”

“That’s right. That’s right.”

“Children, shh. Ji Oh is performing. Let’s focus a little more on Ji Oh’s performance.”

“Teacher! Ji Oh, can I play next? I can play better!”

“Me too!”

The children followed her like an elder sister, even though she wasn’t doing much for them. They created unforgettable memories for Seo Yeon, who had been spending confusing days after her family’s attitude suddenly turned cold towards her.

Then one day.

“Teacher, who are these people?”

As Seo Yeon arrived at the lesson room, Ji Oh, who had been standing awkwardly in the corner, approached her and asked.

Seo Yeon frowned as she looked around the lesson room. She hadn’t received any notice about visitors, but the room was already full of unfamiliar faces. Seo Yeon walked over to a tall man who was setting up lighting equipment.

“Who are you?”

The man tilted his head as if puzzled.

“Didn’t you get the message? We’re supposed to shoot today.”

“Shoot?”

Seo Yeon realized they were from a magazine that had long been associated with her father and written favorable articles. Just then, Ae Suk entered the lesson room while talking on the phone with someone.

“I think we need more pictures.”

And as she looked around, she shook her head as if dissatisfied.

“The children’s expressions are brighter than I expected. Try directing them to look a bit more pitiful.”

“Yes, madam.”

Afterwards, Ae Suk continued to give detailed directions to the director, such as making the children’s expressions a bit darker, or dressing them in darker clothes instead of bright ones. The children’s faces clearly showed tension as unfamiliar faces made various demands of them.

“Did you intend this from the beginning when you suggested it?”

“Is our daughter upset because I didn’t tell you in advance?”

Ae Suk patted Seo Yeon’s hand, speaking as if to soothe her.

“Mom’s sorry. I meant to tell you last night but forgot. But it’s not something to get so angry about. Won’t it create a positive image for your father’s company when the article comes out? It’s obviously good for you too. If everything goes according to plan, we might be able to help these children through our connections. Or other good sponsors might come along. This is an opportunity for the kids.”

“You didn’t even ask the children for consent to film them.”

“What do children know? Adults make wise judgments about what’s right and wrong and act accordingly. Now, if we’re done talking, let’s prepare for the shoot.”

Seo Yeon shook her head with a pained expression.

“I can’t do it, the shooting.”

“What?”

At those words, Ae Suk wore a bewildered expression. It was a reaction to seeing her daughter’s unfamiliar assertiveness for the first time.

Her father was trying to use these children to create an image of being a good businessman, and Seo Yeon couldn’t follow her father’s wishes.

“Teacher?”

Ji Oh, who had been standing at a distance, approached Seo Yeon and grabbed her hand. Seo Yeon looked at Ji Oh with teary eyes.

“…I’m sorry, kids.”

Even after that, Ae Suk continued to scold her for her immature behavior, saying this was a good opportunity for the children, but Seo Yeon didn’t want to exploit the innocent children.

So she promised her mother that if they agreed not to write articles about the children and provide steady support, she would find other ways to contribute to the family.

The following year, her elder brother revealed his dream of entering politics to the family, and Seo Yeon began earnestly going on arranged dates, striving to become a useful member of the family.

She had the foolish expectation that maybe this way she could become a daughter and sister recognized by her family.

Seo Yeon returned from her long reminiscence.

[I hear you’re not in touch with mother these days. It seems like there’s some misunderstanding…. Let’s meet and talk first. When are you available?]

Han Jung Hyuk.

Her elder brother, and the man who had driven Han Kyung Group into crisis to lay the foundation for his political base.

In the past, she had pleaded with him countless times to correct his wrongs.

But her brother, who approached her in the name of blood ties when he needed something and demanded sacrifices, coldly rejected her pleas when she begged for help.

She couldn’t be dragged along by him forever.

For Seong Jun’s sake, for the sake of the baby to be born, and for her own sake.

With that resolve, Seo Yeon made the call with a composed expression.

−Seo Yeon. You called.

Jung Hyuk answered the phone with a pleased voice.

−You read my message, right? When can we meet? Is today okay?

“Meeting isn’t difficult. Yes. We can meet. But before that, you need to give at least a minimal explanation for what you did.”

−What?

“Anyway, Seong Jun is my family now. If you want to meet me, you should first apologize to him for attacking my family without any discussion.”

−Why are you being so immature? Before being Han Seo Yeon’s brother, I was a prosecutor of the Republic of Korea. I was just doing my job.

At first, Seo Yeon thought so too. That’s why she couldn’t do anything but apologize to Seong Jun, who even had to undergo police questioning, and beg Jung Hyuk to show at least some consideration.

But one day, Seong Jun, returning home drunk, asked in passing. If her brother was really a good person to her. He wondered if a prosecutor who fabricated evidence for his advancement was still a good brother to his sister.

“…Can you say for certain that the person you presented as a witness, that Han Kyung Group associate, had absolutely no prior connection to you?”

−What? You…!

“The next time you call, you’ll need to answer my question clearly.”

−…….

“I’m hanging up.”

After ending the call, Seo Yeon wore a confused expression. She couldn’t understand why her husband’s question suddenly came to mind, or why her brother’s voice sounded so flustered when she brought it up.

What was certain was that Seong Jun had suffered unnecessary sacrifice because of her brother.

She regretted not controlling her emotions, even though he said irritating things to provoke her anger.

“Still, that’s too much. What’s with the frog? Frog, really.”

If it weren’t for Jin Sung, who was earnestly taking her side and scolding Seong Jun, she might have felt truly hurt even knowing it was a joke. Seo Yeon, sighing deeply with an upset heart, suddenly thought these situations were strange.

The husband she knew was a man who was scary, uncomfortable, and had too many reasons to dislike her, so much so that opportunities for conversation were rare.

But the husband she met upon returning was very different from the one in her memories.

Showing a surprised face when she complained about speaking more nicely.

Teasingly mocking her crying face.

And suddenly kissing her.

“Stop!”

Seo Yeon, barely holding onto her dazed mind, covered her cheeks with both hands. However, the more she tried, the more her ears seemed to burn.

“Why, why does it keep coming to mind!” Apart from feeling sorry for him, she had resolved never to fall for his light teasing, but she kept recalling that moment and blushing at every opportunity.

The strange thing was that she herself didn’t know if it was because she was angry or for some other reason.

After fanning her heated face for a while, Seo Yeon made her way to the bathroom.

She thought a hot shower might help her regain her senses a little.

Seo Yeon entered the shower and pressed the button on the showerhead.

“Is it broken?”

However, no matter how long she waited, no hot water came out.

“It was fine just this morning….”

Looking at the showerhead with a troubled face, Seo Yeon moved to the bathroom next to Seong Jun’s room.

It wasn’t exactly Seong Jun’s bathroom, but by an unspoken rule, Seo Yeon only used the bathroom attached to her own room.

Looking around the bathroom curiously, Seo Yeon moved towards the bathtub.

After filling the large tub with warm water and adding bath salts, she undressed and got in, and soon her tired body gently relaxed.

Seo Yeon closed her eyes, leaning her back against the tub wall. After soaking in the warm water for a while, she suddenly murmured.

“I should be nice to Seong Jun when he comes.”

She had acted childishly for a moment, excited by her husband’s constant irritating remarks, but thinking carefully, he had been enduring more for her sake, both in her previous life and now.

So she wanted to accommodate him as much as she could within her limits.

Besides…

After all, thanks to her husband, she had been able to shake off the lonely and desolate feeling of being alone in the world.

Of course, it was definitely not the method she had wanted!

“I must be crazy. Why do I keep thinking about it?”

Seo Yeon opened her eyes wide and lightly slapped her cheek as if to snap out of it. She seemed to feel dizzy from staying in the water too long.

Just as she decided to finish her bath and get up, the bathroom door opened with a clunk. Seo Yeon’s eyes widened.