Ji-Ah walked down the hallway without looking back.
Each step echoed softly in the quiet mansion. The place felt too big at night, like the walls were listening.
When she finally reached her room, she pushed the door open and slipped inside.
The door closed behind her with a soft click.
Silence.
She stood there for a moment… then groaned loudly.
"Ugh, I'm so stupid."
She threw her slippers off and dropped onto the bed, bouncing slightly on the mattress.
Her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
A pout formed on her face.
"Why did I listen to him?"
She stared at the ceiling like it personally owed her an explanation.
"I should have just left."
She kicked the blanket in frustration.
"But noooo."
Her voice turned mocking.
"'Go back to your room.'"
She sat up and imitated his calm, annoyingly steady tone.
"'Tomorrow I'll go convince Seo-Yeon.'"
She flopped back down dramatically.
"And I just nodded like an idiot!"
Ji-Ah covered her face with a pillow and screamed into it.
Then she tossed it aside.
Her mind drifted back to the room.
The photos.
The things.
The painting.
And those two words.
Someone special.
Ji-Ah groaned again and rolled onto her side.
"Why did he say it like that?"
Her pout deepened.
"Like it was some tragic movie scene or something."
She crossed her arms again and glared at the wall.
"I don't even care."
A pause.
"…I don't."
Another pause.
Then she huffed.
"Okay maybe I care a little."
She grabbed another pillow and hugged it tightly.
"But still!"
Her voice rose again in frustration.
"Who keeps a whole museum of someone in a locked room?!"
Ji-Ah buried her face into the pillow and muttered.
"And why does she look like me…"
The room went quiet again.
Ji-Ah lay there, arms crossed, cheeks puffed slightly in a stubborn pout.
Still annoyed.
Mostly at him.
But a little bit at herself too.
Late afternoon sunlight spilled across the driveway of the mansion when the gates slowly opened.
A motorcycle rolled in.
The engine stopped.
Ha-Joon removed his helmet first. Then he looked at the bike again, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Still loud," he murmured.
Behind him, Seo-Yeon crossed her arms.
"You rode it like you were stealing it."
"I was returning it," he corrected calmly.
The front doors opened.
Inside the living room, everyone had already gathered.
Madam sat stiffly on the sofa like a queen holding court. Yoo-Na stood beside her, arms folded and expression sharp. Arisoo sat quietly with Nikki on her lap. Nisa and Do-Hyun stood near the window talking softly.
Ji-Ah stood near the stairs.
When she heard the engine outside earlier, she had already known.
Now the door opened.
Ha-Joon walked in first.
Seo-Yeon followed.
For a moment the entire room went quiet.
Min-Hyuk was the first to move.
His face lit up like someone had turned on the sun.
"Seo-Yeon."
He crossed the room quickly.
"I'm so glad you came back," he said, the relief in his voice impossible to hide.
Seo-Yeon looked at him.
For a second her expression softened.
She nodded.
"Yeah."
Min-Hyuk ran a hand through his hair, still smiling.
"You scared me, you know."
"I didn't die," she said dryly.
"That's not funny."
"I wasn't joking."
Ji-Ah watched them quietly from the side, arms loosely folded.
Ha-Joon cleared his throat.
Not loudly.
Just enough.
The small sound cut through the room like a bell.
Everyone looked at him.
He turned to Seo-Yeon and extended his hand.
"Your room is ready."
Seo-Yeon looked at the offered hand.
Then at his face.
Then she placed her hand in his.
"Fine."
He guided her calmly toward the hallway.
The movement was simple.
But it made the room feel like it had tilted.
Yoo-Na's lips tightened immediately.
She leaned toward Madam.
"Did you see that?" she whispered sharply.
Madam's eyes followed her son walking down the hallway with Seo-Yeon.
Yoo-Na's voice sharpened with irritation.
"Your son is escorting her like she belongs here."
Madam didn't answer immediately.
Yoo-Na continued.
"And that girl," she added, glancing toward Ji-Ah, "is still standing in this house like she owns it."
Ji-Ah slowly looked over.
Her eyebrow lifted slightly.
But she didn't say anything.
Arisoo watched the tension quietly, gently bouncing Nikki on her knee to distract him.
Nisa leaned closer to Do-Hyun.
"This house is going to explode one day," she whispered.
Do-Hyun sighed.
"Probably today."
Across the room, Min-Hyuk was still smiling faintly as he watched Seo-Yeon disappear down the hallway.
The relief on his face hadn't faded yet.
Yoo-Na, however, was staring in the same direction with barely concealed anger.
Madam finally spoke.
Her voice was calm.
But it carried authority.
"My son," she said slowly, "has always done what he believes is right."
Yoo-Na scoffed quietly.
"Right?"
Madam's gaze shifted toward her.
"And if you wish to stay here," Madam added evenly, "you would do well to remember whose house this is."
The room fell quiet again.
Somewhere down the hallway, a door closed softly.
And the tension inside the mansion tightened like a string waiting to snap.
Across the living room, Yoo-Na stood very still.
Her eyes had landed on Earth.
The fluffy white cat sat proudly on the couch beside Ji-Ah, licking his paw like a tiny emperor who owned the mansion.
Yoo-Na narrowed her eyes.
There was nothing wrong with the cat.
Nothing at all.
But unfortunately… it belonged to Ji-Ah.
And that alone made it suspicious.
Her lips slowly curved into a small, calculating smirk.
Things are going to get bad, she thought.
Then, as if nothing had crossed her mind at all, she turned toward Madam and bowed her head slightly.
"I apologize," she said sweetly. "I shouldn't have interrupted earlier or said unnecessary things."
Madam studied her for a moment.
Then nodded approvingly.
"It is good that you know your place."
Yoo-Na smiled politely.
Inside, however, the smirk was still alive.
Upstairs…
Ha-Joon had already escorted Seo-Yeon to the guest room.
"This one," he said, opening the door.
Seo-Yeon looked around the room.
"Nice."
Ha-Joon gave a small nod and turned to leave.
But the moment he stepped into the hallway—
Ji-Ah was standing there.
Blocking his path like an angry traffic cone.
He stopped.
"…What."
Ji-Ah squinted at him.
"How did you do that?"
"Do what."
"Convince Seo-Yeon to come back."
Ha-Joon rolled his eyes.
Then he crouched slightly so they were at eye level.
"It's simple," he said calmly.
He tapped his chest.
"My charm."
"Every girl listens eventually."
Ji-Ah blinked.
Then immediately pointed to herself.
"I don't."
She jabbed a finger toward her chest again.
"I'm rowdy, baby."
She crossed her arms proudly.
"I don't listen to anyone."
Then she pointed directly at him.
"Especially not ridiculously handsome CEOs like you."
Ha-Joon's mouth curved into a small smirk.
"See?" he said smoothly. "My charm."
Before she could react, he casually reached out and patted her head.
Not softly.
Not affectionately.
Just a quick tap tap like someone proving a point.
Then he stood up and walked past her.
Ji-Ah jumped slightly, hair bouncing everywhere.
She spun around, furious.
"I AM SO FREAKING ANGRY!"
Her hands waved wildly.
"I could literally burst right now!"
She stomped once.
"I could end that guy!"
She mimed grabbing someone by the neck.
"I will freaking choke him!"
Another dramatic gesture.
"And then I will freaking—ahhhh!!!"
A door behind her creaked open.
Seo-Yeon poked her head out slowly.
"…What."
Ji-Ah froze mid imaginary strangling.
Seo-Yeon blinked.
Then nodded thoughtfully.
"…Okay."
She leaned against the doorframe.
"If you're choking him," she said calmly, "I will freaking support you."
Ji-Ah stared at her.
"You're not even going to ask why?"
Seo-Yeon shrugged.
"He deserves it."
Ji-Ah pointed down the hallway where Ha-Joon had disappeared.
"He patted my head!"
Seo-Yeon gasped softly.
"…That tyrant."
They both stood there for a moment in shared outrage.
Then Seo-Yeon added seriously,
"Just warn me before you choke him."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"Why?"
"So I can bring snacks."
Ji-Ah's anger collapsed instantly.
"…Fair."