At night, Lina's room was wrapped in darkness. She had closed the curtains and lay still in bed, pretending to sleep while quietly listening to the sounds outside her door. Every soft footstep and creak in the hallway kept her alert. She was waiting for the moment her mother would leave the house. Once she was gone, Lina planned to follow her and find out where she was going.
Not for a moment did Lina believe her mother when she said she had a function to attend tonight. Her instincts told her there was more to it than a simple dinner outside. Something about her mother's behavior and the way she avoided eye contact had unsettled her. It felt like tonight was important, like she was meant to discover something she had not seen before.
If there was one thing she had to trust right now, it was her gut feeling. Maybe it came from dying and wandering as a ghost for five years. Over time, she had developed a sharpened instinct on events that had something to do with her. With everything that had happened to bring her back to this world again, she believed there was a purpose behind this second chance. She needed to hold on to every opportunity that could help her protect and continue this new life.
Soon, the soft click of the front door locking made Lina sit up. Her heart skipped a beat as she moved quickly but silently. She grabbed her backpack, wallet, and phone, then slipped out of her room. She followed her mother's back carefully, keeping to the shadows and staying just far enough behind to avoid being seen.
Her footsteps were light against the cold pavement, and she kept her face hidden beneath a black hoodie to blend into the night. The streets were noisy, the distant traffic overwhelm the area which helps hide her presence. With every step, a foreboding feeling crept deeper into her chest.
When Lina saw her mother get into a taxi, she quickly stepped toward the street and signaled one for herself. As the cab pulled up, the driver looked hesitant while suspiciously eyeing her youthful appearance. But when Lina calmly showed him a card from her wallet, his expression shifted. He gave a small nod then prepare to start the car, deciding it didn't matter as long as she could pay the fare.
"Please follow that taxi," she said, pointing ahead.
He pulled into the road and began tailing the car in front while keeping a careful distance. The city lights reflected off the windows as they hurriedly weaved through the streets. Each turn the taxi took made the unease in Lina's stomach grow. Her hands gripped her backpack tightly as her mind ran through all the possibilities.
Not long after, the taxi came to a stop in front of a well-known hotel. Lina leaned forward; eyes fixed on the scene unfolding outside. In that moment, she learned the secret her mother had been hiding.
Standing near the entrance was her adopted father, dressed in his usual business suit. His posture was relaxed, his expression warm as he spoke gently to someone familiar.
Park Bora.
Lina's breath caught in her throat as she watched the two of them. The way he looked at Bora was pure adoration and affection. It was the kind of gaze a father gave to a beloved daughter.
The three met at the entrance, moving carefully as if trying to avoid being seen by anyone who might recognize them. It was clear they did not want the world to know they were out together with a child who was not their publicly known daughter.
A sudden laugh burst out of Lina, loud and unexpected, startling the taxi driver. She laughed so long and so hard that if anyone had seen her, they might have thought she had lost her mind.
But in truth, Lina felt something entirely different. She felt relieved. For the first, she felt free. Free from the small, clinging emotions that had lingered in her heart. The truth no longer hurt; it had simply set her free.
After calming herself, Lina asked the driver to take her back home. As the taxi moved through the quiet streets, her thoughts refused to rest. Everything was beginning to make sense.
Now she understood why her parents had so easily welcomed Bora into the family and cast her aside without hesitation. It was because they had known all along. Maybe not just before her birthday. Maybe even long before that. They just did not have the courage to change anything until that day. How cruel, she thought.
She had been with them since she was a child. They had raised her, nurtured her, and watched her grow as if she were truly theirs. But in the end, they treated her like a stranger. Like a burden that had stolen their real child's place, a shadow that had unknowingly taken someone else's future.
With these thoughts in mind, Lina closed her eyes, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. The driver glanced at the rear view mirror and noticed the young lady's dejected expression. Without saying a word, he quietly played a soft, soothing melody through the car speakers, hoping it might ease whatever pain she was carrying.
He had no idea what had caused such a reaction, but there was something about her earlier laughter that stayed with him. It was not the laughter of joy, but one soaked in sorrow. As if to masked the pain with laughter that aren't real. For him, it felt as if something or someone had died that night, and the girl is quietly mourning its loss.
Lina found herself in the park behind their apartment building. It was a secluded area that few people used, mostly because it bordered the homes of some of the most influential families in the country. Though technically private, Lina had been coming here since she was little, using it as her secret hiding spot whenever she felt emotionally down.
Tonight, was no different. With so many thoughts racing through her mind, this quiet, hidden corner of the city was the only place where she felt she could breathe.
She took her shoes off as she felt the cold concrete beneath her feet. Summer had passed, and the chilly autumn wind was now seeping into her skin, calming her bones. She closed her eyes and embraced the refreshing temperature. At the same time, she began humming her favorite song. With each note, the tension in her body slowly fades away. Now she felt more grounded, as if she had become part of her surroundings.
As Lina was enjoying her quiet time, a black Rolls-Royce stopped not too far away. Inside, a tall man sat silently, his eyes fixed on the young lady sitting under the dim light. The assistant beside him couldn't help but feel confused. They had been driving smoothly along the road toward his boss's house when the usually serious man suddenly asked the driver to stop the car.
It was a strange request, especially considering how upset the man had been earlier. Just moments ago, he had angrily demanded to go straight home. And now, he wanted to stop the car in the middle of the road?
Prior to this, they had attended a party where an upcoming celebrity tried to push herself onto his boss. Assistant Park had seen it happen and was about to step in, but his boss was faster. Without hesitation, he shoved the woman to the ground, his actions cold and ruthless.
The entire hall fell silent. The music stopped, conversations ceased, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the world itself had paused. All eyes turned toward the scene on the floor, stunned by what had just happened.
Among the guests were high-ranking individuals in society and members of influential families, but the cold man showed no concern. He didn't care who was watching. His indifference was absolute.
"I hate when people touch me without permission," he said calmly.
He patted his clothes, then took a clean handkerchief from his pocket and began wiping his hand. As if that were not enough, he pulled out a small bottle of sanitizer and pumped it once, then twice into his palm. He rubbed it in slowly and deliberately, all the while staring at the woman with his piercing gaze.
The celebrity was so humiliated she couldn't even lift her head. All she wanted now was to run away, hide somewhere, and disappear. Before this night, her management had told her that the only way to survive in the entertainment industry was to find a wealthy backer who could support her career.
Since she was considered beautiful, she had been confident she would find someone tonight. And the moment she laid eyes on the man, her heart began to race. He was the most gorgeous person she had seen at the event. His appearance alone was striking, and the way he dressed clearly showed wealth. More than that, the people around him treated him with obvious respect.
She thought that a little charm and flirtation would be enough to get his attention, maybe even secure her future. But instead, he had ruthlessly pushed her away. And worse, he had done it in front of everyone.
The woman hurriedly apologized and tried to explain herself, but the man had already turned his back. With an irritated tone, he told Assistant Park to head home.
Just like that, the moment ended. The guests, after exchanging a few whispers, turned their attention away. They looked at the woman with thinly veiled disgust before returning to their drinks, then continued the party as if nothing had happened. It was as if they were used to this kind of scene, as though today was just another typical day for the man involved.
Recalling this, assistant Park couldn't help but glance outside, his eyes shifting towards the girl sitting quietly under the night sky. He wondered if she was the reason behind his boss's sudden, and bizarre change in behavior.
"President Lee, should we go now?" Assistant Park asked gently, careful not to anger the man again.
"No. We will wait until she leaves," Lee Joon replied, his voice calm but firm. "Call someone to follow her home and make sure she arrives safely."
He continued to watch the girl outside in silence. In his eyes, a deeper emotion was quietly boiling beneath the surface. Hidden within those golden eyes were feelings no one could see unless they looked closely. Emotions buried too deep for the world to notice.