Chapter 151
Chapter 151
"So, I am terribly sorry about this, Miss Shin So-hee..."
On the way to school, Yang Hye-in spoke with a bit of hesitation.
The image of her as doll-like, inorganic, mechanical, someone who only did her assigned work and showed no emotion, well, that description didn't fit anymore.
That image had been slowly crumbling lately.
If I had to pinpoint exactly when it started, it was after she had properly apologized to me.
From then on, as if she felt she'd incurred some kind of debt to me, Yang Hye-in treated me with her own brand of careful consideration.
Admittedly, when nothing special was happening, she still barely showed any expression. From that, I got the feeling this might have been her natural disposition even before she started this job. Perhaps it was precisely that side of Yang Hye-in that made Mother decide she would be perfect for monitoring me.
But whenever something involved me, especially anything that would entangle me with the Chairwoman, her expression would crack like this. She was by no means as expressive as So-hee or Ha-neul, but lately, her face changed so often it made me think, 'I didn't know she could even make that expression.'
Though, even if she always had a doll-like quality, she was never so doll-like that you'd think she wouldn't bleed if you pricked her.
"You moved the location because you didn't want to meet Mother, didn't you?"
"Still, Miss Shin So-hee's house is a location that is just as easy to find out."
"..."
Mm.
Well, if Yang Hye-in said so, it was probably true.
After all, even though So-hee was employed by me, figuring out So-hee's personal information wouldn't be that difficult. For So-hee to work, she needed her father's consent, and that consent form, along with the documents containing So-hee's personal details... they'd all be in the mansion.
No matter how well Yang Hye-in hid them, Mother had plenty of money. Yang Hye-in couldn't single-handedly investigate the entire mansion on her own.
And even without searching inside the mansion, there would be countless other ways. If that sort of thing were impossible, scams like voice phishing wouldn't exist.
"But if that was the case, why did you agree in the beginning?"
"That is..."
Yang Hye-in hesitated a little before answering.
"Because there are very few people whom you can trust that much, Miss."
"...Ah."
She was right. The people I could trust were all right beside me. Besides Ha-neul, Su-a, and So-hee, I did have a few others... but still, the people I could hand my life over to and feel absolutely certain they would never harm me were just these three.
The person inside me shared my body, so she had no way to help in this situation.
"Miss Lee Su-a told me she would provide a room for you."
I see.
Ha-neul's family wasn't what you'd call wealthy either, which meant Su-a was essentially the only person I could lean on for personal help.
She couldn't be compared to the Yujin Group, then again, few Korean companies could, but among the friends I trusted, she had the most resources.
"But, did Su-a's parents agree?"
"According to Miss Lee Su-a herself... yes, they did."
"Really?"
I glanced over at So-hee, who was walking beside me.
"..."
So-hee, who had been walking alongside us without saying a word, gave me a bright smile when our eyes met.
"Going with what the senior says will be safer. Honestly, my place is just a regular apartment. Su-a's house is way bigger and a lot more comfortable to stay in."
"..."
I looked back at Yang Hye-in and spoke.
"I imagine I'll be the only one going in, right?"
"Yes, I believe that will be the case."
I couldn't exactly drag extra baggage with me when I was imposing on someone's hospitality.
And it would be ridiculous to try to pay for lodging. Comparing her assets to mine wasn't even on the same scale, yet Su-a's family wasn't so impoverished that they'd offer a room and then accept money for it.
...Well, anyway, it wasn't like I was going to stay forever.
"Then, please proceed with that plan. Ah, and also."
"Yes."
"...I'd like to replace all the people working at the mansion as soon as possible. No—actually, I don't care if we replace them or not. Please just dismiss them all soon. There shouldn't be anyone in the mansion who can cause trouble."
"If we do that, the number of personnel managing the mansion will drop significantly."
"Then reduce the number of rooms we manage. Lock up all the rooms we aren't using, cover the furniture with sheets... wouldn't it be enough to just do enough maintenance so the building doesn't collapse?"
"But if we do that and the place starts to look like an abandoned building, it might draw the attention of local teenagers."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. Rumors start going around about ghosts haunting neglected buildings, and sometimes kids break in on their own to film it."
"..."
Could baseless rumors like that really spread about a house that people were living in just a short time ago?
Then again, considering the rumors that used to follow me around, that possibility was definitely there.
"...If that happens, there's actually no downside."
I'm not there.
I have no intention of ever going back there.
This will show that clearly.
No, come to think of it, what if a rumor started going around that I had died in that place?
Something worth considering.
"Still, please make sure the doors are firmly locked, and if possible, I'd like the rooms to be managed to the point where people can't get inside. Contact a private security company to set up hourly patrols."
"Understood."
At my words, Yang Hye-in lowered her head and replied.
Around the time our conversation was ending, the school gate appeared in the distance.
Ha-neul and Su-a were standing in front of the gate waiting. They must have been standing there the whole time I was on my way to school, watching to see if Mother would come.
...No, that wasn't it.
They always used to wait for me in front of the gate until I got to school, so maybe nothing had really changed at all?
"Hey, you two!"
So-hee waved toward them, shouting enthusiastically. Hearing the call, Ha-neul and Su-a turned their heads this way.
"Hi!"
Ha-neul beamed and waved back at us.
*
"..."
I stared out the window wordlessly for the entire class.
I felt unsettled.
To fully sort out feelings that had lasted a lifetime, a period of a few months was still far too short.
I had resolved to take revenge on Mother. Of course, I still held that thought. I had gained more precious people whom I didn't want to lose, and perhaps those people could someday fill my life in the place of Mother.
The problem was that, deep inside, I still longed for Mother.
As family.
As the precious mother who spent my childhood with me.
...Even though I knew it was impossible, every time I became aware of Mother's existence like this, reaching out for me, I couldn't help but picture her smiling face.
I hate Mother.
But at the same time, I love her.
Because this feeling had a subtly different direction from the feelings I held for that person, it wasn't something I could change so easily.
No car came beyond the school gate visible through the window.
Maybe Mother had given up searching for me. Perhaps, knowing I wouldn't listen to her, she'd decided I was a piece to be discarded.
Every time I thought that, a corner of my chest ached sharply.
Even though I hate her so much.
Even as I think about strangling that neck and slashing that face every time I see her.
I always ended up making a different choice out of the fear of losing her.
In the end, the reason I could write that letter was also because Mother was not in front of me at the time.
"It's okay. Everything will work out."
Someone made that baseless remark.
When I turned my head, So-hee and Ha-neul were both looking at me.
I couldn't quite tell whose voice it was, since I hadn't been listening closely.
But it was a remark that wouldn't have been strange coming from either of them.
"Yeah."
I answered them.
"I'll make it work out."
I'll give those hollow words substance.
I had the strength to do that. Just as that person had once shown me.
Once again, I repeated it to myself inside, almost as if hypnotizing myself.
I have more things than Mother has.
There is a line I absolutely never want to retreat from, and there are precious things I never want to lose.
So, I have to move to protect all of them.
To do that, I have no choice but to give up one side or the other.
As the daughter of the person who once ran the largest company in the world.
As someone who holds the right to be called the true owner of that group.
I will choose the direction that brings me 'profit'.
I will calculate the maximum possible loss, and minimize the damage.
Mother, unfortunately, you will have to become that 'minimum damage'.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that choice I made was far too hasty.
Since you tried to take everything from me, I will also take everything from you.
And I will give up on you, and you alone.
...If it has to be this way, I hope that you truly loved me, Mother.
And I hope that when I give up on you, you can despair, too.
At least as much as I do.