chapter 6

Yuna glanced up at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. "You're not wrong," she murmured, her tone carrying a mix of humor and resignation. "But won't skipping the reception cause even more gossip?"

Heeseung's lips quirked into a smirk, his confidence radiating effortlessly. "Let them talk," he said with a shrug. "They'll talk no matter what we do. Besides, I think we've already given them enough entertainment for one day."

Yuna let out a soft laugh despite herself. "Fair point."

Heeseung's gaze softened as he looked at her. "Before we go, though, there's something we need to do. We can't just leave without acknowledging the family—even if it's just for appearances."

Yuna's smile faltered slightly as she followed his gaze across the room to where Ji-soo stood, surrounded by a small circle of guests. The older woman was laughing loudly, her eyes sparkling with a kind of triumph as she lavished attention on Jaewon and Sohee. The sight made Yuna's stomach churn. Memories of her past life rushed back—Ji-soo's cutting remarks, the way she had belittled Yuna at every turn, the constant feeling of inadequacy that had weighed on her shoulders like a stone. But this time, Yuna wasn't the same timid woman who had endured it all in silence.

"Alright," Yuna said, her voice firm. She straightened her posture and lifted her chin. "Let's get this over with."

They walked together across the hall, their steps measured and deliberate. The sea of guests parted subtly as they approached, all eyes flicking toward them with thinly veiled curiosity. Yuna could feel the weight of their stares, but she focused on Heeseung's steady presence beside her.

Ji-soo noticed them before they reached her. Her sharp eyes flicked over Yuna with a look of disdain so fleeting it might have been missed by anyone less observant. But Yuna caught it—and she felt her resolve harden.

"Oh, my darling Jaewon, you and Sohee make such a perfect couple," Ji-soo said loudly, ignoring Heeseung and Yuna completely as she adjusted Sohee's veil with exaggerated care. "This is exactly the kind of match I always hoped for."

Yuna's hands curled into fists at her sides, but she forced herself to maintain a calm expression.

"Mother," Heeseung said smoothly, his voice cutting through Ji-soo's theatrics like a knife. "We came to ask for your blessings."

Ji-soo turned to them, her smile saccharine and false. "Blessings? For what?" she asked, her tone dripping with feigned innocence. Her eyes flicked to Yuna, and her lips curled slightly. "Oh, that's right. You two rushed into a marriage today, didn't you? How...unexpected."

Yuna opened her mouth to respond, but Heeseung beat her to it. "It was a simple decision," he said with a faint smile. "And the best one I've ever made."

Ji-soo's expression faltered for a split second before she recovered. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order," she said, though her tone made it clear she didn't mean it. Without waiting for a response, she turned back to Jaewon and Sohee. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more pressing matters to attend to."

Heeseung chuckled softly, his amusement evident as he watched her retreating figure. "Typical," he muttered under his breath.

Yuna glanced up at him, her brow furrowing. "You're taking that surprisingly well."

Heeseung's smirk widened. "She doesn't bother me. I stopped caring about her opinions years ago."

Yuna felt a pang of admiration for his resilience. She wished she could let go of Ji-soo's venomous words as easily.

"Come on," Heeseung said, his tone gentler now. "There's someone else we should see. Someone whose blessing actually matters."

Yuna tilted her head in question, and Heeseung gestured toward a quieter corner of the hall. "Grandma," he said simply.

Relief washed over Yuna at the mention of Heeseung's grandmother. In her past life, the elderly woman had been a rare source of kindness and warmth in the otherwise cold Jeong family. Yuna felt her heart lift as they approached the small side room where the matriarch sat, regal and serene.

"Ah, my boy," the elderly woman said, her eyes lighting up as she saw Heeseung. "And my new granddaughter. Come here."

Yuna stepped forward, her throat tightening with emotion as she took the older woman's hands in hers. The warmth and affection in her touch were a balm to Yuna's wounded heart.

"We've come to ask for your blessings, Grandma," Heeseung said, his voice filled with respect and sincerity.

The elderly woman smiled, her gaze shifting between them. "You don't need to ask," she said. "You've always had it."

As Yuna sat beside her, the noise and drama of the wedding faded into the background. In that quiet, intimate moment, surrounded by acceptance and love, she felt a sense of peace she hadn't experienced in years.

Yuna had been holding herself together with every ounce of strength she had, clinging to the fragile thread of composure she'd maintained throughout the ceremony. But as soon as Heeseung's grandmother's warm, understanding eyes met hers, the dam inside her broke. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, her chest heaving with the weight of her emotions as she finally allowed herself to let go.

"Nghhh..." she sobbed, her voice trembling with anguish. "I trusted them... I trusted them with all my heart... Sohee was like a sister to me." Her words were punctuated by sharp breaths as the pain she had buried deep within surfaced. "I never... I never thought she would betray me like this..."

Her hands instinctively clutched the fabric of her dress as if trying to ground herself, but nothing seemed to stop the flood of grief and betrayal coursing through her. Yuna's shoulders shook violently, her cries echoing in the quiet room. Every sob felt like a release of years of pain, of memories tainted by deceit, of hopes crushed under the weight of betrayal.

Heeseung, standing silently beside her, looked down with a mixture of concern and helplessness. His grandmother, however, reacted with the calm and wisdom that came with age. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a delicate, embroidered handkerchief, its edges adorned with tiny flowers, and extended it to Yuna.

"Here, my child," she said gently, her voice soothing and steady. "Take this."

Yuna hesitated for a moment before accepting the handkerchief with trembling hands. She pressed it to her face, dabbing away the tears that refused to stop flowing. The soft fabric against her skin was comforting, but it was the kindness behind the gesture that truly touched her heart.

"In life," the grandmother began, her voice soft but filled with wisdom as she took Yuna's free hand in her own. Her aged fingers, cool and slightly wrinkled, were surprisingly firm as they enveloped Yuna's trembling ones. "We are often tested by those we trust the most. It is one of the most painful lessons, but also one of the most important."

Yuna looked up at her, her tear-filled eyes searching for solace in the older woman's face. The grandmother's gaze was steady, her expression calm and knowing, as though she had seen the same story unfold many times before.

"Betrayal cuts deep," the grandmother continued, her thumb gently stroking the back of Yuna's hand. "It shakes us to our core, makes us question everything we thought we knew. But it also reveals the truth about people and about ourselves. It shows us who is truly meant to stand by our side and who is not."

Yuna sniffled, her chest still rising and falling erratically as her sobs began to subside. The warmth of the grandmother's words seeped into her, soothing the raw edges of her emotions.

"You are strong, my dear," the grandmother said, her voice filled with quiet conviction. "Stronger than you realize. You have faced heartbreak and betrayal, yet here you stand. That is no small feat."

Yuna bit her lower lip, trying to suppress another wave of tears, but the grandmother's gentle squeeze of her hand gave her the courage to meet her gaze fully.

"And remember this," the grandmother said, leaning in slightly as if to impart a secret. "The actions of others do not define your worth. You are not diminished because someone else failed to value you. Their betrayal is a reflection of their own flaws, not of your failings."

Yuna's lip quivered as the weight of those words settled in her heart. For so long, she had blamed herself, wondering if she had been too trusting, too blind, too naive. But now, she realized that the fault did not lie with her. It lay with those who had taken her trust and trampled on it.

"Thank you," Yuna whispered, her voice hoarse but sincere. She gripped the handkerchief tightly, as though it were a lifeline. "Thank you so much."

The grandmother smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride and affection. "You will rise from this, my dear. You will rebuild, and you will be happier than you ever thought possible. And when you look back on this moment, you will see it not as an end, but as the beginning of something far greater."

Heeseung, who had been silently watching the exchange, stepped closer and placed a reassuring hand on Yuna's shoulder. "You're not alone in this," he said, his voice low but steady. "I'm here, and I'll make sure you never have to face anything like this again."

Yuna turned to him, her tear-streaked face softening as she saw the sincerity in his eyes. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could move forward—that she could trust again.

As her grandmother carefully removed the bracelet from the box, Yuna's heart fluttered in her chest. She reached out with trembling hands, unsure if she was truly worthy of such a precious gift. It felt as though the bracelet was more than just an object; it was a symbol of something far greater. A piece of history, passed down from one generation to the next, carrying with it the stories and dreams of all the women who had worn it before.

The grandmother's voice broke through Yuna's reverie, her words soft but full of meaning. "Ah, yes, before I forget," she said, her voice full of warmth. She glanced down at the bracelet in her hands with a small, nostalgic smile before meeting Yuna's gaze. "This is for you."

Yuna blinked, her eyes still wide with awe as she gently took the bracelet. "What... what is this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the magic of the moment.