The Daughter

AINA

I stand on the stage next to Heeseok Ryu. Every eye in the hall is watching me. Who would have thought the cheap dress girl would be Hana Ryu?

Heeseok forces a tight smile on his lips and rests his palm on my left shoulder. With a slow movement, his gaze switches to the crowd.

He softly clears his throat on the mic.

"Everyone, meet my daughter, Hana Ryu." The words echo through the room. Whispers only grow stronger with the announcement.

She doesn't look crazy at all.

She is calm. How did she get cured?

Maybe turning into an adult has healed her.

If the Ryu family has no problem accepting her, then who are we to complain?

"Say something." Heeseok steps aside.

Inhaling a breath, I stand in front of the mic, observing the curious looks, staring at me. Among the many faces, my gaze unknowingly stops at him, meeting his blue eyes once again.

His gaze is different from the others, very intense, less soft.

"You all must be shocked by my sudden presence at the party. Well, maybe it's just fate bringing us all together."

"Years ago, I made a serious mistake, and my parents had to make a hard decision to send me away from them. Luckily, the nuns at the orphanage cured my illness."

"They turned me into a woman."

"Though I recently lost my younger sister, I hope she's safe and in a better place. This dress belongs to her." Drifting away from his blue eyes, my gaze turns to the girl who was being aggressive to me.

The crowd goes completely silent.

"Why are you bringing it up, Hana?" Heeseok twitches his brows.

"Some of the guests were disgusted by my dress. I just wanted to tell them the dress carries the memories of my sister. I request all of you to stay respectful."

"Who humiliated you?" Heeseok's voice deepens with his question. An interrogative look sharpens in his eyes.

The girl lowers her gaze on the floor, scared.

"Let's not drag this, Father."

"You put a lot of effort into this party. We should celebrate our reunion together."

He nods his head, smiling.

"I am happy to be back at my parents' home. Thank you for being part of our happiness. Please enjoy yourself tonight."

The sound of clapping fills the main hall. The crowd still hasn't accepted me but they are pretending to be nice in front of the Ryus.

As the clock hits nine, Father personally takes me to greet the guests. In a group of rich businessmen and their wives, he praises me with fake words.

"Your daughter is very well-behaved."

"She has grown so beautiful."

"You must be really happy, Mr. Ryu."

"I never thought Hana would turn out to be such a good daughter. The past is gone. We need to focus on the future together."

"Right?" He turns his head to me.

"Yes, Father."

Feeling suffocated in the group, I excuse myself for the washroom but head to a corner in search of some fresh air. Suddenly, someone taps on my left shoulder.

As I turn around, Nancy smiles.

"What took you so long?"

"Your room needed a little more touch, Miss." She passes me a glass of orange juice.

"Thank you." My lips smile.

"Have you met the Ryu family?" She stands next to me, crossing her fingers in front.

"Father said he would properly introduce me to them later at dinner. He is busy greeting the VIP guests."

"The dinner." She sighs.

"What's wrong?" My brows furrow.

"You need to be on your best behavior at the dinner table because Madam Woong will definitely try to take out her anger on you."

"She hates me?"

"Madam Woong only loves her five sons. Of course, she can't stand you."

"Can you tell me more about their personalities? It might help me to dodge her attacks at the table."

"Sure, Miss." Nancy moves closer to me.

"That's your grandmother, Myujin. She never really interferes with household matters, but if she sides with you, no one can disobey her command, not even Mr. Heeseok."

"Your grandmother loves gardening."

"That's your uncle, Wooseok." Her eyes hint at the man drinking alone.

"He is very arrogant. Though he is a man, his wife orders him around. He can't speak a word against her."

"He loves to gamble."

"That's your aunt, Woong." Her gaze changes direction to her.

"She always tries to slander your mother while keeping a good reputation among the other high-class ladies. She manages every small thing in the mansion."

"Why does she have so much power?"

"If your mother weren't sick, she wouldn't have any control over the household. Even the maids are scared of her."

"I am sure she will use evil methods to kick you out of the mansion. She never treated your younger sister well."

"Do you know what she said to your father the night your sister was found dead?"

My forehead crumples up.

"Madam Woong said that Sera went out late at night, so she must have had a lover. The wild wolf attacked her because of her bad karma."

"They didn't even bury her in the graveyard because of her allegations."

Rage ramps up in me.

"Be careful of her, Miss," Nancy whispers.

Her gaze then travels to the five Ryu brothers, standing at the drinks counter with that girl. Each of them is holding a glass of whiskey except for the girl.

"The one in the front with the girl is your elder cousin, Taehin. You can think of him as the leader of the group. All four brothers always listen to him."

He has dark hair, falling to his neck. Brown eyes are hiding behind transparent glasses that give him a dominant mature look. He appears to be calculating. Someone who carefully places his every move.

"The girl next to him is Aerin, his fiancée."

"Fiancée?"

Nancy nods her head.

*No wonder she was showing off her authority."

"Actually, Taehin is most trusted by your father. He might inherit the family business, and Aerin will soon become his wife."

"I mean only a fool would let go of an heir to the Ryu Paradise. The only empire that controls every other business in Korea."

"It's called heaven in Cloverwood."

"Taehin Ryu was recently appointed as the director of the Ryu Paradise. Soon, he might become the CEO."