Everyone thought being a member of the Kim family meant living a life of luxury.
If only they knew the truth.
My father spoiled only Soo-min and Li-won.
They always got the best of everything—designer clothes, expensive gifts, endless attention.
As for me…
I was nothing more than the Kim family’s illegitimate daughter.
A mistake.
Bang!
The door slammed open.
“Hey, Hana.
Studying again?” Soo-min scoffed.
“What are you even trying to achieve?
Dad’s going to leave everything to me and Li-won anyway…
not to an illegitimate daughter.”
Speak of the devil…
and here she is.
“You’re too loud,” I said calmly as I closed my book and stood up.
I had barely taken a step before she grabbed my wrist and shoved me backward.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Before I could answer, someone forcefully pushed Soo-min away.
“What’s your problem, bitch?”
It was my best friend.
Lee Seo-ma.
“Ah!”
Soo-min stumbled backward.
“I almost fell!
Are you crazy?…
Oh, Seo-ma.
Why did you push me so hard?”
Seo-ma folded her arms.
“You grabbed my friend.
What did you expect me to do?
Stand there and watch?”
I couldn’t help smiling.
I love my bestie.
She was always so protective.
“We were just talking,” Soo-min muttered.
“Then say what you came to say.
Chop chop.”
Seo-ma tapped her foot impatiently.
Just then, Hwang Ji-ah walked over and stood beside me with her usual gentle smile.
“Hmph.”
Soo-min crossed her arms.
“Grandma’s birthday banquet is tonight.
For some reason, she wants you there.”
“I’ll be there,” I replied.
As I turned to leave, Soo-min stopped me again.
This time, she didn’t grab my wrist.
“I have one piece of advice.”
She looked me up and down before smirking.
“Don’t wear one of those cheap, outdated outfits of yours.
Try not to embarrass the Kim family in front of the guests.”
I remained silent.
She walked away with a satisfied smile.
“Bitch,” Seo-ma muttered under her breath.
Then Ji-ah spoke softly.
“I actually think your sister has a point.”
She smiled innocently.
“You should wear something nice tonight.”
I looked at her for a moment.
“…Okay.”
“Let’s go.”
“Where to, Hana?” Seo-ma asked.
“The library.”
Ji-ah smiled.
“Oh…
then I’ll leave you two to it.”
The moment she was out of sight, I grabbed Seo-ma’s hand.
Something about Ji-ah…
Lately, everything she said felt strange.
I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Are we really going to the library?” Seo-ma asked, already trying not to laugh.
“No.”
“I knew it!” she squealed.
“We’re going shopping for your dress, aren’t we?”
I laughed.
“Yeah…
duh.”
A few minutes later, we climbed into Seo-ma’s pearl-white Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and she drove us toward the most luxurious shopping district in Seoul.