Morning settled quietly over Silver Pine Estate.
Inside the east guest room, everything was peaceful.
Doctor Han carefully finished examining the unconscious girl before slowly removing his stethoscope.
He checked the thermometer once more before giving a small nod.
”The fever has come down a little,” he said quietly.
Old Madam Kang, who had remained beside the bed the entire time, finally let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
”Is she out of danger?”
Doctor Han smiled reassuringly.
”For now, yes.”
He looked toward the girl lying peacefully on the bed.
”The injury to her head caused a mild concussion.
Fortunately, she was brought here quickly.”
His gaze shifted to Hana’s right arm, which had already been placed securely in a sling.
”The blow to her arm was severe.”
”The bone isn’t shattered, but it is fractured.
She’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Old Madam Kang sighed softly.
”That poor child…”
Doctor Han continued.
”She mustn’t move around too much for the next few days.”
”I’ve written medicine for the fever, pain, swelling and antibiotics for the head wound.”
He handed a neatly folded prescription to Old Madam Kang.
”Please have someone collect these immediately.”
She accepted it carefully.
”I will.”
Doctor Han packed the last of his instruments into his leather medical bag before hesitating.
”There is one more thing.”
Old Madam Kang looked at him.
”Tae-jin.”
”He allowed me to stitch his shoulder, but I’m almost certain he won’t take his medicine as always.”
She frowned.
”That stubborn boy…”
Doctor Han smiled helplessly.
”He said he has work to do.”
”As usual.”
Old Madam Kang clicked her tongue.
”I’ll deal with him.”
Doctor Han chuckled before giving a respectful bow.
”If there’s anything , feel free to call me .”
”I will.”
With that, Doctor Han quietly left the room.
The moment the door closed, Old Madam Kang turned toward Madam Yoon.
”Send someone to buy every medicine Doctor Han prescribed.”
”Yes, Madam.”
”And tell the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Hannie.”
”Nothing too greasy.”
”She has a fever.”
Madam Yoon nodded politely.
”I’ll inform them immediately.”
Old Madam Kang looked once more at the prescription before remembering something.
”Oh.”
”And don’t forget Tae-jin.”
Madam Yoon smiled knowingly.
”Young Master is probably in his room already.”
Old Madam Kang snorted.
”Or hiding in his study working like a horse.”
”Make sure he eats.”
”And if he refuses…”
A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
”…I’ll personally drag him downstairs.”
Madam Yoon couldn’t help smiling.
”Yes, Madam.”
She accepted the prescription before quietly leaving the room.
Silence returned.
Old Madam Kang poured herself a cup of warm tea before sitting beside the bed once again.
Her gentle eyes rested on Hana.
Even in sleep…
She still looked effortlessly beautiful.
Though her face was unusually pale.
Old Madam Kang’s heart softened.
”What a beautiful child…”
She reached forward and gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from Hana’s face.
At that exact moment—
”…Mmm…”
A faint sound escaped Hana’s lips.
Old Madam Kang immediately straightened.
Hana’s eyelashes fluttered.
Slowly…
Her eyes opened.
Everything around her was blurry.
The unfamiliar ceiling and luxurious curtains.
For a brief moment…
She wondered if she was dreaming.
She instinctively tried to sit up.
”Ah…”
A sharp pain exploded through her head.
At the same time, an even stronger pain shot through her right arm.
She gasped and immediately fell back against the pillow.
Old Madam Kang hurried to her side.
”Hannie.”
”Don’t move.”
”You’ll only make it worse.”
Hana blinked several times before finally recognizing the familiar face beside her.
”…Grandma Kang?”
Old Madam Kang smiled warmly.
”Yes, child.”
”I’m here.”
Hana slowly looked around the room again.
”…Where am I?”
”Silver Pine Estate.”
”My grandson brought you here last night.”
Fragments of the previous night slowly returned.
The fight and how her arm was hit it actually reminded her to be careful with her arm.
Old Madam Kang gently touched Hana’s cheek.
”Look at you.”
”You’re still so pale.”
”How am I supposed to face your grandmother when she sees you like this?”
Hana smiled weakly despite the throbbing pain in her head.
”It’s alright, Grandma.”
”I’m still young.”
”I’ll recover in a few days.”
”I promise.”
Old Madam Kang searched her face for a long moment before finally smiling.
”Good.”
”You’d better keep that promise.”
A few seconds of silence passed.
Then Old Madam Kang suddenly asked,
”Are you hungry?”
The change in Hana’s expression was immediate.
Her tired eyes suddenly sparkled.
”…Yes.”
Old Madam Kang laughed.
”I knew it.”
”I’ll go bring your breakfast.”
”But don’t you dare get out of bed.”
Hana obediently nodded.
”I won’t.”
Old Madam Kang smiled one last time before leaving the room.
The moment the door closed…
Hana slowly let out a long breath.
Her head still hurt.
Her arm felt unusually heavy.
She carefully looked down at the sling wrapped around it.
”…It’s really broken.”
She sighed softly.
Outside the room…
The quiet morning at Silver Pine Estate continued.
Far away…
A very different storm was about to begin inside the Kim family mansion.
The atmosphere inside the Kim family mansion was nothing like the peaceful silence at Silver Pine Estate.
It was heavy.
Oppressive.
The servants moved quietly through the hallways, afraid that even the slightest sound might ignite another outburst.
Everyone was present in the living room.
Old Madam Kim sat gracefully on the main sofa, a cup of tea resting in her hand.
Although her expression remained calm, everyone could tell she was furious.
No one dared speak.
Not until Soo-min carefully stepped forward.
She lowered her head, clasped her hands together, and forced tears into her eyes.
”…Grandma.”
Her voice trembled just enough to sound pitiful.
”Are you…
still angry with me?”
Old Madam Kim didn’t answer.
Instead, she calmly lifted the teacup to her lips and took another sip.
The silence made Soo-min even more nervous.
She bit her lower lip before speaking again.
”Grandma…
it wasn’t entirely my fault.”
Still…
Nothing.
She hurriedly continued.
”It was Kim Hana.”
”She knew my gift hadn’t arrived.”
”She knew everyone believed the painting belonged to me.”
”She could have corrected everyone.”
”But she didn’t.”
”She allowed me to take all the praise.”
Soo-min wiped away a tear that never truly existed.
”And Grandma…”
She paused dramatically.
”That’s why she isn’t home.”
”She knows she’s at fault.”
”She knows what she did was wrong.”
”That’s why she’s hiding.”
her mom Mrs Hee thought to her self she’s making things worse.
The moment those words left soo-min’s mouth…
Bang!
Old Madam Kim slammed her teacup onto the table.
The sharp sound echoed throughout the living room.
Everyone flinched.
Her cold eyes slowly lifted to Soo-min.
”Hiding?”
Her voice was frighteningly calm.
”You truly believe Hana is the one hiding because she’s ashamed?”
Soo-min hesitated.
”…Y-Yes, Grandma.”
The old woman’s eyes became even colder.
”You disappoint me.”
Before Soo-min could react—
Old Madam Kim suddenly swept the teacup from the table.
Crash!
The porcelain cup shattered violently against the marble floor.
The unexpected sound startled Soo-min.
She instinctively stepped backward.
Unfortunately…
One of her heels landed directly on a broken piece of porcelain.
Her foot slipped.
”Ah!”
She completely lost her balance.
She fell hard onto the floor.
As she instinctively reached out to support herself—
A sharp piece of broken porcelain scraped across the palm of her hand.
”Hiss!”
A thin line of blood immediately appeared.
”Ouch!”
Soo-min quickly pulled her hand back.
Mrs.
Hee gasped.
”Soo-min!”
She rushed over and helped her daughter sit upright.
”Oh dear…”
She gently held Soo-min’s injured hand, her face filled with concern.
”It’s bleeding.”
Soo-min’s eyes immediately filled with tears.
”It hurts…”
Mrs.
Hee looked toward Old Madam Kim helplessly.
”Mother…”
”She didn’t mean any harm.”
”She was simply overwhelmed by the excitement of the banquet.”
”She’s still young.”
”And now look…”
”She’s injured.”
Old Madam Kim looked at Mrs.
Hee without the slightest change in expression.
She knew exactly what her daughter-in-law was doing.
Trying to change the subject.
Trying to gain sympathy.
Trying to make everyone forget who had truly embarrassed the Kim family.
She wasn’t fooled.
After what felt like an eternity, Old Madam Kim finally spoke.
”I’ll let this matter go.”
Mrs.
Hee’s eyes brightened.
”Really, Mother?”
Old Madam Kim slowly raised one finger.
”On one condition.”
Mrs.
Hee immediately nodded.
”Anything.”
Old Madam Kim looked directly at Soo-min.
”You will personally apologize to Hana.”
Silence.
Soo-min stared at her grandmother as though she had heard something impossible.
”…What?”
”I said…”
Old Madam Kim repeated every word slowly.
”You.”
”Will apologize.”
”To Hana.”
Soo-min’s face turned pale.
”Grandma…”
”I can’t.”
”You can.”
”But—”
”No excuses.”
Old Madam Kim interrupted coldly.
”You tried to claim another person’s work.”
”You embarrassed this family.”
”And yet…”
”You still have the courage to blame someone.”
Her voice remained calm.
Which made it even more terrifying.
”I’ve already decided.”
Mrs.
Hee immediately squeezed Soo-min’s shoulder before she could say anything reckless.
”We understand, Mother.”
”I’ll speak to her.”
Old Madam Kim nodded once.
”Good.”
Mrs.
Hee carefully helped Soo-min to her feet.
”Come.”
”Let’s clean your hand.”
Soo-min lowered her head, hiding the hatred burning in her eyes.
Without another word, the mother and daughter quietly left the living room.
As soon as the bedroom door upstairs closed…
The obedient expression on Soo-min’s face disappeared completely.
She violently pulled her hand away.
”I can’t believe this!”
Tears of humiliation streamed down her face.
”That illegitimate daughter…”
”I hate her!”
”I’ll never apologize to her!”
Mrs.
Hee quietly placed the first-aid box on the dressing table.
She didn’t panic.
She simply opened it.
”Sit.”
”I’m not sitting!”
”Soo-min.”
Her calm voice carried unexpected authority.
Reluctantly, Soo-min sat down.
Mrs.
Hee soaked a cotton ball with antiseptic before gently cleaning the wound.
”Hiss!”
”It hurts!”
”It should.”
Mrs.
Hee continued cleaning the cut.
”The sting will pass.”
She carefully removed the tiny porcelain fragment still embedded in Soo-min’s palm before applying antiseptic cream.
Finally, she wrapped the injury neatly with white gauze.
Only then did she look at her daughter.
”You will apologize.”
”No!”
Mrs.
Hee smiled faintly.
”Yes.”
”Why should I?”
”Because right now…”
She gently straightened Soo-min’s hair.
”…your grandmother is watching.”
Soo-min clenched her fists.
”I don’t care!”
”You should.”
Mrs.
Hee leaned closer.
”Apologize.”
”Lower everyone’s guard.”
”Let them believe you’ve changed.”
Her voice became almost a whisper.
”Then…”
”You can take your revenge.”
Soo-min slowly looked up.
A dangerous smile appeared on her lips.
”…You’re right.”
”I’ll make Kim Hana regret ever coming back.”
Mrs.
Hee smiled in satisfaction.
”That’s my daughter.”
Meanwhile at silver Pine Estate….
After taking a shower, Kang Tae-jin stood before the floor-to-ceiling wardrobe in his room.
Fresh water still dripped from the ends of his dark hair onto the polished wooden floor.
The bandage beneath his shoulder reminded him of Doctor Han’s warning.
”Avoid unnecessary movement for the next few days.”
He ignored it.
As always.
He reached into the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of fitted black trousers and a charcoal-gray cashmere sweater.
The simple outfit looked effortless, yet it somehow carried the same elegance as the expensive suits he wore to work.
After fastening the silver watch around his wrist, he walked toward the large walnut desk positioned beside the window.
Knock.
”Come in.”
The door opened quietly.
Madam Yoon entered carrying a small wooden tray.
On it sat a glass of warm water and several neatly arranged boxes of medicine.
She bowed respectfully.
”Young Master.”
His eyes briefly landed on the tray.
”What is it?”
Madam Yoon placed it carefully on the coffee table.
”It’ just some medicine.”
Tae-jin frowned.
”…Mine?”
”yes, Young Master and also miss kim.”
He looked at her again.
”Then why is it here?”
Madam Yoon smiled politely.
”Old Madam asked me to bring it to you.”
His brows knitted together.
” just throw it away and tell her I drank it.”
She hesitated before smiling again.
”It would be better if you tell Old Madam yourself.”
Silence.
He already knew.
His grandmother was trying to force him to look after that girl.
How childish.
He glanced at the medicine once more before speaking flatly.
”Leave it there.”
”Yes, Young Master.”
Madam Yoon bowed.
She had only taken two steps toward the door before stopping.
”Oh…”
”There is something else.”
He looked up.
”What?”
”Old Madam also asked me to remind you that she must take the medicine after breakfast.”
”hmmm.”
Madam Yoon’s smile grew slightly wider.
”She also said ”
”what did she say again.”
”Old Madam specifically said…”
She cleared her throat.
”‘Since you’re already breathing the same air as the poor girl, you might as well give her medicine.”
For the first time that morning…
Kang Tae-jin closed his eyes.
”…”
Typical.
Only his grandmother would say something like that.
Madam Yoon tried very hard not to laugh.
”I’ve delivered the message.”
She bowed once more before quietly leaving the room.
The door clicked shut.
The room fell silent again.
Tae-jin stared at the medicines for several seconds before letting out a faint scoff.
”If not for Grandma…”
”I wouldn’t even bother.”
He picked up the his and Hana’s medicine with one hand.
Then walked out.
—
Meanwhile…
The aroma of freshly prepared breakfast slowly filled the east guest room.
Old Madam Kang walked in first.
Behind her, a maid carefully pushed an over-bed dining table.
Another maid carried a beautiful breakfast tray.
The moment the tray was placed before Hana…
Her smile disappeared.
She blinked once.
Then twice.
Pumpkin porridge.
Boiled broccoli.
Steamed carrots.
Soft scrambled eggs.
Whole-grain toast.
Fresh blueberries.
Sliced apples.
A glass of warm milk.
She looked at the tray again.
Surely…
This couldn’t be everything.
Her eyes secretly searched the trolley.
Where’s the fried chicken?
The spicy tteokbokki?
The kimchi fried rice?
The grilled beef?
The pork cutlets?
The sweet and spicy fried pork?
The dumplings…?
The noodles…?
She looked back at the tray.
Did…
they forget the real breakfast?
Her shoulders almost slumped.
The last time I ate something this healthy…
…was probably last year.
”grandma were is my breakfast.” she said sweetly and politely.
old Mrs Kang could not help but smile “That’s it dear.” she knew what this girl was thinking all too well.
hana looked at the tray again.
She sighed inwardly.
Kim Hana.
Behave yourself.
They’re taking care of you.
Be grateful.
Immediately, she forced a bright smile.
”Thank you, Grandma.”
Old Madam Kang smiled proudly.
”Good girl.”
”You’ll recover much faster if you eat properly.”
Just then…
Knock.
Without waiting for an answer, the door opened.
Kang Tae-jin walked in carrying the medicine.
The moment Old Madam Kang saw him, her face brightened.
”Oh, perfect!”
Tae-jin suddenly had a bad feeling.
He stopped near the door.
”You called for me?”
”I certainly did.”
She pointed toward Hana.
”You’re just in time.”
”Feed her.”
The room became completely silent.
Hana’s eyes widened.
What…?
Tae-jin looked at his grandmother without changing his expression.
”Grandma.”
”She has one healthy hand.”
Old Madam Kang immediately folded her arms.
”Oh?”
She pointed directly at Hana’s injured right arm.
”Which hand would that be?”
Tae-jin glanced toward Hana.
Then at the sling.
”…”
Old Madam Kang smiled triumphantly.
”Exactly.”
Hana wished the bed would swallow her whole.
Feed me…?
In front of Grandma…?
This is so embarrassing…
hmm well am here because of him so he might as well just feed me.
Old Madam Kang gently patted the chair beside the bed.
”Sit.”
Tae-jin looked completely unwilling.
But he still walked over and sat down.
”Good.”
Old Madam Kang picked up the bowl of pumpkin porridge before placing it into his hands.
”Now…”
”Feed Hannie.”
Hana lowered her head so quickly that a few loose strands of hair fell over her face.
She didn’t know who was more uncomfortable—
Her…
Or him.
Old Madam Kang, however, looked completely delighted.
She had the strange feeling this morning was about to become very interesting.