Chapter 2: Chapter 2 : A New Reality
As the maid, Yoon-Ji, helped her out of bed, Ha-Na's gaze wandered around the room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. The luxurious furnishings and chandeliers seemed to belong to a different world, one that she couldn't quite connect with.
"Good morning, Miss Ha-Na," Yoon-Ji repeated, gently guiding Ha-Na towards the dressing table.
Ha-Na's mind was a jumble of memories, fragments of her past life that seemed to belong to someone else. She remembered her father, Kang Tae-Oh, his kind smile and warm hugs. She remembered her stepmother, cold and distant, and her stepsiblings, the twins who seemed to take pleasure in making her life miserable.
But something was off. This room, these furnishings...it was all so different from her humble home.
Ha-Na's eyes met Yoon-Ji's in the mirror, and she saw a flicker of curiosity there. "What...what's going on?" Ha-Na asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yoon-Ji's expression turned neutral, and she replied, "You're home, Miss Ha-Na. This is your bedroom."
Ha-Na's mind reeled as she tried to process the information. This was her home? But it looked so different...
Ha-Na followed Yoon-Ji downstairs, her stomach growling with anticipation. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, making her mouth water.
As they entered the dining room, Ha-Na's eyes scanned the table. Her father, Kang Tae-Oh, sat at the head of the table, a warm smile on his face. Her stepmother, Lee Ji-Hyun, sat to his right, her expression as cold and distant as ever.
Ha-Na's stepsiblings, Shin-Ae and Shin-Hyuk, chattered excitedly as they devoured their breakfast. Shin-Ae, with her perfect features and designer clothes, looked like a miniature version of their stepmother. Shin-Hyuk, on the other hand, had a mischievous glint in his eye, and Ha-Na could tell he was already plotting his next prank.
At the far end of the table, Ha-Na's grandmother, Kang Ok-Soon, sat with a warm smile on her face. She was the only one who had ever shown Ha-Na kindness and love, and Ha-Na felt a surge of affection for her.
"Good morning, Ha-Na," her father said, his voice warm and welcoming. "How are you feeling today?"
Ha-Na hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She still felt disoriented and unsure of what was happening. But she didn't want to worry her father, so she forced a smile onto her face.
"I'm fine, Father," she said, trying to sound confident. "Thank you for asking."
Her stepmother raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Really, Ha-Na?" she said. "You look a bit...peaky. Are you sure you're feeling all right?"
Ha-Na felt a surge of resentment towards her stepmother, but she pushed it down. She didn't want to cause any trouble, not yet. So she just smiled and nodded, trying to blend in with the rest of the family.
As breakfast came to a close, the sound of engines purring outside signaled the arrival of the family's chauffeur-driven cars. Ha-Na's stepsiblings, Shin-Ae and Shin-Hyuk, jumped up from their seats, excitedly chattering about their day ahead.
Three luxurious cars - a sleek black Mercedes, a silver Bentley, and a white Rolls-Royce - pulled up in front of the mansion. The chauffeurs, dressed in crisp uniforms, emerged from the cars and greeted the family with respectful bows.
Shin-Ae and Shin-Hyuk climbed into the Mercedes, accompanied by their mother, Lee Ji-Hyun. Ha-Na's father, Kang Tae-Oh, smiled and patted Ha-Na on the shoulder.
"Your car is waiting, Ha-Na," he said. "Have a good day at school."
Ha-Na nodded, feeling a mix of emotions as she watched her stepsiblings drive away. She turned to Yoon-Ji, who was waiting by the door with Ha-Na's school bag.
"Which car am I taking?" Ha-Na asked, feeling a sense of trepidation.
Yoon-Ji smiled and gestured towards the white Rolls-Royce. "That one, Miss Ha-Na. Your chauffeur, Mr. Kim, will drive you to school today."
Ha-Na's eyes widened as she approached the luxurious car. She had never ridden in a car like this before, and she felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a dash of nervousness.
WHAT WOULD AWAIT HER? HAS SHE FINALLY ACCEPTED THIS NEW REALITY?
_ END OF CHAPTER.