Saeri has always lived with confidence in her choices. She married Jin for love back when they thought that the majority of the Daesun business empire would be inherited by his older brother, and Jin would then manage a smaller portion to ease his brother's burden. It would've been a good life. Not one of obscene wealth like his brother, but one that was more comfortable than most.
Well, life doesn't care about the plans people make, and an accident flipped the roles of Jin and his brother. Saeri became the matriarch of a business empire, but she made sure to be a mother first.
She never minds helping Jin when he needs it, but he agreed that her role would be raising their children so they grew up with the love of their parents instead of nannies.
Saeri thought she was good at that job, but she never suspected that her youngest child wasn't her child.
And in the meantime, the Quin family knew instinctively that Yura wasn't their real daughter, even if they didn't have proof until recently.
Now, all Saeri can do is wonder if she failed by not recognizing that Hirae was somebody else's daughter. To her, the role of being a mother is to nurture her children. She never cared about the wealth of Jin's family. She never cared if her children went into prestigious careers or spent their time pursuing a passion.
All Saeri wants is her children to be happy and healthy. That's why it hurts so much to learn that her youngest child has grown up feeling unwanted. Without permanence. Believing that she has to be useful in order to be allowed to stay in their home. The home that should've been hers from the day she was born.
Saeri watches Chef Byo and the kitchen staff clean up the remains of Yura's breakfast from the table. While most of the family enjoyed sizeable portions despite the upsetting glimpse into Yura's life—which left at least Saeri with little appetite—the food on Yura's plate was mostly untouched.
Shortly after she was told she could stay in their home, she excused herself, trying to hide her tears even if they'd already been seen.
Jin and the kids have gone their separate ways for the day, whether that's to meetings, work, or school. However, Saeri is left at home to wonder what she's supposed to do from here.
Yura is willing to go along with what they decide for her education, but Saeri doesn't want to unilaterally make the decision. She doesn't want Jin to do so either.
The least she can do is give Yura some options. She and Jin can sit with her and go through the choices, explaining the pros and cons of each one. It would be nice to send her to the Young Elite Academy that her older siblings attend or have graduated from in the case of the older children.
With a sigh, Saeri leaves the dining room and walks towards the hallway lined with bedrooms. Education is far from the only topic on her mind.
Yura thanked them for the room they're letting her use. Not for her room. The room she's using. Like it's just being borrowed and doesn't belong to her. Like she doesn't deserve a room of her own here.
It's my fault, Saeri thinks.
She gave Yura space when she needed closeness. She assumed that Yura would want some time to adjust to a new environment and the heavy revelation that the identity she grew up believing was her own belonged to someone else.
So, she gave her space. She thought that being in Hirae's room would be just a reminder of the life that was stolen from her for 16 years. It was decorated and colored to match Hirae's preferences. Wouldn't it feel wrong for Yura to be in a room like that?
The guest room felt like the natural option when they were deciding on arrangements after learning about the hospital's mistake. It's a blank slate that Yura can turn into her own sanctuary.
Except, she's apparently lived her entire life moving from guest room to guest room, never feeling like she has a place to call her own. All the guest room has done is reinforce Yura's belief that she's an outsider whose time in this home is limited.
Saeri couldn't have guessed that Yura's life has been so different. She couldn't have anticipated that the Quins didn't love Yura the way Saeri loved Hirae.
With a love that was often difficult, and one that still lingers. Saeri can't just cut off that feeling because of papers and blood tests. It's not that easy to decide to stop loving someone she raised as her child.
At the same time, it's not fair to Yura. None of this is fair to anyone involved.
Saeri keeps her hand on the door to Yura's room for a moment longer. She hears movement inside, but not much of it. Her heart is telling her to knock on the door and speak with Yura. To promise her that she's not going to ever be kicked out. To tell her that she can drop out of school and do nothing, and Saeri will still love her as a daughter (even if she'd be disappointed by such decisions).
But her brain knows that Yura wouldn't understand. Her life so far has been centered around the idea that she has to earn her place. While she's too polite to say it, Saeri suspects that Yura would believe that Saeri wouldn't still love her if she dropped out, because she likely doesn't believe that anybody would love her based solely on a familial relationship.
And Saeri has no idea how to deal with that.
The door that stands between her and Yura doesn't feel like just a slab of wood.
It feels like an ocean.
And in the middle of that ocean, Saeri is searching for a lifeline without any clue as to what it might look like.