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Continuation of the Chapter ...
It was a fun day... different from any day I had lived before.
Perhaps for the first time, I felt that I wasn't alone. I am grateful to Han Si-eul.
But... I was very late.
True, no one would care about a girl like Yuna.
Yuna, who was made in this family as if she were a mistake... as if she were something extra, unnecessary.
I sighed as I reached the palace gate.
"I'll take a quick shower as soon as I enter... I don't want to face anyone."
I pushed the door quietly.
But I froze.
He was there.
My father.
He stood in the middle of the stairs, his gaze cold as usual.
He said in a low but heavy voice:
— Where were you at this late hour?
I raised my eyes toward him indifferently.
— Why do you care?
He paused for a second.
He stared at me with sharp eyes. Then he smiled. An artificial smile... distorted.
— Did you just say: Why do I care?
He laughed a short, hollow laugh, then continued:
— Do you even think I care about you? Don't you overestimate yourself, Yuna?
My fingers stiffened.
— Since you were little, you've been clinging to me. You were like a puppy... always following me. That was annoying.
He paused for a moment, as if tasting the words before releasing them.
— Just seeing you... and thinking that you're my daughter... makes me feel disgusted. Your closeness, your love... all of that means nothing to me. Do you understand?
He stepped closer.
— Go back to your room, you wretched girl.
Silence.
What is this man saying?
Is he really cursing himself like that?
What father says such words to his daughter?
Isn't this cruel... too much for a little girl like Yuna?
But...
I am not the old Yuna.
And at least... I should say something.
I raised my head.
— Hey... stop.
He actually stopped.
He looked at me with annoyance.
— What do you want?
I continued in a calm voice, so calm that it was more dangerous than screaming:
— All my life, I tried to make you notice me. I tried to be a good daughter. I tried to love you despite everything.
I smiled a small smile... sad and sarcastic at the same time.
— Do you know what the most annoying part is?
Silence.
— That after everything you just said... I feel nothing. No pain. No sadness. No fear. Nothing.
I looked directly into his eyes:
— Because you finally succeeded. You killed everything that was inside me toward you. You wanted me to be like Aren, Damian, and Theo, but now I know that those illusions were just a delusion. So from now on, I'll make sure not to bother you, Mr. Kim.
I entered the room and closed the door quietly.
The father looked in shock at Yuna's closed door.
He didn't move.
He didn't speak.
He just stood there... as if the words had hit him in a place he didn't expect.
Inside the room.
I closed the door quietly.
What did I just do?
Did I really say that?
It wasn't just a sentence.
I put my hands on my face.
— Empty words... they just came out on their own.
That wasn't my style.
Usually, when someone bothers me... I knock them to the ground.
One punch is enough.
Silence after pain is always guaranteed.
I tried that with many.
But...
I sighed.
This isn't the world I'm used to.
And this isn't a street fight.
And Yuna... isn't me.
I felt something heavy in my chest.
Sadness?
Perhaps.
How can a little girl who knows nothing about this world... be repeated just because she was born?
Because an accident happened?
Because someone wanted to place their blame on a small body?
I clenched my fists.
— This is why I hate stupid romantic stories...
They get married.
They have a child.
Then when things go wrong...
They look for the weakest person to blame.
The child.
Isn't this a child?
A light knock on the door.
I opened the door in surprise.
— What?... Who?
She was standing in front of me, her eyes wide, wringing her hands nervously.
— I... I heard your conversation with Father.
I raised an eyebrow coolly.
— On the stairs? It was just ordinary talk.
She stepped closer to me, her voice trembling:
— Sister... Do you hate me? Because of Father and my brothers' love for me... and their hatred for you?
I looked at her for a long time.
This girl... Is she sincere or is she acting?
I sighed calmly:
— I don't hate you. Even if you didn't exist, the situation would have remained the same. The house would still be dysfunctional. But... your existence somehow helps.
Her eyes widened, then her face suddenly brightened with a childish smile.
— So you... don't hate me?
I shook my head.
Aren was happy and rushed toward me to hug me.
But I raised my hand and gently stopped her, stepping back a step.
— That's enough.
But what happened next was like a thunderbolt.
Aren stepped back... then another step... then suddenly!
She threw herself toward the stairs!
I screamed involuntarily:
— Aren!
At that moment, Theo suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.
He looked at us, then at Aren who was pretending to fall.
Aren screamed in a feigned voice:
— Theo! My sister... I thought I could hug her!
I froze in place.
Is this really happening?
Is she putting on an act now?
Theo looked at me with a murderous glare, then turned to Aren, helping her stand up.
He approached me slowly, anger rising from his eyes:
— You... ever since you were born, you've only caused trouble. And now you're trying to kill Aren?
He raised his hand to slap me.
But my hand rose quickly and caught his wrist in mid-air.
I looked at him with cold eyes:
— You're trying to slap me? And you've only heard one side?
Theo stiffened for a moment, then shouted:
— What are you talking about?!
Without thinking, I directed a quick punch to his stomach.
"Ouch!"
Theo immediately bent over, holding his stomach, his eyes wide with shock.
— You... just punched me?!
Aren quickly rushed toward her brother:
— Theo! Are you okay?
Aren's looks were full of hidden malice.
Theo looked at me while still bent over in pain, then turned to Aren with a broken voice:
— Yes... I'm fine. Let's go.
He stood up with difficulty, and looked at me with a threatening gaze:
— I'll tell Father everything. So get ready.
Then they walked away together, and Aren glanced at me with a look of hatred behind Theo's back.
I stood in front of my room door, watching their two figures as they walked away.