After nearly ten hours in the air, the plane finally descended toward Seoul.
By the time they left the airport, the city was already glowing beneath the night sky. Buildings glittered with rows of lights, cars moved steadily along the roads, and the familiar Seoul streets passed by the windows as everyone slowly became quieter.
The long flight had drained almost all of them.
Even Min-Hyuk, who had somehow found enough energy to take pictures during the trip, was quiet.
Ji-Ah sat by the window, watching the lights blur past. She should have felt relieved to be home.
Instead, she had a strange feeling in her stomach. Something was waiting for them.
And she suspected it wasn't good.
When they finally reached the Kim residence, the gates opened and the cars rolled into the driveway.
The house looked exactly as it always did. Large. Beautiful. Imposing. But strangely quiet. There were no servants rushing out to greet them.
No sound from the kitchen.
No Halmoni complaining that everyone had returned too late.
No Madam waiting in the entrance hall.
Ji-Ah stepped out of the car and looked toward the dark windows. "Did everyone go to sleep?"
Min-Hyuk looked around. "Apparently."
Seo-Yeon frowned. "That's strange."
They carried their luggage inside.
The entrance hall was dimly lit, and their footsteps echoed against the marble floor.
Nobody spoke for a moment.
Then suddenly, someone came rushing down the hallway.
"Nisa?"
Nisa appeared with her hair tied loosely behind her head. She was wearing an oversized sweatshirt and loose pants, clearly dressed for comfort. The oversized clothing hid most of her pregnancy, though her stomach was beginning to show slightly.
She stopped when she saw everyone.
Then her eyes landed on Ha-Joon.
She immediately walked over and hugged him.
Ha-Joon froze for half a second. "Nisa?"
She pulled away, her expression worried. "You're finally back."
Ha-Joon studied her face. "What's wrong?"
Nisa glanced toward the staircase.
Her voice lowered. "Mother."
Everyone became more attentive.
"What happened?" Seo-Yeon asked.
Nisa sighed. "She's furious."
Ha-Joon's eyebrows tightened. "About what?"
Nisa hesitated. "She was talking about Ji-Ah."
Ji-Ah's heart sank.
Of course.
Nisa looked down. "She said something about ruining the Kim family's reputation. She wanted to wait until tomorrow to talk about it, but..."
She glanced around nervously "I think she decided tonight would be better."
Seo-Yeon immediately looked at Min-Hyuk. "I knew it."
Min-Hyuk's expression became serious. "This is about Ji-Ah."
Ji-Ah stood quietly behind them.
Seo-Yeon walked over and gently took her hand. "I don't know what Mother is planning."
She squeezed Ji-Ah's hand. "But I'm with you."
Ji-Ah looked at her. "Thank you."
Before anyone could say anything else, a voice echoed from upstairs. "So."
Everyone froze. "You're finally back."
Every head turned.
Madam stood at the top of the staircase.
Halmoni was beside her.
Behind them stood Mr. Kang, Mrs. Kang, and Do-Hyun.
And to Ji-Ah's surprise, another person stepped into view.
Mrs. Han.
Yoo-Na's mother.
Yoo-Na's eyes widened. "Mom?"
Mrs. Han looked at her. "Yoo-Na."
Yoo-Na stared. "What are you doing here?"
Mrs. Han ignored the question.
Madam slowly descended the staircase. "It was about time."
Everyone stood straighter.
"Mother," Ha-Joon said.
Madam didn't answer immediately.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and looked around the room.
Then her eyes landed directly on Ji-Ah. "Park Ji-Ah."
Ji-Ah's fingers tightened slightly around Seo-Yeon's hand. "Yes?"
Madam took another step forward. "What exactly is your position in this house?"
Ji-Ah hesitated. "I'm..."
"Don't." Madam's voice stopped her. "You are a worker here."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"A secretary. A maid." Madam continued calmly her gaze fixed on Ji-Ah.
The word landed heavily.
Madam continued. "A servant working under a contract."
Halmoni frowned. "That's enough."
Madam didn't even look at her. "How dare you become so comfortable around my son?"
Ha-Joon stepped forward. "Mother."
Madam finally looked at him. "You have a fiancée."
"I know."
"Then you should remember that."
"I do."
"Do you?"
Her voice sharpened. "You travel across countries with another woman, allow her to become attached to you, take care of her constantly, and now you're standing here defending her."
Ha-Joon's expression remained calm. "I don't understand what she has done."
Madam turned toward Ji-Ah. "She knows exactly what she's done."
Ji-Ah stared at her. "What did I do?"
Madam's expression hardened. "You're asking me that as if you're innocent?"
"Because I don't know what you're talking about."
Madam took another step closer. "You are ill-mannered."
Ji-Ah remained silent.
"You came from a poor family, and it shows."
Seo-Yeon's expression immediately changed. "Mother."
Madam ignored her. "You have no understanding of boundaries. No sense of your position. You entered this family as an employee, yet somehow you have managed to become involved in my son's personal life."
Ji-Ah swallowed. "I never tried to—"
"You don't deserve to live in this house."
The room went silent.
Even Mr. Kang shifted uncomfortably.
Ha-Joon's eyes hardened. "Mother."
She looked at him. "Both of the Park sisters are becoming far too comfortable here."
Seo-Yeon stepped forward. "Please don't speak about my sister like that. She hasn't even been told what she's supposedly done."
Madam turned toward her. "Fine."
She looked around the room. "You all want to know?"
Min-Hyuk crossed his arms. "Yes."
Halmoni sighed heavily. "This had better be something serious."
Madam's gaze returned to Ji-Ah. "It is."
Min-Ji had been standing quietly beside Ha-Joon the entire time.
She lowered her eyes.
Her expression looked troubled.
Almost innocent.
But the corner of her mouth twitched before she quickly hid it.
Madam noticed.
Then she faced everyone.
"Since you all want the truth..." She paused. "I'll tell you exactly what happened."
Ji-Ah's stomach tightened.
Ha-Joon glanced at her.
For some reason, the first thing he noticed wasn't Madam.
It was Ji-Ah's hand.
Still holding Seo-yeon's.
And how pale her face had become.
His expression darkened.
"Whatever you're about to say," he said quietly, "make sure it's the truth."
Madam looked directly at him.
"Oh, Ha-Joon." Her voice softened. "That is exactly what I'm going to tell you."
And the entire room fell silent.