"Aaaah I love this Outfit!" Mi-Rae exclaimed cheerfully while sorting clothes at a luxury children's clothing boutique in a mall. She wore a hat and sunglasses as well as a casual look. Although she couldn't completely disguise herself, usually people doubt if she really was song Mi-Rae the actress?
"This hat, I must have it!" Mi-Rae exclaimed again enthusiastically while picking up a striped fedora hat. The shopping basket was almost full. But none of the clothes for her alone. Since Mi-Rae was a famous actress, she used to be sent clothes from sponsors. Kim Sujin was the manager who usually takes care of it.
"Why are you so happy? When you send it to the Park family's house, they will sort it out again and not all of it is allowed to be worn by Hyun Ki," Sujin commented sarcastically. She felt Mi-Rae was doing something pointless.
"I know, but I can't help it. aaahh I want to dress Hyun-Ki," complained Mi-Rae who suddenly turned gloomy.
Since the divorce, her interactions with Hyun-Ki have been completely restricted. . Mi-Rae has to signed various agreements including meeting only two hours every three days, making phone calls with a limited time, not being allowed to talk bad things about the Park family in the media and things that burden her more.
In the past, they tried to hold back Mi-Rae's intention to get a divorce. They were already quite embarrassed when their heir married young. They blame Mi-Rae because their proud son should have achieved more. They often torture Mi-Rae mentally, belittle her family background, criticize the way she dresses, intimidate her friends and relatives and forbid Mi-Rae from doing what she likes including acting.
Mi-Rae has sacrificed a lot to be with the man she loved. But she came to a point when she could no longer carry on. She had lost herself and felt worthless. Even after Mi-Rae's divorce, her life was still disturbed by her ex-husband's family.
The Park family was the owner of CJ Group. A Giant company whose assets are in the top ten largest in South Korea. Mi-Rae was not from a wealthy family, which was why she was disliked by her ex-husband's family. She was treated like a temptress who approached their heir for the sake of wealth. In fact, their love was sincere. Mi-Rae didn't even like wearing fancy things.
The habit has carried over to this day. She was known as a humble actress, although her pay was one of the largest in South Korea. She used to appear like that because she remembered her past where she tried to emphasize to her husband's family that she was not a greedy woman.
"You have another schedule in the next hour, are you done?" Kim Sujin asked while looking at the notes she made on her tablet.
Ding!
There was a notification on the manager's cell phone. Kim Sujin, who likes to wear two braids, opened it. She set up her social media so that certain hashtags would automatically appear. Of course she uses a hashtag that goes by Mi-Rae's name.
The bespectacled girl opened it lazily but slowly her expression turned enthusiastic.
"Oh my gosh! Is this true?"
"What?"
"You were alone with Lee Hyeon Jun in the dressing room? Hey Mi-Rae! Are you secretly dating him?" Sujin's words were more like accusing. Her eyes sparkled.
Lee Hyeon Jun was a star that was being talked about a lot right now. Everything about him was easily trending. Including the shoes he wore, the cell phone he used or the restaurants he visits.
"Are you crazy? I've never done that! You know me..What's the gossip?"
Mi-Rae looked at the link on Sujin's tablet. She clicked on the link and took it to web dispatch— the media that often reports on the hottest gossip of Korean artists.
She reads a narration that states the testimony that Mi-Rae and Hyeon Jun were dating because they caught them in Jun's dressing room alone. Then there were also amateur photos of the process of filming their advertisements. Where they look intimate and romantic with each other even though they were still practicing.
"Well it did happen, but I accidentally entered his dressing room. And all this intimacy is just for the sake of filming!" Mi-Rae whispered emotionally.
"Oh my gosh, but if it's like this the issue won't go away quickly. You two are in the dressing room alone, one could think something perverted has happened," said Sujin seriously.
"Oh my! How can you say something like that," Mi-Rae grumbled in annoyance mixed with embarrassment.
Then Mi-Rae flinched as her cell phone rang. She and Sujin were silent. Then they realized that they were in a public place. Mi-Rae rarely shares her cell phone number except for a few people she trusts. And the name of the caller on her cell phone screen right now— reminded her of her past trauma.
Mi-Rae takes sujin out of the way, she needs her manager to make sure no one was eavesdropping when she calls.
[Park Gyeon Na calls out]
"Mrs Park?" Mi-Rae said in a slightly trembling voice.
"Bitch! What are you doing huh? Being alone with a man and doing perverted things? You cheap woman. I'm grateful that my son has separated from you. Otherwise—"
"You can't just believe in rumours. It's just gossip. I didn't do anything that would embarrass the Park family. Besides, weren't you always watching over me, you'd know that of I really was—"
"You want to argue with me?"
"What? Not really, Mrs Park, I—"
"I told you a long time ago, I don't like your profession. You live too freely without knowing morals," said Mrs. Park sarcastically.
"But you yourself allowed Young-Ran to start as an artist, aren't you afraid that she will be like me?" Mi-Rae's response was a little sarcastic.
"She's different, Young-Ran wouldn't do anything bad. Her mother is not a lowly bar worker like yours. She was well educated. She won't embarrass the family," said Mrs Park stubbornly.
"Are you satisfied? Can I hang up?"
"Don't date that guy. We have the right to choose a man for you,"
"Mrs Park, this is my life..I've also been separated from Do-Hyun for a long time, you—"
Not that Mi-Rae was actually dating Hyeon Jun. But she didn't like the Parks still trying to manage her life like this.
"If you still want to meet Hyun-Ki, take my word for it," said Mrs. Park then hung up the phone.
Mi-Rae felt the joy drain from her, replaced with anxiety. Nervously, she reached into her handbag and pulled out a bottle of sedative pills. Mi-Rae takes a grain and swallows it without water.
"Mi-Rae," said Sujin, concerned while squeezing her shoulder.
"I'm fine, I won't let them destroy me more than this," Mi-Rae said, trying to be strong with a really fragile heart.