Man-Tae's presence seemed to cast a heavy shadow over Choi Hwan. His discomfort intensified when he noticed his parents lingering just behind Man-Tae. A wave of shame washed over him as the recent discussions about Yun-ji's engagement to Man-Tae came rushing back—conversations he'd had with Man-Seok, Man-Tae's father, now felt like salt in a fresh wound.
As he addressed the gathering, he stammered, eyes lowered, avoiding their gazes. "I apologize... deeply. It shames me to have a daughter who would act in such a way. I promise you, she will be punished when we return home."
Man-Tae, the feigned gentleman, stepped forward with a calm demeanor. "Uncle, please don't say that. This isn't your fault. None of us expected Yun-ji to do something like this. I don't want you to apologize. It upsets me more."
Just then, Gong Hae seized the moment, her voice soft but calculated, laced with a thin veil of sorrow. "We raised our daughters equally, never denying Yun-ji anything she wanted. Yet, why can't she be more like Bora? Despite being the younger one, Bora has always been more sensible. Why can't Yun-ji learn basic manners from her?"
With perfect timing, Choi Bora put on her well-practiced mask of innocence, her voice full of contrived concern. "Please, Mother, don't blame my sister. I failed to watch over her last night. If anyone is at fault, it's me. Forgive me, Father."
Her white lotus act was flawless, a performance she had perfected since childhood. Despite knowing the truth behind her false tears, Choi Hwan felt his anger rise. Bora's calculated apology only deepened his frustration, but he knew he couldn't lash out—not with Yun-ji being the key to his ambitions. Her marriage to Man-Tae was essential for both families, and this disastrous turn of events threatened to undo everything he'd carefully planned.
Helpless and cornered, Choi Hwan turned to Man-Seok, bowing deeply in shame. "Please, forgive me, Mr. Man-Seok. I had no idea my daughter would bring such disgrace upon us. The fault lies with me... for not raising her properly."
Man-Seok gave a solemn nod, his expression unreadable. "Children... are unpredictable. We can't always control their actions. I understand your situation, Choi Hwan."
Man-Tae, sensing the tension and eager to maintain his noble facade, stepped forward and said "Uncle, there's no need to worry about Yun-ji. Hardly anyone knows about this incident. I'm still willing to proceed with the engagement as planned. Once we send Yun-ji abroad for a few years, the scandal will die down. When she returns, we can resume the wedding preparations and move forward as if nothing happened."
"I didn't know Brother Man-Tae was so magnanimous that he could accept me even after all this," a voice rang out, bold and clear, dripping with sarcasm. The sharpness of Yun-ji's tone echoed through the hallway, halting every conversation, every movement. All eyes snapped toward the source of the voice, stunned.
Yun-ji stood at the entrance, her presence commanding and unexpected. Beside her was a poised, middle-aged woman, whose aura of sophistication only heightened the shock that gripped the room. Choi Bora, who was closest to the bed, froze, her face paling as though she'd seen a ghost. Her shock spiraled into panic. "How... how can you be here? Then who's—" she spun around, rushing to the bed in a frantic scramble. The girl lying there wasn't Yun-ji. It was Wang Da.
In a fit of frustration, Bora shoved Wang Da roughly, sending her out of the sheets. The sudden force and Bora's shriek stirred Wang Da from her deep, unconscious state. Groggily, she blinked, disoriented as her surroundings came into focus. Her face flushed as she noticed the eyes on her, the humiliating situation dawning on her. She clutched the blanket around her, her gaze locking on Yun-ji, wide with disbelief and anger.
"What did you do to me?!" Wang Da spat, her voice shaking with fury and shame. "It's all because of you that I'm in this state! You were supposed to be here, not me!"
Her words hung in the air, careless, spoken in desperation without a thought to the audience around her. Every gaze shifted from Wang Da to Yun-ji, awaiting her response.
Yun-ji's expression hardened, her eyes flashing with anger. "What exactly do you mean by that, Wang Da? Why would I be in your place? And how are you so certain it's me who wronged you?" Her voice carried the weight of accusation, a simmering fury beneath the surface.
Wang Da glared back, her voice firm despite her disheveled state. "I brought you here last night. After that, everything's a blur. So, of course, it must have been you who pulled some trick!"
Yun-ji didn't miss a beat. "I don't recall being anywhere near this room with you. After leaving the restroom, I was heading to the private room we booked for dinner. Don't dare accuse me to cover your own misdeeds, Wang Da."
Choi Hwan, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke, his voice cold and demanding. "What is going on here, Bora?" His gaze drilled into his daughter, expecting answers.
Bora, caught in her own web of panic, stammered, "Father, I saw sister and Wang Da go to the restroom together... but neither of them came back. How can she claim she wasn't with Wang Da? And—" she hesitated before blurting out, "Wang Da texted me after they entered this room last night!"
Yun-ji's eyes narrowed, her tone turning icy as she cut Bora off. "Who are you calling 'sister,' Bora? And how dare you pin this mess on me, for an outsider no less?"
"I don't mean to blame you, sister—" Bora began, but Yun-ji's glare silenced her momentarily. She quickly added, "But you know how important a girl's reputation is. As women, we have to protect that. I can't just stand by and let you drag someone else's name into the mud."
Yun-ji let out a low chuckle, her voice dripping with disdain. "How noble of you, Bora. Protecting someone's reputation without even checking the girl lying in the bed." She took a step forward, each word deliberate, eyes sweeping over the room as if she had already pieced the puzzle together. "Now that I see this whole farce unfolding before me, I think I understand the real culprit behind all of this."
She paused, the silence weighing heavy in the room as everyone hung on her next words. "I've been sick the last two days. You were the one who insisted I come with you last night, Bora. I wouldn't have even been here if it weren't for Mother asking me to. How could I have possibly planned anything, when I didn't even know where we were going?"
Her words hit their mark, planting doubt in every corner of the room. Faces twisted with confusion, some with guilt. Slowly but surely, the suspicion began to shift from Yun-ji to someone else—the very person who had been orchestrating this all along.