Ji-Ah had barely closed her bedroom door when her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Seo-Jun.
A smile almost formed before she answered.
"You only call when gossip is valuable."
His laugh came through immediately.
"Good evening to you too."
"What did you find?"
A dramatic pause.
Then:
"I found Min-Ji's parents."
Ji-Ah straightened.
"…What?"
"Not the ones living in this house pretending to know family recipes."
Her eyes sharpened.
"You're serious."
"Very. Their original records are messy, but I traced enough. Names changed. Addresses changed. A payment trail too."
Ji-Ah sat slowly on the edge of the bed.
"Send everything."
"I will. But Ji-Ah…"
His voice lowered.
"Be careful."
She was about to reply when the door burst open.
Yoo-Na entered like weather.
Hair half-done, eyes bright, absolutely thrilled.
"Emergency!"
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…Do people not knock here?"
"No time. Madam is calling everyone downstairs."
"Why?"
Yoo-Na grinned wickedly.
"Jewelry missing."
Then she gasped theatrically.
"…I hope it's murder."
The living room looked like a courtroom built by rich people.
Everyone was there.
Madam seated at the center, face carved from anger.
Ha-Joon stood nearby, cold and unreadable.
Halmoni sat with Arisoo beside her, both looking interested in the same way people look at fireworks.
Min-Hyuk stood near Seo-Yeon, protective without trying to hide it.
Mr. Kang, Mrs. Kang, and Hea-In clustered together like nervous furniture.
Min-Ji stood dramatically in the middle of the room.
In her hand was an open velvet jewelry box.
Empty.
She looked heartbroken in the exact way practiced people do.
"My necklace is gone," she said softly.
No one answered.
She continued.
"The diamond necklace Madam gifted me."
Madam's voice cut in.
"It disappeared from Min-Ji's room this afternoon."
Yoo-Na whispered to Ji-Ah, "Interesting how tragedy always happens near audiences."
Ji-Ah almost smiled.
Madam looked around the room.
"No one leaves this house until it is found."
Halmoni scoffed loudly.
"For one necklace? In my day we lost husbands and continued lunch."
Arisoo covered a laugh.
Min-Ji clasped the box tighter.
"I didn't want to make trouble…"
Yoo-Na muttered, "Too late."
"…but this feels personal," Min-Ji added.
Ha-Joon's gaze shifted to her.
"Say what you mean."
She hesitated just enough to seem innocent.
Then turned slowly toward Ji-Ah and Seo-Yeon.
"Perhaps someone who resents me."
The room sharpened instantly.
Ji-Ah folded her arms.
"Use names. Your suspense is poor."
Min-Ji sighed sadly.
"Ji-Ah returned angry. Seo-Yeon has struggled financially. If someone saw such jewelry…"
Seo-Yeon's face went white.
Min-Hyuk stepped forward immediately.
"Watch your mouth."
Min-Ji blinked at him.
"I'm only being logical."
"You're being disgusting."
Madam snapped, "Min-Hyuk."
He didn't move.
"You accuse her again," he said, eyes on Min-Ji, "and logic won't save you."
Seo-Yeon touched his arm gently.
He stayed angry anyway.
Mrs. Kang rushed in.
"Our Min-Ji would never lie."
Halmoni looked at her.
"Your Min-Ji would lie about weather."
Mr. Kang added stiffly, "A valuable necklace cannot vanish itself."
Yoo-Na raised a hand.
"Unless it developed independence."
No one acknowledged her.
Madam stood.
"All rooms will be searched."
Ji-Ah stared.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"You think I stole from her?"
Madam's voice cooled.
"I think we will know soon."
Ha-Joon finally spoke.
"This is unnecessary."
Min-Ji's eyes shimmered instantly.
"So I should just lose it?"
He looked at her without warmth.
"I said unnecessary. Not impossible."
That silenced even her.
They went first to Ji-Ah's room.
Of course they did.
The group entered in a flood of suspicion and perfume.
Servants followed reluctantly.
Two older maids began opening drawers.
Too rough.
Too fast.
Ji-Ah stepped forward.
"Careful."
Madam ignored her.
"Search everything."
Her suitcase was opened.
Clothes tossed aside.
Shelves checked.
Boxes emptied.
Seo-Yeon stood near the wall, hands trembling slightly.
Ji-Ah noticed.
Moved closer.
"It's fine."
Seo-Yeon whispered back.
"No… she plans things."
Ji-Ah's stomach tightened.
Min-Ji stood by the door, expression sad and noble.
Ha-Joon watched her more than the room.
That did not comfort anyone.
The maids checked the wardrobe.
Nothing.
Desk drawers.
Nothing.
Bathroom.
Nothing.
Mrs. Kang crossed her arms triumphantly too early.
"I told you, she hid it well."
Halmoni snorted.
"You hide stupidity well. Shall we search you too?"
Arisoo laughed openly now.
Madam's eyes moved to the bed.
"Under there."
Ji-Ah turned sharply.
"What?"
One maid knelt.
Reached beneath.
Her hand paused.
The room froze.
The maid slowly pulled out a velvet pouch.
Everyone saw it.
Min-Ji gasped beautifully.
"No…"
The pouch opened.
Inside—
the diamond necklace.
Cold light flashing across the room.
Ji-Ah's face emptied.
Then hardened.
"No."
Min-Ji covered her mouth.
"I can't believe this…"
Mrs. Kang cried out.
"How shameless!"
Mr. Kang shook his head like a disappointed actor.
Hea-In whispered, "I always sensed jealousy."
Yoo-Na muttered, "You always sensed mirrors."
Seo-Yeon stepped back like she'd been struck.
Min-Ji turned instantly.
"It was you, wasn't it?" she said to Seo-Yeon. "You went into her room. You hid it there to protect her."
"What?" Seo-Yeon whispered.
Min-Hyuk moved so fast even Ha-Joon shifted.
"Enough."
His voice cracked through the room.
He stood between Seo-Yeon and Min-Ji.
"You accuse everyone because you can't accuse yourself."
Madam snapped, "Min-Hyuk!"
He looked at her.
"No."
Silence.
Rare.
Dangerous.
Ji-Ah stepped forward slowly.
Eyes on the necklace.
Then on Min-Ji.
Then on the trembling maid who found it.
Then on Seo-Yeon.
Then finally on Ha-Joon.
"I didn't steal it."
No one spoke.
Her voice rose.
"I did not steal it."
Ha-Joon's jaw tightened.
Min-Ji answered softly, "Then explain why it was under your bed."
Ji-Ah looked at her for a long second.
Then smiled.
A terrifyingly calm smile.
"…I think," she said quietly, "the better question is who knew to look there first."
The room changed.
Min-Ji's face flickered.
Just once.
But Ha-Joon saw it.
And this time—
so did Madam.
The room did not breathe.
It buzzed.
With judgment.
With satisfaction.
With the kind of excitement people get when disaster belongs to someone else.
The necklace still glittered in the maid's hands like it enjoyed attention.
Ji-Ah stood in the middle of her own room while everyone behaved as if she were a criminal discovered in silk lighting.
Madam was first.
"Enough clever answers," she said sharply. "The necklace was found under your bed."
Ji-Ah looked at her calmly.
"Yes. Under my bed. Not on my neck."
Halmoni let out a loud approving hum.
Madam ignored it.
"Do not be smart with me."
"I'm trying not to be."
Min-Ji stepped forward, eyes damp, voice soft enough to annoy everyone.
"I didn't want this."
Yoo-Na whispered, "Lie number twelve."
"But I can't ignore what happened."
Ji-Ah turned.
"Then stop causing it."
Min-Ji pressed a hand to her chest.
"You're angry because Ha-Joon still chose this family."
Ha-Joon spoke immediately.
"Min-Ji."
Madam cut across him like a blade.
"Be quiet."
He looked at her.
She did not blink.
"I said be quiet."
The room noticed.
Ji-Ah noticed most of all.
Something in her expression cooled.
Min-Ji continued, encouraged.
"She came back resentful. She sees me receiving gifts, respect, affection…"
Yoo-Na coughed violently at the word affection.
Arisoo patted her back.
Min-Ji did not stop.
"She wanted to embarrass me."
Ji-Ah folded her arms.
"Your personality does that for free."
Min-Hyuk looked away to hide a grin.
Mrs. Kang pointed dramatically.
"You see? No remorse!"
Mr. Kang added, "A person with a guilty heart becomes rude."
Halmoni barked a laugh.
"A person with no brain becomes you."
Arisoo nearly slid off her chair laughing.
Madam's patience thinned visibly.
"This is serious."
"So be serious," Ji-Ah said. "Ask who entered my room. Ask who had servants running around. Ask who knew where to search."
Min-Ji's eyes flashed.
Madam answered before anyone else could.
"The necklace was in your room."
"That sentence is getting repetitive."
Ha-Joon stepped forward again.
"This makes no sense. Ji-Ah wouldn't steal jewelry she could sell nowhere without exposure."
Madam turned sharply.
"Enough."
He held her gaze.
"No."
The room stiffened.
Madam's voice dropped lower.
"You will not defend nonsense because of sentiment."
Ji-Ah blinked once.
Sentiment.
Interesting word.
Ha-Joon's jaw hardened.
"I'm defending reason."
"You are defending distraction."
That landed like broken glass.
Min-Ji lowered her gaze, hiding satisfaction badly.
Ji-Ah looked away before anyone could read her face.
Then Min-Ji spoke again, suddenly inspired by madness.
"There is another possibility."
Everyone regretted hearing that tone immediately.
"She touched it already."
The maid holding the necklace looked confused.
Min-Ji pointed dramatically at Ji-Ah.
"If she placed it there, then touched it, perhaps she meant something worse."
Silence.
Yoo-Na slowly set down a grape.
"…Worse than theft?"
Min-Ji nodded solemnly.
"What if she planned to use it against me?"
Ji-Ah stared.
"With… diamonds?"
Min-Ji gained momentum.
"She resents me. Maybe she wanted to lure me somewhere. Maybe strangle me with it."
The room paused in disbelief.
Hea-In gasped anyway.
Mrs. Kang covered her mouth.
Mr. Kang muttered, "How terrifying."
Halmoni slapped the armrest.
"Strangle you with a necklace? Is she an octopus?"
Arisoo lost composure completely.
Even a servant snorted before pretending to cough.
Min-Ji pressed on heroically.
"Or scratch me. Or threaten me. Or frame me after harming me."
Ji-Ah turned to Seo-Yeon.
"Am I hearing this?"
Seo-Yeon, pale but composed now, nodded once.
"Unfortunately."
Ha-Joon pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This is absurd."
Madam snapped again.
"Quiet."
He dropped his hand slowly.
"No."
This time the word was colder.
The room changed.
Madam stared at him.
Ha-Joon continued anyway.
"She is inventing crimes now."
Min-Ji's tears arrived on schedule.
"You think I would lie?"
"Yes," Yoo-Na said cheerfully.
Min-Ji ignored her.
Madam looked between them.
"Enough chaos."
Halmoni muttered, "Too late."
Madam straightened.
"Until this is clarified, Ji-Ah will remain under watch."
Ji-Ah laughed.
Actually laughed.
"Under watch?"
"You will not leave the house alone."
"This house already feels like punishment."
"You will also stay away from Min-Ji."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"That part sounds delightful."
Min-Ji stiffened.
Madam continued.
"And your room will be changed."
Now Ha-Joon moved instantly.
"No."
She turned.
"I did not ask you."
"You're humiliating her publicly for something unproven."
Madam's face went still.
"I am preserving order."
"You are rewarding manipulation."
The room inhaled.
Min-Ji went pale.
Mr. Kang wished to disappear.
Mrs. Kang suddenly found curtains fascinating.
Madam spoke with terrifying calm.
"You forget who you are speaking to."
Ha-Joon answered just as calm.
"No. I remember exactly."
Ji-Ah looked between them, startled.
Halmoni smiled slowly.
"There he is."
Arisoo sipped tea like this was premium entertainment.
Madam pointed toward the door.
"Leave if you cannot be useful."
Ha-Joon did not move.
Instead, he walked to the maid, took the necklace from her hand, and looked at it once.
Then at Min-Ji.
Then at Ji-Ah.
"This necklace will be examined."
Min-Ji froze.
Madam frowned.
"By whom?"
"Someone who understands fingerprints, fabric fibers, and lies."
Yoo-Na whispered, "Marry him again."
Ji-Ah nearly choked.
Min-Ji's composure cracked for one sharp second.
"Why would you do that?"
Ha-Joon's gaze stayed on her.
"Because if Ji-Ah touched it…"
He let the sentence hang.
Then finished quietly.
"So did whoever placed it there."
The room went dead silent.
And for the first time since the search began,
Min-Ji looked afraid.