The party had settled into its expensive rhythm.
Champagne refilled itself through hardworking staff.
Guests laughed too loudly.
Music floated across the lawn.
The engagement ring had been shown from six angles.
Min-Ji was glowing under attention.
Madam was glowing under control.
And Ji-Ah was trying to remain invisible beside her friends.
Naturally, that lasted three minutes.
Madam's voice cut through the garden.
"Ji-Ah."
Every muscle in Ji-Ah's body objected.
She turned slowly.
"…Yes?"
Madam stood near the stage again, one hand resting lightly over the microphone stand.
"Come sing another song."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…No."
Madam's smile did not move.
"That was not a request."
Soo-Min whispered:
"She summons people like a villain queen."
Min-Jea dabbed imaginary tears.
"I'm inspired."
Ji-Ah muttered:
"I'm suing."
Halmoni waved her cane lazily.
"Go sing. At least one thing here is genuine."
That did it.
Ji-Ah sighed.
"Fine."
She walked toward the stage while Min-Ji's eyes followed her like sharpened glass.
The music softened.
Guests turned.
Some recognized her from earlier.
Some were simply curious why the almost-daughter-in-law's rival kept being invited to perform.
Ji-Ah took the microphone.
The garden lights blurred for a second.
She looked over the crowd.
Arisoo holding Nikki on her lap.
Nisa leaning against Do-Hyun's shoulder.
Seo-Yeon sitting straight-backed, elegant and unreadable.
Min-Hyuk beside her already emotional for no reason.
Kai-Wen calm.
Do-Yoon smiling.
Lin watching quietly.
Soo-Min clutching her drink like a supportive weapon.
Ha-Joon standing farther back near one of the pillars, expression composed.
And Min-Ji beside Madam, beautiful and furious.
Ji-Ah inhaled.
Then sang.
This time it wasn't playful.
It was soft from the first note.
A song about loving people who don't know how to stay.
About homes that feel colder when full.
About being blamed until silence becomes habit.
About surviving anyway.
Her voice moved through the garden like smoke and memory.
The crowd quieted completely.
Even glasses stopped clinking.
Even the staff slowed.
A woman near the fountain wiped her eyes discreetly.
An older man coughed into emotion.
Arisoo openly cried.
"I hate feelings," she whispered.
Nisa reached for a napkin.
Do-Hyun was already crying shamelessly.
"This is art," he sniffed.
"It's one verse," Nisa muttered, also crying.
Min-Hyuk covered his face dramatically.
"She suffers beautifully!"
Seo-Yeon handed him a tissue without looking at him.
"Control yourself."
"I cannot."
Soo-Min whispered:
"If she releases an album I'll become unemployed."
Lin's gaze softened.
Kai-Wen simply nodded once, deeply impressed.
Even Halmoni looked away suspiciously.
Dust had apparently entered both eyes.
Ha-Joon did not move.
But his hand tightened slowly around the glass he was holding.
Min-Ji noticed that.
And hated it.
Ji-Ah reached the final line.
No grand note.
No showy ending.
Just something quiet enough to hurt.
Then silence.
One heartbeat.
Two.
And the applause rose all at once.
Loud.
Real.
Longer than before.
Ji-Ah lowered her eyes, overwhelmed for half a second.
Then recovered and bowed.
When she stepped off the stage, Soo-Min attacked first.
"You didn't warn me!"
"I sang."
"You emotionally assaulted us."
Min-Jea hugged her dramatically.
"I need soup now."
Lin said quietly:
"You were incredible."
Ji-Ah smiled.
"Thank you."
Ha-Joon did not approach.
He only watched her laugh with everyone else.
Which somehow felt worse.
Far from the garden, upstairs in the mansion, Yoo-Na sat on the edge of her bed.
The music from outside reached faintly through the closed windows.
Her heels lay kicked off near the chair.
Her makeup still perfect.
Her mood not.
Her phone buzzed.
Mrs. Han.
Yoo-Na stared at the screen for a long second before answering.
"Yes, Mother."
Mrs. Han's voice arrived sharp and immediate.
"So it's true."
No greeting.
No how are you.
No warmth.
Just knives.
"Ha-Joon is engaged tonight and you're still useless."
Yoo-Na closed her eyes.
"…Mother."
"Don't 'Mother' me. I sent you there for what?"
Silence.
"To smile," Mrs. Han continued bitterly. "To be clever. To be useful. But Min-Ji got there first and you watched like furniture."
Yoo-Na's jaw tightened.
"I told you I don't even like him."
"And who asked what you like?"
The words landed hard.
Outside, applause from the garden drifted faintly upward.
Inside, Yoo-Na stared at nothing.
Mrs. Han kept going.
"You think girls like you can afford feelings?"
"Mother, stop."
"No. Look at you. Pretty clothes, expensive house, empty hands."
Yoo-Na's eyes burned.
"You're my daughter and still less effective than strangers."
"Enough."
"Crying already? For what? Shame?"
Yoo-Na stood suddenly.
"Enough!"
The room rang with it.
But on the other end, Mrs. Han only laughed once.
Cold.
"If Min-Ji marries him, remember this. You lost because you were weak."
The line went dead.
Yoo-Na stood motionless, phone still in hand.
Then slowly sat back down.
Tears slipped before she could stop them.
She wiped them angrily.
More came.
She hated that.
She hated Min-Ji.
She hated her mother.
She hated how both women sounded alike.
Down below, music rose again.
People celebrated under lights.
Yoo-Na sat alone in a dark room, crying silently where no one could see.
Then she inhaled sharply.
Looked at herself in the mirror.
And whispered through wet eyes:
"…Fine."
Something in her face changed.
Not softer.
Sharper.
If the night wanted war, perhaps it had just invited another soldier.
Yoo-Na came downstairs like a storm dressed in silk.
Her tears were gone.
Only the sharpness remained.
The party was still glowing under the lights, laughter moving through the garden as if nothing in the world had cracked upstairs.
Ji-Ah stood near the dessert table with Soo-Min, poking a cake she had no real interest in.
She looked up first.
"…Why do you look like revenge in heels?"
Yoo-Na stopped in front of her.
"Move."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
Ji-Ah studied her face.
The eyes slightly red.
The jaw too tight.
Ah.
Someone had bled her emotionally.
Ji-Ah handed Soo-Min her plate.
"Hold this."
"I don't want responsibility."
"Too late."
Ji-Ah stepped aside with Yoo-Na toward the quieter edge of the lawn.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then Ji-Ah said casually:
"…He kissed her."
Yoo-Na frowned.
"Who?"
"Ha-Joon."
"With his fiancée?"
Ji-Ah made a face.
"When you say it logically it becomes annoying."
Yoo-Na snorted despite herself.
"Min-Ji kissed him. He just stood there looking expensive."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…That is weirdly accurate."
Yoo-Na crossed her arms.
"I don't care."
Ji-Ah looked at her sideways.
"I didn't say you did."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
A pause.
Then Ji-Ah answered honestly:
"…It still bothered me."
Yoo-Na turned to her.
That answer had not been expected.
Ji-Ah shrugged lightly.
"I don't know why. It just did."
Yoo-Na stared for a second.
Then clicked her tongue.
"You're both exhausting."
She turned.
And began walking straight toward the center of the party.
Ji-Ah's eyes widened.
"…Why are you moving like that?"
"To fix my mood."
"That sentence is dangerous."
"It should be."
At the center lawn, Madam was speaking with guests.
Min-Ji stood beside her smiling delicately, accepting compliments like blessings she had ordered in advance.
Yoo-Na walked directly between two startled investors, climbed the stage steps, and took the microphone from the host's hand.
He gasped.
"Miss, I'm using that."
"Not anymore."
The speakers squealed once.
The garden froze.
Every head turned.
Madam's face hardened instantly.
"Yoo-Na."
Min-Ji's smile faltered.
Yoo-Na stood under the lights and spoke clearly.
"I'd like to congratulate the happy couple."
Scattered claps.
Confused.
Then she smiled.
"Especially Min-Ji. It takes talent to climb this high with fake everything."
Silence hit the lawn like broken glass.
Min-Ji stepped forward.
"What are you doing?"
"Being honest."
Madam snapped:
"Put that microphone down."
"No."
The crowd began whispering wildly.
Phones appeared like flowers.
Yoo-Na pointed lightly toward Min-Ji.
"Fake background."
Another whisper wave.
"Fake story."
Louder now.
"Fake family."
Gasps.
Min-Ji's face drained.
Mr. Kang shot up from his chair.
"How dare you!"
Mrs. Kang followed.
"Our daughter comes from a respectable family!"
Hea-In added loudly:
"Yes! Extremely respectable!"
Unfortunately, no one had asked from where.
Yoo-Na laughed once.
"You three should rehearse together before lying in public."
Mr. Kang sputtered.
"We raised her with values!"
Yoo-Na tilted her head.
"Then why do none of you know which fork to use?"
A nearby guest choked on champagne.
Ji-Ah covered her mouth.
Soo-Min whispered:
"I love tonight."
Min-Jea was openly filming.
Min-Ji tried to regain control.
"She's jealous," she announced. "She liked Ha-Joon from the beginning."
The crowd shifted instantly.
New scandal.
Fresh scent.
Yoo-Na rolled her eyes.
"Yes, apparently every woman who dislikes you must want a man."
That landed.
Then she said sharply:
"I don't want Ha-Joon."
Ha-Joon, standing near the stage, raised one eyebrow.
Reasonable reaction.
Yoo-Na continued:
"I wanted peace. You insulted me. My mother insults me. Everyone thinks I should compete for men like coupons."
Some women in the audience visibly approved.
Then Yoo-Na raised the mic again.
"So let's be clear. My issue is not Ha-Joon."
She pointed directly at Min-Ji.
"My issue is her."
The crowd practically leaned forward.
Madam stepped toward the stage.
"This ends now."
Yoo-Na took one graceful step backward and lifted the microphone higher.
"No, it starts now."
Then louder:
"Ask Ji-Ah!"
Every neck turned.
Ji-Ah, halfway through stealing another dessert, froze.
"…Why am I involved."
Min-Ji hissed:
"She's lying!"
Yoo-Na called down:
"Tell them!"
Ji-Ah met her eyes.
Then slowly shook her head.
Not no.
Not denial.
Just: there is proof, but not here.
Yoo-Na understood immediately.
She smiled.
"There is evidence."
The crowd erupted again.
"What evidence?"
"Where?"
"Is this true?"
Madam barked at security.
Min-Hyuk was laughing into his sleeve.
Halmoni looked delighted.
Arisoo whispered:
"This is better than television."
Yoo-Na lowered the mic.
"I'll bring proof."
She tossed the microphone back to the stunned host.
He caught it badly.
Then she strode off stage, grabbed Ji-Ah by the wrist, and dragged her toward the side corridor of the mansion.
Ji-Ah stumbled behind her.
"Why are you kidnapping me in public?"
"Walk faster."
Inside the corridor, away from the music, Yoo-Na finally released her.
"Where is the evidence?"
Ji-Ah straightened her dress.
"Hello to you too."
"Ji-Ah."
"Seo-Jun is working on it."
"Working faster would be charming."
"He's a person, not lightning."
Yoo-Na paced once.
Ji-Ah watched her carefully.
"…Why did you snap?"
"I didn't."
"You hijacked a microphone."
"I was expressive."
"You were crying upstairs."
Yoo-Na's head whipped around.
"…Mind your business."
"So yes."
"It's nothing serious."
"That usually means serious."
Yoo-Na crossed her arms hard enough to crack pride.
"My mother called."
Ji-Ah's face softened a little.
"She said cruel things?"
Yoo-Na scoffed.
"She said normal things."
That answer was sadder than tears.
Ji-Ah stepped closer.
"You don't have to let people cut you because they raised the knife."
Yoo-Na blinked once.
Then looked away immediately.
"You sound unbearable when wise."
"You're welcome."
"I didn't thank you."
"You meant to."
Yoo-Na exhaled sharply.
Then regained her sharpness.
"Get your proof."
Ji-Ah nodded.
"You get your dignity."
"I never lost it."
"You screamed into a microphone."
"It looked good on me."
Ji-Ah laughed.
From outside, the party noise swelled again.
Scandal was spreading table to table.
Min-Ji was furious.
Madam was furious.
Guests were thrilled.
And somewhere in the middle of all of it, Yoo-Na had finally chosen a side, even if she refused to admit it.