Chapter Two
"On this day, an angel was born—Jung-Ha Kiera," Jung-Su said to Carolyn, cradling the newborn in his arms. They both laughed softly, the moment tender and surreal.
She was beautiful—unmistakably so—but her full American features stirred a wave of unease in Carolyn.
"We're here!" Jung-Ri announced as she walked in.
"Ah! Abeoji, Eeomoni, I present to you Jung-Ha Kiera!" Jung-Sik beamed with joy, holding his daughter up for all to see.
"Hmm… she doesn't look anything like us," Jung-Ri muttered, eyeing the baby closely.
"Jung-Ri, that's enough. Abeoji, won't you hold your grandchild?" Jung-Hyun asked, envy glinting in his eyes.
Jung-Su, pulled from his thoughts, approached the crib. He stared at the baby—so clearly a replica of her mother. A full Black American. No hint of Korean ancestry in sight.
"Nice," he said with a bitter smile. "Let's take a DNA test."
"We already did, Abeoji. She's mine. Why are you all acting this way?" Jung-Sik snapped, his voice laced with anger.
"She doesn't look like us, hyeong," Jung-Ri said, still avoiding her brother's gaze.
"Gaja. We've prepared your rooms at home," Jung-Jin said, turning her eyes to Carolyn.
"You must be tired," she added gently.
Carolyn gave a dry, sarcastic smile. She couldn't read Jung-Jin's intentions, but she knew deep down that moving into that house wasn't the right choice.
"We're fine at the hotel. That's where we've been, and that's where we'll stay," Carolyn replied.
"No. That's no environment to raise a child. We have staff at home. This is for your own good," Jung-Jin said, her forced smile accompanied by a patronizing touch to Carolyn's chin.
Oblivious to the tension, Jung-Su smiled. "Eeomoni, we'll move in."
Carolyn raised an eyebrow. Was her fiancé truly this dense? Still, she couldn't deny that a hotel wasn't ideal for a baby. Begrudgingly, she agreed.
"You can also register your marriage at the Civil Bureau tomorrow," Jung-Su added as he left the room.
Jung-Sik chased after him. "Abeoji, what was that? We're supposed to have a proper church wedding like every young couple dreams of!"
"Marriage is marriage. I won't let her tarnish the Jung name. This is the least I can allow. Take it or leave it," Jung-Su said coldly and walked off.
Back in the hospital room, Jung-Jin's eyes flicked toward the child, but the warmth wasn't there. It was disdain.
"Eeomoni, I have to go now. I'll take Jung-Ri with me," Jung-Hyun said, barely concealing his discomfort.
"Okay, let's all go together. Carolyn, take care," Jung-Jin said, flashing a false smile before heading out with her children.
"They're gone. Are you okay? Why did you agree with your mother?" Carolyn asked as Jung-Sik returned.
"She was right," Jung-Sik sighed. "And listen… we're going to the Bureau tomorrow. There won't be a ceremony."
"What? Are you kidding me? I thought your father was just bluffing! We're supposed to get married in a church! Now it sounds like I'm some desperate woman chasing after you," Carolyn shouted, furious.
"No, no. Please, do this for me. It's the only way my father will accept us," Jung-Sik pleaded.
Carolyn was silent, staring at her baby. Looks like we've stepped into a death trap, she thought.
Three Years Later
It was Jung-Ha Kiera's third birthday. The entire Jung family was present—everyone except Jung-Sik, who was managing two companies overseas and couldn't make it back.
"Saengil chukahamnida! Saengil chukahamnida! Saranghae, Jung-Ha-ya, saengil chukahamnida!" the family sang joyfully.
"Make a wish and blow the candle," Jung-Hyun said with a charming smile, kneeling close with a glass of juice—laced with poison.
He planned to kill her. And Jung-Jin knew.
It wasn't just because she was her father's heir, but because she was too smart. Too dangerous. She intimidated Hyun. He had tried to grow close to her for years, but she never liked him. At school, she was adored—brilliant and magnetic.
"Uncle Hyun, move away!!" Kiera screamed.
She grabbed the candle and—without hesitation—lit his face on fire.
"AHHHH!!!" Hyun screamed, dropping the glass. It shattered on the floor, the poisoned juice soaking into the carpet.
Panic erupted.
"Someone call an ambulance—NOW!" Jung-Jin screamed.
"This child is evil! You are EVIL!" she shouted, charging toward Kiera to slap her.
"Eeomoni, that's enough!" Carolyn stepped in front of her daughter.
But Jung-Jin pushed her aside and slapped the little girl across the face.
"How dare you?! Jung-Jin, how DARE you hit my child?!" Carolyn screamed, her voice breaking with rage.
Jung-Jin was stunned. After years of breaking Carolyn's spirit, of using her as a maid, this was the first time Carolyn stood up for herself.
"I could take anything. But if you lay a hand on my child—"
Whack! Another slap landed—this time on Carolyn.
With cold fury, Jung-Jin hissed, "Pray nothing happens to my son. If anything does, your daughter's face will match his."
"Eeomoni, enough. Blame the mother. Let's move Hyun to the ambulance," Jung-Ri said sharply from the door.
Even she was shaken by what Kiera had done—but she believed it was just a child's reaction, not malice. Over time, Jung-Ri had grown fond of Kiera, despite her dislike for Carolyn.
Jung-Jin and Jung-Ri left for the hospital. Tears streamed down Carolyn's face.
"Stop those useless tears. What Kiera did today is unforgivable. Mr. Kim, lock her up in the attic!" Jung-Su ordered.
The attic—cold, dark, and cruel—had been Carolyn's own prison many nights.
"No! No! Abeoji, please wait—" Carolyn begged.
"Mummy! Mummy!" Kiera cried in fear.
"I'll leave! I'll leave and never come back!" Carolyn shouted in desperation.
This was what they had wanted all along.
But Jung-Su wasn't satisfied. "What will you tell your husband? Why would he believe you?"
"I'll tell him I fell in love with someone else. I'll ask for an annulment," Carolyn blurted out.
"Hm. I've been preparing for this. Why not let me take a picture of you kissing another man? A little evidence."
"What? No! Never. I would never cheat on my husband!"
"Mr. Kim, proceed," Jung-Su ordered coldly.
"Mummy! Mummy!" Kiera wailed.
"FINE! Fine, I'll do it!" Carolyn sobbed.
"Stop crying. Mr. Kim will take you to a hotel. You'll meet the man there. One kiss, that's all. Then I'll prepare the divorce papers. You'll be out in a week. Sound good?" Jung-Su smiled wickedly.
"You're all evil. What did I ever do to deserve this? Aren't you old enough for this nonsense?!" Carolyn shouted.
Whack! Jung-Su slapped her hard.
"Watch your mouth, you slut! You know what you did? You forgot your place. That's what you did. Now tell me—are you doing it or not? I could kill your child in a second and no one would know. I planned this long ago. You were always too smart to fall into my trap. But not this time. Now speak before I lose my patience!"
Carolyn's eyes widened. She was shocked at the lengths Jung-Su would go to get rid of her.
Memories flooded back—those times she was summoned to hotels, always for "one thing or another," where a certain man would approach her with drinks and forced conversations. She had never given in. It had all been part of Jung-Su's cruel plan.
Tears spilled down her face.
She knew she had to escape this hell and discover what life had in store for her and her only child, Kiera.
With a burning anger, Carolyn swore silently that she would find a way to take revenge—one way or another.
Wiping her tears away, she looked at Jung-Su with pure hatred and said through gritted teeth, "Fine. I'll do it."