22

"Darling, no! This is a misunderstanding! Why would I dare lay my hand on your daughter?! I'm...I'm her step-mom!"

"No. Starting from now on, you are no longer someone our family is associated with. Get out before I tell them to kick you out. And don't you even think of putting this up in the media. You know what I mean by that," Mr. Min seriously says.

The frustrated woman marches out of the room, the man running behind her.

I watch how Mr. Min hugs Seulgi tightly. I wanted to see more but I don't think I have the right to. Besides...I can't think straight.

That boy...

"Let's go?" Nana whispers while nudging me.

Sighing, I nod and we walk away from the scene before us. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find anything more about the boy even when I asked Mr. Min after the commotion.

He said that it was his first time meeting that boy too and he actually thought he was with us. According to him, he was busy working when the boy knocked on his room and showed him evidence of Seulgi's abused.

Because of that, he had to tighten their household's security.

After that day, Seulgi started changing. She's still the same person we know but I can clearly see the impact of what happened. She even uses emojis now when we chat online. Another is that she started posting photos of her and her dad's activities.

I pout.

Can I...do that too?

I already have my own social media accounts but they're all dead in terms of uploads. I mean, I really have no idea about what to post.

Should I ask father? Ahm...no. Nevermind. He's busy and he's barely even home these past few days that I feel kinda lonely. He also brought my brothers along...except me... Like why?

"Mr. Onyl, you really don't have to force yourself if you're bored here with me," I say before taking a spoonful of ice cream.

"I'm not. This is actually great. I can take a rest from all those deadly shi–stunts I have to obey," he replies before taking his own spoonful of ice cream.

"No. I meant here in particular. You can just go somewhere else."

He then shakes his head.

"No. I'll die before I could step out of the mansion and besides, it's nice having a conversation with the young miss. By the way, can I have that peach?"

Ah.

"Here. But I'll take this cherry as payment," I say before exchanging the fruits on our ice creams.

He smirks and continues to watch a movie with me.

I realized Mr. Onyl looks kinda young even though he's already in his thirties. Well, father and Mr. Hunter looks young too but they look like they are still in their twenties. He's father's right hand man so I guess he's really skilled in this industry. Knowing that, I felt kinda guilty.

"I'm sorry for inviting you to watch this with me, mister," I mumble and he laughs.

"No need to worry. I'm actually surprise you're watching Enola Holmes instead of Barbie. Kids your age prefer that," he says with a taunting tone.

"What's Barbie? What is the plot of that movie?"

I don't know why but that made him laugh even more. He's even almost gagging on his own laughter that I had to help and pat his back.

Rizza suddenly comes in because of the noise we made. She pauses the movie and checks on me.

"Relax. It's just that...our young miss here is really entertaining. She's not like someone who's...obsessed with Barbie so...yeah..." And comes another set of laughter.

Shockingly, he receives a smack on the head from Rizza who looks really annoyed.

Eh?

I don't know what's going on but I just feel like I want to leave the room so I did.

So now, I'm alone strolling in our estate. Somehow, I feel a bit of regret. I've been bothered for a while now because of that boy so I wanted to be accompanied most of the time to get my mind out of it.

Is he really Julian? I mean he looks like him when my brother's still young. Those eyes...

"Argh!"

"Why is my sister mad? Hmm?"

I immediately look up and see brother Jwo extending his arms. Unconsciously, I run to him and embrace him back.

"Brother! I miss you!"

He smiles and brushes his forehead on mine.

"I miss you too Serra," he replies before carrying me up.

"Eek! Brother, I am...heavy..." I admit.

He just raises his brow and playfully swings me around. I tighten my grip on him as I laugh along.

This is actually one of the most unexpected things that happened to me in this life. As time go by, I realized how comfortable I am with my family now to the point that I get to sleep beside them sometimes.

Brother Yona is still torturing me with my advance learning and brother Samsik's been teaching me...nonsense...but it's fun. Yes, it is. Father has been having snacks with me in the afternoon too. On the other hand, brother Jwo is the only one who treats me like a princess.

"You just got home. Where did you go? And what about brother Samsik and brother Yona?" I ask.

He cranes his neck and starts to walk inside the house.

"Just somewhere full of flowers...fairies...and delicious desserts. And our brothers will be home later this evening," he say it as if I'm a naive little girl.

It might be not but I get the feeling that that was a metaphor. It's like...drugs, prostitutes, and poisons...

I'm not sure. I just got a glimpse of a document when I passed by my father's study one time. He wasn't home so I just looked around and there was this report about an illegal brothel and it's been largely crossed out by father.

"Serra, why don't we have some cakes? I brought one on the way home. The servants must have prepared it already," he suggests.

Sighing, I just smile.

So far, my days has been consistent. I was planning to ask father if his offer before is still available but I didn't expect the news that I'll hear for today.

"Classes will soon resume for Yona and Samsik. Jwo, make sure you're brothers are properly behaved," father announces in the middle of our lunch.

Classes?

"You don't even attend when they call for you..." brother Samsik mumbles before immediately regretting it. "Uhm...I—I...father...I mean... I'm sorry."

As father delicately slices his steak, his eyes lands on my brother.

"I think I am getting too soft with my children. Hmm..."

Eek!

"Father, what is that? Are my brothers leaving...again?" I dare to ask instead.

I swear I better get paid for my sacrifices!

His eyes turn to me and I guess I look too clueless that he had to put down his utensils and give me all his attention.

"No. They won't be leaving but they will just attend their school to study," he explains.

"Eh? But they can just call for a tutor and study here. Am I wrong, father?" I ask, feeling like an idiot.

Well, back then, people from high-society study at their own estates. Unless they're skilled and talented, a veteran won't take them in to further enhance their capabilities.

"...Of course... You haven't gone to school even when you were younger... Tsk!" father mutters.

"Huh?"

"Nothing. They can do that, study here but they also need to know the outside world. Learning by the book is widely different from learning by experience. In school, they can also get acquainted to some qualified students like them," he further elaborates.

I pout and stare at my soup for a while.

"Then father...can I go to school too?"

~*~