Chapter 10: Hurt.

CHAPTER 10: Hurt.

If you don't know me, I guess it would be better if you stay out of my line cause we are like poles that repel.

By: Unknown.

By the time the maids finished preparing the baths, Chin Sun, already awake with excitement, bounced on the bed, eager to be the first to bathe. Chin Ari, ever the responsible elder sister, agreed she go first.

While Chin Sun giggled and splashed in the warm water, new, expensive clothes arrived in courtesy of the Young Lord. Chin Ari felt a pang of guilt. Accepting such extravagance went against everything she knew, yet politeness prevented her from refusing.

"Thank him for taking care of us," she instructed the maids, bowing in gratitude.

A surprised look flitted across their faces. Su Mi, always the impulsive one, blurted, "But my lady, you're practically royalty now! You shouldn't bow to us."

Chin Ari's cheeks flushed. Royalty? The idea was both exhilarating and terrifying. Before she could respond, Do-Yun, the more level-headed maid, interjected.

"Su Mi is right, my princess," Do-Yun said with a gentle smile. "Expressing your gratitude yourself would be the most proper way."

Chin Ari, touched by Do-Yun's support, offered a grateful smile.

Soon, Chin Sun emerged from the bathroom, a pink towel wrapped around her petite frame. Her face, flushed from the bath, shone with innocence. The maids couldn't help but coo at her cuteness.

Chin Sun got dressed in a very bright yellow dress and her hair was parked in a very cute way, matching her teenager's vibe. While Chin Ari, went into the bath to take her bathe. Once done, she changed into a dusk pink free flow gown and her hair was left to flow freely down her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Chin Bada entered the room, resplendent in a blue-green luxurious gown. She knelt down to receive her daughter's enthusiastic hug.

"You look beautiful, my little treasures," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"I know, Mama," Chin Sun chirped, her eyes sparkling. Chin Ari on the other hand, smiled in response.

Just then, Chin Bada relayed the young lord's request. They would have breakfast with him before leaving early to avoid yesterday's unpleasantness.

A wave of relief washed over Chin Ari. Though the thought of leaving the comfort of this grand house was bittersweet, the prospect of returning to normalcy was far more appealing.

As they entered the dining room, Chin Ari felt a tremor of nervousness. Seventeen pairs of eyes turned towards them, some welcoming, others filled with scrutiny.

Joon-woo, the young lord, stood up to greet them, his warm smile putting Chin Ari slightly at ease. Beside him sat a middle-aged woman, presumably his mother, and an older woman who exuded an air of sternness.

"It's a pleasure to have you here, Lady Chin and little Lady Chin," Joon-woo said, bowing slightly.

Chin Ari, overwhelmed by the attention, felt shy and awkward, stammered a response. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Joon-woo. We are grateful for your kindness and this is the only way we can repay back your favour."

Joon-woo's mother, Lee Ha-Joon, seemed genuinely happy to have them. She saw Chin Ari as a beautiful, innocent guest, someone who wouldn't stay long enough to cause trouble.

However, the same couldn't be said for Lee Eun-Woo, Joon-woo's grandmother. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of the three visitors. She saw them as an unwelcome burden and a potential threat to the family's power structure.

The breakfast continued in an awkward silence. Chin Ari, unable to stomach a bite under the weight of so many stares, toyed with her chopsticks. Lee Ha-Joon, noticing her discomfort, offered to have the maids change the menu, but Chin Ari politely declined, longing for this ordeal to be over.

Suddenly, Lee Eun-Woo spoke, her voice laced with malice. "Chin Bada, your daughters are indeed beautiful. But wouldn't you agree that they seem a bit… old for your youthful appearance?"

Chin Ari felt a surge of anger rise within her. How dare this woman question her mother's honor? But before she could retort, Chin Bada met Lee Eun-Woo's gaze with quiet dignity.

"There's no shame in having a beautiful daughter, regardless of age," she said, her voice firm but respectful.

The tension in the room crackled as the two women locked eyes. The breakfast table became a battleground, a silent war of words waiting to erupt.

Lee Eun Woo smirked. To her, she knew exactly what they were after. She knew their type, they were just random double gold diggers seeking for high ranks at all cost just to become someone in the Empire.

She felt Chin Bada's intension was to use her slut of a daughter to seduce her grandson but that won't happen! Not under her watch.

The air crackled with tension, thicker than the finest silk. Lee Eun-Woo's words hung heavy in the air, each syllable a barbed arrow aimed straight at Chin Bada's heart.

Chin Bada forced a smile, the effort etching new lines on her already strained face. "Madam Lee," she began, her voice a touch too bright, "things were different back then. Women were married young, a fact we all know." A blatant truth, a desperate shield against the woman's intrusive questions.

Lee Eun-Woo's smile widened, devoid of warmth. "Oh, I get it now," she purred, her voice dripping with condescension. "A practice fueled by greed, wouldn't you agree? A way for the desperate to secure their fortunes by latching onto a higher rank." Her gaze flitted towards Chin Ari, sharp as a hawk's. "So very young, and yet... Unmarried." Her last word voiced out so sluggishly. It was so obvious, her intent was to hurt the little family's pride.

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A/N

Dear readers, don't let my book be without a family. Don't let my book lack motivation. Support Chin Ari by giving her motivations to strive harder cause her strive will only draw her nearer to the far away male lead.

I'm excited, you should be too.Next update till Wednesday. Credits to AI for correcting the grammatical errors.

Kansamita.