Chapter 13 :
Aline spotted Lena behind the counter and raised a brow.
"Hey—what are you doing here?"
Lena adjusted her apron, frowning. "What do you mean? I'm here to work."
"What? Work?" Aline laughed in disbelief. "Don't you have some kind of unlimited black card to buy whatever you want?"
Lena rolled her eyes. "You've been watching too many dramas. This is real life—no magic cards, no free rides."
"Mm." Aline tilted her head thoughtfully. "I think the black card comes after the male lead actually falls for you. Just be patient." She grinned, ignoring Lena's protests. "But seriously, people might recognize you outside now."
"Trust me," Lena said firmly. "They'll never know. With all that luxury—the hair, the makeup… even my own mother wouldn't recognize me."
"I don't think so." Aline shook her head. "You look amazing, but not that different. Especially in that red dress. My goodness, it was a perfect choice."
Lena blinked. "Wait, where are you seeing this?"
"On my phone." Aline turned the screen toward her. "It's everywhere."
Lena's chest tightened as she saw the photo. It was from the moment she entered the Beau anniversary party. Her face wasn't completely visible, but it was undeniably her.
The comments scrolled below:
Is this the flower girl? She looks like she was never poor before. Being with the richest man on earth has its benefits.
I wish it were me. She took my prince. I don't approve of her.
It's fake. He never made a public announcement.
I hate her. He was forced into this. She doesn't deserve him. Let's find her.
Before Lena could read further, Aline snatched the phone away, her smile fading. "That's enough. Look, a customer's waiting."
Lena exhaled, pulling herself together. "Right."
But Aline's thoughts were heavy. This is just the beginning… the price of being tied to someone like him.
That Night
After their shift, instead of their usual hangout, they slipped away to a quiet spot where Kyle wouldn't find them. Drinks arrived, and Lena was the first to lose herself in them. Their laughter, slurred and free, floated into the night.
"You're not fit for alcohol," Aline scolded, half-laughing. "Stop drinking."
"Who, me?" Lena hiccupped. "I can handle it just fine."
"No. I refuse."
"Listen…" Lena's voice softened. "Where I am now… I need it. Just a little, to forget everything."
Aline leaned closer, eyes narrowing playfully. "No, no. You don't need alcohol. You just need… L.O.V.E."
"What?!" Lena nearly fell off her chair. "No, no, no. Never!"
They dissolved into giggles, but their night was cut short when Jin appeared. Aline had messaged him earlier, knowing her friend would drink too much and forget the time.
By midnight, Lena was being carried into the Shade mansion.
Shade Mansion
Marry was waiting in the living room when they arrived.
"Lovely Marry!" Lena called, staggering toward her with glassy eyes. She squinted at a chair, convinced it was Marry, and pointed. "You're the nicest person ever."
Marry sighed, half-smiling despite herself. With difficulty, she dragged Lena to the kitchen and sat her down. "Water. You need water."
But the moment she turned to fetch a glass, Lena slipped away.
"Lena?" Marry called, exasperated.
From the hallway came Lena's muffled protest. "I don't want water! I want to tell him… I want to tell that man what's in my chest!"
Before Marry could stop her, Lena pushed open the door to Will's office.
"There you are!" she declared. "Tonight, I'm going to tell you what I think of all this crap."
Will looked up from his desk. When he saw the state she was in, his lips curved faintly. Rising, he crossed his arms and leaned casually against his desk. "Go on, then. Tell me."
"Yes," Lena said, nodding with drunken determination. "I will."
Her words came in fragments, torn between anger and tears. "You… you made my family turn against me. Because of money."
"Money," Will replied evenly, "is what makes the world run."
"No!" she shouted suddenly, startling him. "No. I'm the one talking now!"
She pressed forward, her voice shaking. "My brother… he thinks some rich man picked me up to help in his garden. Online, I'm the gold digger. My life—it wasn't perfect, but it had meaning. I was supposed to marry Rowan—the cute guy from the convenience store. But now? Now I'm engaged to someone who treats me like I'm nothing."
Her hands balled into fists as her voice broke. "I helped you with the anniversary party. But not even a thank you. Not even an apology. I'm trying, I really am, but the great and mighty stubborn prick William Shade never sees it. You only remind me of how rich you are. I get it, I know, but…"
Her voice softened, fragile now. "Please. Let me help you in my own way. Let me do something before you cut me off and—without being crushed. And then… I'll go back to my life."
By the end, her words dissolved into sobs. She stumbled forward, collapsing against his chest.
Will stood still, arms uncrossed now, feeling the weight of her small frame as she finally surrendered to sleep.
The First Crack
Will sighed, running a hand through his hair. All this fuss just to sleep… women really are talking machines.
But then Lena pulled back suddenly, her eyes glassy. She stared at him as if seeing him for the first time.
"You do have beautiful eyes," she blurted out.
Will raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "Okay…"
She turned to leave but bumped into a chair. Before she could fall, Will's hands caught her waist in one smooth motion.
He lifted her easily into his arms. "Stay still. Let's call this my thank you, foolish woman."
Her arms tightened around his neck. Her eyes shimmered with tears. "I actually hurt my foot when I bumped into the chair… it hurts so much…"
Will stopped in his tracks. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
A deep, unrestrained laugh that echoed down the corridor.
"You're serious? Crying over that?" he said, still chuckling.
Lena's mouth fell open in disbelief. It was the first time she had ever seen Will Shade laugh.
He carried her the rest of the way and set her gently at her door.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, smirking faintly. "Did you think I couldn't laugh? Put some ice on that foot before bed."
Without waiting for her reply, he disappeared down the hall.
Lena slipped into her room, heart pounding. When did he become this hot… this charming?
I must be too drunk. I can't even feel my feet anymore.
From a distance, Marry had been watching quietly. She exhaled in relief, a knowing smile curving her lips as she returned to the kitchen, where hot milk already waited.
The Next Morning
Sunlight filtered through Lena's curtains. She groaned. "Twelve in the afternoon?!"
She bolted upright—then collapsed back, clutching her head. The hangover had arrived.
Somehow, she made it to the kitchen, where Marry greeted her warmly.
"You're finally awake," Marry teased. "I was beginning to think I'd need to call an ambulance."
"I'm sorry if I caused trouble yesterday…" Lena muttered.
"Trouble? Not at all. But poor William—he was utterly flabbergasted. Still, it was lovely to see him laugh again."
Lena froze. "He… laughed? Will Shade? That's news to me."
Marry chuckled and pushed a bowl of soup toward her. Lena had barely taken a few sips when her phone rang.
"Good morning, Miss Morisawa," Jin's voice came, polite as always.
"What's up, Mr. Kim?"
"Please, feel free to call me Jin," he corrected.
"Then Lena it is, Jin."
She could almost hear his smile. He cleared his throat. "I managed to block all comments and hold off the press on your behalf. All your social media accounts are temporarily closed to prevent unwanted attention. Everything will be restored after the contract ends."
"Alright. Anything else?"
"You'll soon be addressed publicly as the future Miss Shade. The time for an official appearance is coming. There will be no filters."
"I see." Her chest tightened, but her voice was steady. "Thanks for the warning. At this point, nothing can surprise me anymore."
"One last thing," Jin added. "Your friend Aline sent your suitcase. I left it with Lady Marry."
"Oh—I thought I brought it back myself. Maybe I really was too drunk." She sighed. "Thanks, Jin."
The call ended. Lena stretched, ready to head out, when Marry pressed a neatly packed lunch bag into her hands.
"Oh no, I don't need this," Lena said quickly. "I'll just eat at work."
"It's not for you." Marry smiled knowingly. "It's for William. He skipped dinner last night, and I always send him lunch when he does that. Will you help an old woman today?"
Lena blinked. "What? Me? Oh no…"
For the next chapter:
In front of Lumina Corp Building
Lena clutched the lunch bag Marry had given her, muttering, "Delivering food to the ice king himself… what could possibly go wrong?"