Damian stared at the files spread out across his glass desk. The digital photos, the timeline reports, and the fragmented records Eric had pulled all confirmed what he suspected: something didn't add up.
The Seo family was spotless on paper. Hara's schooling, travels, social engagements—everything appeared carefully curated. Too curated.
One image in particular caught his eye: an old school photo of Hara in her early teens.
Damian narrowed his gaze.
Her eyes weren't the same. They held fire, even then. But the girl he saw last night… she had gentleness in her soul. Almost like she hadn't grown up under the harsh light of ambition and manipulation.
The resemblance between the two was undeniable—but the energy they carried couldn't have been more different.
---
Meanwhile, in the quiet of her rooftop room, Hena stared at herself in the mirror.
The soft morning light spilled over her features.
She touched her face.
"I don't understand," she whispered.
The night before had left her shaken. Not only had she found her mother, but she had also been rejected with a coldness that pierced deeper than words could explain.
She pulled the bracelet from her bag again—Hara, etched into the tiny metal plate.
Why had her grandmother kept this? Why had no one told her the truth?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Unnie?" It was Claire—her best friend from the art academy.
Claire walked in with a paper bag filled with warm steamed buns. "You didn't show up at class this morning. I got worried."
Hena gave her a tired smile. "I needed time to think."
Claire sat beside her and handed her food. "You've been off since we got to Seoul. What's going on?"
Hena hesitated, then finally said, "I think… I met my birth mother last night. At that party."
Claire blinked. "What?!"
"I didn't go to the gallery to explore," Hena admitted. "I went to find answers. I found her. She told me I was never meant to exist. That I should disappear."
Claire stared, stunned. "What kind of mother says that?"
Hena's grip tightened on the bracelet. "She has another daughter. Hara. She looks exactly like me."
Claire's voice dropped. "You think she's your twin?"
"I don't know. But I need to find out."
---
Across the city, Hara sat in Madam Seo's grand living room, sipping coffee like royalty. Her legs were crossed, her tone sharp.
"That party was a waste of time," she complained. "If I have to smile at another business partner of Damian's, I swear I'll scream."
Madam Seo looked at her, unimpressed. "You are not here to scream. You are here to marry the future head of the Lee empire. You don't get to complain."
Hara rolled her eyes. "You keep reminding me."
Madam Seo's gaze hardened. "Because if you don't play your part perfectly, everything we've built collapses. No more second chances, Hara."
Hara froze.
Something in her mother's voice made her pause. She set her coffee down, lips pressing together.
"I saw a girl last night," Madam Seo added quietly. "She looked… like you. At first, I thought you were playing games. But then I realized it wasn't you."
Hara's brow twitched.
"You didn't mention anything last night."
"I handled it."
"What do you mean 'handled'?"
Madam Seo stood. "It's none of your concern."
But Hara was already standing too. "fine. Then I won't bother ."
---
Back at the office, Damian paced his penthouse suite when Eric stepped in again.
"We ran a soft face recognition scan."
Damian turned.
"There are only two matches: Seo Hara… and a girl registered in Daegu with the name Seo Hena."
Daegu.
Damian remembered her voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be here. I got lost."
"Where is she now?" he asked.
"She applied for the Seoul Art Showcase. Her name is on the student registry. Same academy as the event next door to the gallery."
Damian picked up his keys.
"I'm going to meet her."
---
Meanwhile, Hena stood outside the art school, her portfolio pressed to her chest.
Claire had helped her print out her submission. She didn't care about winning anymore. What she wanted was truth.
Her phone buzzed. An unknown number.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Seo Hena?" a calm male voice asked.
"…Yes?"
"This is Damian Lee. I think we need to talk.