Ji-Ah turned toward Ha-Joon, her eyes still wet from the tears that had refused to stop.
"You all don't believe me..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "For the first time, everyone is doubting me..."
The words hung heavily in the room.
Ha-Joon's expression tightened. He looked like he wanted to say something, but before he could, Halmoni stepped closer to Ji-Ah.
"No one is doubting you, Ji-Ah. We just don't understand the situation right now. Min-Ji has evidence for what she's saying, which is that video..." Her voice softened as she glanced down. "But you don't have the evidence of accusing Min-Ji."
Ji-Ah looked around at everyone. "I have evidence."
Her voice was quieter now, but there was something firm beneath it. "I'm gonna prove Min-Ji is nothing but a fraud... Ha-Joon, she's an—"
Min-Ji blinked.
Then, almost delicately, she lifted her fingers to her lips, touching them as though Ji-Ah's words had frightened her. Her expression immediately became helpless and innocent.
"Are you gonna accuse me now of having an affair with someone...?"
The room became still.
Min-Ji slowly turned toward Mr. Kang. "Or are you gonna accuse me of faking my identity?"
She pointed toward him. "They are my family."
Then she looked back at Ji-Ah. "Or are you going to accuse me of... wanting to marry Ha-Joon because of his wealth?"
She took another step closer to Ji-Ah.
Her voice remained soft.
Almost too soft. "Everyone knows... you have feelings for Ha-Joon."
Ji-Ah's eyes widened.
Min-Ji continued. "They all do. You feel something for him deep down, even if he doesn't know it."
She glanced around the room. "I do. Madam does. Even your sister here does."
Everyone's attention shifted.
Ji-Ah stared at Min-Ji, completely flabbergasted.
She understood exactly what Min-Ji was doing.
Min-Ji had said every accusation herself.
She had mentioned the affair.
She had mentioned the fake identity.
She had mentioned money.
She had even brought up Ji-Ah's feelings for Ha-Joon.
So if Ji-Ah suddenly accused her of having another family, a husband, and a son, or of faking her identity, everyone would think Ji-Ah was simply throwing accusations back at her because Min-Ji had accused her first.
No one would believe her.
Min-Ji had carefully built the trap before Ji-Ah even opened her mouth.
Madam sighed heavily. "Anyway, I didn't call all of you here because I want drama."
She looked around the room, her expression becoming colder. "I want Ha-Joon immediately married. At any cost."
Her eyes moved toward Ji-Ah. "I don't want such things happening with this girl."
Then she turned toward Ha-Joon. "Once you get married, you're gonna fire her."
Ha-Joon's jaw tightened.
"And you're gonna throw her out of the house."
He looked at his mother.
Madam continued as though she hadn't noticed his expression.
She glanced toward Min-Hyuk. "You're gonna throw both Park sisters out of this house. The problems in this house will reduce. At least we won't have to deal with her nonsense."
Her eyes returned to Ha-Joon.
She stared directly at him, leaving no room for argument. "That's gonna happen. Nothing else."
Ji-Ah's breathing became unsteady.
"They can stay here tonight."
Madam's tone remained firm. "I'm not cruel enough to throw two young girls out this late at night. So they will go after your marriage."
She paused. "They can witness it and do nothing about it."
Tears rolled down Ji-Ah's cheeks.
She didn't even bother wiping them anymore.
What's happening?
She had expected something.
She had known Madam would be angry.
She had known Min-Ji would fight back.
But she hadn't expected this.
Not everyone turning against her.
Not Madam deciding her entire future in front of everyone.
Not Ha-Joon being pushed toward a marriage he clearly didn't want.
Yoo-Na scoffed.
"If Arisoo was here," she said, her voice bitter, "this will not happen. She would never have believed this."
Madam immediately turned toward her. "Stay within your limits, Yoo-Na."
Yoo-Na's expression hardened.
Madam's eyes narrowed. "Or I will assume you're not a part of us."
Yoo-Na sighed, clearly biting back whatever she wanted to say.
Madam looked around the room. "Now everyone go back to your room."
Nobody moved.
Madam's voice suddenly sharpened. "Now!"
Halmoni was the first to leave.
But before she disappeared, she gave Ji-Ah one lingering look.
"Halmoni..." Ji-Ah called softly.
Halmoni paused for a moment, looking back at her with sympathy, before finally walking away.
Min-Hyuk was still standing there, his expression filled with confusion.
He clearly didn't understand what was happening.
Mrs. Han stepped toward him and took his arm. "Come."
"Aunt, I—"
"Come, Min-Hyuk."
She pulled him away before he could finish.
Mrs. Kang and Mr. Kang followed next.
Then Nisa and Do-Hyun quietly left together.
Seo-Yeon remained.
She immediately moved toward Ji-Ah and wrapped an arm around her. "Ji-Ah..."
Ji-Ah's lips trembled.
She was dangerously close to breaking down completely.
Across the room, Ha-Joon was still standing there.
He hadn't moved.
He knew this was because of his mother.
And because of Min-Ji.
He wanted to walk toward Ji-Ah.
He wanted to tell her that he believed her.
He wanted to wipe the tears from her face and tell her everything would be fine.
But with everyone watching, he didn't know if that would make things worse.
Min-Ji was still watching him.
And when she noticed where his eyes were fixed, she stepped closer.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Then she reached for Ha-Joon's hand.
She held it firmly and began pulling him toward the stairs.
Ha-Joon allowed himself to be dragged along, but his eyes remained on Ji-Ah.
He couldn't stop looking at her.
The way she stood there with Seo-Yeon's arm around her.
The way tears continued spilling down her cheeks.
The way she looked completely lost.
He remembered what she had said earlier.
I have something to tell you.
He had promised her that he trusted her completely.
And now he was supposed to simply walk away?
No.
Something was wrong.
He didn't know what it was yet, but he knew one thing.
Ji-Ah had never looked at him like someone trying to destroy his life.
She looked terrified.
And he was going to listen to her.
He would find out the truth himself.
Ji-Ah watched as Min-Ji dragged Ha-Joon away.
Her heart sank slightly.
But she knew something now.
Ha-Joon didn't believe all of this.
She could see it in his eyes.
He deserved the truth.
And she was going to tell him.
No matter what.
Min-Ji had won tonight.
She had made Ji-Ah look like the villain.
She had turned the entire family against her.
But Ji-Ah wasn't going to let that be the end.
Min-Ji... your life's going down.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
I'm gonna unravel all your truth.
She looked toward the stairs where Ha-Joon had disappeared.
You might have defeated me today.
Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her clothes.
But for the sake of Ha-Joon's happiness... for the sake of this family's happiness...
She took a shaky breath.
I promise I'm gonna protect them at all costs.
Seo-Yeon looked at her. "Let's go, Ji-Ah. Let's go back to our room. We're not gonna stay here."
Ji-Ah immediately caught her arm. "No."
Seo-Yeon looked at her.
"We're gonna stay here."
She took a breath and looked toward the stairs again.
"And I'm gonna tell you why."
Seo-Yeon studied her face. "You're gonna help me."
Ji-Ah's voice dropped. "I will tell you... both you and Ha-Joon together."
She looked toward where he had gone.
"He told me he trusts me completely."
Her voice trembled. "He doesn't believe all of this. His mother's forcing him."
Seo-Yeon nodded slowly. "I understand. Ha-Joon's a good man."
Ji-Ah shook her head gently. "His mother isn't."
Seo-Yeon looked at her. "She just doesn't understand what Min-Ji's doing."
Ji-Ah quickly shushed her. "Just please persuade Min-Hyuk."
She took Seo-Yeon's hand. "Tell him that he should tell Ha-Joon I wanna speak with him."
Seo-Yeon nodded. "Where?"
Ji-Ah thought for a moment.
Then she answered quietly.
"That Hanryeon Food family room..."
Seo-Yeon's expression changed as she remembered.
"The room where we had that first meeting? The one where Nisa got introduced?"
Ji-Ah nodded.
"Yeah."
Seo-Yeon squeezed her hand. "I will. I'll calm Min-Hyuk down."
The two sisters remained standing for another moment before finally walking toward their rooms.
Neither of them noticed Madam watching them from upstairs.
Mrs. Han stood beside her.
The older woman watched the sisters disappear down the hallway.
"These girls have the guts," Mrs. Han whispered. "They're still leaving inside this house. How annoying."
Madam's gaze remained fixed on the hallway. "Ji-Ah organizes marriages very well."
Mrs. Han looked at her curiously. "So?"
"I need her."
Madam's voice was calm. "And her sister's also needed."
She glanced toward the room where Ji-Ah had disappeared. "And Ji-Ah plays the piano."
Mrs. Han blinked. "So...?"
Madam folded her hands. "She may stay."
A brief silence followed. "But she will leave as soon as Ha-Joon gets married to Min-Ji."
Her expression hardened. "Every single thing I said still stands."