Na-ri took the elevator down from Jin-woo's office. Her eyes were red and still a little swollen from crying.
Just as she was about to step out of the building, Jin-woo came down after her, holding a paper cup filled with ice cubes. He walked up to her and gave it to her.
"I already told my driver to take you home," he said. "Put this on your eyes on the ride so they don't get too puffy."
She looked up at him, surprised by the gesture.
"Thank you," she said softly. "Not just for this… but for giving me a chance to fight back."
He nodded. "We'll talk more tomorrow."
They exchanged goodbyes before she got into the black car that was waiting at the front. As the car drove off, she looked at the ice in her hands. For the first time since that dreadful night, she felt a little peace. Not happiness… but calm. She smiled a little and gently placed the cup over her eyes.
---
The car stopped in front of her grandfather's house. The moment she stepped in, the old man rushed toward her with worried eyes.
"Na-ri! Where have you been?" he asked, his voice full of concern. "You disappeared since yesterday, and your phone has been off."
"I'm so sorry, Grandpa," she said quickly, trying to hide her guilt. "I went on a short trip with Minji… I should have called. I didn't mean to worry you."
Her grandfather looked at her, still upset. "Na-ri, you shouldn't do that. What if something had happened to you?"
"I promise it won't happen again," she said, holding his hand. "I swear. I'll stay by your side. Nothing will happen to me."
Her words carried more weight than they sounded. Deep inside, she wasn't just trying to calm him down. She meant it. She wasn't going to allow anyone to hurt her again. She was going to stay strong—for him.
She quickly went to her room, took a warm, quick shower, and changed into her nightwear. Her phone finally came back on. She saw many missed calls and messages from her grandfather. But not a single message or call from Tae Joon.
It was clear now. He never cared.
Just as she lay down to rest, her phone rang. It was Minji.
"Na-ri! Where are you? What happened?" Minji asked, worried.
"I'm fine," she replied quietly. "I'm at Grandpa's house. Let's talk tomorrow, okay?"
Minji agreed and ended the call. Na-ri dropped the phone beside her and stared at the ceiling. Her chest tightened a bit as she remembered what tomorrow was.
The day Tae Joon proposed to her.
In the past she had been so happy that day. She was thrilled thinking she was going to spend her life like a fairytale ending with the love of her life. She believed everything he said. Every smile. Every touch. Every lie.
But now she knew the truth. Everything that happened were pure lies.
Tomorrow, she was going to turn it around.
---
The next morning, Na-ri woke up to the sound of her alarm. She didn't even hesitate. She got up, brushed her teeth, and stepped into the shower.
But when she opened her wardrobe to get dressed, she paused.
Everything in there was simple. Plain. Soft colors, loose blouses, old dresses.
She remembered Ji-a's words from that night. The way she looked at her like she was nothing. Like a weak, soft girl who could never stand next to Tae Joon. The way she called her boring and plain.
If she wanted to get revenge, she had to change everything—her looks, her style, even her attitude.
She pulled out a simple white dress, grabbed her phone, slipped into her flats, and walked out in a hurry. She didn't even notice her grandfather calling or the nanny calling her for breakfast.
She called Minji while heading to the garage.
"Don't come to the house," she said. "Go straight to the office. I'll meet you there."
Without another word, she dropped the call. She picked up a car key hanging and got into a black sports car, and drove off.
She didn't go to the office right away. Instead, she drove straight to the same mall where she and Ji-a had gone shopping before.
She walked into the boutique with a different kind of energy. She looked the staff in the eye and said, "I want that black dress. The one I was admiring before."
They brought it out for her. She tried it on, and for the first time in a long while, she saw herself in the mirror… and smiled. The dress hugged her perfectly. It wasn't revealing, but it was classy, bold, and elegant.
The staff turned to her and asked, "Would you like to try anything else?"
Her eyes moved on their own. At the corner, she saw the pink butterfly rhinestone heels.
---
Outside Empire Group Headquarters, Minji stood near the entrance, checking the time over and over. She looked around, trying to see if Na-ri was anywhere nearby.
"She's running late," she muttered, frowning.
Just then, a white car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down.
Ji-a.
She looked annoyed. "Minji, what are you doing out here? Don't tell me Na-ri's late?"
Without waiting for an answer, she drove into the company premises.
But before she could get too far, another car came in behind her. A sleek black sports car.
It was Na-ri.
But not the Na-ri anyone knew.
Minji's mouth fell open. She stared as Na-ri stepped drove off.
She didn't look like someone coming to work. She looked like someone coming to take over.
Na-ri drove past, heading toward the underground parking lot. Minji stood frozen, still processing what she just saw.
Inside the elevator, Ji-a was already standing, checking her phone. The door was about to close when a pink high heel stepped in and stopped it.
Ji-a looked down and froze.
The shoes…
Her eyes followed them up until she finally saw the face.
Na-ri.
"Hi, Ji-a," Na-ri said, her tone calm but cold.
Ji-a was speechless. "Na… Na-ri?"
She was wearing the black dress, a pink blazer over her shoulders, the pink butterfly rhinestone heels, a black designer bag in one hand, and large black sunglasses covering half her face. Her hair was styled perfectly, and her makeup looked clean and bold.
She couldn't believe her eyes.
The elevator ride was quiet, but Ji-a couldn't stop staring. Na-ri didn't just change her outfit. Her whole energy was different. She looked confident. Unbothered. Strong.
The elevator stopped. Na-ri pressed the button to Ji-a's floor.
"Aren't you going to get off?" she said coldly. "Or did you forget where you were going?"
Ji-a stepped out slowly, her eyes still fixed on Na-ri. As the doors closed, she remained frozen, still trying to understand what just happened.
This wasn't the same cousin she used to talk down on.
This was someone else entirely.