Immediately after Na-ri and Jin Woo came down from the stage, people began clapping and congratulating them as they made their way back to their table.
At the Han family table, Jin Woo's parents looked stunned. They didn't seem angry, just really shocked.
His mother gasped. "Why didn't you tell us? You made us look even more surprised than everyone else!"
Jin Woo simply smiled and replied, "It was a surprise."
His sister Jin Hee raised an eyebrow. "What a surprise indeed," she said dryly.
Her husband, Shin Ha-ru, gave Jin Woo a friendly pat on the back and congratulated him.
Then their father spoke. "Well, I guess this engagement is a good thing. Let's all be happy."
He was really talking to his wife, who was still acting dramatic about finding out through the public announcement.
On the Kang family's side, Na-ri's grandfather leaned closer with a confused look. "You never told me you two were together," he said.
Na-ri's great aunt also joined in. "And what about Tae Joon? Wasn't he your boyfriend?"
Na-ri calmly answered, "Tae Joon and I broke up. I'm with Jin Woo now."
She gave a small shrug. "I didn't have the best timing, but I wanted it to be a surprise."
Ji-a was quiet. She looked like she couldn't believe what she'd just witnessed. Her mother too. And Tae Joon? He looked completely lost and heartbroken.
But Na-ri? She didn't care. She kept eating like nothing had happened. The food felt extra delicious today.
Or maybe... it was the taste of revenge. She smiled to herself and looked at her plate.
To make it worse, she turned to Ji-a and said, "This meal is so good tonight. Ji-a, you should try it. Really."
That was it. Ji-a couldn't take it anymore.
Her eyes started to fill with tears, but she tried to keep them in. She stood quickly and ran out toward the restroom.
Her grandfather called out, "What's wrong with her?"
Before anyone could answer, Mi-na gave Na-ri a cold glare and said, "Why don't you ask your favorite granddaughter?"
He turned to Na-ri. "Do you know what's going on?"
Na-ri just shrugged and kept eating, acting innocent.
In the restroom...
Ji-a was crying hard, sitting on the cold tiled floor with makeup smudged down her cheeks.
Her mother walked in and froze when she saw her daughter looking so broken.
She quickly rushed to her, pulling her into a tight hug. Ji-a sobbed into her mother's shoulder.
"She said she would take everything from me, Mom," she cried. "She knew I wanted to marry him more than anything. But she still did this."
"She even took my shoes first... and now Jin Woo... she's taking everything from me."
Mi-na gently wiped the tears from her daughter's cheeks and spoke in a serious tone.
"You can sit here and cry all you want," she said, "or you can fight back."
She continued, "Na-ri has taken my position, your happiness—everything. Are we just going to sit and let her win?"
"No. This is war now. And she might have won the battle, but that doesn't mean she'll win the war."
Back at the gala...
The evening was winding down. Some guests were starting to leave while others stood around talking and drinking.
Ji-a and her mother walked back to the Kang table like nothing had happened. Ji-a had fixed her makeup and forced a smile.
"Congratulations on your engagement," she said to Na-ri in a fake cheerful tone.
Na-ri, of course, could see through it. So she leaned in with an even brighter smile and said, "Thank you, Ji-a. Really, thank you."
She added in a soft but mocking tone, "If not for you, I wouldn't have met him. It's all thanks to you I met the love of my life. Oh my God, I'm so happy I could explode!"
Her eyes sparkled as she continued. "Just thinking about our wedding makes me so thrilled. I have so much to plan! Ji-a, you'll help me, won't you? You could be my maid of honour."
Her grandfather and great aunt joined in the joy. "You seem really excited, Na-ri," her grandfather said.
Na-ri nodded like a giddy child. "I love him so much. He treats me like a real princess."
She even showed off her necklace and earrings. "Look! He got these for me."
Then she turned to Ji-a again and said sweetly, "Don't worry, Ji-a. My fiancé has a lot of handsome friends. I'll find someone for you.
Maybe not as rich or as sweet as Jin Woo, but still... someone on your level."
Ji-a's jaw clenched. Her hands grabbed the edge of the table tightly. Her fingers turned pale.
She wanted to explode—but her mother quickly placed a hand on hers and whispered, "Not now. Don't give her the satisfaction."
Just then, Jin Woo walked over.
He smiled gently at the group and said, "Excuse me. I'd like to introduce Na-ri to my family before they leave."
Na-ri stood up. But before leaving, she smiled sweetly and said, "Babe, I'm a little cold."
Jin Woo didn't hesitate. He immediately took off his blazer and gently placed it over her shoulders.
The guests around them watched as he held her hand and led her away, the two of them walking like newlyweds.
As they walked, Na-ri tried to glance back at the Kang family table, but Jin Woo whispered to her, "Don't look back. You did well."