Tears flows down Lina's cheek as she reads the letter left by her grandfather. The letter was simply written with no superficial sayings, but its content reflects the love and adoration of the only person who honestly cared for her throughout these years.
Even until he died, her grandfather thought about her safety, making sure she has something to rely on if ever he isn't here to protect her. Her grandfather must have predicted this situation will happen in the future, where her family will throw her aside once the real daughter is located and returned. But her grandfather, loved her even without the blood that binds the two or the flesh that connects them, he still recognized her as his granddaughter.
With this money, her plan to leave this house comes closer that she planned. Later today, she plans to check how much is inside the savings account and see what she can use it for.
Outside the living room, the Choi couple were busy sending birthday invitations to their friends and business partners. Father Choi was on the phone, talking to one of his close friends, proudly boasting about their family's upcoming event.
"Yes, you heard right. We'll have Lina's birthday at the Lee's Grand Hotel next month," Father Choi said confidently. Pure hints of joy were visible in his eyes.
"You know our family is well connected with them, right? So, this time, they gave us face and let us celebrate in their hotel," he added, conveniently forgetting that he was borrowing the Lee family's reputation to elevate his own.
"Your family is really soaring high this year, my friend," the person on the phone exclaimed, not fully believing Father Choi's bluff but choosing to mask his disbelief with a patronizing voice.
"I also think so. With Lina's engagement to Lee Han Bin, our family's future is already secured," Father Choi shared.
Hearing his words, Mother Choi tapped him and signaled for him to be quiet about Lina and Han Bin's engagement. She didn't want other people to be reminded that the two were arranged by their families early on.
Ever since finding her own daughter, her mind had been full of love for Bora. She remembered the last time she saw how Bora showed affection toward Han Bin. She suspected the two liked each other, which made the previous engagement with Lina feel awkward.
Although Lina grew up in her care, it still couldn't replace her affection for her own flesh and blood. Since Bora liked Han Bin, she would support her. Besides, if Bora had been with their family from the beginning and wasn't lost from her care, she would've been the one engaged to Han Bin instead of Lina.
Thinking about it, her own child had suffered a lot over the past years, while she had unknowingly given someone else's child a better life than her own. Mother Choi felt a deep guilt thinking about Bora.
Noticing his wife's guilt-ridden face, Father Choi ended the call. "It's alright. Things will go back to how they should be," he said, unable to do anything but console her.
"I hope you're right. But what are we going to do about Lina? Bora doesn't want to come back to our house as long as Lina is living with us. I can't be without my daughter," Mother Choi said, unable to stop a tear from falling down her cheek. Their family had been in chaos since last month, ever since they finally found their real daughter.
They had been trying to convince Bora to come home and live with them, reminding her that she was their true family. But Bora kept refusing, saying she didn't want to see Lina in the house. It only reminded her of the difficult life she lived and how unlucky she was to have been separated from her family. Because of this, they had been distraught and didn't know what to do.
"I have a plan. Everything will go back to how it should be," Father Choi said, gently patting the sad woman on the back. If only his father hadn't complicated things by putting Lina in his will before passing away, he could've taken action much earlier. But since it has come to this, he has no choice but to take drastic measures to bring Bora back into their family.
If he had to choose between the two, of course, without a second thought, he would choose his own blood.
He is a businessman and can be ruthless when necessary. Although this issue involves his own family, he must ensure he doesn't lose anything in the end. Recalling the money and assets his father left for Lina ignited a flicker of hatred in his heart.
He had tried to bury that feeling, but after finding his real daughter, he could no longer accept that someone else would benefit from his family's wealth. It should have been his to receive, then later passed down to his children. No one else had the right to claim what belonged to them by birth.
The two couldn't help but hug each other as countless thoughts ran through their minds.
In the afternoon, Lina visited the local bank nearby. She followed the instructions written in the letter and typed the password. A beep indicated that the information on the card was being processed. A few seconds later, Lina's eyes widened at the amount displayed on the monitor.
"What is this?" she couldn't help but exclaim.
Her grandfather had actually left her that much money!
There were so many zeros in the amount. She had received millions, six million to be exact! She couldn't believe her grandfather had called it a small amount!
With this money, she didn't need to worry about her future. Honestly, she could leave the house even tomorrow and live a wealthy life far away from the Choi family!
How could she have missed this in her previous life? Why hadn't she found this card before? If she had this money back then, she wouldn't have been so desperate to cling to the Choi family, afraid they would abandon her.
She wouldn't have gone so far as to compete with Bora for their affection, making those countless moves against her.
Lina pulled the card out of the machine and, with a light heart, happily walked away, heading toward her next destination.
Meanwhile, in a tall and majestic building in the heart of the city, Lee Joon sat with a serious look in his eyes. In front of him, Assistant Park was reading a report about the Choi family. At the same time, sweat gathered on his forehead.
Ever since he began reporting to his boss about the Choi family's affairs, he had sensed a chilling atmosphere emanating from Lee Joon's direction—sharp and extremely cold, as if an invisible sheet of ice was being directed at him with every word he spoke. The longer the report continued, the more intense the chilliness around him.
With trembling hands, he carefully took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Mr. President, it seems that Han Bin also requested to use the Grand Hotel venue for Lina's birthday event next month. It only needs your approval," he shared cautiously, choosing his words with care.
The man was too quiet, it made Assistant Park even more nervous, afraid that a single wrong word could worsen his boss's mood. It seemed that Miss Lina's situation affected him more than expected. This is truly out of the man's character.
"Approve it for now. Continue to keep track of the situation. Be discreet, we'll see how things unfold. Also, keep an eye on Lina. Assign someone to watch her, and if anything happens, make sure her safety is the top priority," Lee Joon commanded, his voice calm but firm.
Several thoughts raced through his mind as he stared out the window. The sky had begun to darken, it looked like a storm was coming.
He could only hope that things would turn out alright. But if anything were to happen to Lina, the Choi family would have no one to blame but themselves. And when that time comes, they'd better pray for mercy.
Lina went straight to the shopping mall and began searching for properties to rent. Long ago, her grandfather had mentioned that one of his friends owned a real estate business, and that his office was located somewhere in this mall.
She looked around, but navigating the massive complex proved to be more difficult than she expected.
Noticing how tired her feet were from all the walking, she finally gave up the idea of wandering aimlessly. She approached the nearest information board and studied the mall's interior map.
After a few minutes, she was able to memorize the layout—everything from the shops, entrances, and exits, down to hidden spaces not normally accessible or visible to regular shoppers.
Now that she knew where the office was, Lina decided to head in the opposite direction, dragging her tired feet along the way.
Her steps were suddenly interrupted when two people approached her.
Walking toward her was Park Bora, accompanied by another teenage girl. Much to her annoyance, the moment they saw Lina, they didn't hesitate to come closer
She really didn't need to see these two right now.
"Lina! What are you doing here? You should've told us you were coming, so we could shop together!" Park Bora asked sweetly, her voice light but with a hint of sadness.
If anyone overheard her, they would've thought the two were best friends, judging by the way she expressed such disappointment. As if Lina owed her an explanation for her every move, as if it was only natural to report her whereabouts to her.
"Oh? I didn't know I had to inform you every time I go out. Besides, we never really hang out, do we?" Lina replied, unable to hold back her honest tone.
"What do you mean? We're all classmates, so isn't it normal to be friends and invite each other?" Park Bora responded; her voice still sweet but laced with something harder.
Before Lina could speak again, the girl beside Bora stepped forward with a scoff. "We were just trying to be polite!"
She looked at Lina with irritation. Truthfully, she had never liked Choi Lina and couldn't understand why Bora kept trying to befriend someone so difficult. To her, Lina was nothing but arrogant.
So, what if she was the smartest student in class, or even the class president? That still couldn't hide her character flaws.
If only her father hadn't warned her to stay out of trouble, she would've already slapped that thick face of hers.
Bora quietly observed Lina's face with thinly veiled disdain. Every movement of the other girl's facial muscle, every flicker of her eyes, even the subtle tap of her fingers, an impatient habit which only added to her growing hatred.
From the beginning of the school year, Bora had done her best to befriend Choi Lina, hoping to build a connection to someone from a higher social class. But no matter how many efforts she made; Lina always kept her distance. It was as if she saw no one, not her classmates, not Bora. Only focused with her studies and her family.
Choi Lina always wore a bright smile, was the favorite of the teachers, had loving parents, and a rich, good-looking fiancé. With all of that combined, it was no wonder Bora grew jealous of everything Lina had, everything she herself lacked.
How she wished she could be in Lina's place.
However, God had not turned His back on her. Just last month, Bora discovered that everything she had envied; the loving parents, the fiancé, the charmed life was supposed to be hers. Lina's parents were actually her own. That life, that future, it was meant for her, if only she hadn't been lost when she was a child.
With that revelation, her jealousy twisted into deep-seated hatred. In her eyes, Lina had no right to act superior, not when she had been living the life that rightfully belonged to someone else.
A smirk crept onto Bora's lips. This girl is so naive. Let her enjoy her place for now. But by next month, Bora would return to the Choi family and take back what was hers. Then they'd see if Lina could still carry herself with that same pride.
"I'm sorry, Lina. We didn't mean to offend you. We'll go now," Park Bora said softly, her voice laced with sadness. She lowered her head slightly, making herself look more pitiful, hoping the people nearby would see her as the one being mistreated.
A glint of tears gathered in her eyes, just enough to complete the performance.
Watching her, Lina couldn't also help but smirk. Park Bora really is a wolf in sheep's clothing. As if her pathetic little act could fool her.
The two eventually turned and walked away, their footsteps fading into the noise of the bustling mall. From the outside, it looked like just another passing encounter, just a brief moment of tension between classmates.
But Lina knew better.
Even as they separated, their paths had crossed again for a reason. This just the beginning.