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Chapter 32
On her way out of the study, Cho, the butler who had worked the longest at the Hannam-dong mansion and oversaw all the household staff, approached her.
“Miss.”
Cho had been working at the Hannam-dong mansion for over thirty years. Even when Ju-young’s mother, Ryu Si-hyun, was alive, Cho had been a household staff member there. Ryu Si-hyun had been particularly fond of him. Perhaps that was why, when she committed suicide, it was Cho who found her first and even shielded a shocked Ju-young’s eyes from the scene.
“Ah, Miss! Don’t look. If you do… sniff… you can’t!”
Until she turned twenty, Ju-young had relied on Cho greatly. She could honestly say that without him, she wouldn’t have been able to endure.
“Butler!”
A smile spread across Ju-young’s face instantly. It wasn’t the professional smile she showed in front of Choi Kwon-yong—it was a natural smile born of comfort.
“I’m sorry I haven’t visited more often.”
Ju-young linked her arm with Cho’s. A hint of playfulness crept into her voice.
“It’s okay; I know you’ve been busy. Still, I do feel a little hurt. You know that, right?”
“I know, I know. How could I not? I’ll contact you more often from now on.”
“…It would be even better if you came by often and showed your face like this.”
Cho cautiously voiced his hope, aware of why Ju-young rarely visited her family home, only once or twice a year. But he also knew she couldn’t live her whole life trapped in the past. More than anyone, Cho wished for Ju-young’s happiness and peace from now on.
“Well… I’ll try, at least for your sake.”
“I understand. I can’t force you. Just saying you’ll try is enough.”
Cho gently held Ju-young’s linked hands in his own, radiating warmth that Choi Kwon-yong could never offer.
“By the way, what happened to those dating rumors?”
“Ah, you saw them too, Butler?”
“Of course. Anything concerning you, Miss, I’d surely keep an eye on.”
“….”
“Mr. Bae Seong-hoon… does he treat you well? Is he a kind man who won’t make your heart suffer?”
“…Yes, he’s a good person. A kind man.”
Ju-young spoke honestly without revealing everything. Bae Seong-hoon was a good ‘contract partner’ and kind where it mattered, but she hadn’t said more than necessary.
“Hearing that makes me feel a little relieved. That’s a relief.”
Ju-young only smiled in response.
“By the way, I’ve been keeping your room clean. Since you’re here… would you like to take a look?”
“My bedroom?”
Ju-young looked up at the stairs to the second floor at Cho’s suggestion. Since becoming independent at twenty, she had never entered her bedroom at the family mansion, even when visiting. She had always been in a hurry to leave.
Mom…
After a brief moment of thought, she nodded. Since Go Hye-na was out, staying a little longer at the mansion wouldn’t hurt.
“Alright, let’s do that.”
Ju-young went up the stairs with Cho. Walking down the familiar yet strange hallway, she reached her bedroom at the end. She opened the door for the first time in ten years, palms sweating unknowingly.
Exhaling deeply, she stepped inside. The bedroom’s décor was beige and wood-toned, with a large window by the bed framing a view of lush green trees.
“Nothing… has changed at all.”
Even ten years after moving out, her family bedroom remained exactly the same.
“I clean it every day.”
“Why bother cleaning every day when I hardly visit? Just leave it.”
“If I didn’t, and you came suddenly, you wouldn’t have a proper place to stay.”
“This house has plenty of rooms; I wouldn’t have nowhere to sleep. Butler, really…”
Though her words were curt, she was genuinely grateful. At least one person in this house waited for her sincerely.
“Still, don’t clean it every day from now on. You need to think of your age. I’ll contact you beforehand if I come.”
While looking around the room, Ju-young opened a dresser drawer and took out the jewelry box. She opened the lid.
“It’s… not here?”
Gone. Her mother’s heirloom red diamond ring, which should have been with her other rings, was nowhere in the jewelry box. She set the box down and searched the drawer—it was meant only for the jewelry box, so naturally, it was empty. She even checked other drawers, but Ryu Si-hyun’s red diamond ring was nowhere to be found.
“Ah… Miss? What’s wrong?”
Cho asked worriedly as Ju-young frantically searched the vanity, but his voice didn’t register.
Thump thump thump!
Thump thump thump!
Her heart raced. It felt like the world was flipping, twisting, and shaking.
Where’s the ring?
If it’s not in the box, where could it have gone?
Did I imagine putting it there?
No, that’s impossible.
Her mother’s heirloom had always been kept in the jewelry box in the dresser. She was 100% certain.
Then why isn’t it…?
“Miss!”
Cho suddenly grabbed Ju-young by both shoulders, shaking her. Her shoulders trembled violently as her blurred eyes regained focus.
“…Butler.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“You said you clean my room every day. Is there anyone else cleaning it besides you?”
“No. I personally clean your room. Why do you ask?”
“The red diamond ring… my mother’s heirloom… it’s gone.”
“What?! That… can’t be…”
Cho knew the red diamond ring well. Ryu Si-hyun had even asked him a few days before her suicide whether it would be okay to give it to Ju-young.
“N-No… how… Miss, I—”
“You didn’t take it.”
Cho could only nod, unable to speak.
“I know. I know better than anyone that you wouldn’t do something like that. So there’s no misunderstanding.”
“Miss…”
“Butler.”
Ju-young’s eyes turned icy, her anger terrifyingly restrained.
“Gather all the mansion staff secretly, without the Chairman knowing.”
It seemed a sneaky thief had infiltrated the house.
Surprisingly, they found the culprit quickly.
“Last week? Was it…? That person asked me to prepare a fruit punch. Everyone remembers that, right?”
One of the kitchen staff spoke, and another quickly joined in.
“Ah? Oh… yeah, I remember. Wondered why fruit punch all of a sudden.”
“While preparing the fruit for the punch, I went to ask something and they went upstairs. I thought… why upstairs all of a sudden…? Was something wrong—”
“Auntie, why is everyone here?”
At that moment, Go Hye-na opened the door and entered the second kitchen.
“I’ve been looking everywhere… what? Choi Ju-young, why are you here, eeek!”
Smack!
With a sharp sound, Hye-na’s head turned to the side. Her palm stung, but Ju-young ignored it, clenching her fist and staring at Hye-na.
“Hello, little thief.”
