Chapter 1 …

Of all things, Jung Jiyoung’s diamond necklace had gone missing.

And of all people, it had been lost by Cha Yeonwoo—the person Jiyoung hated more than anyone else in the world.

“Fuck. Find it within an hour. Otherwise, I’ll report you to the police for theft.”

Her sharp words rode the cold wind and struck Yeonwoo squarely in the back.

Yet without changing her expression, Yeonwoo silently searched the lawn with her bare hands as darkness settled over the garden.

She crawled tirelessly across the grass until her knees and palms were stained green.

But even the sight of her desperately searching only irritated Jiyoung more.

Or perhaps, having finally found a convenient excuse to lash out at the thorn in her side, she was simply taking the opportunity to vent every bit of resentment she had been holding back.

For thirty minutes now, Yeonwoo had been wandering around the garden searching for the missing necklace.

I’ve walked around this garden several times already.

I’m sure I dropped it somewhere around here… So why isn’t it here…?

Yeonwoo herself felt like she was going crazy.

Earlier that afternoon, she had stopped by the department store for an errand when Jiyoung begged—more like demanded—that she pick up a necklace from the jewelry boutique.

Jiyoung had even threatened to make Yeonwoo’s father, who worked as her family’s chauffeur, go instead if she refused.

Though she hadn’t liked it, Yeonwoo had reluctantly agreed.

Then, exactly thirty minutes earlier, Jiyoung had suddenly called her.

Claiming that the boutique had probably sent the wrong necklace, she insisted that Yeonwoo check it immediately.

Completely worked up, Jiyoung ordered her to take a photo right away so the diamond would be clearly visible.

With no other choice, Yeonwoo stopped where she was and sat down at the tea table in the middle of the garden before unwrapping the package.

The moment she opened the case to take the requested photo…

The necklace, which had been loosely secured inside the box, slipped out.

Startled, Yeonwoo immediately bent down to look around her feet.

But because it was nighttime, the ground was too dark.

The necklace was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe it had snagged on one of the ribbons while she was unwrapping it and flown somewhere.

Or perhaps it had fallen in the opposite direction when she shook out the paper shopping bag.

She searched every inch of the garden from the front gate to the front entrance.

But the necklace was nowhere.

“…Ha.”

Exhausted, Yeonwoo collapsed onto the ground and rubbed her forehead.

A faint breath escaped her dry lips.

Her whole body burned from searching so frantically, but the air brushing against her face was as cold as the approaching winter.

As if she had been waiting for that exact moment, Jiyoung, who had been standing with her arms crossed and one leg cocked to the side, strode toward her.

“Hey! You lost someone else’s diamond necklace worth millions of won, and now you’re taking a break?! Have you lost your mind?!”

She grabbed Yeonwoo roughly by the shoulder and yanked her to her feet.

Yeonwoo immediately shook off her hand.

“You search too. Stop just standing there complaining.”

Looking exhausted, she continued,

“Don’t you want to find it? If we search together, we’ll find it faste—”

“Are you insane? Did you get shot in the head?”

Before Yeonwoo could even finish, Jiyoung snapped viciously.

“You’re the one who lost it! My necklace! The precious necklace I haven’t even had the chance to wear once!”

Yeonwoo frowned deeply and slapped Jiyoung’s rude hand away again.

“Fine. Let’s say I’m the one who lost it. But…”

She dusted off the front of her sweater, which had been wrinkled from being grabbed by the collar, before continuing.

“I clearly told you I’d go somewhere with better lighting and send you the photo there. But you were the one making a scene, insisting I send it immediately. Besides, the store is also at fault for repackaging the necklace so carelessly.”

Jiyoung couldn’t say a word.

Because everything Yeonwoo had said was true.

“But in the end…”

Yeonwoo let out a shallow sigh.

“…I’m still the one who opened the box with my own hands and lost it.”

She looked around the garden, now even darker than before.

“So losing it is my responsibility. That’s why I’ve been searching without saying a word, no matter how vulgar you’ve been. So you search too. Stop just standing there.”

After saying that, Yeonwoo turned to resume searching.

“Yeah. Fuck you. Aren’t you full of yourself?”

“…!”

Jiyoung suddenly grabbed the back of Yeonwoo’s sweater and shoved her hard.

Yeonwoo tumbled helplessly onto the lawn.

“Hah. The daughter of a chauffeur is trying to lecture the homeowner’s daughter? You were really born in the right era, weren’t you?”

Jiyoung sneered as she looked down at the fallen Yeonwoo.

“If you’d been born back then, do you think people like us would have even spoken to each other? You and your dad are nothing but servants living under our roof. Honestly, if it weren’t for my dad, your whole family would’ve been kicked out of this house a long time ago. Got it?!”

“Hey. Jung Jiyoung.”

“For someone who’s spent her whole life renting a basement room in our house… Fuck, you’re awfully arrogant just because you’re smart.”

As Jiyoung launched into her usual routine, Yeonwoo merely stared at her with the same indifferent expression she always wore.

Soon, Yeonwoo stood up and calmly brushed the dirt off her pants before speaking.

“You’re saying that again.”

“What?”

“Do you have some kind of inferiority complex toward me?”

“Hey! Cha Yeonwoo!”

“Ever since we were in school, you’ve always said the same thing. ‘You’re just a chauffeur’s daughter. How dare you act like that toward the homeowner’s daughter…'”

“…!”

“But just like you said… this isn’t the kind of era where those words mean anything anymore, is it?”

Yeonwoo’s eyes turned cold.

“You’re not some nobleman’s daughter.”

“And I’m not some servant working under your family while living in your house.”

“You little…!”

“So stop exposing your inferiority complex with ridiculous nonsense like that.”

“I’m not your emotional punching bag.”

Once again…

Jiyoung found herself speechless.

Because Yeonwoo was a mountain she had never been able to overcome.

A crane soaring so high that Jiyoung couldn’t even reach a quarter of her height.

One year older than Jiyoung, Yeonwoo had ranked first in her entire school throughout her student years and entered one of Korea’s most prestigious universities on a full scholarship.

She was beautiful as well, attracting attention wherever she went and enjoying immense popularity at school.

Jiyoung, on the other hand, was the only daughter of Jung Chungho, president of the renowned Aseong Group, and Go Seunghee, Korea’s most celebrated pianist.

Yet despite countless expensive private tutors, her grades barely kept her from finishing dead last in school.

Her appearance was ordinary as well, and she was constantly compared to Yeonwoo.

Although Yeonwoo lived in circumstances that couldn’t even compare to Jiyoung’s privileged life—

Perhaps…

Jiyoung’s inferiority complex toward her was only natural.

“Hey. Cha Yeonwoo.”

Unable to vent her frustration, Jiyoung’s emotions sharpened further.

“…You didn’t steal it, did you?”

The moment the accusation left her mouth, Jiyoung grabbed Yeonwoo’s bag from the table.

Without giving Yeonwoo any chance to stop her, she unzipped it and dumped everything out.

“Jung Jiyoung!”

At the same time, all of Yeonwoo’s belongings scattered across the lawn.

Jiyoung tossed the now-empty bag aside in annoyance and began nudging Yeonwoo’s belongings with the tip of her shoe, searching for the necklace.

Yeonwoo was just about to say something—

“Jiyoung. That’s enough. Come inside.”

An elegant voice drifted over from the front entrance.

Yeonwoo looked up.

Standing there was Seunghee, expressionless as she adjusted the shawl draped over her shoulders.

Go Seunghee.

The renowned pianist and the next candidate to become chairwoman of Korea’s most prestigious private educational foundation, Yeowoon.

She seemed to radiate brilliance wherever she stood.

The kind of woman who looked as though she had been born with elegance itself.

Yeonwoo’s role model.

The person she admired most.

And…

The owner of the house Yeonwoo lived in.

Jiyoung’s mother.

“Your father’s guests will be arriving soon.”

“Stop making a scene and come inside.”

As she spoke, Seunghee lowered her cold gaze toward Yeonwoo.

“Yeonwoo.”

“Yes…?”

“Stay in your room so you won’t disturb our guests. After they’ve left, you can continue looking for the necklace.”

With that, Seunghee turned away.

Jiyoung glared at Yeonwoo.

“We’re not finished. I’ll deal with you later.”

Soon, she followed her mother inside the house.

The vast, dark garden was left with only Yeonwoo.

“…Ha.”

For some reason, her chest ached.

Letting out a long sigh, Yeonwoo gathered the belongings Jiyoung had scattered everywhere.

“Please… please show up…”

She knelt once more and resumed crawling through the garden.

Just then—

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Raindrops began to fall.

Of all times… it has to rain now.

Filled with resentment, Yeonwoo stared at the rainwater collecting on the back of her hand resting against the grass.

“…?”

A pair of polished black dress shoes, untouched by a single raindrop, entered the edge of her vision.

At the same time, the rain that had been mercilessly pelting her suddenly stopped.

Startled, Yeonwoo slowly raised her head.

In the next instant—

Her eyes met those of a tall man standing before her like an immovable mountain.

Beneath the large umbrella, she could make out his shadowed face.

Even hidden beneath the gray darkness, his clear, luminous eyes slowly traced over Yeonwoo’s face.

“Are you perhaps looking for this?”

With a pleasant, deep voice, the man tilted the umbrella a little farther toward her.

For a moment, Yeonwoo stared blankly at his face.

Then her gaze slowly dropped to his hand.

“Ah…”

The diamond necklace she had been desperately searching for…

Was hanging precariously from the tip of his long fingers.