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Episode 2
For some reason, that name felt familiar.
As she was lost in thought for a moment, the man parted his red lips once more.
“Well then, take care of yourself.”
Before even telling her his name, the man leisurely left the flower shop, bouquet in hand.
“You haven’t heard my name yet…”
Once outside, Pyeon Ji-wook got into his car parked on the side of the road and looked at her through the rear view mirror, the woman still in the flower shop.
“Please, don’t forget me. Ms. Sihyeon.”
Whoosh—
White chiffon fluttered high in the wind.
The sound of the wind rustling sounded like the wailing of ghosts.
Hyo-joo, standing on the terrace railing, gradually stepped back.
Her lips trembled with fear, and her body, clad only in a thin slip, shook like an aspen tree.
Someone grabbed her slender neck.
Ugh.
As if she was being choked, her face gradually flushed bright red. Struggling, with veins standing out on her neck, she resisted violently, scratching.
Ugh…
Little by little, Hyo-joo body leaned out over the railing.
As if a hole had opened in the sky, rain poured down incessantly onto her body.
She barely held onto the collar to keep from falling, but one by one, strength slipped from her fingers.
Ah.
Hyo-joo hand, pitifully reaching upward, plunged downward at terrifying speed.
‘Sihyeon…’
Thud—!
Tormented by the nightmare, Sihyeon woke with a start, bolting upright.
“Ha, ha…”
Rough breaths escaped from between her lips continuously. Even though the floor was already cold because the boiler was broken, she was sweating cold sweat. The nightmare was so terrible that the t-shirt she was wearing clung damply to her back.
Sihyeon touched her sweaty forehead.
“Why, why that dream…”
No matter that it was a dream, it was far too vivid.
In an instant, a chill swept over her, sending a shiver down her spine. She wrapped the blanket tightly up to her shoulders.
Sleep, once disturbed, did not return. She took out her phone, which she had left under her pillow, and checked the time.
4:24 AM.
Looking at the time displayed on the wallpaper, Sihyeon checked her missed calls. There was a call from Hyo-joo from two hours ago.
Normally, she wouldn’t call at such a late hour, but because the dream had been so horrific, she quickly pressed the call button.
Only the ringing tone continued; Hyo-joo voice didn’t come through.
— The customer you are calling is currently unavailable.
She slowly lowered the phone from her ear.
sister..
Rumble, crash!
A thunderous roar shook the entire house. Sihyeon’s body trembled continuously.
She turned the temperature of the electric blanket to its maximum and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket.
At that moment, creak—.
Someone roughly opened the rusty gate and entered. Frightened, Sihyeon turned on the stand lamp and rolled her eyes.
Thump, thump.
The sound of footsteps drew closer, and someone pounded violently on the front door.
Bang! Bang! Bang—!
Startled, Sihyeon let out a short scream.
Maybe because the dream was so eerie, everything felt creepy and frightening. Tears welled up suddenly in her eyes from fear.
Click.
Whoever it was, perhaps having a key, even opened the door and then unhesitatingly opened the room door.
Sihyeon’s eyes widened instantly.
The person who had come to her house at this late hour of the dawn was Bae Geun-ho.
With his pupils half-dilated, he grabbed Sihyeon’s slender shoulders as if to crush them. The force pushed her body backward.
Ugh.
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
“…”
“I said listen!”
At her father’s shout, she slowly nodded her head.
The tears that had gathered in her eyes from fear kept falling.
Never, in any moment, had he ever worn such an expression. He was always a strong and cruel person.
His eyes were bloodshot red, and the corners of his eyes were deeply wet. His usually firm lips were pale blue.
What on earth was he trying to say?
“Hy, Hyo-joo…”
Beep—!
In an instant, a ringing sound echoed in her ears, and along with a strong thunderclap, lightning flashed.
No, her body itself was rejecting it. She didn’t want to hear those words, telling him not to say them.
“Wh, what are you talking ab—”
“…She’s dead.”
“…”
“Hyo-joo, she’s dead.”
For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. It felt like someone had blocked all her airways.
What did this mean?
Why would sister.. die? Our sister why?
This morning, she hugged me, our sister who was so excited to be back in Korea after a long time…
‘Sihyeon. sister is so happy you’re my sister.’
Why… why…!
Her breathing gradually became shorter, her complexion turning pale.
Her heart felt so suffocating and tight that she kept hitting her chest with her small fists. The sound, as if only bones were left, was painful even to hear.
Bae Geun-ho grabbed Sihyeon’s wrist and erupted in a thunderous roar.
“Snap out of it!”
The loud voice, like thunder, jolted Sihyeon back to her senses.
“…”
“You’re the only one who can save Taesan now! So listen carefully!”
An eerie chill swept over her, as if she had been stripped naked and thrown out.
“You are Taesan’s future. Bae Si-hyeon dies, and you will live as Bae Hyo-joo.”
A hollow breath escaped from Sihyeon’s lips.
Ha. Was he… in his right mind now?
Become who?
No, there was one thing she couldn’t forget.
“I, I can’t do it. How can I, pretend to be sister…”
Bae Geun-ho’s hand, gripping her shoulder tightly, clenched again. Sihyeon couldn’t even let out a small whimper.
Her father’s cold, piercing gaze was mercilessly fixed on her face.
“Are you really wishing for your mother to die?”
“…”
At her father’s heartless, ruthless threat, her pupils trembled wildly.
“Live the rest of your life as Bae Hyo-joo. I will make sure your mother opens her eyes.”
At Art nee Hall, where hundreds of employees had gathered, the inauguration speech of Bae Hyo-joo, the new representative of Taesan Group’s Y Airline, began.
All the employees heeded her voice.
“From now on, to attract more customers, Y Airline will strive to become Korea’s best airline.”
Everyone applauded and cheered at Bae Hyo-joo speech.
She came down from the podium with impeccable posture.
Executives were lined up on either side, and she familiarly shook hands with the leadership.
“As always, you look magnificent and beautiful today.”
She looked at Director Park Pil-ju in front of her.
He was a person working for Kang Hui-won, her stepmother, who flattered her as if his lips were coated with honey, but was constantly looking for an opportunity to bring Hyo-joo down from her representative position.
“Well then, keep up the good work.”
She quickly exited the center of Art nee Hall.
Secretary Gong Seung-jun briefed her on the next schedule.
Hyo-joo, whose daily schedule was so busy it was broken down by the minute, had to receive updates while moving.
“Secretary Gong.”
“Yes, Representative.”
“I’d like to rest a bit before going.”
“Understood, Representative.”
Seung-jun nodded and quickly held the elevator.
Only after the doors closed did the tension ease slightly, but still mindful of the CCTV behind her, she didn’t completely relax her body.
“Representative, I prepared it in advance.”
Secretary Gong Seung-jun said, staring straight ahead. She nodded.
The elevator doors opened, and she immediately entered the representative’s office.
Finally in her own space, free from anyone’s surveillance, Sihyeon unbuttoned her jacket and sat on the sofa. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes tightly.
In front of her, Secretary Gong Seung-jun moved busily. He placed a hot pack, painkillers, and water on the table.
Her long eyelashes lifted.
“Thank you.”
A somewhat softened voice flowed out.
She put the painkillers in her mouth and swallowed them with water.
“If it’s too hard, I’ll postpone the 11 o’clock schedule.”
“Then, postpone the meeting with CM Group to tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
Secretary Gong Seung-jun picked up the empty cup and left the representative’s office.
She, who had been sitting on the sofa, moved towards the washroom. She saw her reflection in the mirror.
Herself, not as Bae Sihyeon, but as Bae Hyo-joo.
The mole under her eye, the short, choppy bob hairstyle swaying over her shoulders.
The heavy makeup she would never have worn as Bae Sihyeon, the flashy two-piece suit, and the high heels.
She turned on the faucet.
Shoosh.
A cool stream of water bounced and fell into the sink.
She cupped her hands, washed them thoroughly, and looking into the mirror, murmured as if casting a spell.
“Sihyeon, let’s endure even if it’s hard. It’s okay…”
Five years had already passed since she started living as Bae Hyo-joo.
Sihyeon had made desperate efforts to become Hyo-joo.
Although it was hard enough to die, she gritted her teeth and endured.
Her father had even secretly switched her mother’s hospital to prevent Sihyeon from having any other thoughts.
Unlike Bae Hyo-joo, who had completed an MBA program and was fluent in five languages, Sihyeon’s education ended at high school graduation.
So, every dawn, she studied foreign languages and business administration, and mastered everything from getting a driver’s license to hobbies common among the wealthy: golf, swimming, horseback riding.
Fortunately, Sihyeon, who had always been top of her class during her school years, had a quick mind and learned quickly in a short time.
But there was one thing.
No matter how much she learned and practiced, she couldn’t become proficient in her sister’s promiscuous personal life.
How on earth was she supposed to learn that…
