Chapter 32:

As the car pulled into the long driveway of Ha-Joon and Scarlet's mansion, an exhausted sigh left Scarlet's lips. The day had been long, filled with tension that clung to her skin like an unwelcome second layer. She reached up, massaging the back of her neck as Ha-Joon parked the car and stepped out first.

Ha-Neul remained silent, his mood unreadable, though Scarlet knew he was still affected by what had happened back at Silken Crimson Threads. She had seen the way his jaw had tightened, the way his hands had curled into fists before he had disappeared into the men's restroom. Yet, he had returned, composed as ever, as if nothing had happened.

But Scarlet wasn't blind, she knew Ha-Joon's words had cut deep, just as they were meant to. The moment they stepped inside the mansion, laughter erupted from the living room. Loud, bright, and unmistakable. Scarlet's body tensed for only a second before recognition hit.

Esme.

Of course. Her younger sister had a way of filling a room with her presence, whether anyone wanted it or not. The cheerful sound was accompanied by another voice, deeper, laced with exasperation, Jung Seung-il. Scarlet exchanged a knowing glance with Ha-Joon before stepping further inside.

The sight that greeted them was almost comical. Esme was curled up comfortably on the couch, one leg tucked beneath her, her arm lazily draped over the armrest as she grinned at something Seung-il had just said. Her husband, however, looked considerably less amused.

"You..." Seung-il started the moment he saw Scarlet, his sharp gaze locking onto her. "You should have told me."

Scarlet barely had a second to process his words before he continued, his frustration evident in every syllable. "I had to find out through someone else that you married Ha-Joon? Your own brother-in-law didn't deserve to know? At least a damn phone call, Scarlet."

Scarlet sighed, running a hand through her black locks. "Brother Seung-il, it's not that simple..."

"No, no, no, don't complain," Esme cut in, nudging her husband's side with a teasing smile. "Don't complain, don't complain."

Seung-il shot her an incredulous look. "Esme..."

"Shhh." Esme placed a finger against his lips before turning to Scarlet with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I knew about it, and I wasn't shocked. That should tell you enough."

Seung-il groaned, rubbing his temples as if trying to will away his frustration. "That doesn't make it better, Esme."

Meanwhile, Ha-Neul stood stiffly near the entrance, his expression unreadable. But Scarlet wasn't focused on him. Mrs. Wi, Ha-Joon's mother, sat with her usual composed demeanor, her expression neutral as she sipped her tea, offering no opinion on the matter.

She had never been particularly affectionate, but she also wasn't outright cruel. She simply observed, letting situations unfold before making any judgments. Mrs. Kang. Ha-Neul's mother. Scarlet felt the weight of her gaze the moment she stepped in, and it was anything but warm.

It was a look Scarlet had grown used to, cold, dismissive, filled with silent disapproval. Mrs. Kang had never hidden her dislike for Scarlet, but tonight, there was something else beneath her usual animosity. Shock. Scarlet followed her gaze, confused at first, until she realized Mrs. Kang wasn't looking at her. She was looking at Esme.

It hit her a second later, Mrs. Kang adored Esme. She always had. She had wanted Esme for Ha-Neul. And now, she was learning that Esme was Scarlet's sister. The realization must have been unsettling for her because, for the first time, Scarlet saw hesitation in Mrs. Kang's usually unwavering eyes.

Esme, of course, was completely oblivious, too busy teasing Seung-il to notice the way Mrs. Kang's demeanor had shifted. But Ha-Neul noticed. He always did. His lips pressed into a thin line, and there was something heavy in his gaze as he watched his mother, as if silently acknowledging what she wasn't saying aloud.

Ha-Joon, sensing the tension but choosing to ignore it entirely, stretched lazily before throwing an arm around Scarlet's waist. "You stay with my wife, Esme. I'm going upstairs to take a shower."

Scarlet rolled her eyes. "You're leaving me with them?"

"You'll survive," Ha-Joon smirked before leaning down and pressing a quick kiss against the top of her head.

She sighed but didn't argue. Ha-Neul, meanwhile, was struggling to hide his irritation. He never liked Esme, not because she had done anything wrong, but because his mother adored her too much. It had always been obvious in the way Mrs. Kang spoke about Esme, the way she had praised her, the way she had subtly (or not-so-subtly) hinted that she would have been the perfect wife for Ha-Neul.

And now, to learn that Esme was not only married but also Scarlet's sister, it was a lot to take in. Mrs. Kang remained quiet, her expression carefully composed as she set her teacup down. "당신들이 자매라는 걸 전혀 몰랐어요." (I had no idea you were sisters.

Esme met her gaze head-on, offering a small, almost mocking smile. "나는 그것이 관련성이 있다고 생각한 적이 없습니다." (I never thought it was relevant.)

Mrs. Kang's lips thinned, but she said nothing. Esme, still oblivious, suddenly gasped dramatically. "Oh! We should celebrate! A family gathering! I mean, look at us, siblings, in-laws, cousins. We're all connected in one way or another."

Seung-il shot her a look. "I don't think this is the time..."

"Nonsense!" Esme clapped her hands together. "Drinks, food, let's make a night of it!"

Scarlet groaned, rubbing her temples. "Esme, it's late."

"Oh, come on, just a little fun. Besides, Ha-Joon just abandoned you. What else are you going to do?"

Ha-Neul, who had been silent this entire time, finally spoke, his voice sharp. "You act as if we're all here for a reunion. Some of us don't enjoy pointless chatter."

Esme pouted dramatically. "Oh, Ha-Neul, you're still as grumpy as ever." His jaw tightened. He didn't respond. Scarlet sighed, knowing tonight was only going to get longer.

***

The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway as Ha-Joon descended the grand staircase, dressed in a deep purple tracksuit. His wet hair clung to his forehead, a few stray droplets trailing down his sharp jawline.

He ran a towel through his locks lazily as he made his way into the living room, his eyes immediately landing on Scarlet, who sat on the couch, looking drained. Without hesitation, he settled beside her, stretching his arm across the back of the couch, a silent but possessive gesture.

Esme, who had been chattering away with Seung-il, suddenly perked up, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Oh, right! I almost forgot, I needed to tell you something."

Ha-Joon raised a brow, glancing at her. "What?"

Esme hesitated, pressing her lips together before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Um... so, Seung-il may have told Mumma and Dadda about your marriage."

For a moment, there was complete silence. Scarlet's body stiffened, her eyes widening in sheer panic. "You did what?!"

Seung-il, who had been comfortably sipping his tea, visibly tensed under Scarlet's fiery glare. "I... look, it wasn't intentional! It just... slipped out."

Scarlet's breath hitched, her hands clutching the fabric of Ha-Joon's sleeve as she stared at Esme in horror. "They're coming here?"

Esme gave an awkward laugh. "Uh... yeah. They should be arriving any minute now."

As if on cue, the sharp chime of the doorbell echoed through the mansion, causing Scarlet to yelp. Without thinking, she scrambled behind Ha-Joon, clutching onto his tracksuit jacket like a lifeline. "I am not dealing with this," she whispered harshly. "I can't, Ha-Joon, do something."

Ha-Joon chuckled, amusement flickering in his eyes as he patted her hand reassuringly. "Calm down, Red. Everything will be fine."

Scarlet didn't believe that for a second. The atmosphere in the room shifted as Ha-Joon stood up and made his way toward the entrance. He opened the grand double doors, only to be greeted by the sight of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers stormed in without so much as acknowledging him.

Seung-il, who had been seated closest to the door, immediately stood up, offering a polite greeting. "Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, it's good to-"

They barely spared him a glance, nodding curtly before their attention snapped to Scarlet, who was still half-hidden behind Ha-Joon.

Mrs. Rogers' expression was thunderous, her grey eyes, not so similar to Scarlet's, burning with unfiltered rage. "Scarlet Rogers!" she snapped, her voice sharp enough to cut through glass. "Have you lost your mind?"

Scarlet winced. "Mumma..."

"Don't 'Mumma' me! How dare you do something this foolish? A secret marriage? To him of all people?" Mrs. Rogers seethed, pointing a trembling finger at Ha-Joon.

Ha-Joon let out a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest. "Nice to see you too, Mrs. Rogers."

"Don't speak to me, you conniving little snake," she hissed, her fury now directed at him. "I knew from the start you were bad news! I knew it the moment I first laid eyes on you. And now, you've dragged my daughter into your mess? You had the audacity to marry her behind our backs?"

Scarlet tried to interject, but her mother was relentless.

"I raised you better than this, Scarlet! Do you have any idea how humiliating this is? The entire high society will hear about it, our family's name will be dragged through the mud because you chose to tie yourself to someone like him! A man who has done nothing but cause scandals!"

Ha-Joon let out a scoff. "With all due respect, Mrs. Rogers, your daughter married me out of her own will."

Mrs. Rogers shot him a glare so fierce it could have melted steel. "Out of her will? Don't make me laugh. You must have manipulated her into this! You're cunning, Ha-Joon. Always have been."

Scarlet clenched her fists, stepping out from behind Ha-Joon. "Mumma, stop it."

"Stop it? Stop it? Do you even understand what you've done?" Mrs. Rogers was practically trembling with rage. "You've tied yourself to him forever! He's reckless, unpredictable, and irresponsible! He's nothing like what you deserve..."

"And what do I deserve?" Scarlet cut in sharply, her voice cold. "Someone of your choosing? Someone from a family you approve of?"

Mrs. Rogers hesitated, but Scarlet didn't let her answer. "I love Ha-Joon," she stated firmly. "I married him because I wanted to. Not because I was forced, not because I was tricked, but because I wanted to."

Mrs. Rogers' face twisted in frustration, but before she could retort, Mrs. Wi, Ha-Joon's mother, spoke up for the first time, her tone clipped. "Regardless, this entire ordeal is beyond improper. If anyone should be blamed, it's Scarlet. She's the one who should have informed her family beforehand."

That was all it took. The moment those words left Mrs. Wi's mouth, Esme sprang into action.

With an exaggerated gasp, she clutched her stomach, her face contorting in discomfort. "Ahh..." she groaned, sinking onto the couch. "Oh my God... ow!"

Seung-il's eyes widened in sheer panic. "Esme? What's wrong?"

Esme let out another dramatic groan. "My stomach... it hurts... oh my God, Seung-il, do something."

Scarlet blinked in confusion before realization dawned. Esme was faking it.

Seung-il, however, had already gone into full-blown panic mode. "What do you mean it hurts?! Are you okay?! Do we need to go to the hospital?!"

Esme let out a weak nod, pressing a hand against her belly. "I... I don't know..."

Mrs. Kang, who had been silent the entire time, immediately rushed forward. "Call the doctor!"

The entire room turned to chaos within seconds. Mrs. Rogers' fury evaporated, replaced by concern. Seung-il fumbled for his phone. Ha-Neul, who had been trying to remain as detached as possible, instinctively moved closer, his brows furrowed.

Scarlet, however, stood there, watching her sister's performance with barely concealed amusement. Ha-Joon leaned down, whispering into her ear. "She's good."

Scarlet let out a quiet chuckle. "She is."

Esme, meanwhile, let out another dramatic sigh, sinking against Seung-il. "Maybe I just need to rest. It's been such a stressful day..."

Mrs. Rogers placed a hand on Esme's forehead. "Are you sure? We can take you to the doctor..."

Esme shook her head, feigning exhaustion. "No, I just need to lie down..."

Mrs. Rogers hesitated before finally relenting. "Fine. We'll talk about this marriage later." Scarlet exhaled in relief, exchanging a look with Ha-Joon. For now, the storm had passed.

***

Upstairs, Esme let out a relieved sigh, thinking the storm had passed. She turned to Seung-il, a smug smile playing on her lips. "See? That worked."

Seung-il, however, was far from convinced. Without a word, he scooped her up and gently laid her down on the bed. Esme blinked in confusion as he tucked her in, his brows furrowed in concern.

"Seung-il?"

"You should rest," he murmured, adjusting the blanket around her.

She let out a laugh. "I told you, I was faking it. I'm fine."

He didn't move from his place beside her. Instead, he brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, his expression unreadable. "Still. You should rest."

Esme sighed, realizing there was no arguing with him. She settled into the pillows, allowing her husband to fuss over her for a little longer. Meanwhile, downstairs, the tension in the room had reached its peak.

Mrs. Rogers walked down the stairs, her sharp eyes immediately landing on Ha-Joon and Scarlet, who stood silently by the couch. Across from them, Ha-Joon's mother, Mrs. Wi, sat with a cold, unreadable expression. Mrs. Kang remained in the corner, silent as ever, observing but not interfering.

The moment Mrs. Rogers reached the bottom step, her anger reignited, and she turned to Mrs. Wi with a scathing glare. "This is all your son's fault."

Mrs. Wi raised a single brow, her lips curving into a mocking smile. "My son's fault? I think you mean your daughter's fault."

Scarlet tensed beside Ha-Joon, her fingers curling into fists.

"My daughter is a responsible woman," Mrs. Rogers hissed. "It was your reckless son who dragged her into this mess. He's the one who convinced her to hide the marriage from us!"

Ha-Joon clenched his jaw but said nothing. Mrs. Wi scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Oh, please. Let's not pretend Scarlet is some innocent victim. If anything, she's just as irresponsible as Ha-Joon. Or perhaps worse, because at least my son didn't hide it from me." Ha-joon's mother lied conveniently to keep her reputation.

Ha-joon opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. Scarlet's breath hitched. "You knew?"

Sung-hoon was shocked to hear that too. "You knew and you caused all that drama for nothing? Why didn't you tell me, huh?" Aaira pulled his arm to keep his mouth shut.

Mrs. Wi's gaze flickered to her, unimpressed. "Of course I knew. Did you think Ha-Joon could keep a secret from me?"

Scarlet felt a sinking feeling in her chest. She had always assumed Ha-Joon's parents found out later, just like hers did. But if Mrs. Wi had known all along... then she had simply chosen not to acknowledge it until now.

Mrs. Rogers scoffed. "And yet, you didn't say a word to us. How convenient."

"Because it wasn't my place to inform you," Mrs. Wi said coolly. "That was your daughter's responsibility. She's the one who failed to tell you."

Mrs. Rogers let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, how predictable. Of course, you'd blame Scarlet. It's always easier to point fingers, isn't it?"

Aaira, who had been trying to calm things down from the sidelines, stepped forward. "Auntie, please..."

Mrs. Rogers snapped her head toward her niece, her voice sharp. "Aaira, shut up! This is not about you, and you'd do well not to interfere."

Aaira flinched, stunned by the harshness in her aunt's voice. She took a step back, glancing at Sung-hoon, who stood beside her, quickly stepped in. "You must watch how you talk to my wife."

Mrs. Rogers looked at his disbelief and then at aaira, but Mrs. Wi let out a mocking chuckle. "How wonderful. You're taking your frustration out on your own niece now?"

Mrs. Rogers turned back to her, eyes blazing. "Don't act so self-righteous, Mrs. Wi. You're no better. You knew about the marriage and said nothing. You let your son drag my daughter into this, and now you want to act like Scarlet is the only one at fault?"

Mrs. Wi leaned forward, her expression icy. "Your daughter married my son, Mrs. Rogers. That means she is just as responsible as he is. But instead of admitting she acted irresponsibly, you'd rather paint her as a victim."

"She is a victim," Mrs. Rogers spat. "A victim of your son's recklessness!"

"Oh, please," Mrs. Wi said with a cold laugh. "If she's a victim, then so is Ha-Joon. Because let's not pretend your daughter is some saint."

Scarlet felt the weight of their words pressing down on her. She wanted to scream, to tell them to stop, but she knew it wouldn't matter.

Mr. Rogers, who had been silent all this time, finally sighed. "Enough. There's no point in arguing about it now."

Mrs. Rogers turned to him, furious. "How can you be so calm about this?"

"Because I don't see the issue," he said simply. "Scarlet is married. That's all there is to it."

Mrs. Wi raised a brow, slightly amused. "At least one of you has some sense."

Mrs. Rogers glared at him, her face red with frustration. "You're unbelievable. Our daughter kept something this huge from us, and you just accept it?"

Mr. Rogers shrugged. "What else is there to do? It's done."

Mrs. Rogers looked like she wanted to strangle him.

Mrs. Wi smirked. "It seems your husband is far more reasonable than you."

Mrs. Rogers turned back to her, seething. "Don't you dare look down on me, Mrs. Wi. Your son is an irresponsible, reckless, arrogant man who has caused nothing but trouble..."

"And your daughter is a spoiled, stubborn, impulsive woman who ran away to marry him in secret," Mrs. Wi shot back. "So tell me, who's truly to blame?"

The words were sharp enough to cut. Scarlet lowered her gaze, her throat tightening. She could feel Ha-Joon's tension beside her, his fists clenched. The room fell into a suffocating silence.

Finally, Mrs. Kang, who had remained quiet this entire time, let out a long sigh. "이제 그만하자. 누구를 비난해야 하는가는 중요하지 않습니다. 한 번 한 일은 다시 하는 법." (Enough of this. It doesn't matter who's to blame. What's done is done.)

For the first time, both Mrs. Rogers and Mrs. Wi turned their attention to her. But Mrs. Rogers quickly said, "Sorry we don't understand korean."

Ha-neul sighed as he said, "She meant, Enough of this. It doesn't matter who's to blame. What's done is done."

Mrs. Kang smiled at her son's cleverness. As she simply shook her head. "여기 서서 서로를 비난하더라도 그들이 결혼했다는 사실은 바뀌지 않을 거예요." (Standing here and throwing accusations at each other won't change the fact that they're married.)

Ha-neul sighed before translating, "Standing here and throwing accusations at each other won't change the fact that they're married."

Mrs. Rogers scoffed. "Easy for you to say. It's not your son."

Ha-neul ever the translator translated back to his mother. "당신이 말하기는 쉽습니다. 그것은 당신의 아들이 아닙니다." (Easy for you to say. It's not your son.)

Mrs. Kang gave her a sharp look. "아니, 그렇지 않아요. 하지만 계속 이렇게 하면 어떻게 될지 알아요. 너는 스칼렛을 밀어내라. 그녀는 네 딸이잖아, 알았지? 일이 이렇게 진행될 필요는 없습니다!그리고 제가 당신 집에 있었다면, 저는 제 아들의 결정을 존중했을 겁니다." (No, it's not. But I know how this will end if you keep going. You'll push Scarlet away, she's your daughter, okay? Things don't need to go like this ! And if I was at your place, I would have respected my son's decision.)

She continued, "하늘이는 내게 소중한 존재니까, 엄마의 입장에서 생각해 봐. 아이들은 우리의 축복이며, 우리는 전 세계에서 그들을 가장 사랑합니다. 그러면 왜 우리는 그들의 삶의 선택이나 그들이 스스로 사랑하는 삶의 선택을 존중할 수 없는 걸까요?"(Ha-neul is the only precious thing that matters to me, so think about it from a mother's perspective. Children are our blessings, we love them the most in the whole world, so why can't we respect their life partners or the ones they love for themselves?)

Tears filled Ha-neul's eyes at his mother's words. He translated. That silenced the room. Scarlet swallowed, her gaze flickering to Ha-joon, who had been quiet throughout the entire exchange. His expression was unreadable, but his fingers were curled into tight fists.

Mrs. Rogers' lips pressed into a thin line. She looked at Scarlet, something heavy in her eyes. Disappointment. Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked toward the exit. Mr. Rogers sighed but followed after her.

Mrs. Wi stood up, smoothing out her dress. "Well. That was eventful."

Scarlet and Ha-Joon stood there, saying nothing. As the door closed behind Mrs. Rogers, a deep silence settled over the room. And for the first time that night, Scarlet felt exhausted beyond words.