"My... Mother?"

I eyed everyone at the table, gulping. "You're not speaking about my mom sitting opposite me, are you?"

"No," Uncle murmured. "Not Yeji, but your biological mother. The woman who gave birth to you,"

"I thought she was dead," I forced a smile. "So she exists. That's nice,"

"You don't seem to understand, Li-na," Kim Taemu's eyes were as pleading as they were when I'd first met him. "Lee Eunseo despises our business, and she wants you back,"

"She can't... I'm not an object," I swallowed, hard. "She can't just 'want me back'. What the hell?"

"Calm down, honey," Mom said quickly. "It's entirely up to you whether you stay with us or go with her, but... It could be messy. She could have the upper hand,"

"I don't want to go with her," my nails dug into my palms. "I don't even know her. She left me with that man, and now, 17 or something years later, she wants to know me again?"

"It'll be fine, Li-na," Yoongi sighed, but his dark eyes didn't reassure me the way I hoped they would. I stood up, backing away from the table.

"I'm sorry," I bowed my head, feeling panicky. "I just... need some time to think-"

Ignoring everyone's voices calling out after me, I took my jacket and left the mansion as quickly as possible, walking in the cold air with a lump in my throat.

Who was this Lee Eunseo?  I didn't know her, neither did I want to.

"Li-na!"

I felt the lump grow. It was getting harder to breathe properly as I walked quicker, almost storming away from the man behind me.

"Leave me alone, Taehyung!"

He grabbed onto my wrist, forcing me to swing around to face him. Only wearing a thin cambric shirt and black jeans, he must be freezing, but he didn't show it.

"Where are you going?" He pulled lightly at my wrist again, drawing me closer.

"Leave me alone," I repeated, looking away from his piercing gaze.

"Our parents are worried," he looked almost annoyed. "Come back inside,"

"I'm going home," I snapped, heartstrings tugging. "If I'm even allowed to still call it that,"

Clouded air came from the loud scoff that escaped his lips. "No one is trying to get rid of you, Li-na, so don't start overthinking things. You asked, so we let you know,"

"I bet you'd be very happy to see me leave," I ignored the biting feeling at my heart as the harsh words tumbled out my mouth.

"When you act like this, it's pretty easy to be happy," he said sarcastically. "I'm walking you home,"

"You're barely wearing anything," I pushed him away. "Go inside," 

"I'm going to grab a jacket," he let go of my wrist, pointing a warning finger at me. "Stay right there. If you so much as move an inch, I'll kill you," 

I rolled my eyes, watching as he jogged up the drive and went back into the house.

"Open the gates," I grumbled to the gatekeeper, who obliged. With one more glance towards the house, I made my way out. 

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

"You've been quiet all day," Lisa plopped herself in the seat next to me, gnawing at a fruit chew. "Tell me what's up," 

"Nothing's up," I sighed. 

"That means something's definitely up," she deadpanned. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace," 

My lips quirked up. "Are you sure you want to know?" 

"Very sure. I can't stand seeing you all mopey," 

"I'm not mopey," I scrunched my nose up. "Long story short, my biological mother wants me back," 

"Your biological mother?" her eyebrows knit together. "I thought you said she was dead?" 

"That's what he used to tell me," I muttered, eyes trained on the walls of the library. "According to the file I found in my dad's office yesterday, Lee Eunseo left Bae Hyunbin when I was almost two years old. He used to be a good person, apparently, until he resorted to alcohol and violence. I didn't know that. All I knew was that he hated me because I look like my 'mother'," 

"Damn," she squeezed my hand. "Li-na..." 

"He used to say that I'd killed my mother, so I always assumed she'd died in childbirth. I guess he meant that I'd 'killed' the woman he married when she left because she didn't want me," 

"That's messed up," Lisa said sympathetically. "I'm sorry for prying, I didn't realise it was something so... serious," 

"It's fine," I exhaled. "I'm glad I talked about it... the boys all know, and it felt like I was bottling it up inside," 

My best friend was silent for a few seconds before she tugged at my arm. "It seems like you need some quality time with your most favourite person on the earth, me," 

"What have you got in mind?" I leaned closer. 

"Something exhilarating, but legal," she winked. "Go Karting!" 

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

After a long but enjoyable day of Go Karting, shopping, and eating, Lisa and I parted ways. I had a soak in my bathtub with a ton of bubbles, keeping my mind off of Eunseo and effectively avoiding bumping into one of my family members. 

I hadn't spoken to Mom, Dad, or Yoongi since dinner at the Kims last week. We had exchanged some words, but not a proper conversation. 

I felt a little awkward. It was stupid, since I'd been living with them for 8 years, and they were the closest thing to family I ever experienced, but I guess I needed some space to think. 

Or overthink. 

Life as the adopted daughter of a Mafia group had always been chaotic and dangerous, but recently it was as though threats were coming to slap me in the face. 

And now my past life was creeping up on me, trying to draw me back. 

I closed my eyes, hoping I'd fall asleep. I'd been tossing and turning for half an hour, but sleep still hadn't come to me. 

I just hoped no one would text me, otherwise that would disrupt my night for good. The only person I can think to text me at this time is Taehyung, though. He'd do it just to piss me off.

My nose scrunched at the thought of him. He'd been laying low for a bit too long these days. Even though I'd left without him the other day, he hadn't spammed my phone with mildly alarming threats yet. 

It kind of worried me. Just a bit. 

Was he okay? 

"Of course he's okay, you dumbass," I scolded myself. "Now, stop thinking about him and go to sleep,"

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Hi! I can't believe we're finally in 2025!!

Thanks for waiting for my update. Happy reading!