“Out of the blue, what? If Deputy Seon hears this, she would feel bad.”
“Feel bad? She’d be overjoyed, don’t you think?”
“We’re talking about a nonexistent person. Preemptive speculation is even more of a nogo.”
“So we just have to sit together here, right?”
“What? How did the conversation go there?”
“Anyways, I’ll take it as you’ve given your consent!”
What on earth was she saying. Watching Yoon Hee, who seemed pleased with herself as she giggled after uttering something incomprehensible, Ra Jin shrugged her shoulders.

Dealing with Jae Heon alone was overwhelming, and she didn’t have the strength to handle Yoon Hee as well. Yoon Hee, who was always saying absurd things. This must be an extension of that.

Not considering it important, Ra Jin glanced at her watch.

Somehow, today, time seemed to be passing more slowly than usual.

‘I have to meet the director even after getting off work.’
On her way back to the office, Ra Jin’s cell phone vibrated.

[Ra Jin, can we meet this evening? Mom will come to your house.] “…….”
As soon as she checked the message, her breath caught, and Ra Jin bit her lip.

She already knew what her mother’s errand was.

It was about a matchmaking appointment.

“Chief, why are you like this?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
In order to recommend a rich and much older man, something she would never recommend to her own daughter, Yu Jin.

Ra Jin was adopted at the age of nine.

The representative of Sahwal Food, Sa Young Ho, and his wife Kim Sook Young, after the death of their twin daughter, the older one, Yu Ra, adopted the prettiest and smartest girl of the same age, Ra Jin, from an orphanage.

“Shouldn’t we change her name to Yu Ra?”
“No, I don’t want someone else to use Yu Ra’s name!”
“Alright, since our Yu Jin doesn’t like it. It’s probably better to keep the name as it is. Coincidentally, her name is similar to Yu Jin, so anyone would think they’re sisters.”

Young Ra Jin was captivated by the sight of Young Ho and Sook Young consoling Yu Jin, hugging her tightly.

I finally have parents who can hold me tight and soothe me.

So she vowed in her heart to do as they wished.

There was only one thing they wished for from Ra Jin. To become their deceased daughter, Yu Ra.

They wanted her to be polite like Yu Ra, timid and cautious.

They hoped she’d love lacetrimmed dresses and ballet, not to throw tantrums or be childish, to follow their words well, and to take good care of her younger sister, Yu Jin.

Ra Jin had an independent nature and was blunt. But no matter how independent she was, at the time, Ra Jin was just a nineyearold child.

She felt suffocated and lonely, but she didn’t want to lose the family she had acquired so painstakingly.

The realization of having someone she could call Mom and Dad was so reassuring, so happy, that she could only become a doll in that moment.

And so she, who became ‘vanished’, had to live as someone else’s shadow, abandoning her original form.

[Yes] “….”
Ra Jin, who had hesitated for a moment, added ‘mother’ and sent the message.

She took a deep breath.

This was why she had made an absurd proposal to Jae Heon.

There was the reason of Chairman Seo Jae having started to suggest marriage to him.

But also because her adoptive parents suggested her to have a formal meeting.

“Ra Jin, to be honest, dad’s company is going through some tough times.”
“….”
“The head of Tae San Distribution is a gentleman and quite fine.”
“Is he that good of a person?”
“Of course! Would mom introduce a strange man to our daughter? He’s hearty and refreshing. His divorce doesn’t matter at all. The reason for divorce was not him but his exwife. Plus, he’s still in his 30s.”

The head of Tae San Distribution, who was still in his 30s, was 39 and Ra Jin was 28.

Could there be a mother introducing her daughter to a divorced man eleven years older than her.

“How about introducing him to Eugene?”
“What, what did you say?”
“You said he’s a good person.”

Ra Jin thought she would never forget her mother’s face when she had suggested that.

Suk Young’s face, pulling up a forced smile, was distorted.

Ra Jin’s heart was torn by Suk Young’s expression, how dare you stick such a guy to my daughter.

“Eugene is……too immature. It’s too early to let her out in such a place because she’s a young child who doesn’t know anything yet. I’m too ashamed.”

But Eugene and I are the same age.

Ra Jin swallowed her words. She felt like she would be abandoned by Suk Young if she let it out.

“I’ve been so busy with my schedule lately. I can’t do it right now, but I’ll consider it when the conditions are right.”
“That’s right, our daughter is very busy. Then I’ll let him know not to pass this month.”
“….Yes.”
“You’re my good daughter. I’m so grateful.”

My good daughter. Those words were like shackles binding Ra Jin tightly.

Each time she confirmed her place as a family member, Ra Jin felt relieved, and herself being relieved was sorrowful.

‘I’ll have to see a formal meeting soon.’
What kind of expression would he make if Jae Heon found out about this.