MWM Chapter 1

Soyi hoisted her bookbag over her shoulder and stepped through the grand gate, just as she did every day.

For as long as she could remember, from her earliest memories to her fifteenth year now, Soyi’s home had been this place—Seonamjae.

“Soyi, back from school?”

“Yes!”

From a distance, the cheerful greeting of a staff auntie reached her, and Soyi exchanged warm pleasantries before her steps led her to one particular spot.

It was a bustling space where women in crisp white aprons worked diligently—the kitchen of Seonamjae¹, where Soyi spent most of her time.

“Mom, I’m back.”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Her mother glanced up with a faint smile, her eyes barely leaving the cutting board. Her focus on the knife’s rhythm seemed even more frenetic than usual today.

Dropping her bookbag, Soyi deftly rolled up the sleeves of her school uniform. She was reaching for a bag of food waste when—

“Gyeongsan-daek².”

A stern voice rang out from the kitchen’s entrance. It was Sunok, the mistress of Seonamjae.

“We got some fresh sea bass today. Show off your skills and make something special.”

“Yes, Hwejangnim³.”

“And since we’re expecting an important guest today, make sure the guest room is spotless.”

“Yes, Hwejangnim.”

As her mother bowed her head, Soyi mirrored the gesture, her eyes cautiously lifting. Her mother’s back, always curved in deference, bore the weight of every command from the elderly woman they addressed as Hwejangnim at the end of each sentence.

It must have been a long time ago, on a day when the kitchen reeked particularly strongly of oil. Soyi had once asked her mother why they lived in someone else’s house. She’d always wondered why her mother called the old woman Hwejangnim instead of “Grandmother.”

“Mom, why do we keep living here?”

Her mother had met her young daughter’s gaze and smiled as if the question were absurd.

“Because there’s no place better than here.”

“…”

“This is the best place.”

Her confident reply sounded like a vow to be buried at Seonamjae.

‘There’s no place better than here.’

Those words echoed in Soyi’s mind, but at some point, a question mark began to form.

‘Is there really no place better than here…?’

The day after her mother’s words, Soyi overheard a whispered conversation among the staff, and she began to piece together her reality.

“Look at Gyeongsan-daek’s work—she’s relentless. Who works that hard?”

“She knows this is the only place that’ll take her. That’s why she pours herself into it.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Word is she had debts before coming here. Took out loans in her name for the man she was going to marry, only to find out he was already married.”

“What kind of scoundrel does that?”

“Her life’s been rough. Couldn’t even register the marriage, ended up a single mother, and got saddled with debt on top of it. Hwejangnim paid off part of that debt. She’s her savior, really.”

“Really?”

“Yup. So where else would Gyeongsan-daek go?”

The words sank into Soyi’s ears, clear as day: a lone woman with no support, buried in debt, and raising a child to boot—there was nowhere else that would take them but here.

Realizing dimly that they were talking about her and her mother, Soyi stood stunned for a moment. But soon, she accepted it. In the end, she concluded that Seonamjae was the only place that would protect her and her mother.

The fleeting question of why they had to stay here vanished, replaced by a burning resolve to do well.

From then on, Soyi mimicked her mother in everything. Sweeping, scrubbing, dishwashing—she took on any task, helping wherever she could. Whether working or not, she moved with the sole intent of being unobtrusive, barely making a sound, as if she weren’t even there.

‘Today, too, I’ll keep quiet.’

As Sunok left the kitchen, Soyi, clutching the trash bag and trailing behind as silently as a mouse, paused mid-step.

“Hwejangnim!”

A bright voice called out across the wide garden, catching Soyi’s attention.

“Haena, you’re here!”

Sunok spread her arms wide, welcoming the woman with enthusiasm.

‘So this must be the important guest.’

Glossy long hair, striking large eyes, flawless skin—every feature of the woman captivated Soyi’s gaze. Like a lively poodle wagging its tail, she showered Sunok with charm. She seemed to be a recent acquaintance of Sunok’s.

“Our Haena came all this way?”

“Yes, I came to pay my respects to you, Halmeoni⁴.”

“By yourself?”

“Mom and Dad are on their way. I said I’d head out first because I couldn’t wait to see you.”

“Oh, how sweet! Haena, you’re always so thoughtful. Every time I see you, I think you’d make the perfect wife for my grandson. So pretty, just too pretty.”

‘Pretty, pretty’—Sunok’s lavish praise wasn’t wrong. In Soyi’s eyes, Lee Haena was beautiful, like a goddess.

‘Lee Haena.’

Her name, as lovely as her appearance, etched itself into Soyi’s mind.

“Is Jinha-Oppa⁵ still in Boston?”

“Yup, studying hard over there. Why? Do you miss him?”

“Yes. I regret not spending more time with him when he stopped by Korea.”

“Sounds like our Haena’s quite taken with Jinha.”

“Honestly, I am.”

Haena’s bold, candid admission made Sunok burst into hearty laughter.

“Looks like the day Haena becomes my granddaughter-in-law isn’t far off.”

“I’d be thrilled to be your grandson’s wife.”

“Just graduate and I’ll make sure you and Jinha are married in no time.”

“Hwejangnim, how do you always know exactly what I’m thinking?”

Her voice, perfectly timed and clear as a nightingale’s song, rang out.

Four years older than Soyi, Haena was more mature, and more beautiful than anyone. Soyi could already picture the man who would match her—a man who must be as striking and impressive as she was.

‘He’d have to be remarkable.’

The thought of this unknown man sparked a flicker of admiration in Soyi, and the realization that Haena’s eyes sparkled brighter than the earrings she wore filled her with awe. Lee Haena was breathtaking.

“Let’s not stand out here—come inside.”

After their lively exchange, they headed into the house together.

Soyi’s gaze lingered on one spot. At the entrance, one of Haena’s shoes lay tipped over.

Hurrying over to straighten it, Soyi noticed something else.

“…Huh?”

A single earring lay on the marble floor, now in her hand.

“She dropped this?”

Recognizing it as Haena’s accessory, Soyi carefully tucked it into her pants pocket, planning to return it once Haena and Sunok finished their conversation.

But perhaps falling into a deep sleep at the staff quarters was her mistake.

By the time she woke, the situation had snowballed.

“What in the world is this?!”

A shout from outside jolted Soyi from her groggy slumber.

Rubbing her eyes, she stumbled out of the quarters. In front of the main house, Sunok’s furious voice filled the air.

“Who stole our Haena’s belongings?!”

Sunok’s wrath, directed at some unknown culprit, was palpable.

‘What’s going on…?’

Trying to make sense of the chaos, Soyi caught her mother passing by.

“Mom, is Hwejangnim angry?”

Her mother, glancing around warily, explained the situation.

“Haena--ssi⁶’s earring is missing. They say it’s very valuable. We’ve searched every corner, but it’s nowhere to be found. Hwejangnim thinks someone stole it.”

The moment Soyi heard this, a sinking feeling hit her.

Her heart pounded, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Turning to her mother with a stricken expression, she confessed.

“Mom.”

“Yes?”

“I have the earring.”

From her pocket, she produced the small accessory, glinting in her hand.

“It was on the floor… I was going to give it back as soon as they finished talking.”

She tried to explain calmly, but her mother’s face paled, mirroring her own.

Taking a deep breath, her mother swiftly snatched the earring from Soyi’s hand. Then she said,

“It’s okay. Everything will be fine.”

Whether comforting her daughter or reassuring herself, she repeated “It’s okay” as she walked toward Sunok.

Standing before Hwejangnim, her mother bowed so low her head nearly touched the ground.

“I’m so sorry. The earring was with my daughter. It seems Haena-ssi’s earring fell on the floor. Soyi meant to return it right after you two finished talking, but she missed the chance.”

Her mother pleaded earnestly, but Sunok’s anger showed no sign of abating.

“If she found the earring, she should’ve returned it immediately! We turned the whole house upside down looking for it, and now you’re telling me this?”

“I’m sorry. I only just found out myself. Soyi must’ve fallen asleep after picking it up.”

“‘Sorry’ fixes everything? That’s a rare, irreplaceable earring—I thought my heart would stop!”

“I’m so sorry, Hwejangnim.”

Her mother, hunched as if her waist had folded in half, stared at the ground, repeating her apologies.

As Sunok’s face reddened, ready to add more—

“Please calm down, Halmeoni.”

Haena gently took Sunok’s hand, shaking her head.

Perhaps her mother’s hope that everything would be fine had taken root.

“I’m okay.”

Haena flashed a radiant smile, her generosity shining through.

“Thank you for finding it.”

Her warm hand reached out to Soyi.

Caught off guard, Soyi clasped the delicate hand.

Enchanted by Haena’s gentle smile, Soyi felt the surprising chill of her fingertips.