A foreign woman caused a commotion at the place where Layla worked, a teenage girl who was the breadwinner for her small family. Her mother only exploited her to make money. The foreign woman offered to buy Layla as her child for 500 million won. Her mother agreed and handed Layla over to the foreign woman. Layla was taken to the residence of a Chaebol family in South Korea. With hesitation and fear, the foreign woman uttered a single sentence: "I am your mother starting tonight." That night changed her life, making her the child of one of South Korea's wealthiest families. Layla turned out to be the illegitimate child of the foreign woman's husband. However, after being adopted, one of the girls, who was also her newfound sister, became envious of Layla. Can Layla endure her new role as a member of this wealthy family? With the new pressures of being a billionaire, will Layla be able to adapt to the sudden changes in her life?
Chapter 1 The night changes
"Take and eat!" A burly middle-aged man pushed a plate containing two boiled eggs toward a little girl standing with a bowl of cold rice in her hands.
"But, Father... I'm allergic to eggs! You're all eating chicken. I want some chicken too!" the little girl protested, her eyes filled with hope as she looked at each small plate with delicious food on the table.
"If you want to eat chicken, then earn more money! What do you think you can buy with five thousand won? Eat that and get back to work!" the man barked.
The petite girl picked up the eggs from the table and left to eat them. There was no place for her at the dining table-only the cold floor with a few pieces of cloth to keep her warm as she ate her boiled eggs and cold rice. Night had fallen, and she had to hurry to work, so she quickly finished her meal to avoid being late.
"Layla! Don't forget to wash our dishes too. The water is freezing, so it's better if you do it, okay?" A young woman called out to Layla, who had just finished eating. Even though she knew time was running out and she would be late, the girl couldn't refuse her mother's request. With a small nod, she agreed, picked up the dirty plates, and carried them to the kitchen.
"A-ahhh ... It's so cold!" The touch of the water made her body flinch. Shivering slightly, she hurriedly finished the dishes. Afterward, she grabbed an old, frayed coat to keep herself warm for the night. There was no special heater to hold onto as she stepped out into the freezing air to head to work.
Layla walked outside, and the cold pierced her small frame. Her allergy to eggs seemed to have started reacting-her cheeks and fingers turned red and itchy. She scratched them continuously as she made her way through the snow-covered streets of Seoul. The city's dazzling lights and grandeur couldn't hide the existence of people like Layla, who worked late into the night despite the bone-chilling cold.
"My God, it's so cold," she murmured into the stillness around her, rubbing her itchy hands while trying to warm herself.
"Layla! ... Hey, wait!" A voice broke through the silence, prompting her to turn toward the source. A woman in boots stumbled toward her, her face full of concern. The woman wrapped a thick scarf around Layla's neck as her watery, reddened eyes met Layla's.
Layla, startled by the woman's sudden appearance, remained silent, clutching her hands tightly to fend off the deadly chill.
"Layla... your lips are turning blue! How many times have I told you to wear the scarf I gave you? Why don't you listen? Come on, we have to hurry to work, or the madam will get angry!" the woman scolded. Layla obediently followed her new friend from work without a word.
They passed several storefronts before arriving at an old, rusty metal door with poor lighting. The woman used a flashlight to illuminate their way inside.
Kreeeaaakkk!
The aged door groaned as it opened, its hinges echoing the wear of time. Layla stepped inside, followed by the woman, and they removed their coats. In another room, a bright light revealed rows of baskets filled with raw fish and workers cleaning them. The stench of fish filled the air-a pungent smell that would overwhelm anyone unaccustomed to it.
"You naughty girl! No excuses! Where's that kid?" Layla heard an unfamiliar voice as she entered the room. The voice belonged to a foreign woman standing with her arms crossed, arguing with the fishmonger, Madam Yeon.
Hesitant, Layla walked past the workers, avoiding the ongoing confrontation between the foreign woman and her employer. She reached her station and began cleaning the fish, removing the scales as usual. Suddenly, a voice caught everyone's attention, including the foreign woman.
"Yeon! Layla has arrived!"
The words seemed to hold no significance to Layla, who kept working without paying attention to the stares directed at her. The foreign woman, who had been arguing moments ago, approached Layla and gently touched her chin with her slender fingers.
"Is this really the child of that girl? Strange ... this girl is far prettier than her mother," the woman said, her rose-like scent contrasting sharply with the fishy smell of the room.
Layla's expression betrayed her confusion as she wondered who this foreign woman could be.
"Yes, Madam! She's a bit late tonight, but I'll deal with her later," Madam Yeon interjected, only to be met with disdain from the foreign woman.
The foreign woman grabbed Yeon's collar-a shocking display of authority, especially for someone like Yeon, who was known for her harsh treatment of employees. Yeon often yelled at and even slapped her workers, but tonight, everyone watched in disbelief as she cowered before someone more powerful.
"You wretched woman. Have you ever abused her?" the foreign woman asked coldly.
Yeon shook her head in denial, but the woman who had accompanied Layla earlier spoke up. "Yes, Madam. Yeon once beat Layla until her right leg was swollen and she couldn't walk."
PLAAKKKKK!
The sound of a hard slap echoed throughout the room, sharp and startling. Yeon staggered backward, her cheek reddening as she stared at the foreign woman with tear-filled eyes. Yet she didn't dare leave or retaliate. Feels like Yeon got slapped by someone for the first time, her face showed everything. That young woman really ashamed of it.
"Madam, what are you doing? You slapped someone!" Layla finally spoke up, pointing her finger at the tall woman in front of her. But instead of getting angry, the woman crouched down, letting her expensive coat touch the blood-stained floor to meet Layla's gaze.
With a strange tenderness, the foreign woman cupped Layla's cheeks, her warm smile disarming the girl's anger.
"Am I wrong to defend the blood of my husband's lineage? Hmm ... Answer me, Layla!"
Chapter 1 The night changes
18/12/2024