2 Cruel Joke

After the maid allowed her into the family's main house, she shivered at the cold atmosphere that was there to greet her, and she wasn't affected by the fact that no living person was there to give her a proper welcome.

Ever since she had left home - no, since they had kicked her out - this was how it had always been. It was something she had been used to for a long time.

Even when she had stayed in the main house, she had always been alone, with no one to watch and guide her as she grew up. Honestly, the family's servants knew more about her than her actual family did.

Ali stepped further into the foyer and thanked the maid for taking her coat and followed her to the dining room where everyone was already seated.

"You've arrived already, so why haven't you come to greet your own father?" Her father's stern tone matched his overall look, and before it might've unnerved Ali, but she had hardened her mind against it. Especially against his steely gaze that used to turn her legs to jelly and make her shake in fear.

She swallowed the biting words that threatened to escape past her lips, and she bowed her head towards her father. "I'm sorry. I just arrived and didn't get the chance to." Now wasn't the time to argue with her family - that would come later when it was time to take back everything they took from her.

Taking her usual seat at the table, she raised her head and glanced at her younger sister who sat across from her, and bile rose in her throat. And she fought past the daggers that stabbed at her heart. Her hatred for her sister grew as she looked at her sister's flawless features.

How could her sister sit there happily after all that she had done?

Suddenly, a servant entered the dining room and introduced a tall, handsome male, one that was familiar to Ali - Seonghwa. What was he doing here?

She went to get to her feet but paused in her actions when she saw her sister jump into his arms, and she saw the loving smile spread on his face.

What was going on?

Her heart clenched when she heard her sister happily squeal, and the words that left her mouth were:

"Darling, you made it!"

Ali was even more dumbfounded and her sister's grin grew into one of mocking when she saw Ali's questioning gaze.

"Oh, have you two been introduced before? This is my soon to be husband, Seonghwa." Ali's sister turned gloating eyes in her direction. "Darling, this is my sister, Ali. You two are in the same year at Uni."

"Is that so?" He nodded his head at her politely. "It's nice to meet you."

Tears swam in Ali's eyes as she looked at him, and pain attacked her in waves. How was this happening? Was this someone's idea of a cruel joke? Because it wasn't funny.