Chapter 11

A mail has arrived this morning and it was for Na-ri. Anna slowly walked up to Na-ri's room door with a bountiful amount of hesitation. She wasn't sure if Na-ri will lash out on them for incompetence or disrespect but as the events are, Na-ri is now Na-ri not Ji-hoon.

Anna knocked lightly on the door and she heard Na-ri respond with "Hmmm". This was her signal to enter.

Na-ri stirred in her bed as the first light of dawn crept through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over her disheveled figure. Her jet-black hair was a wild mess, with strands standing up at odd angles. She rubbed her eyes, still heavy with sleep, and blinked slowly, her icy blue eyes barely open. Anna, the maid, stood at the door, clutching an envelope.

"Mrs. Na-ri, a mail was delivered and it is for you," Anna announced, her voice tinged with hesitation.

Na-ri yawned, stretching her arms lazily before taking the envelope. "For me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. She opened the envelope and pulled out an elegant invitation, her eyes scanning the contents. "It looks like the company is holding a banquet," she murmured to herself.

"Anna, please go to the boutique and buy an appealing dress. The card is on the table," she ordered, already lying back down, preparing to drift back to sleep.

Anna hesitated. "Mrs., your husband already bought you a dress and said I should inform you that he won't be able to escort you."

Na-ri waved her hand dismissively. "Okay, you can go. Wake me up two hours before the time I am meant to depart for the banquet," she instructed, already closing her eyes.

As Anna left, Na-ri couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she was forgetting something important. A sense of unease settled over her as she drifted back to sleep.

******

A few hours later, Anna knocked gently on the door. "Mrs. Na-ri, it's time to wake up."

Na-ri groaned softly, stretching as she sat up in bed. She slipped her feet into her slippers and called out, "Hmmm, come in."

Anna entered the room, her demeanor as deferential as always. "Anna, run the bath for me," Na-ri instructed, making her way to the bathroom.

Anna quickly prepared the bath, and soon, Na-ri was soaking in the warm water, her thoughts drifting back to the events that had led her here. She had once been a promising designer at a different company, but her life had taken a sharp turn when her father discovered that Sunhee was her mother. Forced to work for his company, her designs were given to Soo-ah, her half-sister, to claim as her own. The company's directors, displeased with Na-ri's lack of apparent results, had demanded her termination. Disgraced, Na-ri had ended up working as a maid in the Lee residence, until she married her husband and left the workforce entirely.

Now, as she prepared for the banquet, she couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. Something about tonight didn't sit right with her.

After her bath, Anna helped Na-ri dress. The gown her husband had chosen was exquisite: a red off-shoulder dress that shimmered with every movement. The back featured a lace cape that swept the ground, and the sleeves were also lace, adding a touch of elegance. A zipper ran from the top to the bottom of the dress, and Na-ri adjusted the lower zipper to create a slit effect above her knee. Her makeup was flawless, and her hair was styled in a messy bun, with a few strands artfully arranged to frame her face. She adorned her hair with the accessories her husband had provided, and slipped on a pair of silver pencil heels.

Her husband, though much older at fifty, had impeccable taste. Na-ri knew that tonight, her appearance would be her armor. In the world of corporate battles and socialite squabbles, a woman's true power lay in how she presented herself. This was something she had learnt in her time as Ji-hoon.

As she stepped out of her home, Na-ri couldn't shake the feeling that tonight would be more than just a simple banquet.

******

The ride to the hotel was uneventful, giving Na-ri plenty of time to reflect on her past. She remembered the days when she had been full of ambition and dreams, only to have them crushed by the machinations of her family. Her father had never truly saw her as a person. She was nothing more than a tool to satisfy their needs. But as Ji-hoon took over and ended their ties with them, she is almost as free as a bird. Soo-ah has always been the favored child and that was a given. It's not like she could do anything about it . Even after she had married into Jin-woo, nothing ever goes as planned.

She arrived at the hotel, a magnificent five-star establishment that exuded luxury. Clutching her invitation and silver purse, she made her way to the entrance. The guards, recognizing her status, allowed her entry without question.

The banquet hall was a grand spectacle, filled with the elite of the business world. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room. Tables were arranged in neat rows, each adorned with fine china and crystal glasses. Na-ri's seat was in the second row, a clear indication of her husband's influence despite his absence.

As she settled into her seat, she scanned the room. The air was thick with chatter and the clinking of glasses. It was then that she saw her sister, Soo-ah, making her way toward her. Soo-ah's presence triggered a memory in Na-ri, a recollection of a similar event from her past-life . The same dress, the same haughty expression on Soo-ah's face.

"So today is that day," Na-ri thought to herself, a bright smile playing on her lips. "This night is certainly going to be an entertaining long night."

Soo-ah approached with a confident stride, her eyes narrowing as she took in Na-ri's appearance. "Na-ri, how lovely to see you here," she said, her voice dripping with insincerity.

Na-ri met her sister's gaze head-on. "Soo-ah, always a pleasure," she replied, her tone equally false. The tension between them was palpable, a silent battle waged through polite smiles and cold stares.