Matter of Harmony || Oneus Seoho

The Manipulator(18)

Yuri's PoV

I do the clasp of the necklace Xion gave me and fix the skirt of my maroon dress. He invited me to a party in the Tara Hotel as the stalker had texted me he would. But he could have learned about it in a dozen other ways. I dispel the doubt as soon as it appears.

Xion sent a driver to pick me up and when I step out of the apartment the bodyguard opens the door for me. What a scene in front of my little humble apartment, the neighbors must be wondering. I try to shake the unease I feel. I don't have to hate everything about the rich life, the dresses and the food is great for a start, but my heart beats uneasily at how closely this resembles the life Kang Yoonah wanted for me.

Xion's PoV

The doors of the elevator open to reveal Yuri and the bodyguard I hired for her. I dismiss him with a wave of my hand. Yuri doesn't notice me in the distance. I savor the view, she looks as if she's out of a fairytale in her dress. The necklace rests on her collarbone regally and she carries herself so well. You can hear the whoosh of heads turning to watch her as she passes by. She is mine, I think proudly.

I watch from afar as she walks into the trap I sprang with her mother. I haven't got the slightest idea why Kang Yoonah wanted me to bring her to this party. But we made a bargain, and if not anything else, I am a fair player.

.....

It doesn't take much effort to find the high school Seoyeon goes to. "It's surprising someone with her social status attends the Yeon high school." "Find out who finances it." The private investigator smiles knowingly "I thought you might ask me to, so I already did, her brother pays. He works multiple jobs but it still doesn't add up, the monthly rate of that school..." "I know," I cut him off "You did a good job, I'll handle things from here."

He turns to leave. "On second thought, I have something you can do," "I am at your service Mr. Son," "I want you to follow him, I have an idea where he gets the money from but I'll need some proof."

"I'm sure you'll come up with something you could want from someone in my position...", I do. As I raise my hand to knock on Kang Yoonah's study I wonder if I'm walking right into her plans. Even if that's the case the childish insistence in my heart won't let me let go of this. Seoho exposed my secret, he so clearly watches me closely in the hopes of taking Yuri away from me. Like all those times in our childhood, she'll grab his hand and run away, as I watch behind the glass wishing I could matter to her, wishing she'd see me.

Kang Yoonah isn't surprised in the slightest, she doesn't hesitate when she tells me the nature of her relationship with Seoho, and how he carries news about Yuri to her in exchange for money and favors for his sister. Attending a private school to specialize in arts... What a fickle excuse.

He accuses me of using her when he does this. The force of the anger I feel toward him surprises me.

Kang Yoonah instructs me to not expose Seoho before I get close enough to Yuri, she clearly thinks I'll replace Seoho as her new puppet. She thinks me less resourceful than I am and herself more competent than she is. I reassure her. I won't expose him to her because that would make me look like the bad guy, but that doesn't mean I won't create the conditions for it to happen naturally.

An eye for an eye. A secret for a secret. I'll expose him to his sister, I just need proof of how he gets the money. And that's where the private investigator comes in handy.

....

I approach the two women. Yuri looks tense so I place my hand on her back. I haven't figured out what drove the two of them apart yet. Both of them are pretty evasive about the subject. And by the looks of it, my move to keep my end of the bargain was not that wise. It looks a lot more serious than a small kerfuffle, "You invited Xion to this event." She says, her words are hissed like a curse, and the accusation in her eyes burns holes through Kang Yoonah, "I think I made it clear that I don't want you in my life in any capacity and that extends to my boyfriend.

I have no interest in reconciling with you." Kang Yoonah's jaw twitches just the slightest bit, despite my judgment it puts a smirk on my lips. She does not have perfect control after all. Yuri can get on her nerves.

"Your response is uncalled for, I only congratulated you on your new boyfriend." "Oh, is it not ladylike? Does it annoy you that I don't follow etiquette?" Yuri smiles painfully, "That's perfect. I accepted a long time ago that I will never be the daughter you want me to be. I suggest you do too." By the way she slightly pulls my hand, it seems like Yuri was going to leave before Kang Yoonah speaks again "Oh but aren't you curious why I invited you? This is not just any other event." Yuri doesn't say anything but doesn't leave either so she goes on "Mr. and Mrs. Jung are raising money for the 'Tomorrow for Youth Project'." All the color in Yuri's face drains and I think she'll jump to choke the life out of Kang Yoonah for a second. Then she turns away quickly. I see the small curl on the side of Kang Yoonah's lips before I follow her.

Yuri's PoV

I walk away from them trying to keep my breathing even. Xion tries to follow but I dismiss him saying I need some alone time. She can't be so cruel—a part of me wants to deny but I know better. My throat is drier than a bowl of sand and I barely hear anything going around me as I focus all my attention to stop squeezing my fists and grinding my teeth as I put some distance between myself and her.

The small smirk on her face as she revealed this party is thrown by Jung Jinyoung's parents... I almost jumped on her then. Oh—what I would give to make her regret that.

I find the bathroom and wash my face. She doesn't deserve the reaction I am having. I look at my reflection and encourage myself. I am better than this, I am not the young girl Kang Yoonah is used to bully any more. My phone pings and I fish it out of my dress's secret pocket. It's a text from Seoyeon:

I found out who exposed Seo. But you won't like hearing it.