⤷MASQUERADE || Jeon Jk FF ♡

part; ⁰¹

Y/N's POV

My mother once told me, "Not everyone who stares is admiring you. Some are amazed, and others are envious. But you've survived the traps they've set for you."

I remember her fondly, her gentle hand caressing my head with the warmth of her love. But that memory is an illusion now, a haunting echo of her presence. She left me with nothing but her beautiful, haunting memories-fragments of a rebellious woman with a heart of gold.

Her words and the love she bestowed upon me remain etched in my mind, a testament to her strength and the legacy she left behind. I carry her spirit with me, a guiding light in a world that often feels dark and unforgiving.

And now, I've returned to the place where she died-the very ground where she was broken and judged, where darkness enveloped her. It was here that envy festered, and shame was cast upon her. They disrespected and shattered her with their cruelty.

I remember vividly how, at just twelve years old, I was thrown out of the house alongside her, trembling with fear. They showed no mercy, no trace of humanity. Power had poisoned their minds and hearts, and wealth had blinded them to the harsh reality of their actions. Their greed and arrogance left no room for compassion, and in their eyes, she was nothing more than a pawn to be discarded.

Her suffering was a stark reminder of the corrupt world she had tried to navigate, and it's a burden I now carry with me as I stand amidst the remnants of her pain.

.

.

I took a deep breath as I approached the house of Shin Jihoon. It was a grand, imposing villa, a stark contrast to the memories I held of that place.

This was where my father now lived with his new family-my stepmother and step-siblings, whom he married soon after my mother and I were cast out.

How desperate he must have been!

I've never encountered a man as heartless as him. My disdain for him runs deep, a bitterness that I carry with me always.

The car came to a smooth stop at the entrance of the grand villa. As the custodian opened the door for me, I stepped out, feeling the cool breeze brush against my skin.

I slipped off my black shades, taking in the opulence around me. The towering iron gates stood tall, pristine and gleaming, guarding the sprawling estate.

The driveway, lined with perfectly manicured hedges and marble statues, curved toward the imposing mansion, which loomed ahead like a symbol of untouchable wealth.

The lush green gardens were dotted with fountains, their water sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight, while the walls of the villa seemed to glow in their flawless, ivory hue.

Nothing had changed.

The area was just as grand, just as cold. It was a place where luxury cloaked the darkness within.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I walked inside, the custodian trailing behind me with the luggage. The marble floors gleamed under the light from the massive crystal chandelier, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive leather and polished wood.

I scanned the living room, taking everything in. Each corner was perfectly polished, every surface pristine, yet beneath the elegance, there was an unsettling familiarity.

Then, like a storm breaking through the calm, flashes from nine years ago rushed through my mind.

My heart clenched painfully as the horrific memories surfaced-memories of betrayal, humiliation, and loss. The pain of that day gripped me once more, as vivid as ever, making the grand surroundings feel suffocating.