Yuri keeps stealing glances at the woman next to her and finally asks the question that's been gnawing at her ever since Taeyeon called Seohyun and asked her assistant to take her, the other local who knows the town well, to look for Tiffany after briefly telling them about their argument. The blonde herself is driving back to the ranch to get Yoona so that the two of them can form a second search team.
"For someone that I thought cared a lot about my friend, your boss isn't exactly making a lot of effort to show it," she remarks snidely. "Why didn't she go after her or go look for her straight away? Why is she driving back to the ranch instead?"
"I'm sure she wanted to," answers Seohyun calmly, understanding Yuri's anger and worry. "But Taeyeon unnie is a bit different than most people. She grew up alone, left to fight for herself since a very young age. Her life was always plagued with fear and threats. It's hard for her to feel safe even now, at this age."
"What do you mean? She literally has everything. Why would she feel afraid or threatened?"
"With a quick internet search you could probably learn a bit about her father. He wasn't exactly known for his kindness or philanthropy and it affected his family. Taeyeon unnie has had a personal bodyguard since she was in grade school. She never went anywhere alone and she's developed a fear of crowds and unfamiliar places."
"Why? I mean I can understand the bodyguard thing but why the fear?"
"Her father made a lot of enemies, some more ruthless than him. So there had been abduction attempts on his daughter."
"What?" Yuri stares at Seohyun in disbelief. "You're serious?"
"Yes. They couldn't get to him so they tried to get to his daughter. It was a very stressful life for Taeyeon unnie. But kindly keep this to yourself. The last thing we need is to worry the stockholders and partners," Seohyun says. "So it's not that she didn't want to search for Tiffany unnie, she couldn't. Not only is this town unfamiliar to her, the town people disliked her and confronted her. I'm surprised she still managed to drive back calmly and sent us out." She then takes a deep breath and exhales. "I was hoping Tiffany unnie would be the one, you know? Taeyeon unnie needs someone who can take care of her and love her sincerely, not because of her money or her power or her looks... someone who would stand by her side no matter what."
Yuri also heaves a sigh, her anger towards Taeyeon receding now that she understands what lies behind the blonde's action. "I was hoping that Taeyeon would be the one for Tiffany too. She has had a tough few years since her father's sudden death and the whole disaster with the ranch. And although I've been her friend since we were kids, she had to deal with everything alone. She's strong, yes, but even the strongest person needs someone by their side who can share their burden, take care of them and love them, right?"
"Of course."
Yuri then tells Seohyun to turn left, directing her to a playground, one they used to visit growing up. "There she is," she says, exhaling in relief when she sees the lone figure sitting on a swing. She steps out of the car as soon as Seohyun stops and rushes towards her friend. "Fany-ah!"
Tiffany hears Yuri's voice but doesn't move. She has stopped crying a while ago and all that's left is numbness with one last twinge of disappointment when she realizes that the person coming to find her isn't Taeyeon.
"You got me worried sick!" the tall woman says as she squats in front of her friend. "You okay? Taeyeon called us."
Tiffany looks at Yuri but her eyes are empty.
