As I entered the party hall,, a quiet gasp escaped my lips.
The place was breathtaking...
Lavish crystal chandeliers shimmered like stars overhead,, casting soft golden light that danced across the marble floors... Cascading floral arrangements in hues of ivory,, blush,, and pale gold lined the perimeter,, and delicate lights flickered like fireflies among them. The air was laced with the faint scent of roses and orchids,, giving the space a warm,, elegant charm.
Luna walked beside me in sync,, her heels clicking softly against the marble... I could feel the weight of countless gazes pressing on us from every direction,, The hum of conversation dimmed for a second as we stepped further inside. Heads turned... Eyes locked on us. The sudden attention should have unnerved me—but it didn't. I stood tall,, spine straight,, my chin lifted with poise. I wore confidence like a tailored gown,, and Luna, dressed to perfection,, mirrored my composure flawlessly.
"There he is,," I whispered softly,, my gaze catching the familiar figure.
Mr. Yun...
The legendary business tycoon and owner of the LaRoss Group...
He stood tall,, surrounded by a few other powerful elites,, but his eyes instantly found mine the moment we approached. His lined face broke into a wide,, genuine smile,, and his arms opened as he took a step toward me.
"My sweet granddaughter,," he said warmly, his voice echoing with affection as he pulled me into a sudden,, tight hug.
I was caught off guard—not by the hug,, but by the word.
Granddaughter.
I heard a few people gasp... Conversations around us fell silent... I could feel the buzz of curiosity in the air,, the sharp eyes analyzing every detail,, dissecting his words,, his actions.
"Long time no see... Han Ri-Mi,," he added, his voice almost nostalgic. "Do you forget your grandfather??"
I blinked,, struggling to compose myself under the growing sea of watchful eyes and whispering lips. I managed a small,, polite smile as I pulled back from the hug...
"No,, no,, of course not,, Mr. Yun,," I said with a respectful bow. "How could I ever forget you?? You were always my real grandfather's best friend."
Mr. Yun chuckled heartily,, his arm still around my shoulder as if showing the world how close we were...
"I'm glad you're still so professional and grounded,, Han Ri-Mi,," he said,, his voice holding admiration. "You're just like your parents... such a mysterious girl..."
The weight of that name—Han Ri-Mi—hit me with unexpected force... It had been so long since anyone had called me that. The name given to me by my birth parents... a name that carried so much history,, so much emotion.
Suddenly,, I felt a sharp gaze burning into the side of my face.
I turned slightly and caught eyes with a young man nearby. His sharp jawline,, slicked-back hair,, and an annoyingly smug expression reminded me of someone who had grown up too entitled for his own good.
"Isn't her name... Rimi Millar??" he asked, brows raised,, voice tinged with condescension.
Before I could respond,, Mr. Yun cut in firmly, his tone still friendly but edged with subtle authority.
"Yes,, that's correct. She goes by Rimi Millar now. But Han Ri-Mi... that's the name her real parents gave her. My best friend and her grandfather gave her that name... That's why I will always call her Han Ri-Mi."
I felt a swirl of emotions stir inside me—pride,, discomfort,, longing. I smiled softly, but before I could speak,, the young man smirked.
"Oh... right,," he said slowly,, a glint in his eye. "She's adopted."
His words were like a blade dressed in silk—subtle,, but cutting.
I turned to him,, fixing my gaze directly on his,, my expression unreadable,, my voice deliberately calm.
"And that's not something I'm ashamed of,," I replied coldly.
Mr. Yun's face tightened slightly as he turned toward his grandson.
"Never mind him,," Mr. Yun said with a sigh, patting my shoulder. "He's still a child..."
I gave a soft nod,, choosing not to dignify the boy's attitude with further attention. But inside,, I could feel the sting. Not because I was ashamed of who I was—but because people still thought it was something to be ashamed of.
Mr. Yun drifted away,, caught in conversation with other guests. As soon as he left,, Luna stepped a little closer to me.
She leaned in and whispered,, "He's such a creep. The way he kept staring at you?? Gross."
I exhaled slowly and forced a small laugh. "Act like we don't notice,," I murmured under my breath. "Just ignore him."
"Okay,," Luna said with a roll of her eyes. "But seriously,, he's giving off stalker vibes."
"Focus,," I said quietly. "We're here for a reason."
She straightened,, adjusting her clutch. "Right. Look—over there. Isn't that Mr. Kwon??"
I followed her gaze and saw the familiar figure across the room—Mr. Kwon,, a major shareholder from one of our affiliated companies. He looked up and met my eyes with a warm smile... I walked toward him confidently.
"Miss Rimi,," he greeted as he extended his hand. "I must say,, I'm surprised to see you here. I thought you usually avoided business parties."
I shook his hand with a smile,, my voice light. "You know me,, Mr. Kwon. I like my quiet. But sometimes... socializing is necessary."
"Socializing??" he laughed. "Nice joke. You're already famous enough,, Miss Rimi. Everyone in the business world knows you..."
I gave a soft chuckle,, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Fame isn't everything. Connections matter. And events like these... they help."♡♡
Mr. Kwon nodded appreciatively. "That's true. It's good to see the next generation showing such responsibility..."
Our exchange was brief but pleasant,, and I could feel Luna's eyes boring into me from behind. When I turned back to her,, she raised an eyebrow,, her expression oddly amused.♡
"What??" I asked.
"You,," she whispered with a teasing smile. "You're trying so hard to act composed... when we both know you're here for one particular idiot..."
I blinked,, caught completely off guard, and nearly laughed aloud.♡ "Luna—someone might hear you!!"
"But it's true,," she insisted with a wicked grin,, lowering her voice even more. "You've been restless all day. Your eyes keep darting toward the entrance.."
I sighed, looking away. ♡"I don't know what you're talking about."
She smirked,, unconvinced. "Miss Rimi... you're not fooling anyone. Especially not me."♡
There was a moment of silence between us, the kind that settles when the truth hangs too heavy in the air. I wasn't sure if I should feel embarrassed or just admit it... She wasn't wrong. There was someone I had hoped to see here tonight. Someone who had been avoiding me—on purpose, it seemed.♡
And yet,,♡my heart still waited. Foolishly.
"I just want clarity,," I whispered,, almost more to myself than to Luna.
"I know,," she said softly,, her teasing tone gone. "You deserve it..."♡
I swallowed,, the emotions tugging at my composure like threads unraveling silk. The soft music played on in the background,, elegant and haunting,, and I stood there among the crowd,, wearing a mask of poise even as my heart pulsed with quiet chaos.
"I hate this part,," I muttered.
"Which part??" Luna asked.♡
"The pretending. The smiling. The acting like everything's fine... when inside,, I'm barely holding it together."
Luna reached out and lightly touched my hand. "You're not alone,, Rimi. ♡You never were."
Her words lingered like warmth on a cold night. I smiled at her—grateful... So much had changed,, yet some things—like her loyalty—remained a constant comfort.
To be continued...
By the way your author is obsessed by this little heart's ♡♡♡♡ and now you all gonna see this in incoming chapters...♡♡♡♡