The courtroom victory was still fresh, but the real war had just begun.
Across Korea, news outlets buzzed with headlines:
> "Long-Lost Heiress Seo Hena Wins Legal Battle Against Madam Seo"
"Twins Torn Apart: The Chaebol Scandal of the Century"
"Insiders Hint at Dark Secrets Within the Seo Family"
The media couldn't get enough of the sensational twist. Every photo, every quote, every reaction was dissected and broadcasted. Hena, once a hidden name, now sat at the center of a national storm. While many celebrated her courage, others whispered about her mysterious past, especially after new rumors began to spread.
---
Damian watched one of the reports from his office, jaw clenched.
"This coverage is turning into a circus," he muttered.
He turned off the screen and picked up his phone. "Call my mother. It's time."
Later that evening, Damian sat at a long, private dinner table with Hena at his side. Across from them sat Victoria, his elegant but stern mother, along with a few of his extended family members.
Victoria sipped her wine slowly, her gaze sharp as a blade.
"So," she said coldly. "This is the girl you're marrying."
Hena bowed her head politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Starnling."
Victoria raised a brow. "My son thinks highly of you. I hope you're not a... distraction."
Damian interjected, voice firm. "Mother, she's my future wife. Not a phase."
Victoria narrowed her eyes at Hena. "Then tell me, how do you plan to handle the scandals tied to your name? Mental instability, family betrayal, a twin sister accused of attempted murder..."
Hena remained calm. "By facing them head-on. I've lived in shadows long enough."
Victoria pursed her lips, unimpressed, but said nothing further. Damian held Hena's hand under the table, giving her strength.
---
Meanwhile, in a luxury suite across the city, Hara was busy orchestrating her next move.
The media frenzy had become her tool—and she was ready to sharpen the blade.
"I need something damaging," she told Claire over the phone.
Claire hesitated. "I already told you, I won't hurt Hena."
Hara's voice turned icy. "You will. Or I'll leak those photos of your brother's illegal debts. You know what that will do to your family."
Claire's heart sank. She had no choice.
"I have one of her journals," she whispered. "It's old... from before the trial. It talks about her trauma. Her breakdown after being abandoned."
"Perfect," Hara said. "Deliver it. Now."
---
Two days later, a new scandal rocked the media:
> "Secret Journal Reveals Seo Hena's History of Mental Breakdown: Is the Heiress Stable Enough for Inheritance?"
News anchors debated heatedly.
Psychologists weighed in.
Public support began to waver.
---
Hena stared at the screen in disbelief. Her hands trembled.
"This... This is my handwriting. My private thoughts."
Claire sat beside her in silence, guilt consuming her.
"I trusted you," Hena whispered, eyes filled with betrayal. "Where did you get that entry?"
Claire burst into tears. "I'm sorry. Hara blackmailed me. She threatened my brother—he owes a dangerous man money. I didn't know she'd leak it."
"You could've come to me."
"I was scared."
Hena stood up, cold and silent. "I survived worse, Claire. But I never expected this from you."
Claire reached out, but Hena pulled away.
"I think you should leave."
Claire nodded, broken, and walked out.
---
Hara watched the fallout unfold from her tablet with glee.
"Let's see how long your happy ending lasts, sister," she said with a smirk.
But behind that smile was a woman unraveling. The guilt, the loneliness, the emptiness clawed at her chest—but she pushed it aside. She needed to win. She had to win.
---
Later that week, Damian invited Hena's biological relatives—an aunt and her cousin from Busan—to a formal luncheon.
"I wanted you to meet my family officially," Damian told Hena quietly.
The gathering was awkward at first, but slowly, smiles returned. Her aunt shared stories about her mother, the recipes she loved, the lullabies she used to sing.
"I remember your mother had a birthmark just like yours," the aunt said warmly. "You look so much like her."
Hena teared up.
Damian watched her, his heart aching. For all she had lost, she was finally starting to gain something real.
---
Back in her suite, Hara stood before her mirror, eyes bloodshot.
She clutched the latest magazine issue with Hena and Damian on the cover, their smiles radiant and genuine.
Her reflection sneered back at her.
"You're not losing," she whispered. "Not yet."
But even she could hear the doubt creeping in.