One Step Closer - PART 1

One Step Closer - 114💕

"A stray?" Hye-Jin played dumb, her gaze slid to Myeong-suk briefly. "I'm not sure I understand who you're referring to. And I also don't understand why I should attend a dinner I wasn't invited to."

"She wasn't invited?" A-Yeong questioned in an exaggerated manner. "She's one of the leading ladies. How could no one invite her?"

Hye-Jin had no doubt they were all gossiping just a while ago and purposefully left her out. She expected this to happen, just not this soon. The word of her son's future mate wasn't even official yet and here they were ready to strike at the first opportunity.

"You can stop pretending now, A-Yeong. Bet you were just waiting for an opportunity and arranged this dinner, leaving me out just to gossip about me and my family. There's no need for the facade cuz we all know what happens in these dinners." Hye-Jin just cut to the chase. She wasn't a fan of pretending. "You have said hello to me. Now you may leave now."

"This is a public space and not your home," Sooyeon hissed. "And she isn't your servant. You have no right to ask her to leave."

"This is a private room I have booked for the rest of the evening for my privacy using my money." Hye-Jin met her gaze dead on, refusing to avert her gaze. "Does that mean something to you? I don't remember inviting any of you over to my room."

Sooyeon clenched her jaw. Myeong-suk looked equally mad but didn't say anything. She was a coward, who operated from the other's shadows. A-Yeong and Sooyeon were more like dogs barking at her command.

Myeong-suk wouldn't say something directly. Haven't said anything in years. It was always through the others or through some underhanded tactics. Hye-Jin pretended to not know or not notice so Myeong-suk thought she was safe.

Only Shin Na-Rae and a few of her friends saw Jimin and Jungkook together, but Shin Na-Rae was the one who took photos of them together, likely after following them without anyone noticing. So even if A-Yeong didn't pick Myeong-suk's name, it was apparent who was the hot topic of today's dinner and who was spilling the beans.

"You're mistaken if you thought you could get away from this, Hye-Jin," Sooyeon said in a condescending tone. "You know how the elite circle works. We are called 'the elites' for a reason. We will never allow a stray mutt to enter the room we are in. And now that extends to you." She notched her chin. "Your son should be mindful of where he sticks his dick into. If he doesn't get his act together, you and your family will have hell to pay for."

Hye-Jin burst into laughter. She threw her head back and laughed. Really laughed. Her sound bounced off the walls and she even slapped the table as she bent over. Something she never did before. She laughed for a good minute before she straightened.

The Park family had come from money. She was born into money. They never had to rely on anyone for anything and they weren't in the Top 10 without reason. So it was funny to her that the bitches who didn't even make it to the top 25 would threaten like this. The math isn't mathing. Who would end who?

However, Hye-Jin was also well aware of what an ill rumor was capable of. As much as she wanted to avoid these people, it wasn't an option. They won't let go that easily.

"So you're kicking me out of the elite circle, you say," Hye-Jin asked just to clarify.

"Whether you like it or not, that will be the outcome of this." Sooyeon glared at her. "What your son is doing is not okay and we will not accept it."

"Is that so?" Hye-Jin hummed. "Why didn't I see any of you barking at Mrs. Choi during the last 'elites only' dinner? Her son is a pro in sticking his dick where it didn't belong. He even went to jail for that, no?" She tilted her head to the side. "I saw you sucking up to her throughout the dinner. What's different this time?"