10pm. The rain was pouring.
Jennie's emotions had been stabilized within Lisa's embrace and the couple hugged each other to sleep cheek-to-cheek.
"I've already asked Coque to postpone tonight's shoot. Get some rest."
Jennie buried herself into Lisa's embrace, pressing her head against his chest, "No need. I'm just going to have a half hour nap and then I'm going to go for the shoot."
"OK. If you want to have a nap, I'll hug you and keep you warm. If you want to go do some filming, I'll accompany you," Lisa did not force Jennie to rest, he simply fulfilled her every request. Because after listening to the conversation between Jennie and Elder Kim, he got the idea that Jennie had experienced a childhood of pain and suffering.
The Kim Family's obstacles, Elder Kim's controlling nature and her own guilt and discomfort...
...just the thought of all these made Lisa's heart ache.
So, 1 hour later, filming commenced...
...
Late into the night, after Elder Kim returned to the Kim Family home, his assistant immediately called for a doctor, attracting the attention of everyone in the family.
Nancy paced back and forth anxiously until Elder Kim's condition was stabilized. She then asked the assistant, "Where did grandfather go? Why did his illness suddenly get triggered?"
"Errr..." the assistant was put in a difficult position.
"What is there that you can't say? Grandfather is already in this condition..." Nancy had an extremely anxious expression on her face.
"The chairman went to meet with Miss Jennie," the assistant replied honestly.
After hearing this, Nancy was a little surprised, "Did you say grandfather went to look for Jennie? Grandfather vowed he'd never see Jennie again..."
"She is his granddaughter after all, how could he possibly not see her again? Chairman simply said it out of anger!"
Nancy handed the medicine and water to the assistant and turned to return to her room. She had already endured so much, but why wasn't Jennie keeping her distance from the Kim Family?
She was well aware that deep in Elder Kim's heart, his top choice for a successor had always been Jennie. Unfortunately, Jennie was the daughter of a mistress. So, everyone had the right except for her.
"Grandfather...you've left me with no choice," Nancy clenched her fists. Inside, she subconsciously wanted Jennie to distance herself from the Kim Family; just a little further and a little further more...
...
"Scene 182, Act 3, action!"
This was a scene between Jennie and the athlete. Regarding the child's upbringing, the athlete wanted nothing to do with it.
Upon the muddy post-rain road, Jennie carried her child weakly towards the athlete. But, when he saw her, not only did he deny knowing her, he even refused to acknowledge his child.
In front of the cameras, Jennie carried her child as a scornful smile appeared on her face. She looked at the back of the athlete and exclaimed, "My child is a genius. You will regret not accepting him one day."
"Crazy woman! I'm an athlete. I can't have a child. I still need to win awards and become number one!"
Jennie looked at the man that disappeared without looking back. After struggling a little, she ended up collapsing on the floor...
"He really is a genius."
Under the empty night sky, all that could be heard was Jennie mumbling to herself...
"Pass..." Coque stood up and exclaimed. After being in Beijing for quite some time, he had picked up a few useful words and phrases. This time, as he called out, it did not seem awkward at all.
After filming was complete, Lisa approached Jennie before she had completely pulled out of the character, and wrapped her in a jacket, "Mrs. Manoban, it's time to snap out of character!"
"Two more scenes to go and filming will be complete!" Jennie sighed, "I suddenly feel like I'll miss it."
"Everything will be wrapped up tomorrow..." Lisa escorted her out between his arms, "It's late tonight. Hurry back to the hotel and get some rest. You have an early filming session tomorrow."
"Tomorrow... You still remember what you promised me, right?"
"Of course."
Jennie turned her head and looked at Lisa, he also looked quite tired. This almighty CEO, had stood here all night because of her, regardless of the weather. He also worried about her all the time. Thinking about this, Jennie suddenly felt her heart ache. Especially when she remembered the words he had previously said.
Did he really love her more than she loved him?
Lisa had long prepared a speech for the announcement of their marriage. All he had been waiting for, was the right day and moment...
However, another piece of news was one step ahead...
[Explosive News! Rich Family Battle: Jennie Confirmed to be an Illegitimate Child!]
[Jennie's Birth a Mystery. Is She Really an Heiress?]
[Daughter of a Mistress: Jennie's True Identity Revealed!]
The next morning, Yuna knocked urgently on Jennie's door and handed the news directly to her. As for Manoban Entertainment, they had already started working on their PR; anything that mentioned Jennie's identity, was immediately deleted. However, this didn't stop word from spreading within the industry.
"Rich families are disgusting, they sure are a mess."
"This isn't that big of a news, why is it even worth exposing?"
"Since Jennie is the daughter of a mistress, will she also become a mistress?"
If this was in the past, seeing news like this would merely make Jennie scoff with disdain, because those that hurt her were strangers and she couldn't be bothered getting upset over strangers.
But, this time, the news could have only been exposed by the Kim Family because they were the only ones that knew of it.
"Jennie unnie..."
Seeing Jennie suffer, Yuna wanted to comfort her. But, Jennie grabbed onto her wrist and said, "Don't tell Lisa. He just left and has a lot to deal with back at Manoban Entertainment."
"Actually, Boss had given me a call not too long ago, telling me not to tell you about this issue in case it made you unhappy."
"I'm fine. Since it is the truth, what's wrong with it being exposed?"
"But...will it affect the Manoban Family's impression of you?" this was what Yuna was most worried about.
"Help me prepare a car. I want to pay a visit to the Kim Family," Jennie instructed firmly. There were some things she had to resolve in person. The Jennie that allowed Nancy to bully her, was already in the past. At present, no one should dream of hurting her, because hurting her was equivalent to hurting Lisa!"
"Should I mention this to Boss?"
"Of course. But, I want to head over first. I can't stay seated here for another second."
"OK, you go ahead. Here's the car keys. Before the media gather, get out of here," Yuna said as she escorted Jennie out.
As Jennie left, Yuna watched as she disappeared. She suddenly felt that life was filled with difficulties. Taking her own family as an example: her brother was greedy and her sister was cruel. As for Jennie, her family had forced her to this point. How much of a grudge did they hold against her, for them to treat a relative in such a way?
Actually, Jennie understood why Nancy had done something like this. It was because her grandfather had come to look for her.
Was Nancy that afraid of Jennie becoming the successor of the Kim family business?
So much that she'd actually expose the Kim Family's embarrassing scandal?
Jennie started up the car and sped towards the Kim Family home. However, halfway there, she received a phone call from Lisa, "Slow down!"
Jennie immediately slowed down.
"Wifey, you head over first. I'm already on my way to see you. Since we were planning to announce our marriage today, this is the perfect time and place!"
...
It was a sunny morning at the Kim Family home.
On the extravagant living room stairs, wearing a black suit, Elder Kim stood upright with his walking stick as he swept his icy cold stare across the two rows of offspring in front of him.
The family scandal had been revealed, so Nancy was punished to kneel. Father Kim and Mother Kim stood to the right side, whilst the Kim grandchildren stood to the left.
Apart from Nancy , the second oldest Nayeon and the youngest Taehyung were also summoned by Elder Kim. Out of her siblings, Jennie was the third oldest.
"Today, I have made a difficult decision. I have decided to kick out my other granddaughter," Elder Kim said with a dull voice, "What are your thoughts?"
"Father..." Father Kim said in a shocked tone.
"You are the least qualified to say anything. Everything happened because of you," Elder Kim directly rejected Father Kim's attempt to share his opinion.
"Grandfather, I can't accept it!" Nancy said as she stood up, "For the sake of Jennie, you're actually willing to kick your granddaughter out?"
"Jennie is also my granddaughter. Plus, even now, you still don't seem to understand what you've done wrong. Because of your pettiness, you've exposed the secret that the Kim Family have been trying to hide for decades. You've brought a mess upon the entire Kim Family. I can't possibly keep you around after what you've done," Elder Kim growled.
"How is she your granddaughter? Who's to say she wasn't born from some random man..."
"PAK!"
Elder Kim barely resulted to violence, but this time, be couldn't hold back his slap.
His aged hands were still full of power as Nancy's head flew to one side, "I, Zhen Kim, hereby confirm, with your attitude and temper, you should not dream of ever staking claim on the Kim Family business."
Nancy's eyes grew wide. She wasn't willing to accept her fate at all. However, at this time, the housekeeper entered the living room and said, "Chairman, the Third Miss has returned."
"How dare she return?" Nancy yelled furiously.
"Let her in!" Elder Kim said as he tapped his walking stick on the floor.
Over the past 9 years...the number of times Jennie had stepped foot into the Kim Family home could be counted on one hand. Under these roofs, her memories were filled with suppression. But this time, she no longer bowed down to them.
She appeared in the living room dressed in a brown trench coat with her long hair hanging loosely.
Everyone felt there was something different about her...
Whether it was her presence or her expression, it was different to the Jennie that used to avoid everything.
...
Jennie walked over to the kneeling Nancy with her high heeled shoes. She bowed to Elder Kim and greeted him, "Grandfather," before turning to Father Kim and Mother Kim and greeting them too...
No one knew why she had come...
Yet, no one stopped to think, this was her home to begin with.
"Jenjen, it's good to see you home," Father Kim said lovingly.
Jennie did not look at Father Kim. She simply sneered at Elder Kim and said, "Grandfather, I want to resolve some private matters with Nancy. I hope you all stay out of it."
"Jenjen...you are sisters..." Father Kim tried to hold her back.
"OK," Elder Kim cut in after giving Jennie a quick glance. He was curious, after 9 years on the outside, how much the world had shaped her.
So, he asked his assistant to help him sit down while Jennie turned to face Nancy.
Before anyone expected a thing, another loud "PAK!" echoed through the room. Jennie had slapped Nancy!
Nancy was slapped!
Everyone was shocked. Meanwhile, Nancy held onto her face, "You hit me?!"
"Yes, I hit you," Jennie said firmly with her chest held high, "This slap is for all the years of putting up with your crap!"
"You..."
"Do you know why grandfather looks highly on me and not you? Because I am better than you at everything! When we were young, your academic results never compared to me, you were never as likeable as me and when I left home after we became adults, you still couldn't compare to me. The existence of my name is like a splinter in your heart!"
"Since I am a splinter, I will continue hanging around like this. Being able to anger you and drive you crazy is exactly what I like to do."
"But Nancy, you must remember..."
"..I will always be more capable than you - that is reality."
"As for all the years I've spent overseas and not stepped foot through the family doors, I think that already expresses my intentions clearly."
"Yet, you didn't act accordingly."
"I hate it when people leave me with no choice..."
"If you don't stop with your schemes, then I'm sorry, the day I've reached the limit of my tolerance is the day I will return to the Kim Family. I don't need permission from any of you."
"Today, I am only giving you a warning. If you continue to provoke me, then you might as well give up your position as the Kim Family heiress."
While Jennie spoke these words...
...her gaze was icy cold. So cold it actually made other's shiver in fear.
Even though her presence wasn't as intimidating as Lisa's...
...no one doubted the words that were coming out of her mouth.
Her expression was enough to tell everyone how serious she was.
Seeing Nancy in a daze, Jennie turned to face Elder Kim. After a quick bow, she said, "Grandfather don't worry, I will handle the scandal well. I'm sorry for intruding today."
After speaking, Jennie turned to leave, but Elder Kim held her back, "If you still consider yourself a part of the Kim Family, then don't you dare walk out of here."
"Grandfather, don't force me."
"I already expressed my thoughts clearly last night..."
"If you walk out of this home today, you will be just like Nancy and no longer be a part of the Kim Family," Elder Kim scoffed as he gave a flick of his sleeves. "Nancy was wrong, but the way that you expose yourself to the public is even worse..."
"I've never embarrassed the Kim Family..."
"Have you forgotten about your scandals, gossips and world's most beautiful legs award?" Elder Kim squinted his eyes and scoffed. "In my eyes, that is all embarrassing."
"Well, there's nothing I can do about that." After giving her response, Jennie continued walking out the door. But, Elder Kim, spoke up again, "Are you really going to give up on your parents and family? All because of your so-called passion and dream?"
"Jenjen...don't leave. Father and mother both miss you dearly," Father Kim tried to convince her.
Jennie shook her head.
However, on her third attempt to leave, Mother Kim suddenly broke her silence as she said in a raspy voice, "I know all of this is because of me..."
Jennie did not look back.
"I know that in Jennie's heart, she would rather I not exist because I have caused her a lifetime of shame."
"Madam, don't make things more complicated," Father Kim immediately tried to comfort her.
"I know the best way to solve all the problems is for me to disappear, right?"
"Madam, what nonsense are you speaking?"
"That's enough. Jennie won't be going anywhere today. Stay here and I will get someone to handle all the gossip," Elder Kim cut in. "As for Nancy , this will be the last time. If I discover you doing something like this again, don't blame me for being heartless."
"Sorry grandfather, I still have a shoot to go to.. "