Evelina's POV

  The soft glow of morning light filtered through the heavy curtains, casting golden streaks across the vish room. I y there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, allowing the remnants of sleep to fade away.

  With a quiet sigh, I finally decided to get up. There was no use zing around.

  Relying on the memories of my predecessor, I navigated my way toward the bathroom. As I stepped inside, I was momentarily stunned by its sheer luxury.

  A rge bathtub, pristine and inviting, sat in the center of the room. The toilet was tucked away behind misted gss, and the shower was enclosed by the same material. To the left, an open archway led to a walk-in closet, seamlessly connected to the bathroom.

  I let out a breath.

  Even with my memories, this level of opulence still felt surreal.

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  Deciding to take advantage of the amenities, I filled the tub with warm water and slipped in, letting the heat seep into my skin. The water soothed my muscles, easing away any lingering tension from the previous day.

  I allowed myself to rex, closing my eyes and simply enjoying the moment.

  It was rare to have time to myself like this.

  Once I was satisfied, I stepped out of the bath, wrapping myself in a thick robe. The warmth of the fabric was comforting against my skin as I made my way into the closet.

  The sight that greeted me was both impressive and overwhelming.

  Fur coats. Lots and lots of fur coats.

  I sighed. 'My predecessor’s Russian upbringing was evident in her wardrobe'.

  Most of the outfits here were extravagant—too much for a simple day out. I needed something casual. Something comfortable.

  But first, I needed to dry my hair.

  After a few minutes of carefully running a towel through my hair, I returned to the closet, scanning the racks for something suitable. Eventually, I settled on an oversized dusty rose knit sweater, tailored white straight-leg trousers, and soft suede ankle boots. Among the countless luxurious pieces, this was one of the most casual outfits avaible.

  'This would do'.

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  As I stepped out of my room, I was immediately greeted by one of my bodyguards. A bald man.

  Ah. One of the few bald men among my security detail.

  He stood silently, holding a tie and a comb.

  I blinked, then recalled what this meant.

  Relying on my predecessor’s memories, I understood that this was a part of my morning routine—getting my hair tied up.

  Without a word, I sat down.

  He worked efficiently, gathering my hair and securing it into a low ponytail before carefully decorating it with small pearls.

  As I admired my reflection, I heard his voice.

  "Готово, госпожа. Очень красиво." (Done, mistress. Very beautiful.)

  I smiled slightly. "Спасибо." (Thank you.)

  Another bodyguard approached, carrying a neatly arranged jewelry box. I gnced at him, debating whether I should choose something myself, but ultimately gestured for him to decide.

  He picked out a delicate bracelet with an intricate floral design, holding it out for my approval.

  I examined it briefly before nodding.

  "Спасибо." (Thank you.)

  With my appearance taken care of, I finally headed downstairs for breakfast.

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  The dining area was as extravagant as ever, yet it felt... empty.

  Because I was the only one here.

  Despite just inheriting my predecessor’s memories, and I had never met her parents. I had never spoken to them, never shared a meal with them.

  And yet, I felt their absence.

  The love my predecessor had for them, the warmth of their presence—it all lingered in my heart, leaving behind an ache I didn’t quite know how to process.

  At least the number of dishes prepared was reasonable. My predecessor had disliked wasting food, and I shared that sentiment.

  As I ate, my secretary approached.

  A man who radiated an "I am highly capable" aura.

  I nodded, signaling for him to proceed.

  He adjusted his gsses before listing out my schedule for the day.

  Surprisingly, there was only one task pnned.

  I raised a brow. "Это все?" (That’s all?)

  "Ваш первый день в школе уже близко. Вам нужно отдохнуть от работы." (Your first day of school is near. You need to take a break from work.)

  I nearly choked on my food.

  J High.

  The school I wanted to avoid at all costs.

  I had already been considering transferring somewhere else to steer clear of any major events. But just as I was about to voice my decision, I caught sight of my secretary’s face.

  He looked… excited.

  I promptly shut my mouth.

  I wasn’t heartless enough to crush his enthusiasm.

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  The meeting went smoothly, and by the time it ended, it was still only 11 AM. With the entire day ahead of me, I decided to take a stroll around the neighborhood.

  Of course, my request came with a condition—I had to bring Dmitry, one of my bodyguards.

  I agreed, and soon, I was stepping outside.

  Excitement bubbled within me. I was in Korea! In my past life, I had been an American, and my predecessor had spent most of her life in Russia. The thought of finally exploring a different culture firsthand made me eager to see more.

  As I wandered into a less fortunate area, something caught my eye.

  An elderly woman, struggling to push a cart filled with cardboard boxes.

  I felt a pang of sympathy and immediately moved to help her.

  The woman startled, waving her hands dismissively. "Ah, dear, you don’t have to! I can handle it!"

  I simply smiled. "Let me help."

  Then I remembered Dmitry.

  Turning around, I found him staring at me with a conflicted expression. I met his gaze and gave a firm nod.

  "Ты толкнёшь тележку." (You will push the cart.)

  Understanding flickered in his eyes, and he immediately stepped forward, taking hold of the cart.

  The woman blinked in confusion. "Oh, no, really, I can manage!"

  I took her hand gently, holding it in mine. "I won’t let go."

  She hesitated but eventually sighed in defeat.

  As we walked, she admitted she was still looking for more cardboard to collect. I nodded, signaling for Dmitry to keep pushing the cart as we continued strolling.

  At one point, she hesitated again. "Dear, you can let go of my hand… I’m dirty."

  I frowned at how low her self-esteem was. Tightening my grip slightly, I said firmly, "Even if I get dirty, I won’t let go."

  A soft smile formed on her lips.

  "What’s your name, dear?"

  "Evelina."

  She tried repeating it, stumbling over the pronunciation. I waited patiently, nodding encouragingly each time she attempted to say it correctly. Finally, she got it right.

  I grinned. "Yes! That’s my name."

  The woman chuckled before introducing herself.

  "My name is Park Seonhui."

  I froze.

  Park Seonhui.

  Daniel’s mother.

  Quickly composing myself, I gave her a polite nod. "I see."

  Internally, however, I was panicking.

  I had only helped her because she seemed like a pitiful ahjumma. But somehow, I had unknowingly stumbled upon someone deeply significant to the plot.

  Of all the people I could have helped today… why did it have to be Daniel’s mother?