Jaewook led Minah up a flight of quiet stairs to the second floor of the villa.
He said nothing as they walked, just kept his pace even and his presence calm beside her. When they stopped in front of a white door, he opened it gently and stepped aside.
"This is your room."
Minah stepped inside.
Soft afternoon light filtered through semi-sheer curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. The walls were painted a delicate ivory, and the bed—perfectly made—was covered in a light pink duvet with fluffy white and blush-toned pillows.
And… an excessive number of plushies.
So. Many. Plushies.
Minah blinked.
Jaewook sighed behind her, clearly unimpressed.
"I told Hyun Soo not to get that many plush toys," he muttered. "If you don't like them, you can donate them. Or toss them out. I won't be offended."
Minah looked at him.
Then—without warning—she giggled.
A small, rare sound that caught even her by surprise.
Jaewook turned slightly, eyebrows lifting. For a brief moment, he looked almost… stunned. But he didn't comment. He just let the moment sit.
Besides the aggressively adorable plush pile, the rest of the room was minimal and thoughtfully put together.
A medium-sized walk-in closet—not mansion-sized, but spacious enough for her entire wardrobe.
A sleek white makeup table sat near the window, complete with a mirror and soft lighting. Across from it, an office desk with a desktop already set up—organized, clean.
Small touches of personality were already in place: a tiny cactus plant, a Shiba Inu pen holder that looked oddly smug, and a lavender-scented diffuser quietly misting the air.
It was hers. All of it.
Not a space she was forced into. Not a leftover room in someone else's house.
Her room. For the first time in forever.
Jaewook stood quietly by the door, letting her take it all in.
"If anything's missing or not to your taste," he said, "tell Hyun Soo. Or me. We'll change it."
He paused.
"And if you need time alone, no one will disturb you. Not even me."
Minah turned back toward him.
She didn't sign anything. But the look in her eyes—grateful, soft, unsure—was more than enough.
Jaewook gave a small nod, turned, and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him with quiet respect.
-----
Just as Minah began to explore the desk area, the door creaked open again.
Jaewook peeked in, his expression serious as ever.
"Always close the curtains," he said firmly, "before you leave or after you open the window. For my health and safety."
Minah blinked, then gave a tiny nod.
Without another word, he gently pulled the door closed again.
There was something oddly endearing about how extra he was about sunlight. But the concern in his voice hadn't sounded dramatic—it sounded real.
---
Downstairs, Jaewook immediately called Hyun Soo.
The line connected fast. "Yes, boss?"
"I told you to get a few plushies," Jaewook said flatly. "Not a mountain."
On the other end, Hyun Soo was completely unfazed. "They're cute," he said unapologetically. "I heard a lot of women her age love adorable plushies. I do not regret a single one. They radiate comfort."
Jaewook pinched the bridge of his nose. "It looks like a pink-themed invasion."
"You're welcome."
Jaewook sighed in surrender.
Then Hyun Soo added, "By the way… should we let Miss Song get her personal belongings? She won't be able to re-enter her old house after tomorrow."
There was a pause.
Jaewook stared out the window, the late sunlight blocked by thick blackout curtains.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I'll let her know."
-----
The drive back to her old house was silent, but Minah didn't mind.
She didn't feel sadness. No nostalgia. Just a quiet sense of relief.
This wasn't her home. It never had been.
As the car rolled to a stop at the familiar gate, Minah gave a small nod to Hyun Soo, then stepped out without hesitation. Her feet touched the pavement with a new kind of certainty.
Hyun Soo remained by the main door, waiting patiently in case she needed help with luggage or to—gently—fend off unwanted humans.
But no one was home.
Minah entered quietly and went straight to her room.
She didn't waste time. She knew exactly what was hers—and what wasn't.
Everything gifted by Sana, Yoon, or her foster parents? Straight into a large black trash bag. Jewelry, clothes, photos… all of it. Not out of spite—but because none of it held meaning. None of it was real.
It took her two hours.
Two hours of methodical, focused packing.
By the time she emerged, the hallway lights had begun to flicker on with the coming dusk. She rolled out two large suitcases, a tote bag slung over one shoulder, and a small day backpack on her back.
That was it.
Her whole life, condensed—but finally hers.
Hyun Soo stepped forward and gave a small nod of approval. "I'll load those into the car."
Minah didn't reply. She just handed him the tote and followed him out the door, never looking back once.
Not even when the lock clicked shut behind her.