As soon as she reached the mansion, she tried to unlock the door and enter the house but she found it locked. She got too scared to ring the bell and risk waking anyone up and especially not her stepmother. So she seated herself down on the stairway and hugged her knees. Blowing in her palms because it was too cold and her pajama was sleeveless.

She fell asleep not long after.

***

“You wench!” she got kicked on her back and she fell head first to the ground, she looked back to see her stepmother glaring at her furiously:

“Where have you gone? Huh? You think you can leave this house and wander around during the night?!” She got pulled by the hair as she stands up to get hit several times before she gets pulled inside the house. “You’re a witch!” Jang Mi screamed, and the woman arched a brow and laughed. “Oh, did you just realize it now?” she raised her by the jaw “That’s true, I’m a witch, and guess what? This witch is going to erase your existence from this family’s register”

“W-What?” Jang Mi’s eyes widened.

“Since your father didn’t leave you anything, what benefit do I get from raising you? So from now on, you won’t be living with the name Jang Mi ok?”

“How about we call her Cinderella?” Yoon Song came down stairs all dressed up and suggested. “Hm? That’s a good idea, yes, Cinderella is a good nickname.” Mrs. Cha hummed in agreement. “There, you better thank me for making you the heroine of your favorite fairy tale”  then she went upstairs with her daughter after instructing Jang Mi to clean the house.

“Cinderella huh…”

She looked at her own reflection in the mirror that was beside the door. “It might be a good idea” she smiled. “What other choice do I have?”

I’m uneducated, young and I don’t have any money so I doubt I would be able to survive in this world all alone. Unless I work as a maid in another house, but then it’ll just be the same.

But I promise, I still promise to make you pay for what you did, slowly… and harshly. A strange glint appeared in her eyes as she stood in front of the mirror, she reached her hand to touch her pendant, the one that her mother gave her on the day she died, but then her eyes widened because… nothing was there.

“M-My pendant” She looked at the floor in panic, then opened the door and went to check the garden.

No way… I can’t lose that pendant no matter what!

-Few days later, in the office of the CEO of Lee Electronics corp.-

Someone knocked on the door, then came in the hugely spacious office, and bowed.

“President Lee” the man walked toward the office and handed the portfolio to him. Did you find the identity of the couple in the picture?” he took the portfolio and started to check the files. “Yes president Lee, that’s President Cha and his first wife” the secretary bowed again.

“Wait, President Cha? The owner of the Cha for Constructions? “

The secretary nodded: “Yes, he used to be a fine business partner to your father before he died in a car accident 3 years ago.”  Yu Jin held his jaw: “Why would some homeless girl have such a pendant?” he was checking the files that were in his hands, “Wait…” he stopped leafing through as he spotted some pictures.

“These pictures show clearly that this locket belonged to the deceased wife, as she wears it almost all the time. Yu Jin stared at the picture then asked:

“She has a daughter… but where is she right now?”  he entwined his fingers and rested his jaw on top of his hands, “We still don’t know for sure but she disappeared along with her father and her stepmother told the Media that she run away from home and still wasn’t found yet.” These words struck his mind as he remembered about the homeless girl.

Then could it be…

His phone soon rang and he heard his father’s voice on the other end to which he stiffened.

(Back in the Cha mansion)

“So you must prepare a fancy meal, there must NOT be any mistakes or imperfections and I’m warning you Era, slack off and you’ll be spending the cold nights on the kitchen’s floor alright?”

Mrs. Cha was walking around checking and adjusting the decorative vases and sculptures as she was ordering Jang Mi around, now given the name Era because it was weird for them to call her Cinderella.

“Yes ma’am” Jang Mi was dropping her head and standing straight as she entwined the fingers of her hands.

“Right, that’s what I want to hear haha” she laughed and swirled around.

Yes, she was in a good mood, and it was very rare, thought Jang Mi. “May I ask about the guests that you will be having Ma’am?” Jang Mi was speaking in an utterly reserved tone.

“Hm? You think you’ll recognize them even if I was to tell you who they are? And besides, humph” she shrugged “It’s not like you’ll be here to welcome them or anything” she patted her on the shoulder. “So go and start working, everything should be ready in 4 hours ok?”

The poor Era nodded then her heels and ran toward the kitchen. Mrs. Cha meanwhile smirked then called at her daughters:

“Now, for God’s sake! Yoon Song! Yoon Yi! Aren’t you ready yet?”

The two girls, looking all dressed up came downstairs and she clapped her hands together and nodded.

“Yes, that’s how my daughters should look like” she nodded and hummed.

“Oh my God! Mom, won’t you tell us who the guests will be?”

“Haha, that’s a surprise, you only need to look pretty that’s all” she laughed in amusement and then they walked toward the door. The driver was waiting for them and bowed as soon as they walked out the house. Era meanwhile glanced at the car that left from the big gate and sighed in relief.

“I won’t know even if she tells me huh” she spoke with a gloomy voice and looked at the sweeper she was using to clean the floor. “I wish Mrs. Cha would at least buy some modern cleaning equipment. Things would’ve been so easy if that was the case”

Well, complaining wouldn’t do me any good. 

She started to clean, drew a smile on her face as she walked to the living room and the stereo system. It was a habit of her to listen to pop music while doing the chores. That way, it was more fun and enjoyable she thought.

She was cooking by the time she heard the sound of the gate opening and a car engine outside, so she rushed to turn off the music and then stop by the door to welcome Mrs. Cha and the daughters.

They were carrying many shopping bags that had many brand names on them and Era couldn’t help but stare.

“What? You didn’t ask for anything or else we would’ve brought you a bag too” Yoon Song, the older sister mocked and Yoon Yi snorted.

“Now, now, don’t tease our Era like that, look, she did a nice job” The stepmother was looking around the house. “And the smell of the food is delicious” she added. “Good job today, so as a gift, after you finish setting the table, take the rest of the day off” She started to push Era by the shoulder as she guided her to the kitchen.

The girl however was very suspicious toward the sudden change in attitude of her stepmother. Yes, because no matter how perfectly she did the housework, she never got any compliment, yet alone to be praised and be given a day off. But of course she was in no place to ask or refuse, so she ended up doing as she was asked and went to stay in her room.

***

At exactly 6pm, the doorbell rang and Mrs. Cha hurried to answer the door, and as soon as they saw the two figures that appeared in front of them, the two girls gasped loudly.

“Oh my goodness!” they started to blink and covered their mouths in disbelief. And meanwhile the handsome young man and the teenager walked in and bowed to receive a similar gesture from Mrs. Cha, followed by her daughters.

“Good evening Mrs. Cha and thank you so much for your generous invitation”  Said the older brother, who was no other than Yu Jin.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Lee” she laughed elegantly then stepped aside and said “These are my two daughters Yoon Yi and Yoon Song” the two of them jerked and the man bowed slightly and smiled perfectly at them. “Nice to meet you ladies” and then he glared from the corner of his eye at Jun Ho who was gaping and looking at a statue. He cleared his throat and grabbed the head of his little brother, forced him to bow saying through forced laughs:

“Haha, I apologize for my little brother’s insolence, but he’s still a kid”  Jun Ho brushed Yu Jin’s hand away and blushed pouting: “Yes, yes, hyung is right I’m still a kid so count me out!” He went in the house and Yu Jin’s eyes went wide, trying to avoid the embarrassment, he was put through but the girls laughed and Mrs. Cha said with a kind voice:

“Let him be, boys his age are the hardest to control”

Yu Jin smiled in a carefree way and then he jerked slightly as the two sisters came to link both of his arms with theirs staring at his face with glittering eyes and he tried to keep grinning.

Are you happy now father?

He was almost cursing in his mind.

The two girls guided him to the living room and both of them chose to seat by his sides in the large sofa and kept staring at him the whole time while he talked to their mother about their business partnership.

Jang Mi was lying on her bed, staring at her doll which she raised in her hands. The doll’s face was dirty, its eyes have been removed and its beautiful red hair has been cut.

Those were the deeds of her stepsisters, two years ago.

“I even lost my locket, which was the only thing that remained from my old graceful days.” A tear streamed down.

What am I crying for?

She seated herself up and wiped her tears. Just then, the door of her room creaked open and she jumped up to her feet. Just to see.

“Huh? Who the…?” Jun Ho was surprised to the sight of Jang Mi.

“H-How did you..?” She backed off, covering because she knew that her stepmother wouldn’t have been the one who sent this guy especially that she asked her to hide her presence from anyone who might come to their visit. “Wait, I know I saw you somewhere…” He was taking steps towards her after closing the door behind him but Jang Mi was too scared and her back touched the wall.

“D-Don’t come near me!” she hid her face with her palms.

*To be continued*