Numerous ideas and possibilities swarmed inside her head; some too absurd to comprehend, some too complacent to accept. Hyunmi may have obtained a shocking revelation that could favor her against the malicious Lee Sungyeol.   Without hesitation, she raptly grabbed the golden pin in her hand and strode outside to the stable located behind the house. Her clandestine escape was thwarted by an uninvited presence among the animals. Poor Jangjun soliloquised of his unrequited love to an audience of cows and horses. Hitherto, his sanity had departed.   “Jangjun, I apologize for interrupting you, but I need Carrot. Could you mount him for me?”   Jangjun flinched at her stealthy entrance, noticing the rush in her voice. He moved to the brown stallion whose mane seemed nearly golden orange in the sunlight, and settled the saddle on top of it. “Are you visiting Rika?”   “Nay, I have other matters to take care of…” She trailed off, fabricating a last minute excuse. “We are out of spice.”   “Sungyoon can purchase it tomorrow morning.”   “We can prevent scarcity if I leave now.” She hurriedly hooked her foot against the stirrup to haul herself over the seat, taking the reins between her fingers to remain balanced.   “The clouds look gloomy. I am afraid it may rain soon,” Jangjun spoke, looking up at the sky. Big greyish clouds drifted around the house, clouding the sunshine through its mist.   “I will return before the sun sets.”   She nudged the horse to set pace, immediately starting off with a speedy gallop. Its hooves strode through the familiar road leading towards town, and Hyunmi hoped the two gentlemen would not cross her path.   For a woman who took comfort in planning, her action was reckless in comparison. Lee Sungyeol may still be at the Iris Pub, she may miss her chance at an encounter, he may not return home, and yet she steered Carrot towards Sungjong’s residence.   The humongous building soon appeared in her line of vision. It was as intimidating and unwelcoming as she remembered, akin to its owner. To the rich, its formidable size was considered small and humbled—twenty individual chambers was a puny number. Even as she hopped off the horse, the shadow of the house loomed over her small frame. If it meant to intimidate her, it pulsed her racing adrenaline rush instead.   The chances of encountering Sungyeol was nihil, but such were the chances when gambling. After endless minutes of waiting near the front door like a beggar, her emissary produced some results. She heard footsteps inching closer with each click of the heel, immediately getting up on her feet to give a small mocking curtsy.   “Miss Jang.” Sungyeol made a statement of recognition rather than one of inquiry. The shock on his face morphed into an unwelcoming stare. “How do you know my place of residence?”   “It would be better to inquire the reason of my visitation,” she told him, slowly marching toward him, her dress falling heavy unto the stony path.   Sungyeol narrowed his eyes at her, disliking her retaliating attitude. Unlike other females of her class, she showed him little respect and could not be threatened into submission. “Why are you here?”   She lifted her face to him, studying his towering height that was a faint resemblance to Daeyeol’s. This was not enough evidence to back her theory. “Your confession chimes in my head, and I wish to gain answers for my curiosity. Why do you deny Sungjong from your family?”   “You must have forgotten I detest you. Even if I were at a position to offer my assistance, I would choose not to.” Sungyeol smiled crudely when the glint in her eyes faded. He mistook it for defeat, not knowing it surged more determination instead.   “Is he adopted?”   “If he were, would it satisfy your curiosity?” Sungyeol asked with a vehement tone of displease.   Hyunmi stubbornly placed herself before him, blocking his path. She retrieved the golden brooch from her pocket and exhibited the familiar jewelry to him. The golden bird at the center brimmed with pride, its tiny wings spread out like a majestic phoenix. Such was the illusion created by the robin.   Sungyeol’s eyes widened as he registered the object. He reached out to the brooch, having only traced the bird with a gentle brush before Hyunmi retracted it from him.   “Where did you obtain it?” He asked.   “In my attic. Strange isn’t it?” Hyunmi hummed, exaggerated her pondering. She watched the calculations written on his face, connecting dots of her stories to form the overall big picture. He let out a small gasp when realization hit him.   “You know whom it belongs to.” He controlled his level of curiosity, regarding her in the same manner a predator eyed its prey. He did not think he could averse her any more than this, but her obstinate attitude irked him.   “It is a knowledge I’d be willing to share in order to quench your curiosity,” a devious smile spread over her lips. She studied his expression, seeing the wrinkle between his eyebrows and a small twitch to his lips. He was trapped.   “What do you want in exchange for this information?” Sungyeol gritted his teeth, smart enough to know it wouldn’t come at no cost.   “Forfeit your claims on my house, and I shall put up a good word for you,” she suggested, tucking the brooch back into her pocket.   Sungyeol blinked his eyes before he burst out in laughter, his narrow shoulders bouncing along to his flounced movements. “I expected something more terrifying than your foolish proposal. I object.”   Of course, Hyunmi accounted the failure in her plan, preparing to launch her second enfilade. “Why have you chosen to abandon the young boy? Is he a bastard son?”   Sungyeol flinched at her harsh accusations, his expression seeming almost hopeless, an expression that convinced her of the faraway truth she had yet to obtain.   “You better keep your mouth shut when you know nothing of our family matters.”   “Then, enlighten me,” she countered. “Should you choose to refuse, as I suspect you will, you must be prepared for a legal investigation.”   “What?”   “Child abuse is a criminal offence, Mr. Lee. By abandoning a boy, you have made his mind susceptible to feelings of insecurity. Mr. Sungjong may be exempted from jail considering his adoption,” she said, having thorough knowledge of the topic. “Does Sungjong know of his unfortunate status?”   “That is none of your concern! You may threaten all you want, but the bluff is written on your face. How will you persuade the private investigators to track down the past when you have no money to pay them with?”   Hyunmi smiled at him, showing no hints of panic. She had thought of several possibilities during her journey, and tackling Sungyeol’s refusal had been first on her list. “I have Mr. Nam.”   Again, it made Sungyeol laugh with an incredulous chilling shriek. “Do you suppose he loves you to the extend of lending his money for some stupid case?”   “I do not make deals using sympathizing methods. In the same manner I have something of interest to you, I have my own means of getting him to act for me.” Now she was bluffing, but he fell for it.   Darkness fleeted over Sungyeol’s face who for once believed he might have a chance at failure. He gritted his teeth, feeling the itch in his fist as the last bit of thinning patience restrained him.   “Sungjong was adopted to fill the absence of my missing brother,” he uttered through his gritted teeth. The statement was as soft and delicate as the dandelions within a storm, but crashed against her like the ocean waves hitting a rocky shore.   This set the entire case in a new perspective.   ***   The time the horse strode back to its stable, Hyunmi had not expected to find Woohyun there. He looked up from the horse he was petting, a warm smile accompanying the anticipating glint in his eyes.   “Jangjun informed me of your impromptu trip,” his eyes absorbing the horse’s saddle. “It seems you have failed to accomplish what was meant to be your initial reason for going.”   The sneer remark awoke Hyunmi’s realization of her faux pas. She told Jangjun of her intention to refill the supply of spices only to return empty handed. “By the time I arrived, the store was closed,” she calmly replied.   Woohyun carefully watched her response, realizing her unintentional expertise at deception. Had he not known any better, he would take her words for what they were. The biggest trespass of her mistake was her calm demeanor, a sight too well practiced to be natural.   “Why have you chosen the animals as your company?” Hyunmi asked without looking at him. She led Carrot back to its own stable and swung her foot over the horse.   “I got lonely awaiting your return. These animals make excellent conversationalists,” Woohyun humored, extending a hand to her.   The absurdity of his answer made her laugh in a way she was no longer ashamed of, unable to deny the amusement he gifted her with. A familiar thud appeared in her heart when she placed her fingers within his open palm. Woohyun’s protective arm hovered before her when she jumped off the horse, ready to catch her if she were to fall.   “What remarkable tales have they entertained you with?” She played along to his fable.   “Well, the cows beseeched me to correct your beliefs. Similar to horses, they can be mounted.”   “Truly?” She questioned with a delirious chuckle. Her eyes trailed down toward their hands, realizing her fingers were still entwined in his. Being the only two people present, she found little reason to let go.   “They may be slower than a horse, but it does not make them any less effective. I suppose we should never allow the status quo to form prejudiced opinions against new possibilities,” Woohyun said, leading them out of the stable.   The weather had gotten gloomier from the time he left that morning. He was still wearing the white scarf around his neck, the exact same manner she had prepped him with. Almost as if he was afraid to lose traces of her touch if he were to rearrange it.   “Prejudiced opinions,” she repeated the words, feeling a jolt through her vein, a movement which translated to a squeeze of Woohyun’s hand. Her conversation with Sungyeol repeated itself in her mind; the forbearing feeling of victory wounded up feeling like a great loss instead.   Sungyeol claimed his brother had gone missing, meaning the family never intended to abandon him. Yet, a mere outsider who loathed the rich, allowed her prejudice to misunderstand the injustice. She took the young boy with her, believing he had been granted a good future when in fact, she had robbed him of a greater one.   She ruined Daeyeol.   Her thoughts dissipated when she felt a sudden touch caressing the small space between her eyebrows. “What are you doing, Mr. Nam?”   “I am smoothing out the frowns from your face. Would it help rid you of your worries?” He asked softly, continuing the gentle act.   The clamor in her heart was uncontainable, each beat outracing the pace of the previous one. She disliked the thoughtfulness of his well crafted words, the sweetness with which he conveyed it, and the gentleness found in his faint touches. Because the more he evinced such mannerism, the more