I Don’t Want to be a Villainess

“Well then, I’m really sorry for Ms. Shin So-hee…”

As we were on our way to school, Yang Hye-in spoke a bit hesitantly.

The expression “hardly visible on a usual basis” no longer applied.

She used to come off as doll-like, lifeless, mechanical, and emotionless, but that image was slowly crumbling away these days.

If I had to pinpoint an exact moment, it would have been after she properly apologized to me.

Since then, I guess she thought she owed me some kind of debt, and Yang Hye-in treated me with caution.

Sure, when nothing’s happening, her expression still doesn’t change much. Looking at that, it made me think that maybe this was just her original personality since before these events began. Perhaps my mother thought that Yang Hye-in’s demeanor would be good for monitoring me.

However, whenever it came to matters related to me, especially involving the Chairwoman, her expression would crumble like that. I wouldn’t say she was as expressive as Sohee or Ha Neul, but recently I found myself thinking, “Did this person really know how to show this kind of expression?”

Honestly, while she was indeed like a doll, she wasn’t at the level where you’d poke her and blood wouldn’t come out.

“You moved the location because you didn’t want to see my mother.”

“But Ms. Shin So-hee’s house is an easy place to investigate.”

“…”

Hmm.

Well, if Yang Hye-in says so, then it must be true.

After all, even though Sohee is employed by me, uncovering Sohee’s personal information shouldn’t be too difficult. For Sohee to work, her father’s consent is needed, and all those consent forms or personal documents… they would all be at the mansion.

No matter how well Yang Hye-in hid them, isn’t my mother quite wealthy? It’s not like Yang Hye-in could investigate the entire mansion by herself.

And even without searching within the mansion, there are countless ways to find out. If that weren’t possible, then crimes like voice phishing wouldn’t exist, right?

“But then, what was the reason for initially agreeing?”

“That’s because…”

Yang Hye-in hesitated again before speaking.

“Because there are so few people you can trust that much.”

“Ah, I see.”

It was true. The only people I could trust were those around me. Apart from Ha Neul, Sua, and Sohee, there were a few others, but still… the only three I could trust my life with, without a doubt, were those three.

The person inside me, as she shares the same body, has no way of helping me in this situation.

“Lee Soo-ah has offered a room for you.”

I see.

Ha Neul doesn’t come from a household that you would call ‘wealthy,’ and thus, the only one I could personally ask for help from would be Sua.

Though it couldn’t be compared to the Yujin Group—most Korean companies can’t really be compared to the Yujin Group—she was the only friend I could rely on who had some margin.

“But have Sua’s parents consented?”

“According to Lee Soo-ah… yes, they have.”

“Really?”

I glanced at Sohee, who had been quietly walking beside me.

“…”

Sohee, who had been silent, smiled brightly when our eyes met.

“Doing what the sunbae says is definitely safer. Sure, my house is just an ordinary apartment. Sua’s place is much larger and more comfortable to stay in.”

“…”

I turned back to Yang Hye-in and said, “I guess I’ll be the only one to enter?”

“Yes, it will likely be that way.”

There was no way I could invite more family, being in someone else’s care.

It would also be ridiculous to say I would pay for lodging. While the comparison of assets was night and day, Sua’s family wasn’t so impoverished as to ask for money when giving a room.

…Well, whatever, I wouldn’t be staying forever anyway.

“Then, please proceed like that. Ah, and…”

“Yes.”

“I hope that the people working in the mansion will all be replaced soon. I mean, it doesn’t matter if they’re replaced or not, but please sort it out as soon as possible. We can’t have anyone messing around in the mansion.”

“If that happens, the number of people managing the mansion will be greatly reduced.”

“Then let’s reduce the rooms being managed. Anyway, we can lock up the rooms that aren’t being used and put some cloth over the furniture… it just needs to be maintained enough so the house doesn’t fall apart, right?”

“But if it ends up looking like an abandoned building, it might attract the attention of local youths.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. There are often kids who go into abandoned buildings because they’ve heard rumors about ghosts appearing there.”

“…”

Can rumors really fly about a house that was just lived in not long ago?

Thinking back to the rumors that followed me, it wouldn’t be out of the question.

“…If that happens, there wouldn’t be any harm.”

Since I wouldn’t be there.

I had no intention of ever returning again.

It would just serve to show that.

Or, how about if rumors spread that I had died in that place?

That’s something to consider.

“Still, please make sure to lock the doors securely, and if possible, ensure there’s no way people can enter the rooms. Contact a private security company to have them patrol at intervals.”

“Understood.”

Yang Hye-in nodded as she responded to my words.

As our conversation wrapped up, the school gate came into view from afar.

At the school gate, Ha Neul and Sua were waiting. They must have been checking to see whether or not my mother was coming while standing there.

…But wait.

They usually wait at the gate until I arrive at school, so I guess nothing has really changed, has it?

“Hey guys!”

Sohee shouted enthusiastically toward them and waved. Ha Neul and Sua turned to look over here upon hearing her voice.

“Hi!”

Ha Neul smiled brightly and waved back at us.

*

“……”

I stared out the window in silence throughout the class.

My mind was all jumbled.

A few months wasn’t nearly enough time to completely sort out a lifetime of emotions.

I thought about getting revenge on my mother. Of course, I still held onto that thought. I now had precious existences that I didn’t want to lose, and they could possibly replace my mother in my life going forward.

The problem was, deep down, I still wanted my mother.

As family.

As the precious mother who went through my childhood with me.

…Even while knowing it was an impossible wish, every time I became aware of my mother’s existence looking for me, I couldn’t help but picture her smiling face.

I hated my mother.

But at the same time, I loved her.

This feeling was strangely different from the feelings I had towards that person, so it wasn’t something I could change easily.

No cars were coming on the other side of the school gate.

Perhaps my mother had given up on finding me. Maybe she thought I was just a lost cause who wouldn’t listen to her.

Every time I had thoughts like that, a sharp pain punctured a corner of my heart.

Even though I hated her so much.

Thinking about it, I did choose too hastily.

You, who tried to take everything from me, I’ll take everything from you in return.

And you’ll have to give up just one thing.

…If only my mother had truly loved me.

And when I had given her up, I hoped she would feel despair just as much as I do.

Just as much as I do.

*

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