Chapter 134 - Frighten her

Hearing her laughs, the woman immediately left Taehee's ears, and replacing the glare with an apologetic expression, the woman looked at Jinhee whilst wearing a smile on her face.

"Where are my manners? What is your name, little girl?" The woman questioned.

"I'm Jinhee, Lee Jinhee," Jinhee answered whilst trying to bow. Her crutches made it hard for her to do so.

Holding her shoulders, the woman stopped her and voiced out, "Oh dear! You don't need to do that, and it seems that you're injured. I'm Han Jihye, and this brat's mother."

"Thank you for having me here, Han Jihye-ssi," Jinhee spoke out.

"Omo!" Han Jihye exclaimed, "You look exactly like a squirrel when you talk!"

Awkward on what to say, Lee Jinhee smiled at the woman in front of her. Lee Jinhee did not know how interact with such a amiable person without being rude.

"Mom, if you have noticed, Jinhee is injured, and she can't stand for too long." Taehee rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry, my dear. You're so cute that I forgot about it. Come here and take a seat," The woman spoke out in an apologetic tone. There was no sign on fakery or mock in it.

Then, staring at Taehee, the woman voiced out, "And you brat, you again used that tone on me. I should have you grounded!"

"No, it's alright, Jihye-ssi. I didn't mind," Jinhee answered.

°°°

Sitting at the couch, Lee Jinhee gulped. Both Han Jihye and Taehee stared at her, and being the centre of attention was not something Lee Jinhee preferred.

Turning her head to look at Han Jihye, Jinhee, in a nervous tone, said, "I'm sorry that I came empty handed."

"There is no need for that!" Jihye, in a sweet tone, voiced out, "The fact that you're here is enough."

Feeling shy due to Jihye's comment, Lee Jinhee stared down at the floor and was speechless on how to reply to her. Lee Jinhee was still foreign to such hospitality.

"Mom, Jinhee is Taeho's fiancée," Taehee, arching her eyebrows, spoke out, "He didn't say about that to you, right?"

Looking at her widened eyes, Lee Jinhee could understand that the woman in front of her was surprised, and soon enough, that expression was replaced with anger.

"Both of you never tell me about anything! Such a big matter, and that Han Taeho hid it from me!" Han Jihye exclaimed— her eyes showing disapproval.

"I'm sorry about it, Jihye-ssi," Lee Jinhee voiced out in order to ease the air around them.

Taehee squeezed her hand and said, "You don't need to apologise, Jinhee-ah. This is her daily tantrums."

"You disrespectful brat!" 

Han Jihye threw the nearest pillow to her, and turning her head to the left, Han Taehee dodged the pillow.

Looking at Lee Jinhee, her current expression was replaced with a gentle smile, and she, using a sweet tone, spoke out, "You don't need to apologise, dear. Both of these twins are always like this."

Shock— That's what Han Jihye's sentence made her feel. Since she had known Taehee, she always thought of Han Taehee and Taeho as distant relatives. 

Never did the thought that they were twins crossed her mind. In neither of lives, Han Taehee mentioned about both of them being sibling.

"Taeho and Taehee are twins?" Jinhee questioned— astonishment was noticeable in her tone.

"This brat did not tell you about it?" Han Jihye asked with surprise being present in her voice.

Rubbing the back of her head and wearing a silly smile on her face, Taehee spoke out, "I thought it was not that important."

Jinhee looked at the ground, and a pain pierced through her chest. Although she reminded herself countless number of times that things related to Han Taehee did not matter to her, in the end, it did hurt.

Blinking her eyes once, Lee Jinhee tried to adjust her emotions, and when she was sure that her emotions were no visible in her eyes, she stared straight at Han Jihye.

Nonetheless, Lee Jinhee did not dare to say anything— afraid that her voice would give out her current feelings. 

Noticing Jinhee's expression, Han Jihye internally let out a sigh. 

'This brat still has a long way to go.'

"Have some cookies, Jinhee," Han Jihye offered— a friendly smile playing on her face.

Unable to reject Han Jihye, Jinhee nodded her head and picked up one of the cookies from the table. Placing the cookie inside her mouth, Jinhee took a bite out of it.

The chocolate flavoured cookie was immaculately baked and satisfied Jinhee's taste buds well. Although the cookie was delicious and Jinhee wanted to take a huge bite out of it, she still took care of her manners.

As Jinhee was about to take another bite, she raised her line of sight and noticed that both of Han Jihye and Taehee were staring at her with interest. 

A sparkling expression sat in their eyes, and it made Jinhee hesitate to take another bite out of it. 

"Omo! Dear, you look exactly like a squirrel!" Han Jihye commented, "It makes me want to get a pet squirrel."

Hearing Han Jihye's words, Jinhee coughed. Now that she thinks about it, both of them did look like mother and daughter.

"Continue to eat, little squirrel," Han Taehee voiced out with a wide smile on her face.

Under such pressure, Jinhee had no mood for eating, and she just stared at both of them, unsure of what to do or say.

"Are the cookies not good?" Jihye asked— worry being perceivable from her features.

"Of course not, Jihye-ssi. It tastes absolutely delicious," Jinhee answered as she took another bite out of it.

Enduring their stares, Jinhee finished the entire cookie, and she did not dare to pick up another one. Nonetheless, both of them still continued to stare at her, and Jinhee had no idea on what to do.

The knocks on the door shifted their attention from Jinhee, and Jinhee was extremely grateful to the one who just knocked.

"Come in," Han Jihye ordered.

The door to the room opened, and turning back, Jinhee realized that it was the senior butler from earlier.

The butler bowed and spoke out, "Master is home, and the guest room has been prepared."

Seeing how her mother was, Jinhee was curious to see how her father was. After all, her mother needed to be with someone as unique as her.

No matter how Han Taehee's mother was, there was a feeling of mother and daughter bond between the both of them, and the warmth of family was present.

"You can go now," Han Jihye dismissed the senior butler.

"I'll show you to your room then. Come on, Jinhee-ah," Han Taehee spoke out, "And, mom, please don't visit her. I don't want her to run away."

Han Jihye let out a mocking chuckle.

"I'll make her run away? My dear daughter, it's you who will be the one to frighten her," Jihye said, "Jinhee dear, I'll visit you later."

Lee Jinhee nodded with a slight smile on her face.

"Jinhee, just lock the room, and don't open it if you find her annoying," Taehee stated with a serious expression whilst turning towards Jinhee.

"Is this how you should behave with your mother? Why couldn't I have a cute and obedient daughter instead of you?"