The bus rattled over the countryside road, raindrops streaking the window as the gray sky loomed above. Hena leaned her forehead against the cool glass, her fingers still curled around the twin heart-shaped necklaces. Her thoughts spun like a storm.
She had run from the Seo estate with only one purpose: to get answers.
The road home felt heavier than before. Not because of the distance, but because she knew—after tonight—nothing would be the same again.
---
Her grandmother's house stood at the foot of a hill, surrounded by fields washed in spring green. The moment Hena stepped through the creaking gate, the old woman stepped onto the porch, wiping her hands on her apron, eyes narrowing in surprise.
"You're back," Grandma said cautiously.
"I need to talk," Hena replied, voice tight.
Without another word, her grandmother stepped aside, letting her in.
The living room smelled of herbs and old wood. Hena sat on the floor while her grandmother prepared tea, both of them wrapped in silence until the kettle whistled.
Her grandmother poured two cups and sat across from her.
"You found something," she said, before Hena even spoke.
Hena pulled the two necklaces from her pocket and placed them between them. "You knew."
Her grandmother's eyes trembled but didn't look away. "Yes."
"For how long?" Hena's voice cracked. "How long have you known I wasn't supposed to be hidden like this? That I'm not Hara's shadow—but her sister. Her twin."
Her grandmother's hands trembled slightly as she lifted her tea. "Since the day you were brought to me. You and Hara were born to the same parents—your real parents. But the moment you were born, your lives were split."
Hena stared at her, confused. "Why? Why would they separate us?"
Her grandmother sighed. "Because Madam Seo wanted a child. She had power. Connections. But no child of her own. And when she found out your mother was expecting twins… she made a deal with your father."
"A deal?"
"She offered protection in exchange for Hara. She claimed she would raise her like a queen. She said she could give her a better life. Your father… he didn't agree. But she manipulated everything. When your mother died during childbirth, Madam Seo claimed Hara as her own."
"And me?" Hena whispered.
"Your father refused to let her take you both. He ran—with you. He brought you to me and said, 'Protect her at all costs.' He gave you that necklace," she added, nodding to the one in Hena's hand. "And kept the truth hidden ever since."
Hena's chest ached. "So Hara and I... we really are sisters. Twins."
Her grandmother nodded. "Identical. Born just minutes apart."
Hena's mind reeled with images—her entire life of confusion, the cruelty, the secrets, the missing pieces. "Madam Seo… she's not even Hara's real mother."
"No. But she made sure the world believed she was. She wanted Hara all to herself. And she wanted you forgotten."
A long pause stretched between them.
"I need to talk to someone else," Hena said suddenly, rising to her feet. "Mr. Kang. Is he still in town?"
Her grandmother nodded. "Go. He's been waiting for this day too."
---
Mr. Kang, her father's closest friend and once his trusted legal advisor, lived in a modest cabin near the old rice fields. Hena found him in his garden, trimming bonsai trees with quiet precision.
He looked up, startled at first, then his eyes softened.
"It's time, isn't it?" he said quietly.
"I need to know everything," Hena said, stepping toward him.
He set his scissors down and motioned her to sit by the low table inside.
"I made a promise to your father," he began. "But I think he'd understand. Especially now."
He pulled out a worn folder, wrapped in faded cloth, and placed it in front of her. Inside were old photos, letters… and a birth certificate.
Her name: Seo Hena.
Twin Sister: Seo Hara.
Father: Lee Joon-hyuk.
Mother: Choi Min-ah.
Tears welled in her eyes as she traced her real mother's name.
"I remember them both," Mr. Kang said. "Your mother was kind. Gentle. Your father was proud—he loved you both deeply. But Madam Seo was always lurking in their lives. When your mother died, she took advantage of your father's grief and influence in the business world. She used her power to take Hara, legally register her under her name, and made it near impossible for your father to reclaim her."
Hena clenched her fists. "Why didn't he fight harder?"
"He tried," Mr. Kang said quietly. "But Madam Seo threatened everything—his position, his family, even your life. So he ran. And he asked me to forge the necessary documents to erase your trace, to protect you."
Hena's voice shook. "And he died?"
Mr. Kang's jaw tightened. "Protecting you."
He tapped one of the letters.
"This one… your father wrote it the night he left you with your grandmother."
Hena unfolded the yellowed paper carefully.
> "My dearest Hena,
If you're reading this, it means fate has brought you back to the truth. Never let them tell you who you are. You are the light in the darkness they tried to bury. One day, when you are strong enough, I know you will rise above them. And when you do… don't forget who you are.
I love you. Always."
The ink blurred through her tears.
"I'm going back," she whispered. "To Seoul. To Madam Seo. To Hara."
Mr. Kang's gaze darkened. "It won't be easy."
"I'm not asking it to be," Hena said. "But I've hidden for too long."
As she walked back toward the village road, the wind picked up and the skies began to weep.
But this time, Hena didn't run from the storm.
She was done being the girl in the shadows.
She was ready to reclaim her name.