Angel Smile

"Congratulations on your discharge, Yeo Ri-ah," Jin Goo says, pa.s.sing over a gift bag to the girl .

Yeo Ri, Gun, Jin Goo"s family, as well as In Guk, had gathered for lunch at a restaurant in order to congratulate Yeo Ri"s release from the hospital . It had been suggested by Jin Goo and Heo Woo Seung had arranged everything .

This was her first time meeting Mrs . Heo, so she was extra careful in maintaining her expressions . She didn"t want to seem rude, after all .

"Thank you, Jin Goo-oppa . In Guk-oppa too, you two have done so much for us," Yeo Ri said gratefully . "And you too, Uncle Heo," she smiled slightly . Only the two of them knew that the smile was fake and that she was merely keeping up pretences .

"It"s nothing," In Guk waved his hand sheepishly . "We haven"t even done much . Yeo Ri-ah, thank you for being alive . Thank you for staying strong and working hard until now," he offered her a sincere smile, his voice lathered with melancholy .

Yeo Ri lowered her head with a demure smile . Only she knew what was going on in her head right now .

She had indeed worked very hard in the past year . Because she had spent too long in a hospital bed, she had to attend physical therapy to learn how to walk again . To get rid of her trauma, she met with Dr . Hong everyday, trying out various methods to at least reduce her phobia . Now, she could finally walk and talk like normal . Although it would be difficult for her to get used to getting touched by others, she was at least able to feel comfortable with Gun, her closest family .

"Yeo Ri-ah, we"ve ordered all your favourite food . Dig in," Jin Goo pushed a plate closer to the girl, encouraging her to eat .

"Thank you," Yeo Ri says . However, she made no move to eat since the elders have yet to touch their chopsticks .

"Miss Lee Yeo Ri, you"re prettier than I"ve heard," Mrs . Heo commented . She measured the girl with a peculiar gaze but still maintained a perfect smile befitting of a politician"s trophy wife .

"I"m very flattered, ma"am . Thank you for the compliment," Yeo Ri replied with a bobbed head . She did not know what kind of att.i.tude she should take up with this woman who, perhaps in a parallel world, could have been her mother . She hadn"t displayed any hostility to her who was the illegitimate daughter of her husband, but perhaps it could be because she was not aware of the affair .

"Well, that"s enough talking . Shall we eat?" Heo Woo Seung steered their attention with a clap . He secretly glanced at his wife pensively . The woman knew about the affair, so he was cautious in letting the two interact with each other . He didn"t know if his wife had a good or bad impression of his illegitimate daughter .

Heo Woo Seung hid his thoughts and picked up his chopsticks . He chose a large piece of tangsuyuk and placed it on top of Yeo Ri"s bowl of rice, "Here, eat . You"re all skins and bones; now that you"ve recovered, you should eat more," he says, a trace of concern and affection flashing behind his eyes .

Yeo Ri lowered her head and uttered a short "thank you" . She had the urge to say a scathing remark to the man, but held herself back . It was not good to be openly hostile in public . After all, they might think she was rude since the others were oblivious to their history .

"Here, Oppa, you eat it . It"s been hard on you this past year . " Yeo Ri picked up the piece of pork and pa.s.sed it over to Gun instead . It was childish and petty, but she didn"t want to eat it simply because he gave it to her .

Gun did not notice her inner thoughts . He felt warmed by her gesture . He smiled, "Thanks, Yeo Ri-ah . I"ll eat it well . "

Mrs . Heo watched the whole play while keeping up her smile . It looked as if she had detected the spitefulness behind Yeo Ri"s otherwise normal actions, but who knew what she was thinking about .