EXCERPT........
Chapter 1
Deck the Halls (With Disaster)
“Ji-eun, if you don’t stop slouching on that couch like some insolent teenager, I swear I’ll disown you before dessert is served.”
Madam Oh Soo-jin’s voice cut like a blade. Ji-eun glanced up from her phone, one earbud dangling. Around her, the Han family estate buzzed with frantic energy—maids darted around with trays, decorators argued over poinsettias, and a pianist rehearsed “Silent Night” endlessly.
Tomorrow night wasn’t just dinner—it was the dinner. It was the sort where every guest judged not only the food but also the thread count of the napkins. And Ji-eun? She couldn’t care less.
Dae-hee lounged in his armchair, flipping lazily through the business section of the newspaper. His fluorescent red tracksuit clashed violently with the hanok decor, one socked foot resting casually on the ottoman. “They come for the free food and booze, not the flowers,” he drawled.
Madam Oh turned with an icy glare. “It’s not just dinner. It’s the Hwangs, the Parks, the Minister of Culture—all the people who can make or break us socially. This is our chance to remind them why the Hans are still relevant.”
Ji-eun snorted under her breath, earning another dagger-eyed stare from her mother. Relevant? To whom? Their bank account had more zeros than most people’s IQs.
“Uncle, that tracksuit screams ‘holiday spirit’ or ‘midlife crisis,’” Ji-eun quipped, smirking at Dae-hee. He grinned back, unbothered.
Madam Oh snapped her fingers at a passing maid. “Where are the embossed place cards? How will anyone know where to sit without them?”
The poor girl scrambled off, nearly dropping the stack of cards she’d been carrying. Ji-eun watched, amused. Why did any of this matter? Half the guests wouldn’t even remember her name.
Her mother’s voice rose above the pianist’s melody. “Ji-eun! If you’re incapable of helping, at least dress appropriately!”
Ji-eun looked up, tugging at the hem of her hoodie. “Come on, Mom. They’re not here to see me—they’re here to measure our gold napkin rings and critique the tree topper.”
Madam Oh’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have any idea how much rides on tomorrow night? Or do you think we can afford to embarrass ourselves in front of Seoul’s elite?”
Before Ji-eun could respond, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the dining room.
Everyone froze.