episode_0006

[A fire incident occurred at the orphanage. Taking advantage of the lax security, the act has resulted in over ten people being injured, two critically.]

“Well, this is unbelievable.”

[Fortunately, it’s reported that there were no casualties among the children….]

“The nearby administrative offices will surely receive a lot of criticism.”

Attorney Lee Yoojeong clicked her tongue while watching TV. She then glanced at Kim Hye-rim, the accompanying agent, who was watching with her.

“That woman, the one Hye-rim saw.”

“Yes. I never thought she would really commit another crime….”

The agent sighed and looked up at the hospital building.

In the distance, the building of the largest domestic university hospital, supported by the Sungkwang Foundation, came into view.

To cut to the chase, the Sungkwang childcare service company fully covered the medical expenses of the victims from the orphanage.

Chairman Lee Jaeyeon publicly announced that he had an interest in adopting children from the Sunshine Orphanage and decided to support them as a means of rescue.

Public opinion was very favorable.

The fact that Chairman Lee Jaeyeon holds priority redevelopment rights near the orphanage was quietly being buried.

“For the chairman, there’s nothing but benefits in this. If he succeeds in the adoption he originally planned here, it would be perfect.”

Attorney Lee Yoojeong recalled the first time she met Chairman Lee Jaeyeon at the university.

She had built a close relationship with him until now, and when the chairman brought up the topic of adoption, she learned her secret.

Chairman Lee Jaeyeon is infertile.

This fact is known only to his closest confidants.

The lawyer was very surprised, but the person involved seemed indifferent. From then on, Chairman Lee started looking into adoption.

The only thing that caught her discerning eye was a girl named Alice from the Sunshine Orphanage.

Extraordinary mental arithmetic, memory, and a beautiful mixed-race appearance made her perfect for media attention. Considering all of this, Lee Jaeyeon decided to adopt her.

However, the child herself refused the adoption, and her plan fell through.

But due to the covert crime, the situation changed.

Perhaps, as a result of assisting the orphanage, Lee Jaeyeon might demand compensation from the director. And that compensation might very well be adoption.

“I don’t understand. She’s not someone who would be swayed by affection, and yet she’s so fixated on adoption just because she thinks a successor is necessary…”

The doubts of the knight were valid. Lee Jaeyeon was clearly not a woman who seemed to like children.

Even if she was an outstanding chairwoman, it would be difficult for her to become a good mother.

“Well, they say people change as they age.”

The lawyer concluded the conversation and rose from his seat. It was time to meet with the director and vice-director of the orphanage.

“I’ll head to the car first.”

The lawyer nodded in response to the knight’s words.

Heading towards the reception room, the lawyer knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

A familiar voice echoed as the lawyer opened the door.

Chairwoman Lee Jaeyeon, the director of the orphanage, and the vice-director were present.

“How far did you discuss?”

“There’s nothing more to discuss.”

Chairwoman Lee Jaeyeon tied up her unruly hair into a neat bun.

“We are very grateful for Sungkwang’s support. However…”

The vice-director trailed off, wearing a dark expression.

The director and vice-director were not fools. They suspected that there might be a catch to Sungkwang’s assistance.

As expected, Chairwoman Lee Jaeyeon went straight to the point.

“Please consider the adoption positively.”

“…The child’s wishes come first.”

“Yes, that’s the priority. Shall we go ask Alice now?”

As Chairwoman Lee Jaeyeon spoke assertively, the director pursed her lips.

Alice was different from other children. She was remarkably bright and had a keen sense of judgment, surprising many of the teachers at the orphanage.

Perhaps she was well aware of the great favor they owed Chairwoman Lee Jaeyeon and felt indebted.

Especially when Alice witnessed the scene of a boy effortlessly being admitted to the hospital’s VIP room upon a single word from Chairwoman Lee Jaeyeon, the expressions on the faces of the director and vice-director were deeply etched in their minds.

“Alice hasn’t fully settled yet. I apologize, but Chairwoman Lee Jaeyeon, you need to show more consideration for the child.”

“I’ve shown enough consideration. Enough to cover the medical expenses of all the victims.”

The flowing words of Lee Jaeyeon made the director close her mouth once again.

“And…”

When Lee Jaeyeon turned his gaze away from the door, he heard someone hastily running away.

Lee Jaeyeon briefly caught sight of the blonde girl who had momentarily captured his attention.

“Already eavesdropping. If I adopt her, I’ll have to educate her thoroughly.”

Contrary to the content of his words, Lee Jaeyeon’s expression was bright. It was a confident expression that things would ultimately go as he intended.

***

The VIP room was narrower than expected. Even though it was a deluxe ward, it seemed to have the limitations of a single room.

“Thanks to this, I’m recovering well… but…”

I looked down at my left arm, which still wasn’t moving properly.

According to the doctor, there was significant nerve damage, and due to rigidity shock, movement could become uncomfortable. It was up to me how things would progress from now on.

“I suppose I’m lucky.”

If all I got from rushing at that crazy arsonist girl was a slightly uncomfortable arm, then that’s a good deal. Plus, I was able to save Alice.

“In the original work, did this incident turn Alex into a villain?”

I still don’t know for sure.

In the original, did Alex suffer severe aftereffects? Did that become the cause of a distorted personality?

Still, I felt a kind of conviction.

“Alice in this world will be different from the original.”

She went through a major event, but somehow it resolved well. Soon, everyone from the orphanage will be discharged safely, and then, a normal daily life will resume.

Waking up in the morning and detaching Alice from me.

Watching Alice, who’s deeply engrossed in her potato doll.

Helping Alice diligently with her math workbook.

Standing side by side at the sink at night, brushing our teeth.

Crawling back under the covers and falling asleep.

A normal daily life, which feels even more precious since experiencing the crime, will resume.

But on the other hand, I also thought this:

Wouldn’t it be okay for Alice to be adopted by Chairman Lee Jaeyeon now?

She has overcome the incident, and perhaps being raised as Lee Jaeyeon’s illegitimate daughter would be better than staying in the cramped orphanage.

Perhaps my desire for a normal life with her might become a shackle for her.

Thud, thud.

The sound of the hospital room door opening. I turned my head, and the familiar blonde girl was approaching me, looking pleased.

“Are you walking faster than you thought?”

“……”

She remained silent as ever. She seemed like a different person from the one who had held my face and shed tears back then, Alice.

Feeling awkward, I decided to throw out a joke.

“You did apologize to me back then. Try saying it again.”

“…Do I like you?”

“What?”

I was taken aback by her sudden directness. Even when I urged her to say it again, she just kept looking at me without uttering a word.

“Do I like you? What does that mean?”

“It means exactly what it sounds like.”

“Well, we’ve spent a long time together, so of course I like you. But why?”

“Would you be sad if I left you?”

“……”

I fell silent. Being confined to the hospital room, I hadn’t known how things were progressing, but I caught on to the current situation from Alice’s words.

“The chairman… is considering adopting you, right?”

“Answer me. Would you be sad if I left you?”

Alice closed her eyes tightly and took a step closer to me. She came so close that I could see myself reflected in her blue pupils.

“Please… give me assurance. Give me your assurance…”

I stared into Alice’s trembling pupils intently.

Originally, I wanted to respect her wishes. If she wanted to be adopted, I would respect that, and if she didn’t want to be, I wouldn’t wish for her to leave. But it seemed like there was an answer she wanted to hear from me. And I intuitively knew what that answer was.

“On a personal level… I’d rather you didn’t go.”

Alice’s blue pupils trembled.

“Oh…”

‘Of course, being adopted would mean she could live in a better environment.’

This was something I had just been thinking about. If anything, because I had grown fond of Alice, I wanted her to grow up in a better environment. But at the same time, I also wished for her not to leave.

Alice’s lips trembled.

“They say the conditions at the orphanage are very difficult. Especially Maru, your medical expenses have cost a lot.”

She continued with a slightly agitated tone.

“The director and the assistant director seem to be having a hard time. On top of that, the orphanage building also caught fire. They say they need a lot of money and manpower.”

‘In reality, if Alice were to be adopted, the orphanage could recover with the help of Sungkwang.’

“Should Alice be forced to accept adoption even if she doesn’t want to? It was a cruel dilemma. If I choose to stay with Alice, the financial support will stop, and the orphanage will surely fail. Then what will happen to the homeless children and the teachers? But if I choose the future of the orphanage, the girl named Alice will suffer. Even in a good environment, unwanted adoption becomes her shackle.

There was a long silence. The hospital room was eerily quiet. When I finally looked up, it seemed like a long time had passed, and Alice, her eyes reddened, was looking at me.

“If I hadn’t woken you up then…”

“……”

“If I hadn’t woken you up and just slept quietly, the teacher would have been rescued safely, right?”

“It’s not your fault. After all, I agreed to your suggestion. You don’t need to feel guilty.”

“Even now, whenever I see your face, guilt weighs heavily on my heart.”

Alice’s pupils trembled.

“I’m sorry for pushing you today. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

As if she had made up her mind, she continued, “I’ll be adopted.”

“…….”

“…That’s right. Even if it’s for the sake of the orphanage.”

“…….”

“The fact that I want to stay by your side after hurting you is selfish.”

Alice turned her body, her blonde hair swaying. A momentary illusion as tear drops sparkled in the air.

Those tears.

The moment I saw the turmoil of emotions reflected in Alice’s eyes, my wavering heart reached a conclusion.

“Alice.”

As I called out to her, she stopped in her tracks.

“If you don’t want to go, then don’t go.”

Alice’s shoulders trembled. She turned to look at me, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Of course, if you refuse adoption, the future of the orphanage will darken. But that’s not a reason to force adoption upon you.”

This much I can be sure of.

No one has the right to impose sacrifice on Alice.

“I’ll think of a solution.”

Alice tightly shut her eyes.

“If I can’t do it alone, I’ll discuss it with the teachers.”

“…….”

“We should try what we can. So, please don’t cry.”

Alice sobbed for a while, then took a deep breath. She covered her face with the sleeves of her clothes and left the hospital room. That was the last conversation she had in that room; there would be no more voices to be heard. And that was our final conversation.

***

Tall buildings swiftly passed by outside the car window. Alice sat quietly in the back seat, motionless, gazing at the scenery outside. The driver, Kim Hye-rim, glanced at the girl’s complexion through the rearview mirror.

“Something has changed.”

When they first met at the orphanage, despite her cold exterior, there was a hint of warmth that revealed her childlike nature. But not anymore. The warmth from the orphanage had vanished, replaced by a stiff, doll-like demeanor befitting her cold appearance. Her blue eyes no longer held any liveliness, but instead seemed to harbor a deep, sunken darkness.

Kim Hye-rim recalled the conversation Alice had with Chairman Lee Jae-yeon.

“I’m going to be adopted.”

“You finally changed your mind? Was there a reason for it?”

“…I made my decision after hearing Maru’s answer. It seems like it’s the right thing for me to do after all.”

“Did that child tell you to leave? Did you choose adoption because things weren’t good between you two?”

“It’s the opposite.”

Maru must have agonized over the dilemma. Nevertheless, because he considered Alice’s feelings and responded accordingly, Alice also made a considerate choice regarding Maru.

“In return, promise me. You’ll support Maru’s medical expenses and continue to help Hwansun Nursery until the end.”

“If you become my family, that won’t be too difficult. Do you think I wouldn’t do that much for my daughter?”

Chairman Lee Jae-yeon smiled satisfactorily as he patted Alice’s head. The expression on Alice’s face as she was being patted was chillingly cold.

“Phew.”

The chauffeur concealed her complex emotions and focused on driving.