Chapter 2: A Tale of Tears and Dreams

Yuri, not wanting to marry so soon, sneaked away to the garden, painting and crying. Her tears glistened on her rosy cheeks, a silent expression of her emotions.

In another world, filled with new technologies like iPhones and laptops, a guy had a strange dream. He saw a girl in a traditional hanbok under a big tree, drawing on paper. The place was beautiful, with flowers, sun, and a blue sky. Curious about her face, he woke up in a sweat at 6 am, wondering about the mysterious girl.

Back in the garden, Yuri, still teary-eyed, felt a presence behind her. Turning, she saw an old woman who asked if she needed help. Surprisingly, the old woman knew Yuri's name and reassured her not to cry. Speaking cryptically, she mentioned that nothing would be the same, neither here nor there.

Yuri, puzzled, asked, "Where?" The old woman smiled and walked away, leaving Yuri with lingering questions about the mysterious connection between her tears

Yuri's tears mixed with her paint as she depicted her mother and sister, their smiling faces reflecting her bittersweet emotions. A smile played on her lips as she painted through the tears, a tribute to the cherished memories.

She wiped her face, revealing a smile beneath the glistening tears, then opened the magical book her mother had given her. Inside, a mysterious line caught her eye: "The life you are living is not what you dreamed of. Put your hands on me; I will show you happiness." Confused by the enigmatic words, Yuri pondered their meaning.

Suddenly, a sense of urgency struck her. The thought of her stepmother seeking her out propelled Yuri to her feet. With determination, she closed the magical book, knowing that the answers to the cryptic message might hold the key to the happiness she longed for. She ran, fueled by the anticipation of discovering the true meaning behind her dreams and the line in the magical book.

Yuri rushed home, her stepmother eagerly awaiting her return. A slap across the face met her, accompanied by harsh words demanding to know where she had been. Yuri, shocked into silence, could only rub her stinging cheek.

Forced to prepare food for her indifferent father, Yuri endured the weight of her stepmother's disapproval. Once the kitchen chores were complete, she retreated to her so-called room – a cramped space resembling more of a prison cell than a daughter's sanctuary. Dark, messy walls enclosed her, the small window offering a mere glimpse of the outside world. In this confined space, Yuri felt more like a maid than a cherished member of the household.

As Yuri sat in her dimly lit room, her stepmother allowed a mysterious stranger to enter. Fear instantly clenched her heart, and she pleaded with the unknown man, "Please do not come closer."

In silence, the guy didn't respond and continued walking slowly towards her

Yuri pleaded, "Who are you? Please don't come closer." The unsettling encounter made her realize the depths of her stepmother's malevolence then she closed her eyes .....

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***