Dinner that night—
Was anything but normal.
Elina sat at the long dining table, glancing around quietly.
Everyone was present.
Her mother.
Her three brothers.
And—
Him.
Kim Dong.
The atmosphere was… heavy.
Too proper.
Too quiet.
"…Why does it feel like one wrong move and I'll get disowned?"
She picked up her chopsticks carefully.
Trying her best to act… normal.
Elegant.
Graceful.
"…Eat slowly. Don't embarrass yourself. You are rich now. Control yourself."
She took a small bite.
Paused.
"…Okay, this is delicious. Who made this? I need to thank them personally."
A faint sound echoed.
Felix choked.
Again.
"Eat properly," Bogum said calmly.
Felix coughed, waving him off.
"I am!"
Elina blinked.
"…Why is he always choking when I eat?"
Across the table—
Hyunjin turned his face slightly, clearly holding back a smile.
Elina narrowed her eyes.
"…Something is definitely wrong with this family."
Then—
A voice broke through.
Deep. Calm.
"Tahee."
Her hand paused mid-air.
Slowly, she looked up.
Kim Dong was watching her.
Directly.
The entire table went still.
"Yes?" she replied softly.
A brief pause.
"You seem different."
Again.
That word again.
Elina forced a calm expression.
"…If one more person says that, I might actually confess I'm not your daughter."
Clang.
Felix dropped his spoon.
Hyunjin looked down instantly.
Bogum cleared his throat.
Elina froze.
"…Okay. That reaction again."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Kim Dong didn't react much—
But his gaze deepened.
"Is something on your mind?" he asked.
Elina smiled slightly.
"No."
"…Everything is on my mind."
Silence.
Seo Hana gently stepped in.
"Let her eat first."
The tension eased—just a little.
Elina exhaled softly.
"…Saved."
She took another bite.
Then—
Her thoughts wandered again.
"…Why does this feel like a business meeting instead of dinner?"
A pause.
"…And why is father so intense? If he stares any harder, I might start confessing crimes I didn't commit."
Hyunjin coughed into his hand.
Felix turned away completely.
Bogum's lips pressed into a thin line.
Elina blinked slowly.
"…Okay. That's it. I'm not imagining this anymore."
Her gaze sharpened.
Moving from one face to another.
"…They react. Every time."
A realization started forming—
Not complete.
But enough to make her uneasy.
"…No… that's impossible."
She shook the thought away quickly.
Then—
Another careless thought slipped out.
"…Still… father is kind of handsome for his age. Dangerous type."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Felix almost fell off his chair.
Hyunjin covered his face.
Bogum closed his eyes.
Seo Hana coughed lightly.
And Kim Dong—
Paused.
Just for a second.
Then continued eating like nothing happened.
Elina stared.
"…I definitely said something wrong."
But what?
She frowned slightly.
Still confused.
Still unaware.
Across the table—
Kim Dong's gaze flickered briefly toward her.
Unreadable.
But not indifferent anymore.
And for the first time—
The calm dinner felt like something else entirely.
A game.
One she didn't even know she was playing.