The air buzzed with tension as reporters flooded the hall of the upscale Seoul hotel. Cameras were being adjusted, microphones tested, and journalists whispered among themselves, wondering what bombshell was about to drop.
At the center of the stage, Hara stood in a sleek crimson dress, her face calm but eyes sharp like daggers. Behind her, a massive screen displayed a photo collage of her and Hena—two faces almost identical, except for the scar-like birthmark on Hena's left wrist.
She leaned forward into the mic.
"I want to thank everyone for coming," Hara began. "Today, I'm here not as a celebrity or heiress, but as a victim."
The room went still.
"My twin sister, Seo Hena, has been manipulating the legal system and the media to paint herself as an innocent. But the truth is, she's mentally unstable and has been obsessed with me since childhood. She used forged documents, blackmailed people close to us, and twisted the narrative to gain sympathy."
Cameras flashed. Gasps were heard. Reporters frantically scribbled notes.
"I didn't want to come forward," she added, placing a hand over her chest with practiced grace. "But the lies have gone too far."
At that moment, Min-ah, seated in the audience, clenched her fists. Jae-woon whispered under his breath, "She's really gone off the deep end."
---
Just a few blocks away, Damian, Hena, and Jun-ho watched the live broadcast from a conference room. Hena's expression didn't change, but her silence spoke volumes.
"She's calling me obsessed?" Hena said, voice low. "That's rich."
Damian stepped closer. "This was expected. She's trying to win the public's favor."
"She's not alone either," Jun-ho added. "Someone from Madam Seo's circle leaked edited documents to the press. If we don't act now, this could escalate."
Hena stood. "Let's finish what she started."
---
Within the hour, Damian's PR team organized a counter-press conference. This time, it was held at Langford Corporation's Seoul headquarters. The venue was grander, with a massive Langford logo displayed behind the podium. Hundreds of media outlets tuned in live, curious to hear Hena's response.
Dressed in a simple but powerful white suit, Hena stepped onto the platform, her birthmark deliberately visible under the sheer sleeve of her blouse.
"I won't stand here and defend myself with fake tears," she began. "Instead, I'll show you the truth."
A projector turned on, revealing legal documents authenticated by the Seoul Supreme Court, birth records, and security footage from years ago—when a young Hena was forcibly removed from the Seo household.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"This is not a smear campaign. This is my life," Hena said, voice steady. "For years, I was erased. Now, I'm reclaiming what's mine. And no amount of lies or press conferences will stop me."
Damian stepped forward after her. "As the CEO of Langford Group's Asia division and her fiancé, I fully support Hena. And we will pursue full legal actions against those spreading defamatory lies."
He looked directly into the camera.
"We will not be silenced."
---
Watching from her villa, Hara stood frozen, the remote slipping from her fingers.
"She hit back harder than I thought," she murmured.
Jae-woon, standing behind her, said nothing. Instead, he turned and walked away, leaving her alone in the flickering light of the TV.
Min-ah entered moments later, arms crossed.
"You did this to yourself," she said. "And now, the world knows who's lying."
Hara didn't respond. Her fingers trembled.
---
Back at the Seo mansion, Madam Seo slammed her glass against the wall. The wine stained the white curtains as she fumed, pacing in heels across the marble floor.
"That girl," she hissed. "She's turning my world upside down."
Jun-ho entered the room, holding a thick file. "It's over, Mother."
"You traitor," she spat.
He didn't flinch. "You never loved me. You used me. Just like you tried to use Hara and erase Hena."
She sneered. "I did what I had to for our legacy!"
"You mean your legacy," he replied coldly. "The court will see the evidence. Your lies won't last."
She rushed toward him in rage, but he stepped back. "This isn't a battle you can win with threats anymore."
He turned and walked out, leaving her screaming after him.
---
The next morning, the media was in a frenzy. Social platforms exploded with hashtags:
#TruthOfTheTwins
#HenaSpeaks
#HaraExposed
#MadamSeoScandal
Public opinion shifted rapidly. Sympathy poured in for Hena, especially after videos of her crying in court surfaced, while Hara's public approval began to plummet.
At Langford headquarters, Damian met with his mother, Victoria, in the executive lounge.
"She held her ground," Victoria admitted, sipping her tea. "I didn't expect that kind of composure."
"She's not just strong, she's brilliant," Damian said proudly.
Victoria sighed. "I still have concerns. But… I'll attend the engagement party."
Damian raised a brow. "You're actually coming?"
"I won't smile," she warned, "but I'll come."
He chuckled. "That's more than I expected."
Later that night, Hena sat on the balcony of Damian's penthouse, staring out over the sparkling city skyline. Her phone buzzed—another interview request.
"Let it wait," Damian said, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Just you and me for now."
She leaned into his chest. "Today was a victory. But there's still more to fight."
He nodded. "We'll face it together."
Hena closed her eyes. For the first time in years, she felt seen. Not as someone's shadow. Not as a ghost. But as Hena—the real Hena.
And she wasn't backing down.