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I look to Sun Ye once more.

“The first episode of the debut documentary went up,” she explains. “Hyemi’s receiving a lot of negativity in the comments.”

“I’m calling my father,” Hyemi says. “I’ll tell him I want to quit.”

“You can’t do that,” I say sharply. Her father has yet to sign the contract.

My tone of voice startles her, and she looks up. The hurt and confusion in her eyes is like a dagger through the chest. For a brief moment, I sounded just like my father—coldhearted, manipulative.

I take a deep breath. “Was it such a quick decision to join the group?”

“Of course not. I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember.”

“Then give as much consideration to your decision to leave as you did to join. There’s no need to rush. You’ve already debuted. Get some rest, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

As I stand, I notice Sun Ye watching me. There’s a question in the slight frown on her face.Did you know about this?I avoid her gaze.

On the way out of the room, I pass Secretary Park. She’s moved on from aggressively texting to whispering loudly over the phone. “I don’t care what you have to do, just get them to take the postdown.”

Without really thinking about where I’m going, I ride the elevator up to my mother’s office.

It’s empty, as is the attached bedroom, though there’s evidence of my mother’s return, her suitcase half unpacked on a luggage rack by her closet.

Collapsing on the high-backed chair behind her desk, I closemy eyes. This situation must be salvageable. Ithasto be. Though I can’t see a way forward. Joah can deny the claims made in the post, but since so much of the articleistrue, it’ll be difficult to refute it if more evidence arises.

And I feel uneasy about the thought of outwardly lying. I don’t think anything is owed to tabloids and gossip magazines, but a company and a group should be honest with their fans. Otherwise, how can they build trust with one another? I also don’t know what a lie like that would do to Hyemi’s mental health. I remember Director Ryu’s emphasis on the group’s emotional health, along with their physical health. The company needs to protect Hyemi and ASAP as a group. I feel another rush of shame that it wasn’t my first thought when Hyemi said she wanted to quit the group. I’d thought of her father’s money.Wouldquitting be better for her?

My gaze catches on my mother’s topmost drawer, pulled slightly open. When I move to shut it, the drawer catches on something crammed inside. Shimmying it open, I pull out a photograph.

I stare down at it, uncomprehending.

It’s a photograph of me from my middle school graduation. I’m wearing my uniform, looking directly at the camera with a slight frown on my face.

The edges of the photograph are worn, an indication that my mother has picked it up quite a few times over the years. I feel an ache in my chest, as if I’ve caught my mother with a secret.

I gently place the photograph in the drawer. As I’m putting it back, I notice an envelope inside. I pick it up, slipping the documents onto the desk.

It takes me a few pages to understand what it is. A contract, outlining the acquisition of Joah by KS Entertainment. It’s unsigned but dated for next week.Thisis my mother’s solution if Hyemi’s father doesn’t invest. She’s going tosellJoah.

The elevator pings. I quickly shove the contract back into the desk and close it just as my mother walks out of the elevator.

“Sori?” She steps from the foyer, stopping in the middle of the room. “What are you doing here?”

“Sun Ye told me to come. Because of Hyemi.”

She rubs her eyes tiredly. “Where is Hyemi now?”

“She’s with Sun Ye. They’re going back to the dorm.”

My mother collapses onto the couch, leaning back with a heavy sigh.

Moving from behind the desk, I grab a bottle of cold water from a small refrigerator filled with them and walk over to her. Uncapping it, I hand it to her. She takes the bottle, drinking half of it before placing it on the table. “How is it you always know what I need most?” she says softly.

I want to ask her about the contract in the desk, but instead I say, “You should come home. You’ll rest better in your own bed, and Ajumma can cook for you.”

“Soon, Sori-yah. I will, soon.” I don’t believe her, but I want to.

“How are you feeling?” she says.