Chapter 1: Five Sisters
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The five daughters of Jang Jiho: Joohyun, Jinah, Hyunjung, Sana, and Shuhua.
They doesn't share the same mother. The only blood connecting the five women is the Jang linage. Joohyun and Hyunjung shares the same mother, the first wife of Jiho. While Jinah, older than Hyunjung is from an affair.
Sana's mother is a Japanese policewoman who fell for Jiho and vowed to protect him from the eyes of the law. five years later into their relationship, Sana's mother was killed in an ambush where they are hunting Jiho down. After seeing her dead body on the floor, he did not hesitate to take Sana and raise her in the skyscrapers of Seoul.
Two years after her death, Jiho got involved with a famous taiwanese model when he visited Taiwan. Their love soon gave them Shuhua. She soon learned what Jiho does for a living and she attempted to escape with her infant daughter. Jiho reluctantly ordered her to be killed. Although he loves her, nothing is more important than himself and the business he is growing. He took the crying Shuhua from her dead and bleeding mother. Jiho decided to raise her in Seoul together with his four other sisters.
Chapter 2: Light Behind
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The busy city of Seoul could be seen from the Penthouse of Jang Family above the city's busy sky.
Jinah came from the kitchen with a wine on her hand. She smiled to her sister, Sana who is sitting at the couch silently watching the city below. "Who do you think he will choose? I know it's not going to be me though, but who do you think?", she asked in such a playful tone it is almost like sarcastic.
"Are you serious, Jinah?", Sana is clearly not in a mood to play with her older sister. "Hey, I told you to not call me by my name. I'm Nana. Okay?"
"Whatever, Jinah."
Jinah was about to pull her hair when the click clack sound of someone's heels echoed through the room. Like a warning gongs before the a disaster arrived. The house helpers are instantly alarmed just by the sound of her. "Ms. Shuhua" the head house helper greeted her.
"Where is he?", Shuhua asked. Before the head house helper could answer, her eyes found their way onto the two sisters near the 18 foot window. She flashes a smile, at first glance, you wouldn't know it is a fake gesture. But if you look close enough, her smile and her eyes tells different thoughts.
"Mr. Jiho is resting at his bedroom, Ms. Shuhua."
Shuhua did not respond but rather, she made her way towards Sana and Jinah. "Hello, sisters." She greeted the two. Sana did not even tried to hide that she is not pleased with Shuhua's presence. "What is it now? why are you suddenly visiting him?"
Shuhua acted offended, her mouth half open and her eyes widen. "Oh sister, how could you talk to me like that?" she paused before leaning closer to Sana's ears, "You know, I am father's favorite." She giggles.
Sana laughed. A laugh so insincere it sounds wicked. "You really think he's impressed by how you visit prostitutes every second of your life? you still think we're not aware of your little puppy on the side?"
The fake smile Shuhua is holding was instantly erased. "It's better to not touch my toys, Sana. I know you learned the hard way when we're still kids. You know better."
Jinah nervously laughed. "Ahaha.. alright you two, I think it is better to visit father than arguing, eh?" at the right moment, their eldest sister Joohyun arrived. Unlike the presence of Shuhua who implicit fear, the air with Joohyun's presence shifted to something different, respect. Everyone bow down to her not because they are worried what will come next, but it is because of respect and because they wanted to.
"The timing is just right Joohyun! come here. Separate this two before they kill each other." Jinah pointed at them.
"Why not give them knives instead of stressing yourself, Jinah?" Joohyun chuckles. She continue to walk her way while shaking her head. "You know they both prefer to learn the hard way." She added while her feet takes her towards their father's room but before she could reach the door, their auntie called for them.
"Girls, your father wants to talk to all of you."
Chapter 3: The Announcement.
Chapter Text
"Hyunjung isn't here yet, auntie." Jinah shouted from the couch. "Come here, Jinah. Don't make your father wait for you." Her auntie shouted back.
"Hyunjung is much more important than me though?", Jinah frowned. "What do you mean Jinah? we all have equal rights to his fortune." Sana looked at her annoyed. Jinah just shrugged her shoulders like she doesn't care at all. She sips her wine once again, "Sana, look at the facts. Out of us five, my mother is the only one he didn't love and he made sure that he wouldn't love me too. The favor will be equal to the four of you but never to me. I am a fruit of an affair, Sana. He won't be pleased to share his mighty highly sought after throne with me."
Sana placed her hand to Jinah's shoulder, "If ever I will be the chosen one, I will share my fortune with you. Out of them, you're the nicest to me." Sana warmly smiled at her older sister. "Thank you, Sana. But! you must enjoy your throne to yourself. I am alright with the company I am managing."
Jinah and Sana stood up to walk their way towards their father's room together but then Hyunjung arrived with a cigarette on her mouth. "Is the old man dead yet?"
Jinah giggles. "Well, not yet." Hyunjung laughed. "Jinah! long time no see, eh?! I did not know I would see you again when the dog is begging for life." Hyunjung spoke while walking towards the two. She pulls her older sister for a hug. "Shall we see him on life support now?"
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"I gathered all of you here to say the most important thing I must tell before I pass."
Hyunjung rolled her eyes out of boredom, Sana Irene, and Shuhua are fixed and focus on what his mouth would say next- while Jinah is doing manicure while her legs were crossed. The two clearly has no interest at all while the three are fighting for one position.
"You all gave your best performance on the field I assigned you to. Sana with transportation, Jinah with manpower, Shuhua with weapons, Hyunjung with protection, and Irene with the management. I've seen your best form and I must say, this is a very tough decision I had to make but-" he was cut off by his own cough.
His personal assistant immediately grab a handkerchief when he saw a blood coming out of his mouth. None of the five girls were alarmed. It is obvious that they don't like their own father as his ways of disciplining them is aggressive and almost physically and psychologically abusive.
While looking at his dying father, Irene couldn't help but see a crippled old man who used to slap her because of the simplest mistake. From accidentally ruining his favorite art to being caught kissing a boy. She hides her smiles now but it is clear that he is going to pass away soon. She felt entitled to his position. After all, she is the eldest out of them, the smartest, and she held the highest position among her sisters, being the vice president of their underground business.
The five girls all endured pain from their unstable father. Like Sana and Shuhua who suffered being looked down upon. Jiho looks at the two like they are incapable even with the most basic tasks. Their best is not even a satisfaction to him. But then the time finally came when after pushing themselves to the limit, competing with each other just for a tiny bit of his affection, it damaged their relationship as sisters. But they did prove themselves to him.
Jiho puts his passing of position seems like the greatest thing the girls could achieve and after making the two compete for his validation, he successfully bought them against one another.
"I give my position to you, Shuhua."
"WHAT?!" Sana shouted at him, shocking everyone. She never even questioned him once in her life but now, she's standing besides his bed, full of anger and regrets. "What is this about, father? didn't I gave you my all?" Irene asked him.
Both Jinah and Hyunjung was stunned to hear that he passed his position to Shuhua, the youngest of them all. The two thought that Irene will be the one to inherit the power, but no.
The room fell into chaos as Sana and Irene questioned the decision while Shuhua is defending herself. "I deserve to sit after father! I gave my all like the two of you, why am I suddenly the bad choice?! is it just because I am the youngest out all of you?! well too bad! I am the chosen one!"
Sana threw the nearest vase from her to Shuhua who immediately shielded herself. "What is your problem?!"
Irene's breathing is increasing fast, almost like she is hyperventilating. "Irene!" Jinah immediately tried to catch her before she fell as it look like she was about to pass out.
"Auntie?! Why won't you do something?!" Hyunjung looked at their calm auntie standing still besides her. "Because it was a test." Their auntie answered.
Everyone suddenly stopped what they are doing. "See, Jiho? your kids are not yet ready."
Jiho who is visibly weak managed to pull a laugher. "It was fascinating how human nature is this greedy." Jiho pull out a cigarette from his drawer and his assistant help him lit it up. "You all are not ready. You just show me how you are all not ready to fill this position. You are sisters, you work together."
Sana shouted like her lungs was about to give out in any moment. "What?! work together?!? after you put us through all those competition?! Prove to you who is the best?!?"
Jiho managed to stood up with the guide of his assistant. He looked at Sana who is a mess from what happened earlier, he shook his head before slapping her.
The four sister gasped. "You don't scream at me. Didn't the competition, the challenges bought your best version? I am doing this for you. FOR ALL OF YOU!" he cough again, this time the blood was seen coming out from his nose.
"Get out!" Jiho screamed.