Not far from Beika city happen to be a run-down western mansion that stood out.

If one were to walk past that Mansion, it would give passersby the vibe of eerieness. Though the enormous mansion reminded others to be an old castle, it formerly didn't have the appearance it used to have.

Many decades ago, this mansion used to glow brightly and make people happy. It used to appear magnificent from the outside. It is made of grey stones with white brick embellishments. Small, triangular windows add to the overall aesthetic of the house and have been installed in a very symmetrical fashion, reminding some of a fairy tale castle.

Back then, the couple who resided in the mansion were a loving pair and was kind and gentle to others around the neighbourhood. Neighbours would drop by, many parties were held, and happy memories were made. It was a blessing. No matter how one looks at it, the name House of Tadashi lived up to the meaning of its name: true, luck, devotion. The occupants of this house lived up to its name.

Of course, it would've been more of a blessing if a child lived in it.

Which is why when a then 6-year-old Tadashi Sora was notified she would be living in this mansion, she couldn't believe her luck.

For six years, she had fantasised about living in the house she saw on TV, as opposed to living in a slum with her biological mother. She certainly smiled when she discovered the guy residing in the mansion was her father, as she is about to live out her wildest desire as a real-life Cinderella. Sora has always had to cope with other kids speaking ill of her in school, from her worn-out shoes with dirt and holes to her mother's poorly-tailored clothes.

Furthermore, children would point and laugh as she passed by, calling her names she couldn't even begin to comprehend. Mothers would stare at her as if she had some type of disease. No one ever wanted to be around her, and she despised it. She despised the fact that she was always the outcast, the one who no one wanted to be around. All of this exacerbated her feelings of failure, as she frequently complained that if she had been born wealthy, things would have been different.

With this life, no one will ever look down on her again. She will live luxuriously with fancy jewels, and fancy gowns, dance with cute prince looking boys, and proudly show off with her nose high up.

But Sora was wrong, dead wrong.

What she expected to see there were tears, bitterness, and contempt. If she could go back in time, she'd prefer to remain in the slums with her dead mother than go through such humiliating experiences. It turns out that her married father sleeping with her mother did not enhance her status. For years, Sora has been mocked, taunted, and viciously blamed for every circumstance that the madam of this home has assigned to her. Even the madam's favourite servant is frequently involved in these heinous actions.

If that wasn't bad enough, her father was too much of a coward to go against his legal wife.

Though he doted on her, Sora knew her dad valued money and prestige more than his bastard daughter. That is why he never divorce the madam of the house until he died as Sora lived through life as it was already normal for her. Even though she was sent to a school deemed fit for wealthy families, the bullying there was a million times worst in her words.

They mocked her at her former school for being an extremely ambitious girl who talks big about aspirations she'll never achieve since she never puts any effort into whatever she does. They joyfully labelled her a 'bastard' who was born from a prostitute's mother, a homewrecker's daughter, at her new school when her life changed. Worse, she finds she isn't as talented as she assumed, because she fared poorly in school while other noble children excelled in all they did.

She wasn't good in math, nor good with any of the subjects given to her. To put it bluntly, Sora realizes she was talentless.

Sora decided not to join any clubs or extracurricular activities after all of that. She was sick of hearing people saying how she lacks etiquette, and manners and fail intellectually in everything, as expected from an illegitimate child. It was during difficult times like this that Sora decided to focus on the one blessed thing she had through her late biological mother: beauty.

There's a saying that goes, "life is what you make it and if you make it up, that's just fine."

For Sora, that's exactly how she sees it. Born with a creative mind, she's always been drawn to making things up, be it stories or costumes for her theater performances. Especially make up. That was what she is good at. In her old school, this talent of her is what makes up for her behavior. Although the kids detested her for her illegitimacy, her make-up talent is another. If she put more effort in this talent, it will break herself away from the family she detested.

From the time she was little, she would spend hours in her mom's makeup drawer raiding for new products to try. Her love for makeup never faded as she got older, and she began to make up her own looks. 

Years went by, and soon, she turned into a 17-year-old teen girl.

That's right, anyone who once looked at her would have an attractive feeling about her.

Her elbow-length, fine, natural brown hair, currently dip-dyed halfway with shades of baby blue, is styled differently every day. She has an angular face with a square jaw, a stubby nose, large ears, defined cheekbones and angled lips. Her knowing dark brown eyes are large, and she has a monobrow. She has long slender arms and slim tall legs. One look at her and anyone would instantly fall for her.

It was fortunate that Sora is good with Make-up, just like how her mother did to woo her biological father.

She never tried to better what she lacked aside of makeup, since she felt it was worthless because the world was unfair to her. But she isn't lacking in the beauty department, so all it took for her to spend hours watching make-up tips on YouTube to become a popular girl overnight. Every girl who spoke inadequately of her suddenly wanted to be her friend as she beautifies them to win over their crushes. Fortunately, Sora's high school has no restrictions prohibiting her from wearing make-up. In Japan, the majority of schools prohibited this type of conduct. That must be one of the benefits of attending a school for nobles only.

Soon, the kids that used to laugh at her for spending so much time on her appearance no longer laughed at her, as they too began seeking her service. Plus, make-up is a perfect weapon for that woman who made her life a misery.

The madam of the Tadashi house always frowned with disdain at Sora, and Sora relished every moment when the madam did so. Sora was well aware that her stepmother despised the fact that Sora resembled her biological mother, the woman who had slept with her legal husband. Even though she had no access to the mansion's amenities for 17 years since the madam frequently forced her to wear tattered patchy clothes in a laundry room as her bedroom, Sora had no trouble generating money elsewhere by delivering make-up services in her high school.

With the money Sora earned, it was sufficient enough to keep her life afloat in school. Although the madam does pay for her school fees, she barely gave her enough to eat the luxurious food serve in their cafeteria. If she had additional change, she would save it to buy more make-up cosmetics to support her booming business.

Finally, Tadashi Sora had everything. Except for love.

That is when Sora had eyes for her senpai a year older than her, Muniko Hiroshi.

Muniko Hiroshi was a boy of good looks or would've been if it wasn't for his trademark nose, but he is gentle and not to mention: shy. Her type of boy. For years, they dated secretly behind their parents' back. He knew of her illegitimacy but treated her with respect, and she never once minded his crooked nose. If anything, she loves that about him. The times they were together made her the happiest girl in the world. If things had gone her way, she was certain they could've gotten married and had kids of their own.

However, the Muniko family was one that is known to resent tainted blood kids, and the last thing the madam of the Tadashi family wants is to cross paths with the Muniko family. When word got out about their relationship, Muniko Hiroshi was forced to be married to some other woman the Muniko family arranged for him and ended up having produced a son through this marriage, one which he later named Muniko Tomio.

Still, Sora wasn't the type to give up on love, so the affair continued as usual till adulthood discreetly. By then her boyfriend had managed to take over his father's company and she became a popular makeup artist in the entertainment scene with her efforts.

Then Tadashi Sora fell pregnant.

Finally, this was her ticket to getting away from the Tadashi family, as she and her lover schemed this. His wife will then ask for a divorce, then she will kick out now that she has no value to that wench now that she is pregnant. When all of this is over, the two are going to buy plane tickets and fly out of this damn country, leaving everything behind. After all, Hiroshi and Sora finally made a name for themselves and have been independently making money in their ways. With all of this, nothing could've gone possibly wrong. The two should be able to get a job without any issues thanks to their respective accomplishment.

However, the lovebirds underestimated what their parents were capable of. Had Sora known of this, she would realize this would be the last time she ever see her lover ever again.

Before she knew it, the Muniko family, who had links to the movie industry comparable to the Tadashi family, did the unthinkable: they issued a joint statement claiming that her lover was mentally unstable and that Sora took advantage of his vulnerability by becoming pregnant on purpose.

Furthermore, her lover's conniving wife, who has had an unrequited love for him since high school, deliberately played the role of a scorned woman when she claims she is prepared to forgive her husband for his adultery and is willing to accept Sora's child as their own, igniting public animosity between the two overnight. Worse, as she was on the verge of despair, the Tadashi matriarch subsequently revealed to the media that Sora was under huge stress since she is getting married to her cousin, one that she has no romantic feelings for.

In the days following the scandal, the press was in a frenzy.

They were desperate for any information they could get their hands on and were camped out on the front lawn of her home. They didn't even care even when she was pregnant as all of them were eager to report her every move in the magazine to have profitable sales. Even strangers, especially women who she barely knew called her a 'whore' and a 'slut'.

Perhaps the name-calling wasn't as bad for Sora as what came after.

Because the Tadashi and Muniko family had ties to the movie entertainment industry, they practically had to influence anyone associated with Sora's make-up business or service would be boycotted because of the despicable scandal. Before long, no one bothered to contact Sora's make-up service anymore fearing the wrath of both families, resulting a fail.

Of course, one can comment: Sora can get work overseas.

However, even this wasn't an option as well. At that time, it wasn't advisable for her to fly while being 24 weeks pregnant.

And yet, despite all of the chaos and her plummeting reputation and mental state, she could never deny the love that she had for her firstborn.

Her baby daddy however had the worst life compared to Sora. Before he could even address the truth from the lies, his family declared that he had a history of depression, therefore, whatever he said could not be trustworthy. To even doubt their credibility even further, much to the horror of Sora, she soon learns from her stepmother that her lover had been given a cocktail of drugs by the non-suspecting wife during their affair for a long time leading up to the public announcement. So by the time the press surrounded him, he was too disoriented to think or even tell the true nature of their relationship.

And the drugs that aided Hiroshi were not your ordinary drugs. Though Sora had struggled to recall what was its name as it happened many decades ago, she recalled that the drugs that aided her lover were enough to give him brain damage if it was taken in the long run. Worst, both families had no hesitation in continuing to spike him till Sora agreed with the marriage.

With Hiroshi's life at the mercy of both families, adding to the pressure coming from the press' fascination with their relationship, Sora had no choice but to agree with the marriage as she pleads to let him go. She knew heading to the police would be all for nought as the police are bought over to the Tadashi family.

And so, her days with a husband she barely wants began to drag on. Finally, nine months went by, and before she knew it, her beloved son she had with her high school senpai was born perfectly with the signature nose. But life is cruel, having postpartum depression amplifies her hate of everything about her miserable life 100 times more. Including a crying baby that won't shut up made her eager to silence him for good.

14 days later, tragedy struck when she learns her so-called husband gave her baby away for adoption. It was at this moment that Tadashi Sora's life would later change overnight in an instant. She has no father to cry on, no lover to love her true self, nor even has her first-born son to call her 'mama'. All of it was taken away because of the woman living under the same roof as her.

Sora decided she was no longer going to be treated like a doormat anymore. Let alone, be pushed around by that b**ch, for she robbed her of everything. With a tattered reputation, she decided she was going to make herself live through the most miserable life one has ever known. That's why, as soon as she had given birth to her second son, Saji, she made her hateful intentions towards the Tadashi clear by abusing him. Even as her husband took in another boy, she didn't hesitate as she knew it would hurt that damn woman.

Of course, there is always the risk of someone contacting the police. But Sora knew better that this family would never dare to call them, given that Sora's experience throughout her childhood indicated they would rather steer clear of their reputation rather than protect the kids. Of course, it was no surprise why the children later grew to hate her.

But Sora didn't care, she'll never let them forget that they are the ones who ruined her life. They should pay for their sins.

Many decades go by, and before she knows it, Sora's husband had died a mysterious death.

It was a shock to everyone, mainly the woman who abused Sora, for he had always been actively fit. Then came the surprise: Only 2 months after his death, the woman who always made her life a living misery is finally experiencing dementia. That is when Sora's moment arrived and she was going to seize this opportunity to the max. After what that b***h had done to her entire childhood and life, she should see this coming.

And so she did.

Sora convinces the staff that if they want to maintain their damn jobs, they should make that woman recuperate in the laundry room where she grew up her entire life while she moves into the master bedroom. As a result, they confined the elderly grandmother to one of the house's darkest and coldest corners. Sora subsequently decreased the size of her staff, eliminating individuals she believed were more devoted to her than to her. Despite her lack of expertise in household administration, it requires a scorned woman to actively relearn the things she dislikes to have complete control over everything.

There were other reasons she placed that b**ch in the laundry room beyond motives of humiliation. With her deteriorating state, Sora was hoping she would divulge the whereabouts of her precious son.

However, Sora's efforts were fruitless, for whenever the former matriarch got back her memories, she would scream: "As expected from a daughter of a brothel!' And then, Sora would reward her with a sinister smile, then get a servant to pour a glass of ice water, and then, when the servant leaves, Sora would splash it on the woman's face repeatedly. She wishes she could film all of this and upload it on Youtube, but then that will be stupid.

Still, that bloody woman had a stiff upper lip, never once admitting where she had hidden her firstborn son, even after dying in her pee in the stenchful bed. What an undignified death, even for the late matriarch of the House of Tadashi.

After her death, Sora threw a celebrative party on the very roof she lived in. For years, she never even once have her birthday party held in this house. It's time she rewarded herself.

But Sora's bitter feeling never once wavered till now. It couldn't be helped, given that even her ex-lover had passed away later on in life never being able to reunite with her.

The interior of the Tadashi family's haunted-looking mansion is done in colours that remind you of a Tim Burton film as the current matriarch sat comfortably on the sofa. The plants in the mansion are full of dead plants, feeding rumours to the house staff that it must have been haunted by the late master and his late wife.

It was around 7:30 pm when the elderly Sora yelled over her smartphone, "Do your job well! I don't care whatever it takes, wipe out anyone that stands in the way of my son! Even if they are a group of children!"

As soon as she abruptly hangs up, her eyes fell on the mirror that hung on the wall, as the elderly woman coldly stares at herself.

She always loved the way she looked in her early teenage years when her beauty was just starting to wear off. Even as a child, she had a beauty that once shone so brightly.

But now, she barely recognizes herself anymore.

The beauty she once had in her youth had all but faded, leaving her with a tired appearance. The wrinkles on her forehead, her thinning and greying hair, the lines around her mouth, the sagging skin on her neck - it all makes her feel so old and unattractive. Adding to her sadness was the fact that she was mentally ill with all of the crap she had to deal with, which only served to further diminish her self-esteem.

It's all just too much for her to handle.

BANG BANG BANG!!

The woman then silently observe the room where the knocking noise was coming from upstairs, "Go ahead! Even if you knock, I will never let you see that gambler's daughter!"Sora challenged the sound emitting upstairs as the banging persists.

But her words fell on deaf ears as he continued to knock.

"Idiot, but the Tadashis are like that. All of them are idiots!"Sora spat bitterly as she rolled her eyes.

Tadashi Sora was never meant to be a mother to Saji or that adopted one whose name she never bothered to ask. She never wanted children with anyone but the one she love. But life was crap, and now she has to deal with the consequences.

Sora instantly went forth all the means to prevent Saji's romance from developing when she learned about it. After all, one of their former employees' children is dating her son. Furthermore, this was the same former staff member with whom she later arranged a plot to reclaim all of the gardener's money that the damn woman had paid him. Sora is now the matriarch, thus everything the late b**ch deprives her of, she would gladly reclaim from the former staff.

To her, anyone who works for that b**ch and her staff is her enemy. Even their kids.

Including the rewards, the late matriarch gave to her so-called beloved staff. They don't deserve a single yen, after all the things they didn't do to protect Sora as a child.

As time went on, her mental health had gotten from bad to worst, as doctors couldn't really identify what sort of mental disorder she has. Still, she was able to manage the household through her adopted son, though she still resents the fact she is still relying on a Tadashi family member to keep on living. Finally, she discovers her long lost son.

Only...he refuses to meet her.

It turns out, he learn who she was growing up and wanted nothing to do with her. An unexpected chain of events made her soon realize why: he is being raised by one of the staff members of the Tadashi. Hearing this made Sora's blood boil: What sort of lies they have been feeding to her precious son about her!? She knew that her firstborn was lucky to be alive and relatively healthy, but it didn't change the fact that he refuses to see her as he was happy with his adoptive family.

More revelations about it worsened her health further when she finds out the son she treasured the most has been living a life of an average citizen. No enrolling in a noble school, no fancy clothes unlike she has now, nor even a driver to drive her son to work. Nothing, he cycles to school on a bike, and the family he was adopted into is severely in debt. Meanwhile, her other son Saji is living the dream.

All of this just fueled her anger towards her useless flamboyant son Saji. Saji wasn't like his intelligent adopted brother, Fumihito, a playboy who only knew how to spend money and flash his goods on Instagram. He was impulsively emotional like Sora, and he would do anything for love. The way Sora did with Hiroshi back then, though it did touch her slightly, her hate towards the Tadashis overwrote everything. Even though the blood that flowed in her veins signifies her as a Tadashi, she resented the fibre of her being.

That's why, on the day he decided to move out...something had to be done to teach that ungrateful pig a lesson.

Fast forward to the current time, Saji still refuses to admit he will no longer see that gardener's daughter anymore. It's been 19 years since Saji's beloved had passed away, but Sora couldn't be bothered to notify Saji a thing. She was too caught up in her grieving after her first love Hiroshi finally passed away, as she wasn't even allowed to see him at the funeral thanks to that two-faced wife of his.

Despite this, Tadashi Sora ain't the type to give up. This is where this case came into play where she had some strings pulled here and there. Of course, she is aware that there is the possibility that her son might find out, and then he would later plot against her.

But she'll never go to let him go even if that 'truth' come to light. She's his mother, and he would need her. Even if he eventually figures what she pulled wasn't really sincere motherly love, he is the only son she cherishes and she wants him to know that. 

For no mother in the world, not even her first son's adoptive mother he so dearly love will ever love him as much as she does.