Unspoken Ties

Chapter- 10 Realisation

The Awakening of Something New

Jungkook was in his cabin, surrounded by a mountain of paperwork that had kept him shackled to his desk since early morning. The weight of his CEO title bore down on him, his muscles aching from hours of sitting in the same position. The air in the office was thick with the scent of leather and expensive cologne, but even that did little to mask the frustration simmering beneath his cold exterior.

He massaged his forehead, exhaling sharply as he skimmed through another report. It wasn't as if he hated his work-he was good at it, damn great, actually-but sometimes it sucked. Badly.

A sharp knock on his cabin door snapped him out of his thoughts. Without looking up, he muttered, "Come in."

The door opened slightly, and his secretary, Tony, peeked inside. "May I enter, sir?"

"Hmm."

Tony approached the desk and observed his boss, who was practically drowning in work. Jungkook, for all his cold demeanor, was a man of discipline and determination. In Tony's eyes, he was nothing short of an inspiration, despite being a ruthless businessman with a reputation for being distant and unapproachable.

"Boss, your lunch," Tony announced, placing a neatly packed lunch box on the desk.

At the mention of food, Jungkook's eyes flickered with interest, the weariness in them momentarily replaced with something lighter. He sat up straighter, his gaze dropping to the box in Tony's hands as if it held something sacred.

"Leave it here," Jungkook ordered, his voice calmer now.

Tony obeyed, setting the lunch down before giving a small bow. "Enjoy your meal, sir."

"You too," Jungkook replied absentmindedly, already focused on the box.

As the door clicked shut behind Tony, Jungkook wasted no time. He pulled the box closer, the aroma of freshly prepared food instantly hitting his senses. His stomach growled in response.

It wasn't the first time Y/N had sent him lunch, but for some reason, today was different. Maybe because, for the first time in six months of marriage, he was actually appreciating it.

Maybe because he was starting to notice her efforts.

Maybe because he had begun to realize how much she did for him, without expecting anything in return.

A strange warmth settled in his chest. Shaking off the unfamiliar feeling, Jungkook dialed his secretary. After confirming his schedule was clear for the evening, he grabbed his belongings and walked out of the cabin, a sudden urge pulling him homeward.

It was strange. Unbelievable, even. But he wanted to see her.

---

At Home

Y/N sat in the living room, surrounded by Jungkook's cousins. They were engaged in their usual playful banter, their voices filling the space with laughter and lighthearted arguments. Y/N mostly listened, offering small smiles and quiet chuckles.

Then, Leena, one of Jungkook's cousins, suddenly turned to Y/N, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"So, Y/N," Leena began, placing her juice glass down. "Where are you from? And how exactly did you end up with Jungkook? I mean, you didn't even know him before the wedding, right? So, how did this miracle of marrying a rich man happen?"

There was something off about her tone-too sweet, too calculated. The words, though phrased casually, carried a sharp edge.

Y/N, oblivious to the underlying malice, smiled softly. "You're right. Jungkook and I never met before our wedding. My father and Mr. Jeon were best friends. When my father fell ill, he wished to see his friend one last time. That's when Mr. Jeon visited us. I used to live with my father in Roha."