ʀᴇᴠᴇɴɢᴇ ɪɪ || ᴋᴛʜ & ᴊᴋ

Chapter 49 || Risk

They reached the Kim Mansion during the early hours.

Jungkook was just done soaping Kang Yeri and then himself. He was washing away the blood from their bodies.

Kang Yeri looked at him as he focused on her completely as he gently reapplied the soap on her where there were probably still traces of blood and cuts. When he touched the corner of her eye where it was still tender, she involuntarily flinched slightly.

His eyes looked haunted. "I'm so sorry I wasn't around or couldn't come sooner," he said.

"Jungkook, you were almost at the other end of the country. You came much sooner than I could ever expect."

He shook his head. "I should have stayed closer and not left your side when things were that tense."

"But they weren't tense at that time, Jungkook," she told him quietly. "It's not your fault. Lee Je-hoon was only after me, it had nothing to do with you not forming an alliance with his sister."

He ran a shaky hand on her face. "But I should have considered that possibility, too. That man was obsessed with you. I should have let the investigators or Tae-hyung handle searching for Ryung -"

"Jungkook," she gently interrupted. "You know that I'm not helpless or that I need saving. You can't be next to me all the time. In fact-"

"In fact, what?" Jungkook asked when she broke off abruptly.

She took in a painful breath before she could say the next words. "In fact, you are not obligated to be with me at all," she said softly.

He froze. "What?"

She took in another deep breath. "Your men saw me, Jungkook. They think I was raped."

He look at her with slightly widened eyes. It was obvious he had thought the same.

"I wasn't raped, Jungkook," she clarified softly. "I slit his throat before he could get to me. But I want you to know that I understand. I know
Kims are true believers of purity and bloodlines. Me being partly from a lower-class was already pushing it. But if your people think I was-"

"Stop," he said quietly.

She saw the hurt look on his face. "Do you think so less of me that you think I'd give you up for the sake of some foolish prejudiced people?" he
asked.

She was quiet.

"I love you," he said with so much emotion that it shook her. "I'll keep on loving you, no matter what. Even if the whole fucking world burns down if we are together, then so be it. I belong to you and you belong with me. Do you understand?" he demanded.

Kang Yeri knew it wasn't going to be easy. She knew there would be violence and bloodshed involved if Jungkook ever announced that he was going to marry her. People at the Kim province will not allow a lower-class woman who they think was tainted by their enemy to ever enter the Kim Mansion as a bride.

He held her face to meet his eyes. "Tell me how can I make you understand that I love you unconditionally, you stubborn woman!" he said in anguish.

Then he took deep breaths as though he just realized he was shouting at her. "I'm sorry," he said gently. "You've been through a lot already. Let's just not talk about how other people won't accept our union."

She nodded.

He turned off the shower and dried them.

Wearing one of his clean and warm shirts, she let him guide her towards his bed. He tucked her into the crook of his arm as they lay on the bed.