𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 || 𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤 ✓

EP19: Peculiar charms of Ju Ho

Chapter isn't proofread. Might edit it after i finish with this book. (｡ノω \｡)

Taehyung had just stepped out of the washroom, drying his hands with a towel, when he noticed something peculiar. Hyun-Joo was in his bedroom with Taehee sitting in front of her in her wheelchair. They were engaged in an animated conversation, giggling and whispering, appearing to be engrossed in some secret conversation.

Upon noticing Taehyung's presence, Hyun-Joo quickly stood up from the soft mattress and excused herself, explaining that Taehee wanted to play and she had been keeping her company until he returned back from the bathroom. She mentioned that she had to attend to her daily chores and would return to them right away.

Taehyung nodded absentmindedly, unable to shake off the strange feeling forming in his gut. She was in their bedroom just to talk with Taehee?

Or to spy in their bedroom? He couldn't help but wonder.

Suspicions began swirling in Taehyung's mind as he approached his daughter, who was now sitting quietly with a picture book in her hand. He sat down on the bed in front of her where Hyun-Joo was sitting a while ago, a frown etching its way onto his face. "My baby. What were you and Hyun-Joo talking about?"

"Unni w-was telling me stories. I l-love her story."

"Really? Did she say anything about me or perhaps your papa? Did she say your papa is handsome or something like that?"

"...no! I don't under-stand what y-you're saying ma-ma."

"Listen to me baby," he says, leaning closer to Taehee and he says in a very soft tone, "don't get too friendly with her, okay? Your mama doesn't like her at all. I feel bad when you ignore me and talk to her."

"Why d-do you not like unni, mama? You are b-bad… She is s-so nice. Y-you a-always scold her, I-i don't like it." Taehyung was surprised when he heard those words coming from his innocent four year old daughter. Did Hyun-Joo brainwash his daughter against him or something?

Trying to ignore her words, he decided to play with her. He picked up the blocks from Taehee's toy basket and placed it on the girl's lap. Taehee pouts, a small frown on her lips and she shoves the blocks away.  "Taehee, I thought we could play together. Don't you want to play with me?" he asked gently, trying to hide the slight hint of hurt in his voice, for being rejected by the little girl.

Taehee looked up at Taehyung, her innocent eyes filled with confusion. She stuttered, "I-I don't want to play with you, Mama. He scares m-me a-away. Unni is nice, just like her. T-they… play with me too." Her words struck a chord in Taehyung's heart. He couldn't understand who Taehee was referring to, and it only added to his bewilderment.

Whatever it is, Taehyung believed it was Hyun-Joo who was intentionally trying to widen the distance between him and his daughter by feeding her with her manipulative talks. Why? Because she wants to keep Jungkook and Taehee for herself?

He will for sure teach her a lesson the hard way. She must know her limits in this house! He is not going to keep quiet.

As Taehyung deliberated on what to say next to his daughter, suddenly, the sound of a window being pushed open diverted his attention. He saw Ju Ho gracefully leap into the room through the open window. Taehyung's surprise was evident, but he nonetheless welcomed Ju Ho inside.

"Why does a beautiful moon like you look so dull?" Ju Ho teased, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

'H-he called me a beautiful moon?'

Taehyung blushed slightly, brushing off the comment as he regained his composure. "It's nothing," he muttered, waving a dismissive hand. The unexpected visit from Ju Ho had momentarily distracted him from his worries about Taehee, and a manipulative Hyun-Joo (according to him).