Fateful Alliance ∞

ⅠⅠ

JUNGKOOK

The priest's words hang in the air: "You may kiss the groom."

My whole body tenses. I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing myself. But... the kiss never comes.

Instead, there's the faintest brush against my cheek. A peck. Gentle. Careful.

I open my eyes, stunned. Taehyung is smiling — not wide, not mocking, just... small. Soft. The kind of smile that shouldn't belong to someone with his reputation.

He didn't kiss me.

I should be relieved, and I am, but confusion swirls through me too. Why? Why would someone known as ruthless act like... this?

The priest's voice cuts through my thoughts: "I now pronounce you married." Just like that, my whole life is different. Taehyung takes my hand, guiding me toward a table, and I follow in a daze.

The clinking of glass snaps me back. My father is standing, raising his champagne. His voice booms:
"Today, I want to toast to my beautiful son and his husband. My son is my greatest possession, and I'm glad he's gone to a wonderful man like Taehyung."

Possession. That word makes me snort under my breath. Greatest possession? More like punching bag. I think it's quiet, but Taehyung's sharp eyes flick toward me. I quickly shake my head, pretending it's nothing.

Next is Mother, spewing the same scripted nonsense about love and family. Empty words. Then Taehyung's father stands, and his tone is so different it makes me pause.

"My son's happiness has always been my greatest goal. This marriage is another step toward that. Jungkook, you're a new ray of hope in his life."

The sincerity in his voice almost feels foreign to me. He actually sounds proud.

Then his mother shares her memories, her words soft and trembling with joy. Aera is next. My Aera. She stands tall, glass in hand, and smiles at me like she's shining a light only I can see.

"Jungkook has been my best friend since he was born. He's kind, gentle, and stronger than anyone realizes. Taehyung-ssi, if you treat him well, you'll see the most loving person in the world. I promise you that."

Tears sting my eyes. I swipe them away before they can fall, but my chest aches with how much I love her.

Finally, Taehyung's best man, Park Jimin, speaks. His tone is warm, casual, the kind of speech that makes everyone laugh and smile. "Taehyung's been my best friend since we were kids. He's the kind of person who works hard without dragging others down. Jungkook, don't worry. He'll take care of you."

I can't help but smile back at Jimin. Maybe... maybe this isn't the hell I imagined.

Dinner follows, but my appetite is gone. Anxiety sits heavy in my stomach. Taehyung notices but says nothing, just finishes his meal and stands. I trail after him as he introduces me to his business partners, the mask of cold professionalism slipping over his face like armor. The soft man who kissed my cheek is nowhere in sight.

Hours later, the ceremony is done, and the goodbyes said. We slip into the back of a sleek Mercedes. The city lights blur past, and exhaustion creeps over me. My head tips back against the seat, neck straining painfully, but I don't move. Taehyung is watching me . I can feel it.

Then his voice, low and almost to himself: "His neck will hurt if he sleeps like that."

His hand brushes my skin, adjusting me gently until my head rests on his shoulder. Warmth spreads through me. For the first time all day, I let myself relax. Sleep steals me away before I can overthink it.

When I wake, it's to his voice murmuring my name, close to my ear. The car has stopped. Outside the window looms... a mansion. Our house.

My throat goes dry. This is where I live now.

Taehyung steps out first, opening my door before I can fumble with it. I force a smile, stepping into the night air. Servants are already carrying my bags inside. Everything feels unreal.

The house swallows me whole. It's huge, polished, intimidating. Taehyung leads me upstairs to a room. It's classy, almost too perfect. Like a hotel suite. No warmth. No personality. Just walls dressed in wealth.

The wardrobe alone is bigger than my old bedroom. A literal walk-in palace with a couch inside. I could probably get lost in there.

But I don't laugh. Not when the reality of what comes next claws back into my chest. My stomach twists as I sit on the bed. Tonight. He's going to want...

Taehyung enters, loosening his tie. My body stiffens. I shuffle back on the bed, bracing myself.

Instead, he gestures toward the bathroom. "Go freshen up."

I obey quickly, escaping into the steam of a hot shower. When I step out, I stare at the lingerie folded neatly with my things. My mother's "gift." My cage for tonight.

I want to throw it away. Burn it. But instead, I put it on, my reflection in the mirror mocking me. I feel exposed. Humiliated.

Heart pounding, I step back into the bedroom. He's there. Waiting. His shirt undone at the collar. I squeeze my eyes shut, preparing for his hands on me.

But nothing comes.

When I open them, Taehyung is sitting across from me, gaze soft in a way that makes my chest ache.

"Listen, Jungkook." His voice is calm, steady. "From today, yes, you're my husband. But that doesn't mean you belong to me. No one touches you without your permission. Not even me. Nothing will happen unless we both want it. Do you understand?"

The relief is so overwhelming it nearly knocks me off the bed. I nod, smiling through the tears I refuse to let fall.

His eyes flick to my lingerie. "Do you wear that every night?"

Embarrassed, I shake my head.

"Then change," he says simply. "Wear what you're comfortable in. You should sleep in peace, not in fear."

I rush back to the wardrobe, pulling out sweatpants and a loose shirt. When I return, he's gone. The sound of water running tells me he's in the shower.

And I can't help it. I do a little dance in the middle of that cold, perfect room. Because maybe, just maybe, this isn't the nightmare I thought it would be. Maybe this house... this marriage... could become something else entirely.