Ephialtes ll KTH ll 18+

Chapter-32

After a few months, Jieun was standing near the window, looking outside with void eyes. Suddenly her eyes fell on Jungkook who was talking to one of the guards. She hates him as well because he was also so heartless and cold. Suddenly accidentally he looked at her who was staring at him through window but in a  fleeting moment, he looked away going back to talking to guard. She sighed and looked back when the door opened revealing her husband who was in his comfy clothes. He passed his beautiful smile with a food tray in his hands and approached bed before calling her. "Come angel, eat your breakfast". She nodded slightly before walking towards him and was going to sit down but stopped as Taehyung held her wrist before pulling her closer gently.

"We will be parents very soon". He spoke huskily, placing his palm on her stomach. Her baby bump was visible and it was her 7th month. "I'm so happy". She gazed into his eyes, only to see a glimmer of happiness. He seemed genuinely happy now. But despite his transformation, her own eyes remained unchanged. She hadn't let her guard down yet. He had become caring towards her, no longer as ruthless as before. But she was still far from melting for him, or anyone else for that matter. The protective wall around her emotions and feelings stood firm, unyielding. She couldn't afford to let herself feel anything, for it was her only escape from pain.

Although he had stopped traumatizing her in recent months, the memories were still etched into her mind. Doctor Seokjin had been helpful in managing her nightmares, as they no longer plagued her as intensely as before. However, she still found herself suffering from those haunting dreams. "Now eat". She nodded and sat down while Taehyung sat down next to her. He was always with her to make sure she doesn't skip meals despite she never showed any tantrums, still he was cautious in her case. She was unfazed eating silently even though his strong gaze was on her but she didn't look at him for once. Taehyung blinked, fixing his posture as she asked in a void voice, slowly averting her gaze at him.

"What if it's a girl". Taehyung looked at her for a brief moment before placing his cheek on his palm and supporting his elbow on his folded thigh and answered with a calm face. "No worries, I'm not misogynist but". .She tightly gripped the spoon, feeling his intense gaze upon her. Despite his recent care and gentleness, the fear he instilled in her remained, never fading away. With bated breath, she waited for him, her body trembled as his cold voice pierced her ears. "I want a boy". She startled hard with gasp as he placed palm on her cheek and spoke with a smile which sent shivers down her spine. "I hope it will be a boy". Her eyes filled with fear as he patted her cheek gently before standing up and looked at her tense state. "Finish this, tonight I'll take you somewhere". 

She avoided looking at him, sensing his warmth dissipating as he increased the distance between them. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she heard the bathroom door close, signaling his departure. She couldn't help but feel that his apparent care for her was driven by selfishness, solely concerned about the child growing inside her womb. Though he made efforts, she couldn't shake the feeling that he remained as cold as ever, only acting for his own sake. It left her both fearful and curious. She gazed down at her baby bump, whispering softly as she placed her palm on her stomach. 

"Will this child grow in this bloody territory?"

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After a few hours as Jieun entered the art room, she couldn't help but smile a little and let out a sigh of relief. The sight of her parents' painting brought a sense of comfort to her. Her gaze slowly shifted towards another canvas, a painting of hoshi. It reminded her of painful memories that still haunted her, but she had learned to handle herself over time. The guilt of her perceived responsibility for her loved one's death weighed heavily on her heart.

With a heavy heart, she approached the canvas and noticed the color palette on the table in front of the hidden painting next to her parents' painting. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes moved on her parents' painting. A frown appeared on her face as she stared at it, feeling unsatisfied with something. She picked up a brush nearby, coating it with color, and carefully stroked the canvas to complete the unsatisfied part. Stepping back, she looked at the portrait, hoping to find solace in her art.