Arranged marriage

Chapter 1

The rain outside mirrored Y/N's inner turmoil as she sat quietly in her room. She could hear the faint hum of voices downstairs—important voices. She wasn't supposed to be here, trapped in this mansion, tangled in a web of power and control spun by her stepmother. Son Yejin, the woman who had made her life a living nightmare, had orchestrated this, Y/N was sure of it.

Y/N glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was tied neatly, her dress modest but elegant, something picked out by Yejin for this occasion. It didn't matter how expensive or beautiful the fabric was—Y/N felt like she was being wrapped in chains.

A soft knock on the door startled her. Her stepmother's voice floated through the door, saccharine sweet, "Y/N, darling, they're waiting for you. Come downstairs."

Y/N swallowed the lump in her throat. She wasn't ready. She would never be ready for what was about to happen. But she had no choice. With one final glance at herself in the mirror, she stood, smoothing her dress, and walked out of the room with trembling hands.

The grand living room was filled with people who mattered—figures from the mafia world that Y/N only knew from whispered rumors. Men in dark suits, their expressions cold and unreadable, stood alongside her stepmother. In the center of the room stood him: Jeon Jungkook.

He hadn't noticed her arrival at first. His back was turned, hands buried in the pockets of his black suit. His stance was confident, almost too confident, and the tension around him was palpable. Y/N had seen pictures of him, of course. His name was well-known in their world, but seeing him in person felt different—more intimidating, more real.

"Ah, Y/N, finally," Yejin said, her voice cutting through the silence. "Come here."

Jungkook turned slowly, his gaze meeting Y/N's for the first time. His eyes were dark, piercing, and yet strangely devoid of warmth. He was taller than she expected, his broad frame imposing as he stood there, watching her with an unreadable expression. The room felt smaller, the air heavier, as if his presence alone suffocated everything around him.

Y/N took a hesitant step forward, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on her, especially his. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she tried to focus on anything but the man standing before her. But it was impossible.

Jungkook's eyes narrowed slightly as she approached, as if he were sizing her up, calculating, dissecting. For a brief moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his gaze—curiosity, perhaps, or was it indifference? She couldn't tell.

"This is Y/N, your bride-to-be," Yejin's voice rang out, far too cheerful for the grim situation unfolding. "I'm sure you'll be... happy together."

Y/N's eyes flicked to the floor, wishing she could disappear. Happy? Was that even a possibility in this arrangement?

Jungkook's gaze didn't waver. He studied her for what felt like an eternity, his face betraying no emotion. Finally, he spoke, his voice low, controlled. "So, this is the girl."

The way he said it made her heart sink even further. The girl. Not his bride, not his wife, but the girl—like she was just another piece in a much larger game.

Y/N forced herself to meet his gaze, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke, "I... I'm Y/N."

Jungkook's lips twitched, but not into a smile. "I know who you are."

The room felt colder suddenly, and Y/N couldn't tear her eyes away from his. She had expected this—his cold demeanor, his lack of interest. This wasn't a love match, after all. But still, she had hoped for something more, perhaps a sliver of kindness.

Jungkook looked away first, turning his attention back to the window as if she no longer existed. "Let's just get this over with," he muttered under his breath, though loud enough for her to hear.

Y/N's heart clenched painfully in her chest. She knew this marriage was a business deal, but hearing him say it so casually, like it meant nothing, hurt more than she'd expected. She stood there, unsure of what to do, her hands fidgeting nervously at her sides.

Yejin, ever the manipulator, stepped in with her fake warmth. "Now, now, there's no need for awkwardness. You two will have plenty of time to get to know each other." She looked between them, her smile sickeningly sweet, before adding, "Why don't we give them some privacy?"

The men in suits nodded and began to file out of the room, leaving Y/N and Jungkook standing in the large, empty space. The silence that followed was deafening. Y/N could feel her pulse racing in her throat as she glanced at Jungkook, unsure if she should say something, anything, to break the tension. But he seemed completely uninterested.

He finally spoke, his voice flat. "I'm not looking for companionship."

Y/N blinked, taken aback by the bluntness of his words.

"I don't care what you do with your life," Jungkook continued, his gaze cold as ice. "Just don't get in my way, and I won't get in yours."

Y/N swallowed hard, her chest tightening. She didn't know what she had expected, but it wasn't this level of indifference. She had hoped for... at least some respect. But Jungkook was making it clear that this was nothing more than a transaction to him.

Her voice was barely a whisper as she responded, "I understand."

Jungkook glanced at her then, his expression unreadable. He studied her for a moment, his eyes flickering with something Y/N couldn't quite place—was it frustration? Annoyance? Pity? She wasn't sure, and before she could make sense of it, he turned his back on her once again.

"You'll be safe here," he said, as though it was nothing more than a business statement. "That's all that matters."

Safe. The word lingered in the air, hollow and cold. Y/N wasn't sure if she believed him. Safe in a world where everything felt dangerous, where even the man who was supposed to protect her seemed so far removed from any sense of warmth or care.

Jungkook walked toward the door without another word, leaving Y/N standing in the center of the room, alone with her thoughts. The sound of his footsteps echoed as he left, the door closing with a soft click behind him.

Y/N let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Her hands were shaking, her heart pounding. She stood there for a long time, staring at the door through which Jungkook had just left. The reality of her situation weighed heavily on her.

This wasn't going to be a marriage built on love or trust. It was a deal, a contract, and nothing more. She had known that from the beginning, but hearing it from his own lips made it feel so much more final.

The door creaked open again, and Y/N stiffened, expecting to see Jungkook's cold face returning. But instead, a figure moved swiftly toward her, casting a long shadow across the room. It wasn't Jungkook.

Before she could react, a hand clamped over her mouth, and Y/N felt her body being dragged back into the darkness.

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