Beauty and the Broken

5| 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞

Morning

6:00 Am

Aera was jolted from her sleep by the urgent shaking of her shoulder. She groggily opened her eyes to find Jungkook's anxious face hovering above her. The early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on the otherwise tense atmosphere in the room.

"Aera, wake up," Jungkook urged, his voice laced with urgency.

"You need to see this."

Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Aera sat up and took the tablet Jungkook handed her. The headlines screamed at her, each word more horrifying than the last:

**"Shares of Aera's Company Plummet,"**

**"Investor Taehyung Increases Stake,"**

**"Hostile Takeover Imminent."**

Her heart sank as she scrolled through the articles. "This can't be happening," she whispered, her voice trembling. "How did he manage this?"

Jungkook's expression was grim. "He's been manipulating the investors, turning them against us. We need to confront him, Aera. We need answers."

Aera nodded, determination hardening her features. "Let's go."

~Time skipped~

The ride to Taehyung's office was tense and silent. Aera's mind raced with questions, fear, and anger. Jungkook sat beside her, his jaw clenched, hands tightly gripping the steering wheel. They both knew this confrontation would change everything.

When they arrived at Taehyung's opulent office building, they were immediately escorted up to his floor. The air, was thick with anticipation as they walked through the sleek, modern hallways.

Taehyung's office door loomed ahead, and with a deep breath, Aera pushed it open. Taehyung was seated behind his large desk, a cold smile playing on his lips as they entered.

"Well, well, well....." he drawled, leaning back in his chair. "What a pleasant surprise."

Aera's eyes blazed with anger. "What do you think you're doing, Kim Taehyung? How dare you try to destroy my company?"

Taehyung's smile widened. "Destroy? Oh no, Aera. I'm merely taking what's rightfully mine."

Taehyung turned slowly, his eyes cold and calculating.

"Your company?" he scoffed. "You mean the company built on the blood of my parents?"

"I think you have some questions to answer first, Aera."

Before she could respond, Taehyung slid a folder across the desk. "Take a look at these."

Aera hesitated, then opened the folder. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the photos and documents – all related to the jet crash that killed Taehyung and her parents. The evidence pointed directly to her step-family, implicating them in the tragedy.

The tension in Taehyung's office was thick, the air charged with a storm of emotions ready to erupt. Aera stood by the desk, her face pale and eyes wide with shock as Taehyung glared at her, his anger palpable. Jungkook stepped protectively in front of her, his face set in determination.

"You have the nerve to stand here and pretend you're innocent?" Taehyung spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Your family killed my parents! They orchestrated that jet crash, and you've been living off their blood money ever since!"

Aera shook her head, tears welling up. "I swear, Taehyung, I had no idea. I didn't know—"

"Save your lies," Taehyung snapped.

"Your family murdered mine, and you expect me to believe you knew nothing about it?"

Aera shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I swear, I didn't know."

Unable to bear seeing Aera in such pain, Jungkook stepped forward... "Taehyung, listen to her! She didn't know anything about this. Blaming her won't bring your parents back."

Taehyung's eyes narrowed, his voice low and dangerous. "And how would you know, Jungkook? How can you stand there and defend her?"

"Because I know her!" Jungkook shouted, stepping closer until he was almost nose-to-nose with Taehyung. "She's not capable of such things. You're letting your anger blind you!"

Taehyung's fists clenched at his sides. "Blind me? Do you think I'm blind? I've seen the evidence, Jungkook. It's all there—her family's involvement, the transactions, everything!"

Jungkook's voice grew louder, more desperate. "You're looking at the surface, Taehyung! There's more to this than you realize. I know you're hurt, but you're not seeing the full picture."

Taehyung shoved Jungkook back, his eyes blazing. "Then tell me, Jungkook! Tell me what I'm missing! Why should I believe you over cold, hard facts?"

Jungkook staggered but stood his ground, his eyes fierce. "Because I have my evidence! Things that will prove Aera's innocence. But you need to give me time. You need to trust that I'm telling the truth."

Taehyung laughed bitterly. "Trust you? Why should I? You've been hiding things too, haven't you? What else aren't you telling us?"

Aera watched in horror as the two men clashed, her heart breaking at that sight. "Please, stop this," she pleaded. "Fighting won't solve anything."

Jungkook turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "Aera, stay out of this. Let me handle it."

Taehyung's voice cut through the air like a knife. "Handle it? Do you think you can just handle this? My parents are dead because of her family!"

Jungkook's eyes flashed with a mix of pain and determination. "And hers too, Taehyung. She lost her real family when she was just a child. She's as much a victim as you are."

Taehyung hesitated the fire in his eyes flickering. "What are you saying?"

Jungkook took a deep breath, his voice steady. "I'm saying that the people responsible for your parents' deaths are the same ones who destroyed her family. She's innocent in all this. I promise you, Taehyung, I'll reveal everything when the right time comes."

Taehyung's shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him. He looked at Aera, seeing the truth in her tear-filled eyes. "You expect me to wait? To trust that you'll make everything clear?"

Jungkook nodded. "Yes. You have my word. But you need to give me time. Just a little more time."

The room fell silent, the intensity of the confrontation hanging in the air. Taehyung's gaze shifted between Jungkook and Aera, his mind racing. Finally, he let out a long, shaky breath.

"Fine," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll wait. But if you're lying to me, Jungkook, I swear—"

"I'm not lying," Jungkook interrupted. "You'll get your answers. Just trust me."

As they turned to leave, Taehyung's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting from exhaustion to a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"What is it?" Aera asked, sensing the change.

Taehyung looked up, his eyes narrowing.

 "It's a message. Something that might change everything."

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