Second Chance

Chapter 56

As Aena left Jungkook sat back in his chair with tearful eyes, having already resigned himself to his fate.

Aena, running to save her life, finally reached the palace. Upon entering the hall, she saw Taehyung still sitting on stage with his hand on his forehead massaging his temples in frustration, while the queen sat beside him. The father was still present and half the guests had already left.

Aena stood at the back of the crowd, relieved to see the father. Wiping her tears, she shouted with all her strength,

"Taehyunggggg."

Hearing Aena's voice, Taehyung snapped out of his thoughts and looked towards the door where Aena was standing behind the crowd.

Her makeup was smeared, blood had dried on her lips, her well-styled hair was disheveled, her cheeks swollen and her clothes were dirty. Everyone was stunned to see Aena in such a state.

Taehyung who had been silent, believing Aena had fled of her own accord, was now faced with a different reality.

Seeing Aena's condition everyone in the hall was stunned. Taehyung felt a strange sense of unease. He had thought that Aena had fled by choice but her current state suggested that something very wrong had happened.

Aena slowly reached Taehyung and approached the stage. Her heart was still tied to Jungkook, worried about what might happen to him. Yet, standing before her was Taehyung, whom she deeply loved. She climbed the stage and walked up to him.

Taehyung took Aena's hand and whispered softly in her ear, "Aena, there has already been enough drama in your absence. Let's complete the wedding ceremony first and then I'll make sure to deal with whoever did this to you."

Aena's heart clenched listening this but nodded in agreement.

The father asked them to stand facing each other and began reading the vows.

After reciting all the vows, the father first addressed the bride, "Do you Aena, take Kim Taehyung, King of Korea as your husband?"

Aena looked at Taehyung, who was gazing at her intently.

What Aena had always desired was right in front of her but her mind was consumed by thoughts of Jungkook. The words "I do" wouldn't come out of her mouth a lump was stuck in her throat. Taehyung waited impatiently for her response and everyone watched Aena with astonishment.

Suddenly, Aena burst into tears. Her sobbing filled the hall with an unsettling silence. Taehyung moved closer and Aena uttered with great difficulty through her tears

"Taehyung, k-kai is going to k-kill J-jungkook."

Taehyung froze as Aena's words hit him like a thunderbolt. The tension in the room grew heavier and the silence became deafening. Taehyung's eyes hardened momentarily as he tried to process what Aena had just said.

"Jungkook?" Taehyung whispered his voice laced with confusion and a hint of heartbroken.

Aena's tears continued to stream down her face, her sobs barely contained. She could feel the weight of the decision crushing her from all sides. On one hand was the man she had loved deeply for as long as she could remember, and on the other was Jungkook, the one who had silently stood by her, whose presence had somehow become intertwined with her heart.

"Kai... h-he's going to kill him," Aena repeated, her voice trembling. "I... I can't let that happen, Taehyung. I can't watch him die because of me."

Taehyung's expression hardened. His mind raced, trying to piece together what had led to this moment. The name Jungkook echoed in his thoughts, stirring a mix of emotions-pain, heartbreak and a growing sense of something slipping away from him.