Veil of Vengeance | JUNGKOOK FF

Chapter 24

Three days passed in tense silence, with Y/N feeling increasingly isolated in the house that was supposed to be her new home. Jeongguk had completely ignored her, not even acknowledging her presence. It was as if she didn't exist to him. Y/N tried to bridge the gap by preparing meals for both of them, hoping that he might soften if she showed her willingness to fulfill her role as his wife. But her efforts went unnoticed. Jeongguk didn't even look at the food she made. Instead, he ordered meals and snacks online, only consuming what was delivered to their doorstep.

The house felt colder and more unfamiliar with every uneaten meal and every word left unsaid. Y/N was alone in this marriage, and the bitter reality of her situation was becoming impossible to ignore.

On the third day, the supposed end of their honeymoon, Jeongguk received a call from his parents. They, along with Y/N's family, wanted to escort the newlyweds to their new house. It was meant to be a joyous occasion, a time to celebrate their union and the beginning of their life together. But Jeongguk wanted none of it. He didn't want anyone to know that they were already living in the house—or rather, existing in the same space but as total strangers.

He refused their offer, insisting that he and Y/N would go to the house on their own. His real intention was to keep up the facade that they hadn't yet moved in. However, the elders were persistent, eager to see the new couple settled in their home. To appease them, Jeongguk eventually invited both families for dinner that evening. They accepted the invitation eagerly, expressing their excitement to spend time with the newlyweds.

But for Jeongguk, the prospect of spending the evening pretending to be a happy husband was anything but exciting. He didn't want to talk to Y/N at all, but he knew they would have to act like nothing was wrong in front of their families.

That evening, Jeongguk found Y/N sitting on the couch in the living room, her attention focused on a book. The sight of reading was something he used to find endearing, but now it only served as a reminder of how far apart they had grown—or rather, how far apart he had pushed her .

Without looking up from his phone, Jeongguk spoke, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Our families are coming over for dinner tonight," he said flatly, his eyes still glued to the screen. "I want nothing to go wrong. I'll order the food."

He turned, ready to head back upstairs, but Y/N's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Jeongguk," she called out softly, her tone carrying a mixture of hesitation and resolve.

He paused, though he didn't turn around. "What is it?" he asked, still not bothering to look at her.

Y/N took a deep breath, summoning the courage to speak up. "You don't have to order food online," she said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty she felt. "I can cook for our families."

For the first time in days, Jeongguk actually turned to face her, though his expression was hard to read. He studied her for a moment, as if weighing her words.

"I'll make sure everything is perfect," Y/N continued, her eyes searching his face for any sign of acknowledgment. "It's our first dinner with both our families, and I want to do this right."

Jeongguk's gaze flickered, but it was difficult to tell what he was thinking. "Do what you want," he finally said, his tone dismissive. "Just make sure nothing goes wrong."

Y/N stood there, feeling a mix of relief and sadness as he turned to leave. But this time, she wasn't ready to let him go so easily. "Jeongguk," she called out again, a bit more forcefully.

He stopped but didn't turn around. "What?" he responded, a hint of impatience in his voice.

"Why are you doing this?" Y/N asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Why are you treating me like this?"

Jeongguk's shoulders stiffened, but he remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, his tone cold and distant. "What do you mean, Y/N? I'm doing exactly what I have to."

"What you have to?" Y/N echoed, her heart pounding. "But we're married. We're supposed to—"

"Supposed to what?" Jeongguk cut her off, finally turning around to face her. His eyes were hard, devoid of the warmth they once held. "Pretend like this is some fairytale? You think cooking dinner is going to change anything?"

Y/N flinched at the harshness in his voice, but she refused to back down. "I'm just trying to make this work, Jeongguk. I thought... I thought we could at least try."

"Try?" Jeongguk let out a humorless laugh. "There's nothing to try, Y/N. This is the reality. We're not some happy couple. We're two people stuck in a situation neither of us wanted."

Y/N's eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back, refusing to cry in front of him. "Then why did you marry me? Why go through with it if you didn't want this?"

Jeongguk's expression darkened, his jaw clenching. "You know why, Y/N. Don't act like you don't."

A heavy silence hung between them, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on them both. Y/N opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She didn't know what to say, how to bridge the chasm between them.

Jeongguk finally sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Just... do what you want, Y/N. Cook the dinner, play the perfect wife. But don't expect anything from me."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Y/N standing there, feeling more alone than ever. She knew he was right—this wasn't a fairytale. But that didn't make the pain any less real.

As she began to plan the meal, Y/N found herself thinking about how different things could have been. They were supposed to be on their honeymoon, enjoying each other's company and building the foundation of their marriage. Instead, they were living like strangers, with Jeongguk barely acknowledging her existence. The thought made her heart ache, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

Y/N spent the next few hours preparing the dinner with meticulous care. She chose dishes she knew both families would love, hoping to create an atmosphere of warmth and togetherness, even if it was just for one night. As she worked, she tried to push down the lingering sadness, telling herself that this dinner was important—not just for their families, but for her. It was a chance to show that she was capable, that she could fulfill her role as Jeongguk's wife, even if he didn't seem to want her to.

By the time she finished, the dining table was set, and the house smelled of the delicious meal she had prepared. Everything was ready, but the knot in her stomach refused to go away. She knew that the evening would be a performance, a carefully constructed facade to hide the reality of their situation. But she was determined to make it work, even if it meant pretending that everything was fine when it was far from it.

Y/N went up to her room and changed into more appropriate clothing for the evening, then came downstairs to finish up the rest of her work. She was in the middle of washing the glasses when the doorbell rang.

As she heard the sound of the doorbell, signaling the arrival of their families, Y/N took a deep breath and forced a smile onto her face. She was ready to play her part, even if her heart wasn't in it. Because in the end, that was all she could do—pretend.

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2024.08.20