A Crowned Heart

{14}

The warmth of Taehyung's embrace lingered in the air, and the tender moment they had just shared filled Y/N's heart with a joy she had never known. For a brief, beautiful moment, it felt like the world had disappeared, leaving only the two of them and the love that had blossomed between them.

But as Taehyung pulled back slightly, his gaze still locked on hers, something in Y/N's mind shifted. A cold, harsh reality began to creep in, pushing aside the happiness that had taken root in her heart. A sudden memory crashed through her thoughts, as sharp as a blade, and she felt her chest tighten.

She was engaged to Davin.

The realization hit her like a wave, drowning out the warmth and replacing it with a cold, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. How could she have forgotten? How could she have allowed herself to get lost in the moment, to let herself dream of a future with Taehyung, when she was bound to another man?

Taehyung noticed the change in her expression, his smile faltering as concern filled his eyes. "Y/N? What's wrong?"

Y/N stepped back, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of the table for support. "I... I'm engaged to Davin," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if saying the words out loud would make them more real.

Taehyung's face tightened, his eyes darkening with a mix of emotions—confusion, hurt, and something deeper, a flicker of pain that he tried to hide. "Y/N..."

She shook her head, her heart pounding in her chest. "I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have let this happen. Taehyung, I'm so sorry..."

"Don't," Taehyung said softly, stepping forward to take her hands in his. "Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong."

But Y/N couldn't meet his eyes, guilt gnawing at her insides. "I'm promised to Davin. I've been engaged to him for as long as I can remember. I... I can't just forget that."

Taehyung's grip on her hands tightened, his voice firm but gentle. "And what about what you want, Y/N? What about your happiness? Are you going to throw that away because of some arrangement?"

Y/N bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at him. "I don't know what to do, Taehyung. My duty, my family... They've always expected me to marry Davin. It's what's been planned for so long. And now, I'm so torn."

Taehyung's expression softened, and he gently cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. "Listen to me, Y/N. I don't care about the arrangement, or the expectations, or any of it. All I care about is you. Your happiness. Your heart."

Y/N's tears spilled over, and she shook her head again, her voice trembling. "But it's not that simple... My family, they're counting on this. And Davin... he won't just let me go. He's not... he's not someone who accepts defeat easily."

Taehyung's jaw clenched, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes at the mention of Davin. But he quickly pushed it down, focusing instead on the woman he loved. "Y/N, you deserve to be with someone who loves you, who respects you, not someone who sees you as just another possession."

Y/N's heart ached at his words, the truth of them cutting deep. But the weight of her obligations, the fear of what might happen if she defied her family, was almost too much to bear.

"What are we supposed to do, Taehyung?" she asked, her voice breaking. "How can we be together when everything is standing in our way?"

Taehyung's gaze softened, and he pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "We'll find a way, Y/N. I promise you, we will. But you need to decide what you want. I can't make that choice for you."

Y/N buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt as she clung to him. The conflict inside her raged on, tearing at her heart and mind. She wanted to be with Taehyung more than anything, but the fear of what she might lose, the consequences she might face, loomed over her like a dark cloud.

For a long moment, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. Y/N didn't have the answers yet, but in Taehyung's embrace, she found a small measure of comfort, a reminder that she wasn't facing this alone.

Taehyung gently stroked her hair, his voice soft and soothing as he whispered, "We'll figure it out, Y/N. No matter what happens, I'm here for you. Always."

Y/N nodded against his chest, her tears finally beginning to slow. She wasn't sure what the future held, but in that moment, she knew one thing for certain: she loved Taehyung with all her heart, and that love was worth fighting for, no matter the cost