Beauty and the Broken

17| 𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭

When he opened the door, he froze. Standing on the porch was a woman whose face he had only seen in passing—Jungkook's mother. Her eyes, usually so cold and calculating in the rare moments Taehyung had glimpsed them, were now softened with something resembling sorrow or regret.

Everyone in the room turned to face the unexpected visitor. Aera's breath hitched as she recognized the woman, and Jungkook, sitting beside her, stiffened. His hand unconsciously sought Aera's, and when their fingers intertwined, he felt her pulse racing. To calm her, he squeezed her hand gently, brushing his thumb over her knuckles in a soothing motion.

"Mrs. Jeon," Taehyung finally spoke, his voice measured and calm, though his mind was racing. "How did you find us here?"

She met his gaze with a steady resolve. "I have my ways, Taehyung. May I come in?"

He hesitated for a moment, but then stepped aside, allowing her to enter. The tension in the room was palpable as she walked in, her eyes flickering over each of them—lingering slightly longer on Jungkook, who she hadn't seen since the accident.

"Please, sit," Taehyung offered, gesturing toward the dining table.

She moved with an elegance that belied her age, sitting down with a graceful composure. The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken questions. Aera's hand remained in Jungkook's, and she leaned closer to him, drawing comfort from his presence.

"How are you, Jungkook?" his mother asked softly, breaking the silence. "I heard about the accident... Are you healing well?"

Jungkook's eyes were guarded. "I'm fine, Mother. Recovering."

She nodded, her gaze dropping to the table. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice laced with an emotion that surprised them all. "For what happened to you."

Jungkook frowned, his confusion mirrored on Aera's face. "What do you mean?"

For a moment, she didn't answer. She seemed to be gathering her thoughts, weighing her words carefully. Then she looked up, her eyes meeting each of theirs in turn.

"It was your father," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "He orchestrated the accident... to threaten you all."

Aera gasped, her hand clenching tightly around Jungkook's. Taehyung's expression hardened, and Jungkook's face turned pale as the truth sank in.

"He... he did this to his own son?" Aera's voice trembled, her disbelief evident.

Mrs. Jeon's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I wish I could say I didn't know... but I was aware of some of his actions, though not all. I... I've seen how ruthless he can be, but I never thought he would go this far."

Taehyung remained silent, studying her intently. He wasn't sure whether to trust her, and he could tell that Aera and Jungkook shared his skepticism.

"Why are you telling us this now?" Taehyung asked, his tone cautious.

She sighed, the weight of her burden evident in her posture. "Because I can't stand by and watch him destroy you all—especially not my own son. I know you have no reason to trust me, but I want to help. I want to make things right."

The room fell into a contemplative silence. Aera felt a storm of emotions swirling inside her—anger, fear, confusion. She glanced at Jungkook, his face a mixture of shock and betrayal. She wanted to say something, but words failed her.

Instead, she squeezed his hand again, her touch grounding him. He turned to her, his eyes softening as he saw the concern etched on her face.

"We don't have to decide anything right now," Jungkook finally said, his voice steady but strained. "But if what you're saying is true, we need to be careful."

His mother nodded, relief flickering in her eyes. "Thank you... for giving me a chance."

Aera looked down at their joined hands, a sense of unity strengthening within her. She knew that no matter what came next, they would face it together.

Taehyung observed the exchange, and his own heart conflicted. He couldn't deny the sincerity in Mrs. Jeon's words, nor could he ignore the growing bond between Aera and Jungkook. They were all entangled in a web of deceit and danger, but perhaps, just perhaps, they could unravel it together.

"Let's take this one step at a time," Taehyung said finally, his voice firm. "We'll figure out what to do next, but we'll do it cautiously."

Mrs. Jeon smiled, a small, graceful curve of her lips. "I understand. And I'll do whatever I can to help."

As they sat together, an unspoken alliance formed, fragile but present. And in that moment, the threads of fate that had once seemed so tangled began to weave a new pattern—one of trust, of hope, and of a future yet to be determined.