𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥-𝗜𝗡-𝗟𝗔𝗪

chapter 33 (A forced Departure)

Chapter 33: A Forced Departure

The morning light filtered through the curtains of Jennie’s apartment, casting a soft glow over the quiet space. Taehyung was sitting at the edge of the bed, his phone pressed to his ear, his expression tense. Jennie could sense that something was wrong before he even spoke. She had seen that look on his face before—one of quiet frustration mixed with concern.

He ended the call and turned to Jennie, his eyes filled with a mixture of regret and urgency.
He sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the message, his mind racing. How could he leave Jennie, even for a few days? They were just starting to find their way back to each other, and the thought of being apart again felt like a knife twisting in his chest.

“I have to go back to Korea,” he said, his voice heavy. “There’s been a problem at the company… Jisoo did something, and it’s a mess. The board needs me there to sort it out..
something really bad, and I have to go back and fix it. If I don’t, the whole company could be at risk.”

Jennie felt a pang in her chest at his words. She had feared this moment—the moment when the outside world would pull Taehyung away from her again. But she knew that he had responsibilities back home, ones that couldn’t be ignored.

“How bad is it?” Jennie asked quietly, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Bad enough that they’re calling me back immediately,” Taehyung replied, running a hand through his hair. “I never wanted to leave you, Jennie, especially not now… But I don’t have a choice. I have to fix this.”

Jennie swallowed hard, her mind racing. She didn’t want him to leave—didn’t want to be alone again after everything they had been through. But she also understood the weight of his responsibilities, and she knew she couldn’t hold him back.

“It’s okay,” Jennie said softly, forcing a smile. “You need to go. The company needs you, Tae.”

Jennie’s heart sank. She could see the conflict in his eyes—the tug-of-war between his responsibilities and his desire to stay with her. She knew how much the company meant to him, how hard he had worked to build it from the ground up. But she also knew how much he didn’t want to leave her, especially after everything they had been through.

Taehyung’s gaze softened as he looked at her. “I don’t want to leave you alone. Not after everything… Not with everything that’s been happening.”

Jennie reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently. “I’ll be fine. You’ve been here for me, and I know you’ll be back as soon as you can. I can take care of myself, and… Jimin’s here too. He’ll help if I need anything.”

Taehyung’s jaw clenched at the mention of Jimin. He had grown to trust the other man over time, but it still wasn’t easy to think of leaving Jennie in someone else’s care—especially someone who clearly had feelings for her. But he knew Jennie was right. He didn’t have a choice. And Jimin had proven to be reliable and trustworthy.

Jennie’s heart ached at the sight of him so vulnerable, so torn. She squeezed his hand gently, offering him a reassuring smile despite the sadness in her own heart. “You won’t lose me, Taehyung. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. We’ve come this far, and we’re stronger now. You need to trust that.”

“I’ll call you every day,” Taehyung promised, his voice thick with emotion. “And as soon as I’ve sorted things out, I’ll be back here with you.”

Jennie nodded, her heart aching as she watched him pack his bags. She tried to stay strong for him, to make it easier for him to leave, but it was hard. Every moment he spent preparing to go felt like another piece of her heart breaking.