𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 | 𝐌𝐘𝐆

𝟑𝟕 | 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧

"What happened?" Gayeong's mother approached them, a look of irritation on her face.

"Nothing worth worrying about," Gayeong's father sighed in disappointment, "Let's not waste any more time. We should start sending out the invitations."

"I never agreed to this." Yoongi gritted his teeth in anger, glaring at Gayeong's father.

"I always thought Gayeong could do better," Gayeong's father lowered his voice, "but since my daughter have shown me that the love between the two of you were genuine, I'll do anything to make her happy."

"So you think it was right taking me away from my wife?" Yoongi raised his voice.

"Yoongi, sto—"

Gayeong's mother gasped, startled by his outburst while Gayeong reached out to calm him down.

"Gayeong is your wife."

"Min Mira is my wife."

"YOONGI!" Gayeong's voice exploded in fury, causing everyone to go silent. Yoongi looked forward, ignoring the way she was tugging on his sleeves.

Gayeong realized that she had lost control.

She was unable to comprehend how the man who once loved her was standing so firmly against her now.

"I will not tolerate hearing that name in this household." Gayeong's finger dug into Yoongi's arm as she tried to force him to look at her.

"Then I will leave."

"YOONGI STOP!"

Gayeong screamed, her voice cracking as she lunged toward him.

"Gayeong!" Her mother rushed over to grab her, soothingly rubbing her back.

"Please, Yoongi," Gayeong's mother pleaded, trying to calm both of them down, "Gayeong can't raise this child alone."

Yoongi's eye widened, his heart pounding in his chest as the weight of her words sank in.

"Child? That child's not even mine. So instead of trying to force a married man into marrying your daughter who's been sleeping around, you should be out looking for the real fath—"

Before Yoongi could finish, a sharp pain exploded in his face as Gayeong's father's fist slammed into the side of his jaw, sending him crashing to the floor. Gayeong and her mother gasped, stepping back in shock at the sudden violence.

"Don't think so highly of yourself." Gayeong's father grabbed Yoongi by the collar, yanking him back to his feet.

Blood dripped from Yoongi's mouth as he locked eyes with the older man, his body tense but his glare unwavering.

"Darling, stop!" Gayeong's mother cried out, desperately tugging at her husband's shoulder, trying to pull him off of Yoongi.

"You will marry my daughter." Gayeong's father ignored his wife's pleas as he tightened his grip on Yoongi's collar, pulling him close as his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, "And you will follow the rules in this household. Do you fucking hear me?"

With a final shove, he threw Yoongi back onto the floor. Yoongi landed hard, his body limp as he tried to recover, blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Without another glance, Gayeong's father stormed off, stepping over Yoongi's fallen form like he was nothing more than an obstacle in his path.

"Yoongi!" Gayeong rushed forward, dropping to her knees as she cupped his face, trying to lift it so she could get a better look at him.

Her hands trembled as they brushed against the blood on his lips.

If only Mira was here.

Yoongi could already picture the concern etched on her face, the gentle way she'd cup his cheeks, wiping the blood from his lips without a soft touch.

She would hold him as if he were the most fragile thing in the world.

Mira wouldn't leave his side until he was okay.

But as Mira's face slowly faded and replaced by Gayeong's expression, Yoongi realized that the love and care Mira gave him was now a distant memory.

"Let the butler take him back to his room. He's not allowed to come out until I say so." Gayeong's father yelled, ordering Gayeong to back off.

Gayeong hesitated for a moment, glancing down at Yoongi. With a sigh, she stood up and stepped back.

And it was now that Yoongi realized how Mira once felt.

To be nothing more than a prisoner in a life he didn't choose.