Ties of Fate

Other Side of The Coin

Taehyung stared blankly at the floor of his father’s study, the words that had just been spoken echoing in his head.

"You want me to do what?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Marry Jeon Jungkook," his father repeated calmly, as if he were suggesting something as simple as changing the wallpaper.

Taehyung couldn’t contain his laughter. It started off as a quiet chuckle but quickly grew into something uncontrollable. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head as he let out a sharp breath. "You can’t be serious, Dad."

"I am very serious," Kim Sung-ho replied, his expression stern. "This is not a joke, Taehyung. This is about the future of our family and our business."

Taehyung wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still chuckling. "You expect me to marry Jungkook? The guy who treats me like I’m the biggest joke in the room every time our path crosses? That Jungkook?"

"Yes," his father said, completely unfazed by Taehyung’s reaction. "That Jungkook."

Taehyung stood up abruptly, pacing the length of the study. He could feel his temper rising, the familiar feeling of frustration and anger building up. "You can’t just… force me into this! Marriage? Are we in the 18th century? This isn’t how things work anymore!"

Sung-ho’s gaze remained fixed on him, unwavering. "This isn’t about tradition. It’s about survival. You’ve seen the numbers, Taehyung. The fashion industry is changing faster than ever, and our competitors are already ahead. Meanwhile, the Jeon family’s hotel empire has struggled to stay relevant. Together, we can dominate both industries."

Taehyung paused, his hands running through his messy hair. He knew his father wasn’t wrong about the downfall of both companies. Kim Industries had always been innovative, but they were starting to lose their edge, and the Jeon family’s hotels—despite their former glory—were becoming outdated. A merger could, in theory, be beneficial for both sides. But marriage? To Jungkook? That's a whole different story!

"Why me?" Taehyung muttered, almost to himself. "Why not some boring corporate alliance? You know, the kind that doesn’t involve me tying my life to someone I can’t stand."

"Because it’s not just about the businesses," Sung-ho said, leaning forward in his chair. "The media, the public—they love a good story. Imagine the headlines. Two rival families, once enemies, united by marriage. It would be a publicity goldmine. Investors would flock to us, and our influence would skyrocket."

Taehyung let out a groan, leaning against the large oak desk in his father’s study. "I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. You know how I feel about Jungkook."

"Your personal feelings are irrelevant," Sung-ho said bluntly. "This is business."

Taehyung scoffed. "You sound like him."

Sung-ho raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to be an insult? Jeon Jungkook is an intelligent young man, far more disciplined than you’ve ever been."

Taehyung clenched his jaw, swallowing the sharp retort he wanted to throw at his father. Of course, Sung-ho admired Jungkook. Everyone did. The perfect son, the golden boy of the Jeon family, always composed and collected, always with the right answer. Taehyung had grown up hearing the constant comparisons—how he should be more like Jungkook, how Jungkook was the model businessman while Taehyung was a loose cannon.

But that was the point. Taehyung had never wanted to be like Jungkook. He had his own way of doing things, his own vision for Kim Industries. Fashion was art, and Taehyung was an artist. He didn't need to fill anyone else’s expectations, least of all his father’s.

"Even if I agree to this," Taehyung said, crossing his arms, "which I haven’t, Jungkook would never go along with it. The guy despises me."

"Jungkook will do what his family asks of him," Sung-ho replied. "He understands duty. Just like you should."

"Duty," Taehyung spat, the word tasting bitter in his mouth. "Duty to what? A family name? A business that drains the life out of everything?"

"You don’t have a choice in this," Sung-ho said, his voice firm. "You will do what’s necessary for the family. You are my son, and this is your responsibility."

Taehyung’s fists clenched at his sides, his frustration boiling over. He had spent his whole life rebelling against the expectations placed on him. While Jungkook had been groomed to lead, Taehyung had been allowed a bit more freedom, mostly because his father thought he wasn’t serious enough to take on real responsibility. But now, here he was, being thrown into the one role he wanted no part of—a pawn in a business deal, bound to someone he couldn’t stand.

"I won’t do it," Taehyung said through gritted teeth, though even he could hear the uncertainty in his own voice.

His father’s eyes softened, just for a moment. "Taehyung, this is bigger than you or me. This is about securing our future. I know it’s not ideal, but sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good."

"Yeah?" Taehyung said, his voice sharp with sarcasm. "And what sacrifice are you making here, exactly?"

Sung-ho didn’t answer, and the silence was enough of a reply.

Taehyung turned away, feeling trapped in a way he hadn’t felt before. He had always pushed against the boundaries of his family’s expectations, had always thought he could carve his own path. But now, it felt like those walls were closing in on him, leaving him with no way out.

He couldn’t marry Jungkook. He just couldn’t. The very idea of it was insane. They couldn’t be in the same room for more than five minutes without biting each other’s heads off, and now they were expected to spend their lives together?

Yet, as much as Taehyung wanted to storm out of his father’s study and never look back, a part of him knew the truth. His father had made up his mind. There was no escaping this. If he refused, the consequences would be worse than he could imagine—for his family, for the business he had spent his life trying to prove himself worthy of.

But the thought of Jungkook… the perfect, infuriating Jungkook… made his stomach churn.

"I’ll think about it," Taehyung said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Good," Sung-ho said, standing up. "I knew you’d come around."

Taehyung didn’t respond. He couldn’t. His mind was already spiraling, thinking about what this would mean. What it would be like to face Jungkook, to marry him, to be tied to him for the rest of his life.

As he left the study, the weight of his father’s expectations settled heavily on his shoulders.

And for the first time in a long time, Taehyung didn’t know if he could carry it.