NEVER LET GO [Discontinued]

27 - Engagement

The Bae family had three children: Jin, Irene, and Ho-seok. Jin and Irene were twins, with Irene being the older of the two by a few minutes. Jin, the eldest, had stepped into managing their father’s business, following closely in his footsteps. He had always been the responsible one, calm under pressure, and a natural leader.

Irene, on the other hand, studied business but found her passion in fashion and modeling, successfully merging both worlds. She now managed her own boutique and had made quite a name for herself in the industry.

As for Ho-seok, the youngest, he pursued a career in medicine and now worked at their family-owned hospital. Despite his serious profession, he couldn’t help but indulge in his noona's world from time to time, though modeling was not his thing.

Suga nudged Jin, smirking. "Gosh, why is Ho-seok sulking so much today?"

Jin chuckled, glancing at his moody brother. "Oh, he’s just upset that Irene’s getting married. You know, his favorite hobby is being her shadow and unpaid bodyguard. Now he’s going to have to find a new career!" Both of them laughed, but their attention soon returned to the event at hand as the engagement was about to begin.

The hall was beautifully decorated, filled with guests from family and friends. The Jeon and Bae families were old allies, who knew each other quite well. While everyone was engaged in their own conversations, Ho-seok stayed moody, and Taehyung and Jungkook were locked in a heated argument, almost ready to rip each other apart. In another corner, Jimin, Jinyoung, and Jaehyun were discussing something, their tones much lighter in comparison.

But at the center of it all, Irene and Jackson sat, all set for their engagement speech. Unlike the others, though, Irene couldn’t shake off the tension she felt. She glanced at Jackson, and in his eyes, she saw the same mirrored fear. The unspoken worry between them lingered, bringing back memories of the night that still haunted them both...

Flashback

That day, Irene handed Jackson some documents, calling it a pre-engagement gift. His expression darkened as he read them, panic seeping in.

“Calm down,” Irene said, reaching out to hold his hand, but Jackson jerked away, his alpha instincts taking over.

"Hands off, bitch!" he snarled. Irene, unfazed by his aggression, locked eyes with him, her own alpha energy rising to match his.

They nearly tore into each other, the tension between them growing dangerous. Just as they were about to lose control, Jackson’s phone rang, snapping them back to reality.

Breathing heavily, they separated, both alarmed and shaken. Their subgenders were deadly when pushed too far—two alphas going feral could be lethal.

End of flashback

Back in the present, seated at their engagement, both Jackson and Irene exchanged tense glances, their fear silently shared: they couldn’t trust themselves when things got heated.

---

Someone's POV

He stepped out of the car, taking in the view of the destination. The hall was lavishly decorated, the sound of celebration filling the air. A grand party, overflowing with laughter and conversation. He smirked at the scene unfolding before him.

The soon-to-be bride and groom stood at the front, giving their engagement speech.

They'd make a lovely bitchy couple, he thought darkly, his focus shifting. Power and intelligence. Just like them.

His gaze landed on Taehyung and Jungkook, who were standing nearby. A dangerous pair, full of fire, control, and secrets.

But tonight wasn’t about them. Tonight, he was here for something else.

He made his entry into the hall, blending into the crowd effortlessly. People were too absorbed in congratulating the couple, in the luxury around them, to notice him slipping by.

In the corner, Jaehyun was in the middle of a phone call when his eyes locked on the figure standing near the far end of the hall. His heart stopped.

Park Taeil.

The man was standing there, smoking leisurely, a vulture circling its prey. He was dressed sharp as ever, but his presence screamed menace. Jaehyun’s pulse quickened. Park family customs were something Jaehyun still struggled to shake. Every time Park Taeil showed up in person, it only meant one thing: total destruction. He was a walking omen, the bad luck that preceded disaster.

Jaehyun quickly hung up the phone, heart pounding as he pushed through the crowd, moving towards Taeil. He needed to get to him, needed to stop whatever was about to happen. People were busy congratulating the couple, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in the background.

When Jaehyun finally reached the spot where he'd seen Taeil, it was empty. His chest tightened with fear. Had Taeil disappeared, or was he lurking nearby?

A sudden presence behind him made Jaehyun whirl around, fists clenched.

It was Taehyung. The same anger was etched on his face.

“Did you see him?” Taehyung asked, his voice strained. “Or was that my imagination?”

Jaehyun’s eyes told him everything. It wasn’t an illusion. Park Taeil was here, and that could only mean one thing.

Something terrible was coming.