"The Kim Dynasty: Secrets of the Heart"

77

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Chapter 77

The atmosphere in the Kim mansion was thick with an oppressive silence, a stark contrast to the lively chaos of university life that Namjoon had shared with Jin, Jackson, and Yoongi just the day before. They had reminisced about the fun, the mischief, and the bonds they had forged, but as Namjoon returned home, the reality weighed heavily on him.

It had been three years since he had left for university, and today marked the farewell of not only Namjoon but also Yoongi, who had been a guiding force throughout their journey. Jungkook and Taehyung were still navigating their high school, unaware of the dark clouds gathering over their family.

On the other side of the city, a new pharmaceutical company named RK was rising to prominence, gaining a reputation for its innovative medicines, while the Kim family business steadily declined. The once-thriving empire that Mr. Kim had built was crumbling, and the mafia legacy that had been passed down through generations was in tatters. Namjoon was blissfully unaware of the turmoil until the shocking news of a tragedy reached him.

As the farewell festivities took place, a somber moment unfolded on the terrace where Namjoon found himself standing beside a girl he barely knew, a girl whose eyes held a depth of sorrow. In an impulsive act that shattered the evening's joy, she leaped from the ledge, leaving Namjoon in a state of shock. The echoes of her decision haunted him, swirling through his thoughts as he returned to the mansion with a heavy heart.

The following day, the air was thick with grief as Namjoon, Suga, and Jackson sat together in the living area of their apartment, the weight of the girl’s death looming over them. None spoke; words felt inadequate in the face of such sorrow. Just then, Namjoon’s phone buzzed, cutting through the silence with an urgent message: Come to XYZ Hospital as soon as possible.

Without a second thought, Namjoon bolted for the door, Suga and Jackson quickly following. They arrived at the hospital, where a chilling sight awaited them—the lifeless body of Mr. Kim lay before them, a man who had been larger than life now reduced to a still figure on a hospital bed. The shock coursed through Namjoon like ice, freezing him in place. This was not how he had imagined returning home.

John, the family secretary, and his wife, Somi, stood nearby, their eyes red-rimmed from sleepless nights filled with worry and grief. They looked as if they had aged a decade overnight, bearing the burden of the devastating news they were about to deliver.

As the funeral arrangements were made and the burial ceremony took place, the weight of loss settled heavily on the young men. Once the formalities concluded, they returned to the Kim mansion, where the somber atmosphere only deepened.

In the living area, John and Somi gathered the five of them, their expressions serious and filled with concern. Suga and Jackson, aware of the Kim family history, listened intently as John began to explain.

“Mr. Kim was under immense stress,” John began, his voice trembling slightly. “The mafia empire that your family built is gone. Everything your great-grandfathers established—gone. The business, once thriving, is now bankrupt. We’re facing an unprecedented disaster.”

The words hung heavy in the air, the implications sinking in slowly. Namjoon’s heart raced as he processed the reality; the life he had known was crumbling around him. Jungkook and Taehyung, still in high school and on scholarships, exchanged worried glances, sensing the burden shifting onto their elder brother.

Namjoon felt his breath quicken. “What does this mean for us?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, a mix of dread and determination coursing through him.

John hesitated, then continued, “Your father took out loans to keep the business afloat, but the debts were insurmountable. He sold the mansion to pay them off.”

Namjoon felt the ground beneath him shift. “What do you mean, sold? This is our home!”

As if the universe wanted to compound their misery, just then, a uniformed officer and a lawyer entered the room, their expressions grave. The lawyer stepped forward, holding a stack of legal papers. “I’m sorry, but the mansion has been sold by Mr. Kim to cover the debts. You all need to vacate the premises.”

The shock rippled through the group like an electric current, leaving them speechless. Jungkook’s eyes widened in disbelief, while Taehyung’s jaw dropped as he turned to Namjoon, seeking answers. “What are we going to do?” Jungkook’s voice trembled with anxiety.

Namjoon felt the weight of their gazes, the responsibility settling heavily on his shoulders. “We’ll find a way,” he said, though uncertainty gnawed at him. “We’re family, and we’ll face this together.”

But even as he spoke the words, a sense of dread filled him. The chaos that had enveloped his father’s life had now seeped into his own, threatening to dismantle everything he held dear. And as he stood there, surrounded by the remnants of their family legacy, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a much darker journey.

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