Chapter 23

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Standing in front of the mirror inside the changing room, next to the cupboard, Jungkook was sobbing softly. He pulled the sweater's pallu from his shoulder to take a better look. His entire body was covered in red marks. His neck, arms, and even his stomach bore the clear signs of irritation, accompanied by scratch marks, clearly visible on his fair skin. His hands, waist, and stomach were burning with pain. Jungkook kept sobbing, his eyes swollen and red from crying.

He adjusted his long sleeve and started searching the drawer for the first aid box, hoping to find some medicine, but it was nowhere to be found. Nothing is ever in place when it's most needed. The constant scratching had worsened his condition. He couldn't even step outside the room, as Taehyung had strictly forbidden him from leaving. Taehyung had told him to call if necessary, but Jungkook was too afraid. Earlier that morning, Taehyung had made him eat breakfast before leaving for an errand, and before leaving, he had clearly instructed Jungkook not to leave the room until he returned.

Jungkook had been feeling a light itchiness on his body since the previous night. Wearing long stony dress for the past two days and nights had caused a rash to develop all over his body. The itchiness had worsened significantly that morning. Even though Taehyung had asked multiple times before leaving if Jungkook was alright, Jungkook hadn't said anything out of fear that Taehyung might scold or even hit him.

Jungkook knew he should have told Taehyung that he wasn't used to sleeping in these type of clothes. The friction of the clothing had caused certain areas of his skin to chafe, and scratching had led to even deeper cuts and bruises. Jungkook considered calling Taehyung but hesitated, fearing his anger issues.

After much searching, Jungkook finally found the first aid box and took some painkillers. He then went to the bathroom and took a long shower. As the water touched the scratched areas of his body, the pain intensified, and Jungkook bit his lip, trying to suppress his tears. After showering, he changed into a light, soft cotton hoodie and some baggy pyjamas, along with a blouse that covered his arms up to the elbows to hide the red marks. The painkillers had lessened his pain a bit, but the itchiness persisted.

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A man was hanging upside down, tied by his legs to a thick, dead tree branch. His head had been brutally struck, causing blood to drip down and stain the grass beneath him. Nearby, Taehyung sat in a large branch of tree, his guards standing close by. Taehyung was calmly solving a Rubik's cube in his hand, his attention completely on the puzzle, his expression unreadable.

After aligning the last colour of the cube, Taehyung glanced up at the hanging man. He handed the cube to one of his guards and slowly approached the man. With a faint smile, Taehyung touched the blood on the man's head with a finger and flicked it off casually. Grabbing a handful of the man's hairs, Taehyung yanked it hard.

The man let out a scream,

--" AHHH!

Taehyung looked at him coldly and spoke,

--" Where is Choi Minho?

The man stayed silent.

Taehyung, growing impatient, pulled the man's hairs even harder, making him scream louder in pain. The echo of his cries spread through the surroundings. One of the guards approached and handed Taehyung a gun. Taehyung inspected the bullets, loading them one by one. The man, drenched in sweat, was trembling with fear, unable to even look up properly.

Finally, the man stuttered,

--" P-Please let me go, y-young master... I don't know where Choi Minh----

Before he could finish his sentence, Taehyung struck him hard on the head with the butt of the gun, making the man writhe in pain. Taehyung, furious, growled,

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