DARK SIDE

21

(AUTHOR POV)

"Jennie, can you explain why you've given Taehyung control of your property?" Mr. Kim asked, his tone gentle but inquisitive. Jennie's eyes darted around the room, meeting the expectant gazes of the others. Everyone seemed to be waiting for her response, except Kang, whose neutral expression stood out.

"I took steps to safeguard the legacy my parents built through sheer determination and hard work. To protect their life's work and secure my own future, I placed it in the hands of someone I trust implicitly, hoping they'll continue to nurture and grow it."Jennie said looking at Kang instead of Taehyung. Taehyung's gaze burned with intensity as he looked at her with unspoken fervor.

"But they are your family tho. Step or biological they are your family Jennie." Mrs Kim said Jennie looked at her while Kang chuckled a little not too loud but in a way taunting ,not for the Taehyung family but Jennie's family.

"Kang!" Jennie's voice snapped, her eyes flashing with annoyance as she misinterpreted his amusement, thinking he was ridiculing Taehyung's family

"Jen I'm telling you, it's not what you think." Kang said, his hands raised in a calming gesture, but Jennie's skepticism still lingered her eyes flashing with annoyance.

Jennie pivoted towards Mr Kim, her expression neutral once more, to answer Mr Kim's awaiting question.

"They are my family, but they are not my family. They kept me alive so they can have the thing I gave to Taehyung today. They wanted my property." The whole family looked at her in shock and confusion written on their faces. Jennie looked at Kang and he gave her a 'keep going don't worry' look. "It was my eighth birthday. Me and my parents were on our way to get home celebrate my birthday. We got and me and my mom went to my room to get me changed for my birthday party. I was almost ready when we heard someone's painful scream. It was my dad. My mom looked at me and told me to get in the fireproof cabinet and told me not to come out till any of them called me. I stayed in that cabinet for half an hour. When I couldn't get it anymore I came out and went to see what was going on. When I got down I saw them laying on the floor. Their lifeless eyes were looking at me. My dad had a bullet through his head and red and purple marked all over his arm face everywhere. And my mom was on her knees begging them to leave us. When they saw my mom screamed at me to run but they caught me. They torture my mom for a week straight. They sexually abused her with so many men. Every night I would hear her scream in pain. One day she left me in this world alone like my dad. But before taking her life she told me something. She told someone's name. The name I could trust more than them. Someone who'd protected me from them. They destroyed my childhood."

Jennie's words faded into an uncomfortable silence. The room seemed to hold its breath, as if no one knew how to respond.Her eyes shimmered, but she clenched her jaw, refusing to let tears fall. Kang instinctively reached for her hand, offering a comforting grasp. His gentle thumb strokes were a soothing balm.
The room fell quiet, as if Jennie's revelation had rendered everyone speechless. Her eyes glistened, but she held back tears. Kang's hand found hers, his thumb tracing gentle patterns
Taehyung's face reflected his turmoil - sympathy warring with a hint of discomfort at the intimate gesture between Jennie and Kang.Taehyung's expression twisted in empathy, but his gaze lingered on Kang's hand enveloping Jennie's. A flicker of unease danced in his eyes, his emotions tangled in a web of concern and possessiveness. But his gaze narrowed at Kang's hand cradling hers. Empathy clashed with a growing unease, as he struggled to reconcile his feelings.

"What name? Whose name did she told you?" The room held its breath as Ahyeon voiced the question on everyone's mind: Kang's eyes locked onto Jennie's, his expression intense. He, too, was eager to uncover the truth she had kept hidden for so long. Kang leaned in, his interest palpable. Jennie's secret had become a mystery he was determined to unravel. Kang's gaze never left Jennie's, his eyes burning with the same question.