𝔒𝔟𝔰𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔐𝔞𝔣𝔦𝔞

9

Hae-rin paced back and forth in the lavishly decorated room, her mind racing. She knew Taehyung had left her alone temporarily, but his words still echoed in her ears, leaving her tense and anxious. "You're mine." The thought made her stomach turn.

Just as she was contemplating her next move, the door creaked open, and Taehyung stepped inside. In his hand was a sleek, black dress, draped in his usual commanding confidence. He tossed it onto the bed with a flick of his wrist, watching her with unreadable eyes.

"Put this on," he said, his tone flat but leaving no room for argument.

Hae-rin glanced at the dress, her heart sinking. It was form-fitting, with delicate lace detailing and a plunging neckline—clearly designed to make a statement. She crossed her arms defiantly. "I'm not wearing that."

Taehyung's expression darkened as he moved toward her, his steps slow but deliberate. He grabbed her chin, tilting her face up to meet his eyes. "You don't have a choice, Hae-rin. Tonight, you're coming with me to the party. And you'll wear what I tell you."

His grip wasn't painful, but it was firm enough to remind her of the power imbalance between them. She felt trapped, as if the walls were closing in, but even now, she refused to let him see the full extent of her fear.

"I won't be paraded around like one of your trophies," she whispered, her voice shaking despite her attempt to remain strong.

Taehyung smirked, leaning down until his lips were just inches from hers. "You're not a trophy," he murmured. "You're my wife. And tonight, you'll play your part."

Hae-rin glared at him, but she knew she couldn't win this battle. Not yet. Reluctantly, she took the dress from the bed and disappeared into the adjoining bathroom. The mirror reflected a version of herself she hardly recognized—her hair cascading down in soft waves, the black dress clinging to her curves, accentuating her slender frame. She looked striking, but the weight of Taehyung's control pressed down on her like a shroud.

When she stepped out, Taehyung's eyes raked over her with unmistakable satisfaction. His approval was evident in the way his lips curled into a small, possessive smile. "Perfect," he said quietly. He extended his arm, and though every fiber of her being screamed at her to run, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to guide her out of the room and into the night.

---

The party was held in a grand estate, its halls filled with people whose wealth and power were palpable. As they entered, all eyes turned toward them, admiring the couple who exuded an aura of untouchable dominance. Taehyung kept Hae-rin close, his arm possessively wrapped around her waist, but she felt like a prisoner on display.

He introduced her to a few important guests, each of them smiling and nodding as if this was all perfectly normal. But Hae-rin could barely focus on the conversations. Her mind was swirling, looking for an opportunity to escape, to breathe without Taehyung's suffocating presence.

After a while, Taehyung excused himself to speak with some business associates, leaving Hae-rin near the bar. For the first time all evening, she felt a brief sense of relief—until she sensed someone watching her.

"Isn't it hard to be surrounded by all these people, yet still feel so alone?"

Hae-rin turned to see a man standing beside her, tall and impeccably dressed, with an air of authority that made him impossible to ignore. His dark eyes sparkled with intrigue as he smiled at her, though there was something unsettling about the way he held her gaze.

"I'm Lee Joon-Syuk" he said, offering his hand. "I believe we've met before, but I doubt Taehyung has allowed you much freedom to remember."

Hae-rin hesitated, unsure how to respond. She shook his hand, feeling the weight of his attention on her. "I—uh—yes, I think we have. I'm Hae-rin," she replied quietly, her eyes darting across the room in search of Taehyung.

Joon-Syuk chuckled softly. "Looking for your husband already? He does have quite the effect on people, doesn't he?"

Hae-rin blushed, her heart pounding as she tried to think of something to say. Joon-Syuk leaned in slightly, his voice low and smooth. "Don't worry, I won't bite," he teased. "Unless you want me to."

His words sent a shiver down her spine. She could tell he was toying with her, sensing her unease but enjoying it far too much. She wanted to pull away, but his presence was magnetic in a way she hadn't anticipated. As she searched the crowd once more for Taehyung, Joon-Syuk's smile deepened.

"You don't have to be so shy," he said softly, his tone almost mocking. "I'm sure Taehyung wouldn't mind if we got better acquainted."

Just then, Hae-rin felt the familiar heat of Taehyung's presence before she saw him. His arm snaked around her waist in an instant, pulling her close to him with an undeniable possessiveness. His dark eyes flashed dangerously as he looked at Joon-ho, who smiled back with thinly veiled amusement.

"Joon-Syuk," Taehyung said coolly, though his grip on Hae-rin tightened. "I see you've met my wife."

"Yes, we were just getting acquainted," Joon-Syuk replied smoothly, his eyes flicking to Hae-rin with an unsettling glint. "You've got quite the captivating woman, Taehyung. You should take care—she might attract more attention than you're prepared for."

Taehyung's jaw clenched, his possessiveness radiating off him like heat. "I don't think that will be a problem," he said, his voice low and threatening. "Hae-rin knows where she belongs."

Hae-rin's heart raced as she stood between the two men, the tension palpable. She could feel Taehyung's fury simmering just beneath the surface, and though she hated the way he controlled her, she was grateful to be pulled away from Joon-Syuk's predatory gaze.

Joon-Syuk chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the power dynamic. "Of course," he said, stepping back with a mocking bow. "I wouldn't dream of interfering."

As Joon-Syuk walked away, Taehyung turned to Hae-rin, his expression hard and unreadable. "Stay close to me," he ordered, his voice cold. "I won't let anyone else lay a hand on you."

Hae-rin's heart sank, knowing that her fight for freedom was far from over. But beneath the suffocating grip of Taehyung's possessiveness, she felt a flicker of rebellion still burning inside her.