𝔒𝔟𝔰𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔐𝔞𝔣𝔦𝔞

17

As the door closed behind them, the silence of the mansion enveloped Hae-rin, its coldness seeping into her bones. The grandeur of the place no longer impressed her; it only reminded her of the prison she was slowly becoming trapped in. Her footsteps echoed in the vast hall, every step taking her deeper into the darkness.

Taehyung was close behind, his presence both comforting and suffocating. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn't dare turn around. She wasn't sure if she could handle the weight of his gaze right now—not after everything that had just happened.

They reached the grand staircase, and Taehyung broke the silence.

"Hae-rin," he called out softly, his voice no longer holding the hardness from earlier. There was something different in his tone—something almost tender. "We need to talk."

She stopped at the base of the stairs, her hand gripping the railing for support. She didn't want to talk. She didn't even want to look at him. But she knew she couldn't avoid this forever.

"About what?" she asked quietly, not turning to face him.

There was a pause before he answered, and she could almost feel him choosing his words carefully. "About us. About what happened back there."

She let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes for a moment before turning around slowly. "What is there to talk about, Taehyung? You killed a man. And for what? Because he looked at me the wrong way? How am I supposed to be okay with that?"

Taehyung stepped closer, his expression calm but intense. "You're not supposed to be okay with it. I'm not asking you to be. But I did what I had to do, Hae-rin. In my world, respect is everything. That man disrespected you—and me. If I hadn't acted, things could've spiraled out of control. I need you to understand that."

She shook her head, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "But that's the problem, Taehyung. I *don't* understand. I don't understand how you can just... take a life like that. And expect me to be fine with it. I'm not like you. I don't belong in this world."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked almost pained. "You're right. You're not like me. And maybe that's why I need you with me."

His words caught her off guard, and she blinked, her anger faltering for a second. "What do you mean?"

Taehyung exhaled slowly, running a hand through his dark hair. "You... you're different, Hae-rin. You don't see things the way I do. You don't live in constant fear of betrayal, of violence. You still believe there's a better way. And maybe—" he hesitated, as if it was hard for him to admit, "—maybe that's something I need to learn from you."

Hae-rin stared at him, stunned by his confession. Was this the same man who had just pulled the trigger without flinching? The same man who ruled over a criminal empire with an iron fist?

"You're confusing me, Taehyung," she said softly, her voice laced with uncertainty. "One moment, you're this cold, ruthless Mafia King, and the next, you're saying things like this. I don't know who you really are."

His eyes softened, and he took another step closer, until he was just inches away from her. "Maybe I don't know either," he whispered. "But I do know one thing, Hae-rin. I'm not letting you go. Not now, not ever."

Her heart raced at his words, a mix of fear and something else she couldn't name swelling inside her. She wanted to pull away, to escape the dangerous pull he had on her—but at the same time, she found herself wanting to understand him. To figure out the man behind the mask.

"What if I want to leave?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

Taehyung's eyes darkened, and for a moment, the vulnerability she had seen in him vanished. "Then you won't," he said quietly, but with a chilling finality. "Because I won't let you."

Her breath hitched, and she took a small step back, feeling the cold wall of the mansion behind her. The weight of his words sank in, and she realized just how trapped she truly was.

Taehyung must have seen the fear in her eyes because his expression softened once again. He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But you won't want to leave," he murmured, his voice almost soothing. "You'll stay. Because deep down, you know that with me... you're safe."

Hae-rin wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that despite everything, she was safe with him. But how could she feel safe when she was standing next to the man who had just killed without hesitation?

She swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to find the right words. But before she could say anything, Taehyung leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, "You belong with me, Hae-rin. Don't forget that."

His words sent a shiver down her spine, and she knew in that moment that no matter what happened next, she was bound to him in ways she couldn't escape. Not yet, at least.

With a heavy sigh, she pulled away from him and turned toward the stairs. "I'm tired," she muttered. "I need some time to think."

Taehyung didn't stop her as she ascended the stairs, his dark eyes following her every step.

As she reached the top and disappeared down the hallway, Taehyung stood there, alone in the shadows, his expression unreadable.