𝔒𝔟𝔰𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔐𝔞𝔣𝔦𝔞

19

After finishing her breakfast, Hae-rin wiped her mouth with a napkin, her mind still wandering. She turned to the maid, her voice steady but slightly uneasy. "I need your phone."

The maid nodded, retrieving the phone from a nearby table. Hae-rin took it, her heart beating a little faster as she dialed Taehyung's number. After a few rings, he answered.

"Hello?" His deep voice sent a strange combination of comfort and tension through her.

"I... I want to go shopping today. I need to get some things," she said, trying to sound casual.

There was a brief pause on the other end before he replied, "Take my credit card from the drawer. Get whatever you want."

Hae-rin blinked, surprised at how easily he agreed. "Thank you," she murmured, ready to hang up, but then his voice dropped lower.

"Oh, and Hae-rin?" he added, a teasing edge in his tone. "Buy some night dresses. Sexy ones. For tonight."

Her cheeks instantly flushed, and without thinking, she quickly hung up the phone, her heart racing. She shook her head, trying to push the embarrassment away, but his words lingered, making her face warm as she went upstairs.

Opening the drawer in Taehyung's study, she found the credit card and slipped it into her purse. She called the guard to take her to the mall, and soon she was on her way, the tension from the morning fading slightly as she looked out the window at the city passing by.

But just as the mall came into view, a black car screeched to a stop in front of them. The driver barely had time to react when men dressed in black suits and masks surrounded the vehicle. Hae-rin's heart raced in pure terror. One of them raised a gun and fired, a single shot echoing through the air as the driver slumped forward, lifeless.

Before she could scream, they yanked her door open and dragged her out of the car. She struggled, but their grip was too strong, and fear paralyzed her body. They shoved her into their car, her vision blurring with panic. The door slammed shut, and the car sped away, leaving her heart pounding in her chest, breathless with terror.

***

Meanwhile, Taehyung stood at the mall, scanning through the high-end displays, his mind filled with thoughts of Hae-rin. He planned to surprise her, buying an expensive, sleek phone. He imagined her reaction, a small smile tugging at his lips as he made his way through the store.

As he admired the phone, his own phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered casually, but his expression immediately darkened when he heard the voice on the other end.

"Boss, something's happened. The driver's been shot. Someone took Hae-rin."

His blood ran cold. The phone slipped from his hand and crashed to the floor, the shock freezing him in place for a second. But then, like a switch had been flipped, his body sprang into action. He ran out of the store, his heart pounding in his chest as he barked orders to his men. "Get the car ready, now!"

In minutes, he was racing through the streets, his bodyguards following close behind in two other cars. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as his mind raced, anger boiling in his veins. He grabbed his phone and called Jungkook.

"Jungkook," Taehyung's voice was low, dangerous. "Hae-rin's been kidnapped. Find out who did this. Now."

Jungkook didn't hesitate. "I'm on it."

Taehyung hung up, his jaw clenched, a storm of emotions brewing inside him. Whoever dared to touch Hae-rin would pay dearly. And he wouldn't stop until he had her back in his arms, safe—and those responsible were buried six feet under.