Veil of Shadows

Chapter 28:- Déjà vu

That evening, Taehyung couldn't shake off the strange feeling Lia's words had left him with. The unease lingered, clouding his thoughts even as he returned home. Jungkook noticed immediately. He set down the papers he'd been working on, watching Taehyung's troubled expression.

"Tae? You look worried," Jungkook said, moving closer. "Did something happen?"

Taehyung hesitated, glancing away briefly. "I... I met with your aunt today. Lia." He paused, watching for Jungkook's reaction. "She wanted to get to know me better."

Jungkook's expression shifted, a mixture of frustration and disgust. "Lia? Why would you meet with her?"

"She called, introduced herself as your aunt, and asked to meet up. I thought... well, since she's family..." Taehyung trailed off, unsure how to explain the strange feeling Lia had left him with.

Jungkook sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "Tae, there's something you should know about my relationship with Lia. It's... complicated. And it's not anything like a normal aunt-nephew relationship."

Taehyung sat down beside him, his curiosity mixed with a hint of anxiety. "What do you mean?"

Jungkook took a deep breath, his gaze hardening as he began to speak. "Lia's never been a caring aunt. In fact, she's the last person I'd want around either of us. She's only four or five years older than me. She married into the family by seducing my uncle, a successful businessman, but she only ever had her own interests at heart." His voice grew colder. "Lia... she's always been manipulative. And for some reason, she's had this strange obsession with me."

Taehyung felt a chill run through him. "Obsession? In what way?"

"She always tried to cross boundaries, making comments, acting overly friendly," Jungkook continued, his face darkening at the memory. "When I was younger, I didn't understand why she was so... interested. But as I got older, it became clear that her intentions were twisted. She saw me as something she wanted to possess, not as family. I've kept my distance from her for years because of it."

Taehyung's eyes widened in shock. He'd never imagined that Jungkook's family could have someone so predatory. "Kook... I didn't know. I'm sorry."

Jungkook shook his head, reaching out to hold Taehyung's hand. "You have nothing to apologize for, Tae. I just wish I'd warned you sooner. Lia has a way of making people trust her, only to manipulate them later. If she asked to meet you, it's because she has an agenda." He paused, his voice softening. "I'm sorry you had to deal with her alone."

Taehyung gave him a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, Kook. I didn't know, but... something about her felt wrong. She made these odd comments, as if she recognized me from somewhere. But I don't remember her at all."

Jungkook's jaw tightened. "It wouldn't surprise me if she and her friends were involved in something twisted back then. Tae, you don't have to meet her or her friends again. I'll handle her."

Taehyung nodded, feeling both relieved and troubled. "Thank you, Kook. I trust you. I just wish I could shake this feeling."

Jungkook pulled him into a comforting hug. "You don't have to face her alone, Tae. Whatever she's planning, I won't let her or anyone hurt you."
Later that night, as Taehyung lay in bed, his phone buzzed with a message from Lia. Curiously, he picked it up and saw an address along with a simple message: