𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 ( 𝐀 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬)

•26•

Seoul, South Korea

Jong-suk sat in the garden of the Kim Mansion, a once vibrant space now shrouded in unsettling silence. The flowers appeared fresh, nothing like the family's relationships, which had withered over the years.

He heard the distant hum of approaching car engines. "Are they all here?" he asked Mr. Lee, who stood beside him, his gaze fixed on the ground.

"Yes, Master," Mr. Lee replied.

The sound of car doors slamming echoed through the garden, breaking the stillness. Jongsuk imagined his sons stepping out.

"Everything is all set up, Master," Mr. Lee added, sensing Jongsuk’s unease.

Jong-suk took a deep breath, trying to shake the knot in his stomach. It had been years since they last gathered, and the weight of unspoken tensions hung heavily in the air.

He nodded at Mr. Lee and glanced toward the driveway, his heart racing in the suffocating silence.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the Kim Mansion, Jong-suk stood in the kitchen, nervously checking the dishes prepared for the family dinner. The aroma of simmering food filled the air, but the excitement of the dinner was overshadowed by anxiety.

Mr. Lee, sensing Jongsuk’s tension, spoke up. "Everything is coming along well, Master. The table is set beautifully."

"I just hope they can put aside their differences, even for a moment," Jongsuk replied, forcing a smile. "If only I could tell them the truth."

"They are family," Mr. Lee said reassuringly. "Blood runs deep."

"Where's Hyejoo?" Jong-suk asked.

"Master, Miss is in her room. She said she doesn't want to join for dinner," Mr. Lee replied.

Jong-suk sighed, glancing toward the staircase. "She's been cooped up there all day. Is everything alright? I'll check on her later. Make sure dinner is ready in case she changes her mind."

"Of course, Master," Mr. Lee said, bowing slightly before stepping away.

Jong-suk turned back toward the staircase, his thoughts heavy. He knew his wife well enough to sense when something was bothering her. After a moment, he decided to go up and knock on her door.

"Hyejoo," he called softly. "Can I come in?"

"I need some time alone suk.." she replied.

••••••••••

Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook entered the dining room, exchanging glances as they took their seats. It had been years since they last gathered around this table, a place filled with memories of their late sister.

"Dad," Namjoon greeted, his voice steady yet tinged with unspoken tension. The brothers exchanged glances, feeling the weight of their shared past.

"We heard about your injury. Are you alright?" Hoseok asked.

Jong-suk nodded. "Jin’s not here, is he?"

"No," Jimin replied quietly, his gaze downcast. "Hyung won’t be joining us."

As they settled into the dining room, the atmosphere grew thick. The elegantly set table was nearly untouched, overshadowed by silence.

Namjoon cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. "It's been a long time since we've all been together. We should at least try to enjoy the meal."

"Enjoy? After everything that’s happened?" Jimin shot back, frustration simmering beneath the surface.

"Can we not do this now?" Hoseok interjected, glancing at the others. "We need to focus on being a family again, not digging up the past."

Taehyung leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "It's hard to forget the past when it’s shaped us so much."

Feeling the tension rise, Jongsuk took a deep breath. "I called you all here to try and mend things. We can’t change what happened, but we can choose how to move forward."

"Where's mom?" Jungkook questioned.

"She's a bit unwell," Jongsuk replied, his voice steady yet filled with concern.

The brothers exchanged worried glances. "What do you mean?" Namjoon asked, leaning forward.

Jong-suk took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "It's been a difficult time for her."

"I'll go talk to her," Hoseok said as he stood up from his seat.

When he reached her room, he overheard someone else's voice. "Who's with Mom?" Hoseok murmured to himself.

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