Please... Love Me

50

“What’s this?” Jungkook asked, frowning slightly as he examined the classy envelope handed to him by his secretary.

Mwasa, his ever-efficient assistant, stood at attention. “Sir, it was delivered from Kim’s Corp along with a gift,” she replied, gesturing to the box sitting on the other side of his office desk.

Kim’s Corp... Seokjin!

His heart skipped a beat. He already knew what this was before he even opened the envelope. The invitation was unmistakable—a formal, elegant design that only people with Kim’s meticulous sense of style would send. But what truly caught his attention was the name printed on the special card inside the envelope. The invitation was addressed not only to him, but also to his daughter, Jannie, the sole heiress of the Jeon-Kim family.

Jungkook couldn’t help but feel a knot tighten in his stomach. He had been anticipating something like this. After all, he had been keeping a close eye on Seokjin for weeks now—monitoring his phone every night. Jungkook made sure to spend at least an hour each time going through the details of Seokjin’s communications, taking extra care to avoid detection by Seokjin’s team. He was careful, precise. Seokjin was crafty, and Jungkook knew that his husband would eventually make a move. This invitation was part of that strategy, a carefully laid trap. Jungkook was sure Seokjin was planning something against him, something that could jeopardize his position as a sole father to Jannie and his family’s future.

But Jungkook was prepared. He knew he had to counter any move Seokjin might make. It was time to take action.

He picked up his phone and dialed Ming Yu’s number. Ming Yu had always been there for him, especially when Jungkook needed someone to lean on outside of business dealings.

"Are you free on Saturday?" Jungkook asked as soon as the line connected.

Ming Yu's voice was smooth and relaxed on the other end. "Why? What’s going on Saturday?"

"I need you to accompany me and my daughter to a family gathering," Jungkook replied, keeping his tone casual, though his mind was already racing with the implications of the invitation.

"Of course! No problem at all. Just let me know when to arrive," Ming Yu responded eagerly.

“Thank you, Ming,” Jungkook said, his voice filled with a quiet sense of relief.

He ended the call and leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a moment of calm. Ming Yu had been one of his closest allies for years. While their relationship was complicated, they had always understood each other perfectly. Ming Yu wasn’t someone looking for a traditional, serious relationship, and neither was Jungkook. They both enjoyed the benefits of their friendship without the strings of emotional attachment. It worked for them, and the arrangement had been mutually beneficial for a long time.

But now, Jungkook needed him more than ever. Ming Yu, while always dependable, was also someone who could help create the illusion of a perfect family unit—an image he would need to present at this gathering. With Seokjin trying to play some sort of game, Jungkook couldn’t afford to appear vulnerable. He would need all the support he could get to outsmart his husband who he suspects playing some tricky games against them.

---

Saturday afternoon was heavy with the kind of anticipation that Jungkook couldn’t quite shake. As his car pulled up to Kim’s Mansion in Gwaencheon, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the past pressing in on him. The mansion, beautifully renovated yet still carrying the echoes of history, felt both foreign and hauntingly familiar. It was a place where memories collided—most happy. It was his favorite place then.