mafia king wife ✔️

Chapter 18: The Price of Freedom

Yn had never felt more at peace than she did now, by Taehyung’s side. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them. Her family’s betrayal still stung, but it was a distant ache now, one she could push aside in favor of the happiness she had built with him. Taehyung had given her a life that was hers to live, one where she didn’t have to care about anyone’s expectations but her own.

But even in the midst of her new life, things were not always as perfect as they seemed.

Taehyung had been a constant presence, yet his cold exterior often made it hard for Yn to read him. While he showed her kindness and love in ways that words couldn’t describe, there were moments when he would retreat into silence, leaving her wondering what he was thinking.

That night, as they sat together in their grand living room, Taehyung’s gaze seemed distant, and Yn couldn’t ignore the feeling that something was off.

“Taehyung,” she said softly, breaking the silence. “What’s on your mind?”

He turned to her, his eyes softening as if caught off guard by her question. He didn’t respond immediately, instead leaning back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.

“I’m just thinking,” he finally said, his voice quieter than usual. “About everything that’s happened. You… leaving your family… your sister… your life before me.”

Yn’s heart tightened. She had tried not to think about it too much, but she couldn’t deny that her past was still a shadow in her mind. She had been abandoned, betrayed, and sold—her life had never truly belonged to her until now.

“I don’t miss them,” she said firmly, meeting his gaze. “I don’t regret leaving.”

Taehyung nodded, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “But you still carry the weight of it, don’t you?” His words weren’t an accusation but a quiet observation.

Yn paused, reflecting on his words. It was true. She carried the burden of everything that had happened, the decisions that had been made for her. The memory of her family’s betrayal lingered, and she could still feel the sting of how they had abandoned her when she needed them the most.

“I’m free now,” Yn said after a long moment, trying to convince herself as much as him. “I don’t need their approval. I have you.”

Taehyung’s eyes softened, and he reached for her hand, his fingers wrapping around hers in a gesture of reassurance. “You’ll always have me, Yn. But you don’t have to carry this weight alone. If it hurts, you can tell me.”

Yn squeezed his hand, appreciating his words more than he knew. It was true; she had built a new life, but it didn’t mean that the scars of her past had disappeared.

As the evening wore on, Taehyung seemed quieter than usual, and Yn couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still bothering him. They had been through so much together, but she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more he wasn’t telling her.

Later that night, as they prepared for bed, she found herself staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Taehyung was already lying beside her, his eyes closed, but she could sense his tension. It was as if he were waiting for something, holding something back.

“Taehyung,” she whispered softly, turning to face him. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

His eyes opened slowly, locking with hers. For a moment, he said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.

“Yn,” he said softly, his voice almost hesitant, “there’s something I haven’t told you about your family. About how they… how they wanted to get you back.”

Yn frowned, confused. She had assumed that her family had just wanted to control her life again, but she hadn’t known there was more to the story.

“What do you mean?” she asked, sitting up slightly, her heart racing with curiosity.

Taehyung hesitated before speaking again, his voice low. “They weren’t just trying to bring you home, Yn. They were willing to offer me something in exchange for your return.”

Yn’s brow furrowed, confusion mixing with a growing sense of dread. “Offer you what?”

He turned his head away, his expression tense. “They offered me money. Power. Connections. Everything they thought I wanted. They believed I could be bought.”

Yn felt a cold chill run through her. Her family, the people who had never truly cared for her, had been willing to trade her like a piece of property—something to be bartered and sold once again. The thought made her stomach twist in disgust.

“They thought they could buy me off?” she whispered, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and hurt. “They didn’t even see me as a person.”

Taehyung’s jaw tightened, and he reached for her hand, pulling her close to him. “I told them no, Yn. I would never do that to you. I don’t care about their money or their power. You’re not a commodity.”

Yn closed her eyes, her emotions a whirlwind of anger and betrayal. It was one thing to have her family abandon her, but this… this was something else entirely. It was a cruelty beyond anything she had ever expected.

“I don’t ever want to see them again,” Yn said, her voice firm. “They don’t deserve me.”

Taehyung nodded, his arms enveloping her in a tight embrace. “You’ll never have to go back to them, Yn. You belong here with me. And nothing will ever change that.”

She clung to him, the weight of her past starting to fade in the warmth of his embrace. Despite everything that had happened, she knew that Taehyung was her future. He had chosen her when no one else had, and she would choose him, too, for as long as they both lived.

As they lay there in the quiet of the night, Yn’s heart finally began to find peace. The pain of the past would never completely vanish, but with Taehyung by her side, she had the strength to face it. And together, they would build a future—one free from the ghosts of her past.

Their love, strong and unwavering, was all she needed. And for the first time in years, Yn felt truly free.