𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 || ᴠɪᴍɪɴᴋᴏᴏᴋ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ꜰꜰ

ELEVEN

I glanced up from my blood-speckled hands to the doctor's stern face, my heart hammering against my ribs. The sterile smell of the hospital corridor grew stronger, almost suffocating. "What do you mean?" I croaked, the words sticking to the dryness in my throat.

He paused, his expression a blend of professional calmness and underlying concern. "Mr. Kim, please calm down..We're trying our best. The thing is that we found something near her heart during the surgery," he said, his voice measured and deliberate.

The words hit me like a sledgehammer, knocking the wind out of my lungs. I stumbled backward, my hand shooting out to grasp the wall for support. "What is it?" I demanded, desperation edging into my voice. "Is it serious? Is she... is she going to be okay?"

𝙿𝙰𝚂𝚃

Y/N's Pov

"Mr. Kim, you're not listening to me again," I said, waving my hand in front of his face. His eyes snapped back into focus, and he blinked rapidly, as though coming out of a trance. "I said, I'll pick out a dress and go to this dinner, but don't expect me to be all smiles and nods."

With a defeated sigh, I scooped up my melted ice cream and tossed it into the nearest trash bin. The cold dessert had been a small comfort in the oppressive heat of the day, but now it was just a sticky mess on my hand. Mr. Kim looked at me, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation. We both knew I didn't want to go, but family was family, and some battles weren't worth fighting.

As we stepped into the cool embrace of a branded clothing store, I took my time, flipping through racks of dresses. I knew I was pushing the boundaries of what was appropriate for the dinner, but I also knew that Mr. Kim wouldn't dare argue with me. The clock was ticking, and the later we arrived, the more uncomfortable the atmosphere would be for everyone.

I finally settled on a skin-tight black dress that barely grazed my knees. It was elegant, sure, but it also screamed rebellion. I could see the disapproval in Mr. Kim's eyes as I held it up, but he wisely kept his thoughts to himself. We rushed to the changing room, and I slipped it on. The fabric clung to my body like a second skin, and the heels I chose made me feel invincible.

Mr. Kim looked at his watch with growing alarm. "We need to leave, now," he urged, his voice tight with tension. I nodded, knowing that every second counted. The drive to the lavish hotel rooftop was silent, the tension thick in the air. When we arrived, the valet took the car, and I stepped out, my heart racing. The elevator ride up was a blur, and as the doors opened, the sound of chatter and clinking glasses greeted us.

Walking in, every eye turned to me. The room was a sea of unfamiliar faces, all dressed in their finest, and the air was thick with the scent of money and deceit. I searched the crowd for Namjoon and found him seated at the far end of the table, his gaze locked on me. He had a look that was a mix of annoyance and concern, but it was the flicker of understanding in his eyes that made me feel a bit less alone.

As I approached the table, the urge to roll my eyes was strong, but I bit my tongue and plastered on a smile. The conversation around the table screeched to a halt as I took my seat next to my brother. He leaned over and whispered, "You okay?" I nodded, keeping my eyes on the plate in front of me. The dinner had barely started, but the tension was already palpable.

The elders began their usual banter, their voices rising and falling in a symphony of accusations and fake pleasantries. They talked over each other, their words a jumble of Korean that I only partially gave any attention to. But then, they turned their attention to me. They talked about marriage alliances and responsibilities, their voices growing louder, more demanding. I felt a knot tightening in my stomach, my heart pounding in my chest.

Namjoon's hand reached for mine under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. He knew the topic was sensitive, that it brought back memories I had fought so hard to bury. They brought up my past, the time I was...we'll talk about it later. And how my brother had "spoiled" me. The words cut through me like a hot knife through butter, and my grip on the edge of the table tightened. I took a deep breath, my eyes on the glinting knife next to my plate.

I couldn't take it anymore. The room was spinning, and their voices blurred into a cacophony of noise. In a swift move, I grabbed the knife and stood up, the fabric of my dress whispering against the chair. "This is suffocating," I declared, my voice shaking. Before anyone could react, I sliced through the dress' side, creating a deep slit that exposed more than was acceptable for their conservative tastes. The sound of the fabric tearing was louder than their gasps.

"This is what you want from me?" I yelled, my voice echoing through the shocked silence. "To sit here and pretend that I'm happy to be a pawn in your games?" My hand trembled as I held the knife, the cold metal a stark contrast to the heat of my anger.

The room remained silent, all eyes on me, as I let the knife drop to the floor with a clatter. The sound seemed to break the spell, and the murmurs of the guests grew louder.

My brother's hand tightened around mine, but he didn't say anything. He knew better than anyone what was happening here, and his eyes held a silent apology. But I wasn't done yet.

"I won't be a part of this," I spat out, pulling my hand away from his grasp. "I'm not a commodity to be traded for power!" The words hung in the air, charged with the electricity of my defiance.

I turned on my heel and stormed out of the dining area, leaving a trail of whispers and shocked expressions in my wake.

Mr. Kim followed me as he called after me, "Milady, please wait!" But I didn't stop. I couldn't. The walls were closing in, and the echoes of my past were getting louder.

I stumbled into the elevator, slamming the button for the lobby, my chest heaving with frustrated sobs. The doors closed, and I leaned against the cool metal, letting the tears fall freely.

In the quiet confines of the descending elevator, I pulled out my phone and dialed Lexi's number. It went to voicemail, but I didn't leave a message. I knew she'd understand. She was the only one who ever really did.

When the elevator reached the ground floor, I bolted out, my heels clacking against the marble. I didn't bother to wipe my eyes or fix my torn dress. Let them stare. Let them whisper.

Mr. Kim had the audacity to follow me, his breaths heavy from running down through the stairs. "Milady, please," he panted, "Your brother will be upset."

"Let him," I said without looking back.

Mr. Kim's pleas fell on deaf ears as I strode towards the exit, my heels echoing through the grand hotel lobby like a war cry.

When I reached the valet, the attendant looked at me with surprise, then at Mr. Kim who was still trying to catch up. "I'll take my brother's car," I said, my voice firm and unwavering. He nodded and rushed to get it, knowing better than to argue with the look in my eyes.

Mr. Kim's footsteps grew louder as he approached, his breaths ragged. "Milady, you can't just leave like this," he said, his voice laced with a hint of desperation.

Ignoring his protests, I marched straight to the valet stand and demanded the keys to my brother's car. The young attendant looked at me with a mix of confusion and concern, but the urgency in my tone left him no room to question my request. He handed over the keys without a word, and I marched towards the sleek black sedan. The engine purred to life as I slammed the door shut, the cool leather interior a stark contrast to the heat of the moment.

Mr. Kim was still calling after me, his voice a distant buzz as I drove away from the hotel. The city lights streaked by, a blur of color and neon as my thoughts raced. My brother's car was like a fortress, the tinted windows blocking out the judging stares and the confines of the luxurious cabin shielding me from the outside world. But it couldn't shield me from the echoes of the past that grew louder with every mile.

I threw my phone out of the window, watching it shatter into a hundred pieces against the asphalt. The act of defiance made me feel momentarily free, the weight of their expectations and my own fears dissipating into the night air.

*****
Short update cause I didn't get the time to write much.