𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐄 ||𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤

4- not me, cherry.

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Then, a smirked curled on Taehyung's lips. "Here's how this goes," he said, his words sharp and unforgiving. "You can be mine, entirely, or I'll make sure you belong to every other man here. Your choice."

With that, he released him, turning and striding out of the office, leaving Jeongguk standing alone, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the empty room.

• • • • •

Jeongguk stood frozen, his mind still reeling from what had just happened. His body felt numb, his thoughts tangled in a web of humiliation, fear, and disbelief. He barely registered the sound of the door opening again until the short man from before stepped inside.

The man's presence was brisk but not entirely cold. He approached Jeongguk with steady steps, stopping just a few feet away. "Come on," the man said, his voice even. "Let's get you back to your room."

Jeongguk moved automatically, his body following without his mind truly registering what was happening. He felt detached, as if watching himself from afar. The man led him out of the room, and they began walking down the dimly lit corridor. The air was heavy, every step echoing faintly against the mansion's old wooden floors.

As they walked, the man spoke, breaking the silence. "I know this must feel like the worst thing you've ever been through. But your father... he knew what would happen if he crossed the line. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he dragged you into this."

Jeongguk's jaw tightened, but he stayed silent, his gaze fixed on the floor ahead. His chest tightened at the mention of his father, anger and betrayal swirling in his gut. He didn't know whether to defend him or hate him.

The man continued, his tone softening slightly, almost as if he were offering advice. "Listen, I'm just telling you this for your own good. Don't anger him. If you don't want things to get worse... just don't push Taehyung."

Jeongguk swallowed hard, his throat dry and aching. Worse? How could it possibly get worse than this? He wanted to scream, but his voice stayed trapped inside him, crushed under the weight of everything he'd endured.

They stopped in front of the door to the room where Jeongguk had woken up earlier. The man opened it with a firm push and stepped aside, gesturing for Jeongguk to go in.

Jeongguk hesitated for a moment but then stepped inside, his legs moving on autopilot. The man lingered in the doorway, looking at him with a strange mix of pity and detachment. "I'll send food," he said simply, as if that would fix anything. "Eat."

The man turned to leave but paused, glancing back at Jeongguk. "By the way," he added, his tone lighter but still serious, "I'm Jimin."

With that, he closed the door behind him, leaving Jeongguk alone in the room once more. The click of the door echoed in the stillness, and Jeongguk stared at the space where Jimin had been. He let out a shaky breath and turned, his eyes scanning the room.