Golden Chains of Love

CHAPTER 2

Jungkook’s heart pounded as he stepped into the grand dining room of the Kim family mansion. Everything about the place screamed wealth—the shimmering chandelier overhead, the polished marble floors, the silent but attentive staff. He had never felt more out of place.

“Mr. Jeon,” the butler greeted him, his voice polite but detached. “Please wait here. Mr. Kim will join you shortly.”

Jungkook nodded, adjusting the simple button-up shirt he’d bought for the occasion. It wasn’t designer, but it was the best he could afford. His palms were damp as he looked at the lavish table, adorned with fine china and crystal glasses.

The sound of footsteps echoed, sharp and deliberate. Jungkook turned, and there he was—Kim Taehyung.

Taehyung was taller than he expected, his presence commanding. Dressed in a tailored black suit, he radiated power and arrogance. His sharp features were framed by his perfectly styled dark hair, but it was his eyes that struck Jungkook the most—cold and calculating, as if he were sizing him up like an asset rather than a person.

“So,” Taehyung said, his voice low and smooth, yet tinged with disdain. “You’re the one my mother has chosen.”

Jungkook swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a smirk. “Sir? I suppose that’s fitting, considering the circumstances.”

Jungkook’s face burned with embarrassment, but he refused to look away. “I didn’t ask for this,” he said quietly, surprising even himself with his boldness.

Taehyung’s smirk vanished, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. “Neither did I.” He sat at the head of the table, gesturing for Jungkook to take the seat across from him. “Let’s get one thing straight—I’m only doing this because my mother insisted. I don’t want this marriage, and I don’t want you.”

The bluntness of his words felt like a slap, but Jungkook held his ground. “Then why don’t you refuse? You have the power to say no.”

Taehyung’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the room felt colder. “I don’t need you questioning my decisions. Just follow the arrangement, and we’ll both get through this.”

Jungkook clenched his fists under the table. He wasn’t sure what he had expected, but this man—this cold, unfeeling billionaire—was nothing like he had imagined.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable. Finally, Taehyung stood, adjusting his suit jacket. “Dinner is over. I’ll see you at the wedding.”

And just like that, he was gone, leaving Jungkook alone in the grand dining room, wondering what he had just gotten himself into.