Mama I am in love With a criminal (TK)

chapter 17

Jungkook slowly opened his eyes, his lashes fluttering as the cool, crisp air nipped at his skin. He found himself suspended in the arms of someone, his body held gently but securely.

Two warm hands supported him as he stirred awake. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, not paying much attention to the man carrying him. Perhaps he already knew who it was. A soft yawn escaped his lips as he fully woke, lazily wrapping his arms around the man's neck, leaning into the comforting warmth of his embrace.

“Wow,” Jungkook whispered, his voice barely audible, as his wide eyes sparkled at the sight before him. A grand mansion loomed in the distance, its dark stone walls cloaked in a thick layer of snow. Icicles hung from the edges of the roof, glinting faintly in the pale winter light. The once-pristine garden was buried under a pristine white blanket, with only a few skeletal tree branches poking through, weighed down by frost.

The air was sharp and filled with the faint, clean scent of snow, mingled with the faint creak of boots crunching through the icy ground. Jungkook’s breath came out in small puffs, visible in the cold air, as he tilted his head to take in every detail. The windows of the mansion were frosted, the glass dimly reflecting the overcast sky above.

A wave of awe and curiosity washed over him, momentarily chasing away the cold. His hold around the man's neck tightened slightly as a soft smile tugged at his lips. The man carrying him walked silently, his expression calm but unreadable, his footsteps steady as they approached the snow-draped house.

“It’s a castle,” Jungkook muttered, his wide eyes sparkling as they admired the snow-draped beauty before him.

Taehyung let out a soft chuckle, his steps steady and deliberate on the snow-covered ground. The delicate crunch of his boots echoed faintly, each step cautious, ensuring the boy in his arms remained safe. His grip was firm yet gentle, as if cradling a fragile petal.

Jungkook, however, was too entranced to notice. His gaze remained fixed on the towering structure, its frost-kissed stone walls and glistening icicles giving it an ethereal charm. The sight was mesmerizing, but Taehyung’s attention soon shifted. His sharp eyes caught the massive double doors of the mansion creaking open, revealing an older man in his fifties stepping out.

The man’s face was a canvas of emotions—relief, longing, and a hint of sorrow etched into every line. Taehyung felt a tug at his heart as he came to a stop. This was the moment he had been working toward, the conclusion of his mission. He knew what had to come next.

Carefully, Taehyung lowered Jungkook to his feet. The boy stood unsteadily for a moment, his doe eyes still fixed on the mansion. Taehyung bowed respectfully to the elder man before stepping back. Behind him, Shin-ya and another figure followed silently, their expressions unreadable.

“Kookie… my baby bun,” Mr. Jeon whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. Tears welled up in his eyes as his hands hesitantly cupped Jungkook’s cheeks. The younger man froze, his wide eyes brimming with a storm of emotions—confusion, anger, sadness, and something unfamiliar.

Jungkook didn’t know how to feel. Should he be happy? Angry? Overwhelmed by the reunion, he stood frozen, his mind flooded with memories he had buried long ago. When his father gently embraced him, Jungkook’s hands moved instinctively, wrapping around the older man. The touch felt foreign, yet it stirred a deep sense of warmth within him, something he hadn’t felt in decades.

He had nearly forgotten what it was like to be held in strong, protective arms—arms that once showered him with love. His mother’s affection had always been there, but his father’s absence had left an unfillable void. It was a constant reminder of the incompleteness of his life—a fragmented childhood, a stolen youth, a lifetime of longing.