𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 || 𝐊𝐓𝐇

Chapter-22: Fallen in love

Taehyung

As her fingers grazed my neck, brushing against the deep cut, a sudden jolt of surprise coursed through me. My eyes instinctively followed her hand, and that’s when I noticed it—a small, crimson streak running across her arm, just above her wrist.

My chest tightened with unease, and without thinking, I grasped her hand gently, my fingers encircling hers.

"You're hurt," I said, my voice low but firm.

She immediately shook her head. "I'm fine. It's just a small cut."

Her nonchalance didn’t sit well with me. Pulling her closer, my arm instinctively wrapped around her waist.

"Come on," I said, leading her towards the bedroom. "We need to clean that up."

Once inside, I flipped on the light and pulled her into the bathroom. She blinked against the sudden brightness but followed my lead.

Turning the faucet on, I let the warm water flow over her cut. She winced slightly, but I kept my focus on her, my eyes meeting hers in an unspoken attempt to reassure her.

"I’ve got you," I murmured.

As I cleaned and bandaged her arm, an unfamiliar feeling crept over me. She was fragile, vulnerable, and something deep inside me stirred—a fierce urge to protect her at all costs. What is wrong with me?

I couldn’t afford emotions like this. Vulnerability was a luxury I’d trained myself to avoid. And yet, here I was, feeling something I didn’t quite recognize or want to acknowledge.

When I finished tending to her wound, I straightened up, my eyes locking with hers. For a moment, the space between us felt charged, heavy with something unspoken.

But before I could decipher it, she took over, her expression resolute as she led me out of the bathroom and gestured toward the bed.

"Sit down," she instructed, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Raising an eyebrow, I complied, curious about what she planned to do.

"What are you doing?" I asked, watching as she rummaged through the first aid kit.

"Sit still," she said firmly, returning with antiseptic wipes.

Her hands were gentle but sure as she cleaned the wound on my neck. The soft press of her fingers against my skin sent shivers down my spine, a sensation I struggled to suppress.

This wasn’t just physical. It was something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to confront.

As her face hovered inches from mine, her breath warm against my skin, I felt my heart race—a rhythm entirely unfamiliar to me. I couldn’t look away from her, couldn’t ignore the spark of something I didn’t want to name.

When she finished, her fingers lingered for a fraction of a second longer than necessary, leaving a trail of warmth that burned into my skin.

"All done," she said softly, stepping back abruptly, as if the moment had startled her too.

I nodded, the words caught in my throat. She turned away quickly, her back to me, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from her. What is happening to me?

As the night wore on, I lay beside her, staring at the ceiling. She had fallen asleep, her soft breathing a soothing contrast to the storm brewing within me. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had made me feel this way—if anyone ever had. I couldn’t afford this.

And yet, I couldn’t seem to stop it.

｡｡｡｡｡

As the sun crept into the room, I shook her awake gently.

"Time to get up," I said quietly. "We have to leave."

She rubbed her eyes, looking up at me groggily.

"Okay," she murmured.

As we got dressed, I found myself stealing glances at her. Even with her hair tousled and her eyes still heavy with sleep, she looked breathtaking. There was something so natural about her beauty, something that pulled me in despite myself.

The car ride to the airport was quiet, but the silence didn’t feel awkward. It felt... comfortable.

Once we boarded my private jet and settled into our seats, I leaned back, trying to collect my thoughts. Being back in Korea would help. Familiar surroundings would ground me, I told myself.

But as I glanced over at her, gazing out the window with an unreadable expression, I knew I was lying to myself. This feeling wasn’t going anywhere. If anything, it was growing stronger.

Millie

As I stared out the window of the jet, my thoughts drifted to him. To the way his touch lingered, the way his eyes softened ever so slightly when they met mine.

A flutter stirred in my chest, one I didn’t want to acknowledge. I was falling for him, and it terrified me. Why now? Why him?

I tried to convince myself it was foolish, that I could control my emotions. But the truth was undeniable. I felt something for him—something real.

I turned to glance at him, his face calm but his eyes distant. He didn’t feel the same way. He couldn’t.

This wasn’t a real marriage. It was a transaction, a convenience. And yet, my heart refused to listen to reason. I sighed, turning back to the window, trying to push the feelings away. But the more I tried, the harder they clung.

I was in too deep.

When we arrived home, exhaustion weighed heavily on me. I wanted nothing more than a hot shower and some sleep.

I headed toward the stairs, but his footsteps followed closely behind. We hadn’t made it far when a voice stopped us.

"Taehyung!"

I turned to see a strikingly beautiful woman approaching us. Her long, curly hair framed her face perfectly, and her elegant outfit screamed sophistication.

Her bright smile was aimed directly at him, and before I could process what was happening, she threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

"I’ve missed you so much!" she exclaimed. I froze, a pang of jealousy flaring in my chest.

Why was she hugging him like that? And why was he... hugging her back?

I didn’t know who she was, but the way she clung to him felt too intimate, too familiar.

As I stood there, feeling like an outsider in my own home, I tried to suppress the wave of emotions crashing over me. This wasn’t my place. He wasn’t mine.

But as I watched them, a thought echoed in my mind, one I couldn’t silence. It wasn’t necessary for him to hug her back. And yet, he did.

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