𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 || 𝐊𝐓𝐇

Chapter-27: Distancing himself

Millie

As I walked inside, the weight of the night lingered in my mind. His actions, so protective yet unexpected, had left an impression I couldn't shake. It wasn’t just the way he defended me against Yoon-ah or how he cared for me after the incident—it was the way he looked at me, like he truly saw me for the first time.

That gaze of his, deep and unreadable, lingered in my thoughts. When he had wrapped his coat around me, shielding me from embarrassment, it was as if he had reached past all the barriers I’d built and touched something raw and vulnerable within me. It was a simple gesture, yet it left my heart fluttering, as if I had finally caught a glimpse of the man behind the guarded walls he always kept up.

But did he feel it too? That connection, that unspoken spark that seemed to pulse between us when he touched me? Or was I deluding myself, reading into a fleeting moment that meant nothing to him?

I shook my head, brushing off the thought. Even if he didn’t feel the same, it didn’t matter. For the first time in a long time, I felt seen. I felt cared for. And that was enough—for now.

Smiling faintly to myself, I changed into my pajamas and slipped into bed. The room felt quieter than usual, the events of the evening weighing heavily on my mind. I glanced at him lying beside me, his eyes closed, his face calm and serene. He looked peaceful, but there was a tension in the way his jaw was set, as if even in sleep, he couldn’t quite let go of whatever burden he carried.

I wanted to reach out to him, to bridge the distance between us. I wanted to tell him how much I appreciated what he had done for me, how much it had meant to me. But fear held me back. What if he rejected me? What if he didn’t care? The thought stung more than I cared to admit.

With a quiet sigh, I turned away, telling myself there would be another time to speak to him. Sleep soon claimed me, though my heart remained heavy with unspoken words.

Taehyung

I watched her as she slept, her breathing slow and steady. The dim light from the hallway cast soft shadows on her face, highlighting the peacefulness that had returned to her features. But I couldn’t sleep. The events of the night replayed in my mind over and over again.

Seeing her cry, the helplessness in her eyes as she clutched my coat around her... it had struck a chord deep within me. It wasn’t just anger at Yoon-ah’s cruelty—it was something more. Something I couldn’t quite name.

Why did her tears hurt me so much? Why did seeing her in pain feel like a knife twisting in my chest? I had always considered myself indifferent to emotions, someone who kept others at arm’s length. But tonight, she had shattered that illusion.

I cared about her. I cared more than I wanted to admit, even to myself. And that terrified me.

Her vulnerability had awakened something inside me—a fierce, almost primal need to protect her. But at the same time, guilt gnawed at me. How could I feel this way about her when my own sister, Ava, was suffering because of her brother?

The thought of Ava brought a bitter taste to my mouth. I slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her, and made my way to Ava’s room. Sitting beside her, I studied her sleeping face, so calm and innocent. My chest tightened as I thought of everything she had been through because of Jungkook.

How could I justify my growing feelings for Millie when Ava’s pain was a constant reminder of what her brother had done to my family? It felt wrong, selfish even, to let myself care for Millie when Ava’s wounds were still so fresh.

I clenched my fists, anger and confusion warring within me. Jungkook had hurt Ava so deeply, and yet here I was, torn between my loyalty to my sister and these inexplicable feelings for Millie.

As I sat there, guilt gave way to resolve. I needed to distance myself from her. Whatever this was—this pull I felt toward her—it wasn’t worth the risk. I couldn’t let myself be vulnerable, not when so much was at stake.

I left Ava’s room with a heavy heart, determined to keep my emotions in check. This was the only way. I couldn’t let her get under my skin again.

Millie

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, warming the room. I woke up feeling refreshed, hopeful even, as if today could mark a new beginning.

I stretched and glanced at his side of the bed, but it was empty. The faint sound of running water from the bathroom told me he was already awake. A small smile tugged at my lips. Maybe today would be different. Maybe today, we could finally bridge the gap between us.

An idea sparked in my mind. I decided to make him breakfast—his favorite, scrambled eggs with bacon. It wasn’t much, but I hoped it would be enough to bring a smile to his face, to let him know that I was trying.

I set the table, humming softly to myself, anticipation bubbling in my chest. As I heard his footsteps approaching, I turned to greet him, my smile wide and hopeful.

But the moment he entered the kitchen, the air shifted. His expression was cold, distant, as if last night’s events had never happened. Without so much as a glance in my direction, he grabbed his plate and sat down, eating in silence.

My smile faltered, the excitement draining from me. I sat across from him, watching him in quiet disbelief. I had hoped for a kind word, a small acknowledgment of my effort—but there was nothing.

The weight of his silence pressed down on me, and I felt a pang of sadness. Was I foolish to think that anything had changed? That maybe, just maybe, he had started to care for me the way I cared for him?

As he finished his breakfast and left for work, the sound of the door closing behind him echoed in my ears. I stood there in the empty kitchen, tears threatening to spill as doubt crept into my heart.

Why was I even trying? Why was I putting so much effort into a marriage that felt so one-sided?

I sank into a chair, the ache in my chest growing. To him, I was nothing more than a means to an end. A pawn in whatever game we were playing. And yet, despite the pain, a small part of me still clung to hope.

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