The FORCED MARRIAGE | KTH FF

Chapter 26

As the clock strikes midnight, Y/N’s eyes grow heavy, the silence of the house almost suffocating. Her food sits untouched on the table, the steam long gone. She’s too tired to keep waiting but can’t bring herself to eat without Taehyung. She doesn't want to admit it, but she’s hurt. She should be used to it by now — his late nights, his absence, the constant feeling of waiting. But tonight feels different. It feels colder.

She leans back against the wall, her knees drawn up to her chest, as her eyes begin to close. The house feels so empty, the absence of him more noticeable than ever.

Meanwhile, Taehyung’s car pulls into the driveway, the headlights casting a long shadow over the mansion’s front yard. His mind is scattered, a weight pressing on his chest. He knew he’d be late, as the important meeting was going on.

The minute he enters the house, he can feel the emptiness. There’s no smell of food, no sign of her, yet he knows she’s here. His eyes move to the dining room, and his heart swells as he sees the untouched plate, the food growing cold.

His footsteps are slow, guilt gnawing at him. His usual cold demeanor seems so far away now, overshadowed by a strange feeling of regret. He walks toward the dining table, his eyes finding her figure, curled up on the floor, so still.

Taehyung’s heart clenches, his ego forgotten. For the first time in a long while, he regrets his behavior. He walks to her slowly, kneeling down beside her, and gently places a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, his voice soft, his words unspoken for far too long.

Y/N wakes up suddenly, her breath catching in her throat as she senses his closeness. Taehyung is so near, his presence overwhelming in a way she’s never felt before. Her heart races as she slowly opens her eyes, the sight of him kneeling beside her making her cheeks flush. She can feel the warmth of his body, and it makes her feel shy, a strange feeling stirring inside her. The air between them is thick with awkwardness, the silence almost unbearable.

Taehyung, sensing the tension, hesitates. His usual confidence seems to falter under her gaze, his chest tightening. He shifts uncomfortably, his voice almost a whisper when he speaks. “I’m sorry... I’m late.” His words sound so genuine, so different from the usual coldness she’s grown used to. The sincerity in his voice catches her off guard, making her heart skip a beat.

Y/N blinks in shock. She opens her mouth to say something but is left speechless. The moment stretches, heavy with unspoken emotions. She suddenly feels a wave of awkwardness, unsure how to react.

Without saying anything, she quickly gets up, trying to regain her composure. She hurries to the kitchen to warm his food, her hands trembling slightly as she prepares it. Taehyung watches her from where he sits, his gaze following her every move. There’s a softness in his eyes now, a look she’s never seen before.

She places the food on the table, then quietly sits on the floor, just as she always does. Her hands are still trembling, and she avoids looking at him, focusing on the food in front of her. The awkward silence lingers in the air, but this time, it feels different—less cold, more fragile.

Taehyung doesn’t say anything as he watches her eat, his thoughts swirling. There’s something about her, the way she’s sitting there, so quietly, so patiently, that makes his heart ache. For the first time, he doesn’t feel like the dominant one, the one in control. He feels small, unsure, and it leaves him speechless.

As Taehyung quietly ate, he glanced at Y/N a few times. Her presence, sitting silently on the floor, gnawed at him in a way he couldn’t quite explain. Clearing his throat, he finally broke the silence. 

"Y/N?" he said, his voice firm yet hesitant. 

Y/N's head shot up, her doe eyes meeting his for a moment before she quickly lowered them again. "Y-yes, Mr. Kim?" she muttered, her voice laced with nervousness.