The grand chandeliers sparkled above as they entered the opulent hall, the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses filling the air. The crowd’s murmurs momentarily dimmed as Taehyung, Jungkook, and Byeol made their entrance, all eyes turning to the family at the center of swirling speculation.
Taehyung’s sharp gaze scanned the room, his jaw tightening as he crouched to set Byeol gently on her feet. The little girl blinked up at him, her wide eyes shimmering with confusion as she clung to his pant leg. He reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face before rising to his full height, his expression hardening as his eyes fell on Jungkook.
Jungkook stood a few steps behind, his posture hesitant, his fingers nervously clutching the edge of his sleeve. The weight of the hall’s gaze seemed to crush him, his heart racing as Taehyung’s figure loomed closer.
Taehyung stopped in front of him, his eyes cold yet stormy, as though battling a wave of suppressed emotions. “Are you at peace now?” His voice was low but laced with restrained fury, each word striking like a whip.
Jungkook flinched, his breath hitching as Taehyung took another step closer, their proximity suffocating. The fury in Taehyung’s eyes sent shivers down his spine, and he bit his lip, unsure whether to step back or stand his ground.
“I’ve endured this for three years, Jungkook,” Taehyung continued, his teeth gritting as he forced his voice to remain steady. “Three years of accusations. Three years of people questioning my pride, my dignity, my sanity—because of you.”
Jungkook’s lips trembled, his gaze falling to the ground as guilt pooled in his chest. He wanted to speak, to explain, but the words tangled in his throat, suffocating him.
“Do you even know what it’s like?” Taehyung’s voice grew quieter, but the bitterness in his tone cut deeper. “To be labeled a fool? To have people whisper behind your back, wondering if you weren’t enough to keep your husband from running off?”
Jungkook’s hands trembled as they reached out, clutching the hem of Taehyung’s tailored shirt in a desperate bid to ground himself. His voice broke as he whispered, “I’m sorry... Please, forgive me.”
Taehyung’s sharp intake of breath echoed between them, his head tilting slightly as if Jungkook’s words had struck a nerve. He looked down at the smaller figure before him, the vulnerability in Jungkook’s tear-filled eyes a stark contrast to the walls he’d built around himself.
“Sorry?” Taehyung scoffed bitterly, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “Do you think an apology can erase everything? The humiliation? The questions? The sleepless nights wondering if my daughter would grow up without a father—without a stable family?”
Jungkook shook his head rapidly, his hands tightening on Taehyung’s shirt. “No, I... I never wanted this. I never wanted to hurt you, Taehyung. I was... I was scared.”
“Scared?” Taehyung repeated, his voice lowering as his expression hardened further. “And what about me, Jungkook? Do you think I wasn’t scared? Do you think I didn’t suffer?”
Jungkook’s knees felt weak, his breaths shallow as Taehyung’s words tore into him. He knew he deserved every ounce of anger, every accusation, but the pain of hearing it from Taehyung’s lips was unbearable.
“Please...” Jungkook choked out, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just tell me how to make it right. Tell me what to do. I’ll do anything... anything you want, Taehyung.”
For a moment, Taehyung’s expression flickered, a crack in the façade of anger that revealed the depths of his turmoil. His gaze softened for just a second, but it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the steely resolve he had mastered over the years.
