SHATTERED VOWS | JEON JUNGKOOK X OC |

Chapter 40

Days passed. Slowly, subtly, yet undeniably, something was changing between them.

Jungkook wasn’t sure when it started, but his habits had shifted. He no longer just existed under the same roof as Arin—he observed her. Not just in passing glances but in quiet, stolen moments. He noticed the way her brows furrowed in concentration when she reviewed documents at night, the way she always poured Jungsoo’s milk before her own coffee in the morning, the way she rubbed her temples when she was stressed but never voiced a complaint.  He felt it in the way his gaze lingered on Arin longer than before, in the way his mind drifted to her even when he wasn’t home.

It wasn’t just about Jungsoo anymore.

At least, that’s what he was afraid to admit.

He had always known Arin was a good mother. But now, he was beginning to realize she was an extraordinary one.

And Arin… she noticed him too.

She noticed how he made more effort now. The shift in Jungkook’s demeanor. He had always been a good father, but now… now, he was present in a way he never had been before. How he took time from his demanding schedule to join them on weekends. He asked about her day, made small talk at dinner, and—even more surprisingly—he never forgot to whisper a soft goodnight before they went to sleep.

She should have been happy. After all, wasn’t this what she had always wanted? A family that felt like one?

Then why did it leave her feeling so confused?

And why did she feel this nervous anticipation whenever his eyes lingered on her just a second too long?

He was becoming present—not just as Jungsoo’s father, but in her world too.

But it confused her.

She wanted to ask him why. Why was he suddenly here, truly here? Why was he looking at her like that sometimes, as if he was seeing her for the first time? But she never did.

For Jungsoo’s sake, she didn’t voice the thoughts that kept her up at night. Because if she did, she was afraid of the answer.

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Jungkook is feeling things he didn't feel before like Jealousy but he denied it every time. Jungkook was never the type to get irritated over trivial things. At least, he thought he wasn’t.

But now he proved himself wrong.

It was a regular weekend afternoon, and Jungkook had agreed to join Arin and Jungsoo on their little coffee run. Jungsoo loved the strawberry smoothies from a particular café near Arin’s office, and Jungkook had no reason to refuse.

They had just ordered when a young barista, probably in his mid-twenties, smiled a little too brightly at Arin.

“You come here often, don’t you?” the guy asked, leaning against the counter as he prepared their drinks. “I always see you with your son.”

Arin gave a polite nod. “Yeah, Jungsoo really likes the smoothies here.”

The barista chuckled. “He’s got good taste. And his mom too, I guess.”

Jungkook, who had been scrolling through his phone absentmindedly, suddenly froze.

Did he just—

Arin didn’t seem to think much of the comment, offering a small, nonchalant smile before turning to Jungsoo.

But Jungkook?

He felt an immediate surge of irritation.

He cleared his throat, stepping closer and placing his hand on the small of Arin’s back—a gesture that was instinctive, possessive.