FORCED MARRIAGE WITH BROTHER IN LAW

chapter 33

The kitchen was filled with the comforting aroma of spices, sizzling oil, and freshly chopped herbs. Y/N stood by the stove, her hands moving methodically as she prepared dinner for everyone. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables and the simmering curry were the only sounds she focused on, trying to drown out the voices in the background.

BTS members sat in the living room, chatting and laughing over drinks, their energy filling the house. But amidst the warmth and camaraderie, there were others—voices that didn’t belong to this home but had found their way in nonetheless.

Neha, her sister’s friend, leaned lazily against the counter, arms crossed with a smirk tugging at her lips. “You know, it’s funny,” she mused, her voice dripping with mockery. “You’re here, cooking like a maid, while Kittu should be the one in your place. She would fit in so much better.”

Y/N’s hands stilled for just a second before she continued stirring the pot. She had learned not to react, not to show them that their words affected her.

Kittu, her cousin sister, sat at the dining table, twirling a spoon between her fingers. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t stop Neha either.

Paras, their mutual friend, snickered, nudging Neha. “Exactly. What’s the point of being here if all you do is cook? Anyone can do that.”

Y/N swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat. She knew she didn’t belong—not in their eyes, not in Thv’s house. The walls around her weren’t home; they were a cage.

But before she could respond, a voice cut through the conversation like a blade.

“She’s not a maid,” Jin’s voice was firm as he entered the kitchen, his usual playfulness gone. “And if you have such a problem with her, why are you even here?”

The sudden shift in the atmosphere made Neha’s smirk falter.

“Oh, come on,” she laughed nervously, “we were just joking.”

“Didn’t sound like a joke,” Jimin added, leaning against the counter beside Y/N. His eyes flickered to her for a second, as if checking if she was okay.

“She doesn’t deserve to be here?” Jungkook’s voice was low, dangerous. He was sitting on the couch, but now he stood up, his sharp gaze locking onto Neha. “And who decides that? You?”

Neha swallowed, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “I just meant—”

“Don’t,” Jungkook cut her off, his tone eerily similar to the one Thv had used on Y/N so many times before. But this time, it wasn’t directed at her. It was in her defense.

Y/N’s fingers tightened around the ladle in her hand. She didn’t need their protection, but for the first time, she wasn’t standing alone.

The tension in the room was suffocating, thick enough to choke on.

Kittu finally spoke, her voice quiet. “Neha, maybe we should go.”

Neha scoffed but didn’t argue. She grabbed her bag and stormed out, Paras following after her.

The silence that followed was heavy.

Y/N finally exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath.

“Don’t listen to them,” Jungkook said, his voice softer now. “You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

Across the room, Thv watched everything in silence, his expression unreadable. But Y/N could feel his gaze burning into her back, a silent warning that this wasn’t over.

Not yet.