FORCED MARRIAGE WITH BROTHER IN LAW

chapter 39

The basement was silent except for the uneven rhythm of Y/N’s breathing. The fever had settled deep into her bones, wrapping her in an unbearable heat. Her skin burned, her body ached, but her voice—her voice was steady.

"Kittu," she whispered, her throat dry. "Do you have any painkillers?"

Kittu’s breath hitched.

"You—Y/N, you need a doctor," she said, her grip tightening around Y/N’s cold hands. "This fever isn’t normal. You—"

"Kittu."

Y/N’s voice was soft, but there was no room for argument.

Kittu hesitated, her tear-filled eyes searching Y/N’s face for something—anything—that would tell her what to do.

But Y/N had already decided.

She had survived worse. She would survive this too.

"Just bring me painkillers," Y/N murmured, her fingers barely moving as she reached up to wipe the tears from Kittu’s face. "I’ll be fine."

Lies.

They both knew it.

But Kittu wanted to believe her.

Y/N let out a shaky breath and whispered again, softer this time—gentler.

"Just take care of him."

Kittu froze.

The weight of those words crushed her.

Because she knew who Y/N meant.

Not herself.

Not the bruises on her body.

Not the fever eating her alive.

Him.

Kittu’s tears spilled over as she gripped Y/N’s hand tighter.

"But who’s going to take care of you?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

Y/N didn’t answer.

Because the truth was—no one ever did.
The dim light flickered as Kittu knelt beside Y/N, her grip desperate.

"You’re doing this why?" Kittu’s voice cracked, frustration and sorrow mixing together. "Just come with me! Run away from here!"

Y/N let out a weak, exhausted sigh. She was too tired for this fight.

"So Taehyung can catch us all?" Y/N’s voice was barely above a whisper. "So he can make life even more miserable? He doesn’t even know what’s happening, Kittu. He doesn’t have to."

Kittu shook her head, her eyes filled with panic. "I don’t care! Y/N, please!"

But Y/N only smiled—a small, broken thing.

"Let it be," she whispered.

Kittu’s heart clenched.

"I don’t want any other Y/N in this world," Y/N continued, her fingers gripping Kittu’s hand with what little strength she had left. "Please."

The room felt colder.

Kittu wanted to scream. Wanted to fight.

But Y/N wasn’t fighting anymore.

Her fevered skin was burning against Kittu’s palm, but she wasn’t shaking. She wasn’t afraid.

Instead, her next words shattered Kittu completely.

"Tell him I miss him."

Kittu choked on a sob. "Y/N—"

"He already knows I love him."

Y/N closed her eyes.

And Kittu felt like the world was breaking apart.