FORCED MARRIAGE WITH BROTHER IN LAW

chapter 47

The car ride home was silent, suffocating in a way that made Y/N’s skin crawl. Taehyung’s grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white against the dark leather. Y/N sat in the passenger seat, her body aching from every movement, but she dared not speak. She knew better than to provoke him when his mood was unreadable.

As they pulled up to the house, Y/N noticed an unfamiliar car parked outside. Her heart clenched. Someone was here. Someone who wasn’t supposed to be.

Taehyung stepped out first, slamming the door behind him before coming around to her side, yanking the door open with force. Y/N hesitated for a moment before stepping out, her legs still weak, her body screaming for rest. But Taehyung didn’t care. He grabbed her wrist, dragging her inside with little concern for her discomfort.

The moment they stepped into the house, a familiar figure emerged from the living room. Jimin.

Y/N’s breath hitched as her eyes met his. She wasn’t sure what she expected—sympathy? Pity? But Jimin’s face was unreadable, his gaze flickering between her and Taehyung before he let out a short sigh.

"You’re back," he said, his tone even, though there was something behind it. Something that didn’t quite sit right.

Taehyung let go of Y/N’s wrist and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Didn’t expect you to be here already."

Jimin shrugged, stepping aside. "Told you my place is under renovation. Had nowhere else to go."

Y/N’s stomach twisted. She knew Jimin wasn’t fond of her. He had been one of the voices that had fueled Taehyung’s cruelty, pushing him to assert control, to not let her "get away with things." But there was something in his gaze now, something uneasy, as if the weight of his actions was finally beginning to settle in.

Taehyung scoffed, shaking his head. "Make yourself comfortable, then. Just don’t get in my way."

Jimin’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah. Sure."

Y/N could feel the tension thickening in the air. She didn’t want to be here. She didn’t want to be near either of them. But what choice did she have? Her body was too weak to fight, and her mind was already exhausted from the weight of Taehyung’s control.

As Taehyung walked off, disappearing into another room, Jimin turned to her. His expression was unreadable, but there was something softer in his eyes now, something almost regretful.

"You should sit down," he muttered, gesturing toward the couch.

Y/N hesitated, unsure if this was some sort of trick, but her legs were trembling beneath her. With a small nod, she moved to sit, careful with every motion. The silence between them was deafening, stretching out like an open wound.

Jimin sat down across from her, his gaze flickering toward the hallway where Taehyung had disappeared. Then, after a long pause, he sighed. "I didn’t think… I didn’t think it’d be like this."

Y/N’s fingers curled into the fabric of her shirt. "Like what?"

Jimin swallowed, his eyes darkening. "I knew he was possessive. I knew he had a temper. But I didn’t think he’d…" He trailed off, his hands clenching into fists before he forced himself to relax. "I didn’t think he’d take it this far."

Y/N let out a bitter laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Well, he did."

Jimin’s jaw tightened. "I know. And I know I had a part in it. I won’t pretend I didn’t."

Silence stretched between them again, heavier this time. Y/N didn’t know what to say. There was guilt in his voice, but guilt didn’t erase the bruises on her skin. It didn’t take away the pain, the fear, the feeling of being trapped in a life that wasn’t hers anymore.

"I can’t stop him," Jimin admitted finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "But if I can… if there’s ever a way, I won’t let him go too far."

Y/N looked at him then, searching his face for any sign of deception. But for once, Jimin looked sincere. Still, she knew better than to put her trust in empty promises.

"We’ll see," she murmured, turning her gaze away.

Jimin didn’t push for a response. He only nodded, leaning back into the couch with a sigh. And as the night stretched on, Y/N wondered if his guilt would ever be enough to change anything at all.

That night, as Taehyung’s wrath unfolded once more, Jimin stayed silent in the shadows. But when Taehyung finally left the room, leaving Y/N curled up on the cold floor, Jimin made his move. He carefully stepped inside, his expression guarded as he knelt beside her.

"Can you stand?" he asked quietly.

Y/N flinched at the sound of his voice, expecting another blow. But when nothing came, she hesitantly lifted her gaze to meet his.

"Why do you care?" she whispered, her voice hoarse from the pain.

Jimin sighed, guilt flashing across his features. "Because I should’ve done something sooner. And because I can’t undo the past… but I can at least try now."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of painkillers and a bandage. "Here. Take this when he’s asleep. I’ll bring food when I can. Just… don’t let him see."

Y/N stared at the offering, her fingers trembling as she reached out to take it. It was a small act of kindness in a house filled with nothing but cruelty. And for the first time in a long time, she felt the smallest flicker of hope.