[ complete ] 𝐌𝐀𝐅𝐈𝐀'𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐅𝐄 || 𝐉.𝐉𝐊 𝐅𝐅

59. Exposed.

Jungkook's POV -

The sun was a little too bright for my liking. Too clean. Too loud. But Y/n was wearing this soft blue dress she picked out, and her hand was looped in mine like it belonged there. She kept asking me if the color made her look pale - I kept telling her she looked like peace itself.

We were walking through the boutique aisles, her focus darting between baby things and home décor, and for once, I was okay being dragged from one aisle to another like a lost puppy.

She stopped in front of a mirror, holding up a tiny onesie that said "Boss Baby."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "Is this a threat or a prophecy?"

I smirked. "If it's our kid, definitely both."

We were laughing. Actually laughing.

That was when the world decided to remind me it doesn't let me breathe for too long.

The murmurs began like smoke in a forest. Faint at first. Then thicker.

"Did you hear? That case..."

"Suyeon... that girl..."

"...turns out it wasn't Jungkook Jeon. It was his stepbrother. What was his name again?"

"Junghyun. The real culprit. There's video proof. It's all over the news."

My body stiffened before my brain even registered the words.

Y/n stopped beside me, her expression slowly losing its light.

The shop's flat-screen TV was playing the broadcast, volume low - but loud enough to hear:

"A shocking revelation today in the decade-old case involving the tragic death of a minor named Suyeon. Recently released video tapes, sent by an anonymous source, confirm that Jeon Junghyun-stepson of the late business tycoon Jeon Jungsoo-is the true perpetrator of the crime for which Jeon Jungkook was wrongly rumored..."

The camera zoomed in on a blurry freeze-frame of Junghyun holding the camera, blood on his knuckles, twisted smile etched on his face.

Y/n's eyes widened. "Jungkook..."

I exhaled, slow and heavy. My hand instinctively curled around hers like I needed to anchor her - or maybe anchor myself.

"They're out now," I said quietly. "The tapes."

"You sent them?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Anonymous tip. I know who it was, though."

Her brows lifted in question, but I didn't say it. Some things weren't meant for this moment. Not when my chest still burned.

She stepped in front of me, gripping my arms. "How long have you had them?"

I looked down, jaw tightening. "Not long. They were hidden in the mountains, in an old bunker my father owned. He had them... sealed away. No label. No trace. I only found them because I dug through old property files. I-I didn't even believe they were real at first."

Her eyes shimmered. "You searched for them all this time?"

"I was nineteen when I first tried," I said, my voice quieter now, darker. "But then you came into my life. And I tried to forget. But then Junghyun returned. You trusted him."

Her lip quivered. "I didn't mean to-"

"I know," I cut her off gently. "But it still happened. You looked at me like I was the monster. Like I was capable of... what he did to her."

Y/n's hands flew up and cupped my face, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm sorry. Jungkook, I'm so, so sorry."

I let her pull me into her. I didn't resist when her arms locked around my waist and her head buried into my chest. I felt her sob against me - hot and aching - and I wrapped my arms around her small back, holding her tighter than I ever had.