ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS//TAEHYUNG FF//

The Choice That Echoed

The ballroom hadn't recovered from the Kim family's exit.

Reporters were already whispering into phones.

Headlines were forming in real time.

Family Rift.
Heir Disowned.
The Analyst at the Center.

Taehyung was still standing in the center of it all.

Alone.

But not shaken.

He looked at you once more.

"You don't owe me this," he said quietly. "Don't burn your career for my war."

You felt the cameras still aimed.

Waiting for you to distance yourself.

To survive.

Director Choi stepped closer to you. "Miss Y/N. This situation is volatile. Aurora cannot afford perceived alliances."

Perceived.

As if this was only optics.

Your pulse slowed instead of racing.

Something inside you settled.

You stepped away from Director Choi.

And walked toward Taehyung.

Gasps followed the movement.

Every heel-click on the marble floor sounded louder than it should have.

You stopped beside him — not behind.

Beside.

A subtle difference.

A powerful one.

A reporter seized the moment.

"Miss Y/N! After tonight's confrontation, do you still maintain professional neutrality between Aurora and Vanguard?"

Neutrality.

The safest word in the room.

You lifted your chin slightly.

"I maintain integrity," you answered.

Cameras flashed.

"What does that mean?" another reporter pressed.

"It means," you continued calmly, "that innovation should not be dictated by family politics. And personal decisions should not be weaponized in boardrooms."

That hit.

Hard.

A few executives actually shifted in discomfort.

You didn't look at Taehyung.

You didn't need to.

"I did not influence Vanguard's win," you added clearly. "And Mr. Kim's professional success stands independent of any personal history."

Professional.

Controlled.

But then—

You turned slightly.

Just enough.

"And if he chooses to stand by his decisions publicly," you said, voice steady, "then I won't pretend they were a mistake."

There it was.

Not a confession.

Not a declaration.