MOTHER | vsoo |

14: Ask and You Shall Receive

Jisoo stared at Irene with a blank expression, her thoughts spiraling.
The only thing she could think of was him.

Taehyung could be here. He's found me. He's going to hurt me.

"Don't worry." Irene's voice cut through her trance like a sharp knife.
"Taehyung isn't here. I came alone," she said with a slight smile, and Jisoo let out a shaky breath. Relief swept over her, but only slightly.

Her biggest fear hadn't materialized. Not yet.

"What are you doing here, Irene?" Jisoo's voice was low, cold, her teeth clenched as her grip tightened on the notepad in her hands, the edges crumpling under the pressure.

"Am I not a citizen of Korea?" Irene tilted her head, her mocking smile stretching wider. "I can go wherever I please."

Jisoo didn't share the amusement. Anger bubbled beneath her surface as she narrowed her eyes at the woman sitting so comfortably in her safe haven, this sly snake daring to flaunt her presence.

Irene laughed, but Jisoo wasn't laughing. She slammed her palm onto the table, her glare sharp enough to cut glass. Irene flinched slightly, though she tried to mask it.

"Then order something or leave," Jisoo snapped. Her patience was already thin, and seeing Irene here, in what little sanctuary she had left, was unbearable.

"I'll take a frappe. Extra sweet. My life's been so... sugary lately," Irene said, her gaze sweeping over Jisoo with smug satisfaction.

Jisoo's jaw clenched as she turned and stormed into the kitchen, the door swinging shut with a loud thud. The other workers exchanged glances, murmuring quietly, but she ignored them.

She focused on making Irene's drink, though her hands trembled. The temptation to spit in it crossed her mind, but she shook it off. She wouldn't stoop to that level, no matter how satisfying it might be.

When Jisoo returned to Irene's table, she found her engrossed in her phone. Irene didn't even look up, instead motioning for Jisoo to set the drink down.

The casual dismissal made Jisoo's blood boil. She slammed the frappe onto the table, spilling a bit over the rim. Irene barely reacted, too absorbed in her call.

"Drink up and leave. If I come back out here and see your face, it won't be nice," Jisoo hissed, turning to walk away.

But something stopped her—Irene's hand. Specifically, the ring on her finger.

Her breath caught in her throat. That ring...

Before she could think, Jisoo grabbed Irene's wrist, yanking it forward and causing her phone to clatter to the floor.

"Yah! Are you insane? Let go of me!" Irene shouted, trying to pull her hand back, but Jisoo held firm, her eyes locked on the ring.

"Where did you get this?" Jisoo demanded, her voice trembling with anger. "Who gave it to you?"

Irene's lips curled into a smile. "Oh, this thing?" she asked, gesturing lazily at the ring.
"Taehyung proposed to me. We're getting married."

Jisoo's world tilted. That ring wasn't just any ring—it was her grandmother's. And now it was on her finger.

Jisoo's voice was low, her anger simmering beneath the surface. "Give it back."

Irene laughed, pulling her hand free. "This ring? It's mine now. Don't be jealous, sweetheart. We'll even send you an invitation to the wedding."

Jisoo's fists clenched at her sides. "Hoseok!" she called, her voice sharp.

Hoseok emerged from the back, his expression shifting to confusion as his eyes landed on Irene. He froze for a moment, disbelief flashing across his face.

"Irene?" he said, his voice laced with shock and something else—fear.

"I was wondering when you'd show up," Irene said smoothly, her demeanor as casual as ever.

Jisoo turned to Hoseok, noticing the way his shoulders tensed. "You know her?" she asked, though the answer was clear in his expression.

"She's my cousin," Hoseok admitted reluctantly, his gaze never leaving Irene. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, come on, Hoseok. Is that any way to greet family? It's been, what... ten years?" Irene said, feigning nostalgia.

Hoseok's jaw tightened, his usual composure cracking. "Fuck you," he spat, his voice cold and venomous.

Jisoo flinched at the bitterness in Hoseok's tone, her gaze shifting between him and Irene.

Hoseok's voice came low, trembling with rage. "You ruined everything. You made sure of that. Set me up like it was some game, and I lost everything because of you."

Irene shrugged, unbothered. "You always were the family's weak link. I just sped things up."

Jisoo's stomach turned at the venom in Irene's words. She stepped forward, placing a hand on Hoseok's arm. "You don't have to explain yourself," she said softly. "It's none of my business anyway."

Hoseok looked at her, his surprise evident. She wasn't angry, wasn't demanding answers. She was calm, understanding even.

Irene smirked. "How sweet. Looks like you've got someone in your corner, Hoseok. Must be nice to be wanted for a change."

Jisoo's patience snapped. "Give me the ring," she demanded again, her voice firm.

Irene tilted her head, considering for a moment before sliding the ring off her finger. "You know," she said, her tone dripping with malice, "I really wish you'd died in that car accident. Then maybe you could be with your grandmother where you belong."

She dropped the ring on the floor and walked toward the door, her heels clicking against the tiles.

"Yah!" Hoseok snapped, his hand twitching toward his pocket.

Irene glanced back, her smirk widening. "What are you going to do, Hoseok? Hurt me? You should've done it when you had nothing else to lose," she said, glancing at Jisoo.

"Leave," Jisoo said sharply, stepping in front of Hoseok.

"Consider that my warning, Park Jisoo," she said before turning on her heel and strutting out of the café.

As the door swung shut, Hoseok let out a shaky breath. "Jisoo, I—"

"It's fine," she said, cutting him off. Her voice was calm, but her eyes were distant. "You don't have to explain anything."

Hoseok frowned, guilt etched across his face as Jisoo bent down to pick up the ring.

Without another word, she turned and left the café, leaving Hoseok standing in the middle of the room, his emotions eating away at him.