FORCE MARRIAGE 1

Hello my beautiful reader🎀🥀

I hope you're doing well and enjoying the journey of my book so far. 🫶

I truly value your support, and I wanted to ask-are you loving the story? Is there anything you feel I should change or improve? Your honest feedback means a lot to me, and it helps me grow as a writer.

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With love,

Muskan 🥀

Characters:

Kim Taehyung (40): CEO of Kim Corporations. Cold, composed, emotionally closed off. Was married to Hana for 8 years but they remained childless. Pressured by his traditional parents, he's forced into a second marriage.

Choi Y/N (25): Fiercely independent, values equality, doesn't believe in arranged or forced marriage. A writer and literature professor who was thriving until her parents cornered her into this marriage.

AUTHOR'S POV

The heavy gold necklace around Y/N's neck felt more like a shackle than jewelry. The mandap was filled with guests, cameras, and flower petals - everything except joy. Her hands were trembling in her lap, not out of nervousness, but rage. Her eyes didn't once meet the groom's.

Kim Taehyung sat beside her, expression blank, like he was attending a business deal, not his own wedding. His sharp jaw was clenched, his gaze straight ahead.

He hadn't spoken a word to her, not before the wedding, not during the rituals. Only one thing was clear - he didn't want this. And neither did she.

Their parents stood nearby with satisfied smiles, whispering prayers of a child soon. A child - that was the only reason this wedding even existed.

As the priest chanted the final "saptapadi", Y/N finally turned to look at Taehyung.

His eyes were cold. Her lips curled in a sarcastic smirk.

"Well, congratulations, Mr. Kim," she whispered under her breath, "you just married your second uterus."

Taehyung's eyes snapped to her, jaw tightening. But he said nothing.

---

The late evening sunlight spilled through the tall windows of the Kim estate, casting long shadows over the polished wooden floors. The air inside the mansion felt heavier than usual - not because of the wedding that had just taken place - but because of what everyone was pretending not to see.

Hana stood at the far corner of the hall near the staircase, silent as a statue. Her presence was almost invisible, wrapped in a muted grey hanbok. No one acknowledged her. No one greeted her. She was a ghost in the house she once called hers.

She had been Kim Taehyung's wife for eight years. She had loved him quietly, endured the pressure silently, and kept smiling - even as every passing year without a child became a punishment.

And now, she was still here - not as a wife, not as a daughter-in-law, but a burden that hadn't yet been thrown out.

Y/N stood in the corridor just a few feet away, watching Hana quietly lower her gaze as two maids walked past her, giggling with decorative petals in hand. The maids were headed to decorate Taehyung and Y/N's wedding night room.

> "Hana,"

came the sharp voice of Mrs. Kim, Taehyung's mother, standing near the stair railing.

Hana's shoulders tensed.

She turned slowly and bowed, "Yes, eommoni?"

Y/N's breath caught.

Mrs. Kim's eyes gleamed with bitterness as she forced a fake smile.

> "You've stayed in this house for years... I'm sure you know where everything is. Go help the maids decorate Taehyung and Y/N's room. The red sheets and rose petals - everything must look perfect."

There was a beat of silence. Even the maids paused in the hallway.

Hana bowed her head again. "Nae, I will-"

> "No, she won't."

The words left Y/N's lips before she even realized it.

Everyone turned.

She stepped forward slowly, her voice even, but sharp like broken glass.

> "She's not doing that."

Mrs. Kim raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

Y/N stood beside Hana now, her eyes cold and unwavering.

> "You want the woman you emotionally tortured for years to now decorate the bed where her husband will sleep with another woman? Just because she couldn't get pregnant?"

The tension in the air sliced like a knife. Even the maids lowered their heads.

Mr. Kim huffed. "This is a family matter. Don't interfere."

Y/N's voice rose, fierce and unapologetic.

> "Oh, I'm very much a part of this family now - thanks to your twisted obsession with an heir. And if being in this family means standing by while you humiliate another woman, then no thank you."

Taehyung had just stepped into the hall.

His eyes met Y/N's.

He saw the way she positioned herself slightly in front of Hana, like a silent shield. He saw the fury in her expression - not for herself, but for the woman no one ever defended.

Mrs. Kim scoffed again. "She's still in this house out of our mercy. You should be thanking us instead of showing attitude."

> "Mercy?" Y/N snapped, "She was your daughter-in-law. She's still your son's wife in every sense except the one that matters to your ego. You don't show mercy to someone you've emotionally destroyed. You show humanity. If that still exists in this house."

Taehyung's jaw clenched.

His mother stepped forward to argue again, but this time -

> "Enough."

His voice thundered across the hall.

Everyone froze.

He walked slowly toward them, standing between his parents and the two women - his gaze on his mother.

> "You don't get to insult Hana anymore. And you won't touch Y/N with your words either. If you wanted me to marry for a child, fine. You got what you wanted. But don't you dare turn this house into a circus of cruelty."

Mrs. Kim tried to speak. "Taehyung-"

> "Hana is not your servant. And Y/N is not your tool."

He turned to Hana, eyes softer now. "Go rest. You don't have to do anything."

Hana looked like she would cry.

Then his gaze shifted to Y/N - who hadn't moved, still standing with fire in her eyes.

And for the first time since this forced marriage, Kim Taehyung looked at Y/N not as an intruder in his life, but as something he hadn't seen in years.

A woman with a voice. A woman who protected others when no one else did.

Y/N simply said, "She deserves dignity."

Taehyung nodded, quietly. "I know."

---

The moonlight spilled softly over the garden outside the Kim mansion. The house had quieted down after the dramatic scene earlier. But inside, Y/N's heart still hadn't settled.

She sat on the balcony attached to her room - not his room, not yet - with a steaming cup of herbal tea resting in her hands.

The night air was cool, but her thoughts were burning.

She was so caught up in them that she didn't hear the footsteps until a soft voice called from behind.

> "Y/N-ssi...?"

Y/N turned.

Hana stood at the door, fingers nervously twisting the edge of her sleeves. Her eyes were cautious but kind. There was something in them - not fear, but a gentle sadness carved over years.

> "Can I... come in?"

Y/N nodded instantly. "Of course."

Hana walked forward slowly, and for a moment, they both just stood in silence - two women tied to the same man, bound by the same cruelty of expectations.

Y/N gestured to the second chair on the balcony. "Want to sit?"

Hana smiled faintly and nodded. "Thank you."

They sat - the silence not awkward, but heavy.

And then, Hana spoke.

> "You didn't have to say anything today. But you did."

Y/N looked at her. "I couldn't stay silent. The way they spoke to you... I've only been here one day and even I couldn't bear it."

Hana let out a breath - almost a laugh, but tired.

> "You're brave. I used to think I was, too. But somewhere along the years, I stopped speaking. I thought... if I stayed quiet, maybe they'd leave me some peace."

Y/N's heart clenched.

"They were cruel," she whispered.

> "They still are," Hana said softly. "But today... for the first time, someone stood next to me."

Y/N reached out and gently placed her hand over Hana's.

"I don't care what relationship we have with Taehyung. You didn't deserve that treatment. No one does. And I'm not going to be part of it."

Hana blinked, visibly moved. "You're not angry at me?"

Y/N shook her head.

> "For what? For being a victim of the same situation I'm stuck in? You didn't ask for this. Neither did I. This isn't your fault. If anything, you should've been protected."

Hana smiled then - for real this time. A small, fragile smile. "You're different from what I expected."

Y/N chuckled. "Everyone keeps saying that."

Another moment passed.

Then Hana said softly, "You should know... Taehyung isn't as heartless as he seems."

Y/N looked at her, brows raised.

Hana continued, "He was never cruel to me. He never raised his voice. He just... shut himself off when the pressure from his parents got too much. Especially when the doctors said I couldn't conceive. He became... someone else."

Y/N stared ahead at the stars. "And now they expect me to fix what their pressure broke."

Hana nodded. "Exactly."

They sat in quiet understanding - two women who should've been enemies by society's standards. But instead, they were mirrors of each other's pain.

Just as Hana was about to stand, Y/N stopped her gently. "You ever want to talk - or just sit like this - my door's open. You're not alone in this house anymore."

Hana's eyes glistened. She nodded, "Thank you. That... means more than you know."

She left with a soft goodbye, and as the door closed behind her, Y/N sat back with her tea, exhaling deeply.

She hadn't won anything. She hadn't changed the world.

But tonight, she did something no one had done in years.

She saw Hana.

And somehow, in doing that - she saw herself more clearly too.

---

The bedroom glowed softly with the warmth of amber lighting. Rose petals were scattered across the bed - not by Y/N, but by the maids who had done it before the evening drama. The fragrance of jasmine hung faintly in the air.

Y/N stood near the dresser, back to the door, her reflection clear in the tall mirror. Her hair was loosely pinned, earrings glinting in the warm light. She was gently removing her bangles one by one - her movements graceful, yet weary.

The door clicked open.

Taehyung walked in, his footsteps quiet but firm.

He paused at the sight.

Y/N didn't turn. She saw him in the mirror - tall, broad-shouldered, his blazer off, sleeves rolled up, a muscle ticking in his jaw like he was holding back more than just words.

She pulled the last pin from her hair, letting the dark waves tumble over her shoulders.

> "Don't worry," she said, still facing the mirror. "I'm not decorating the bed. In case that's your next concern."

Taehyung sighed. "This isn't a joke."

She finally turned to face him. "It isn't. None of this is. But I have to laugh sometimes, or I'll go insane."

He stepped closer, but kept his distance. "I just came to remind you..."

His voice was sharp again. Cold.

> "We may be husband and wife in papers - in name. But that's all we'll ever be. So don't expect anything from me."

Y/N arched a brow.

> "Oh? No breakfast in bed? No forehead kisses? No candlelight dinners?"

She placed her earrings on the vanity and turned fully toward him.

> "Relax, Kim Taehyung. I'm not dying to crawl into your arms."

He stared at her, expression unreadable.

She tilted her head with that signature smirk. "But tell me something... didn't your dear parents drag me into your life for one reason only?"

> "To give you heirs."

Taehyung's jaw clenched. "Y/N-"

> "No, seriously." She crossed her arms. "You don't want me as a wife. You don't want me to decorate your bed. You don't want my presence. But your parents do want a child. So what's the plan, exactly? Artificial insemination? Or should we just toss a dice and see when you're 'emotionally ready' to perform?"

The words slapped harder than a hand. And she knew it.

But she didn't flinch.

Taehyung stepped forward, face thunderous. "You think this is easy for me? Being pushed into this marriage just to-"

> "Then don't act like the only victim in the room!" she snapped. "You think I asked for this life? You think I wanted to sleep beside a man who looks at me like I'm poison?"

His eyes darkened.

They were standing too close now. Both angry. Both breathing heavy.

And then-

His foot slipped on a petal-covered rug.

> "Ah-!"

In a blink, he stumbled forward, his hand reaching out-grabbing the edge of the dresser, the other landing on her shoulder-only to crash into her.

Y/N gasped as her back hit the mattress.

Taehyung was on top of her.

His arms caged her in, one knee between hers. Their noses were inches apart. Breathing tangled. His breath warm against her cheek.

Her eyes widened.

So did his.

Neither moved.

Y/N could feel the rapid beat of her own heart. The heat of his chest against hers. The scent of his cologne mixing with rose petals and tension.

She whispered, voice breathy and mocking,

> "If this is your idea of staying distant... you're doing a terrible job."

Taehyung's lips parted to reply - but nothing came out.

For a single second - one fleeting moment - their anger gave way to something else.

Unspoken. Heavy. Electric.

Then he blinked, cleared his throat, and pushed himself off her abruptly.

He stood at the edge of the bed, facing away. "I... didn't mean to fall."

Y/N sat up, brushing her hair behind her ear.

> "Yeah," she said coolly. "Slipping for me is a common problem around here."

He turned slightly, jaw still clenched, but his eyes flicked to her lips before he quickly looked away again.

"I'll sleep on the couch."

And just like that, he grabbed a pillow and stormed out of the room - leaving Y/N with racing thoughts and a storm that hadn't quite passed.

But something had changed.

He touched her.

He looked at her.

He felt something.

Even if he'd never admit it.

---

The morning sun streamed gently through the kitchen windows. The house was still - unusually quiet - as if holding its breath after the chaos of the last two days.

Y/N stood by the stove, barefoot, wearing a soft cream cardigan over her cotton nightdress. Her hair was loosely tied back, a few strands falling around her face. She moved quietly, gently stirring the pot of ginger tea. The air was warm with the scent of cardamom and peace.

She didn't expect anyone else to be awake.

But then-

> "Good morning..."

She turned to find Hana, standing at the kitchen door, looking hesitant but hopeful.

Y/N smiled softly. "Morning. Come in."

Hana stepped in, looking around as if she didn't belong, even though she knew the kitchen better than anyone.

"I didn't mean to intrude," Hana said, hands folded in front of her.

Y/N handed her a cup of tea. "You're not intruding. Honestly, I'm glad someone else is up. I don't like starting the day in silence."

They sat at the small kitchen table, the mugs warming their fingers.

There was a long, comfortable pause.

Then Y/N spoke first.

> "I used to live in a small flat above a bookstore. My life was chaos and coffee and manuscripts. I taught literature part-time and wrote at night."

Hana looked surprised. "You're a writer?"

Y/N nodded with a nostalgic smile. "Still am. Or... trying to be. I used to think success meant signing book deals and getting my work on shelves. But now... I just want a life where I can breathe."

Hana sipped her tea, her expression softening. "That sounds beautiful."

Y/N chuckled. "It was. But my parents never thought writing was a 'real job.' They used to say, 'who'll marry a girl who earns in words?' So I guess... now they've got their answer."

There was no bitterness in her voice - just quiet honesty.

From the hallway, hidden behind the half-open kitchen door, Taehyung stood motionless.

He hadn't meant to eavesdrop. He'd come down for water, still wearing his black cotton shirt and sweats, hair slightly messy from a restless night on the couch.

But then he heard her laugh. That soft, tired laugh.

And her words... her story... it caught him off guard.

> She had a life. A dream. And they pulled her out of it just for me. Just for this.

He looked down, jaw tight.

Inside the kitchen, Hana leaned forward slightly. "You know... last night, I slept for the first time in peace. Because someone finally said out loud what I've been screaming inside for years."

Y/N met her eyes. "You deserve to be heard. You always did."

They shared a look - no pity, no pain - just mutual respect.

And Taehyung, still standing unseen, felt something in his chest twist.

These two women, brought into the same house by force, were sitting together... building each other up in a world that had only tried to break them down.

He turned and walked away silently, the sound of Y/N's quiet voice echoing in his ears.

> "I just want a life where I can breathe."

For the first time in a long while, he wondered...

What if he could give her that?

---

It had been four months since the wedding.

The petals had long been swept away. The garlands had dried. But something real - something no one expected - had begun to grow in their place.

Y/N now walked through the mansion not like a guest, not like an outsider, but like someone who belonged. She still kept her independence - her voice, her thoughts, her late-night scribbles in her journal - but she no longer felt like a prisoner in silk.

And Hana... Hana no longer walked like a shadow.

Because Y/N had refused to let her fade.

They had become sisters - not in blood, but in loyalty. And the house noticed it. The staff noticed it.

Even Taehyung noticed it.

---

Morning in the Kim Mansion

The breakfast table was laid as usual - silver dishes, fresh fruit, and the ever-looming presence of Mrs. Kim, who never missed a chance to lace sweetness with poison.

Hana was setting the table, quietly placing spoons when Mrs. Kim snapped, "Ya, Hana... at least place the napkins properly. What were you doing all these years if not this?"

Hana flinched slightly, fingers tightening around the napkins.

Y/N looked up from her seat.

> "She was being your daughter-in-law," Y/N said coolly. "You know, the one you emotionally tortured for years?"

The table stilled.

Mrs. Kim narrowed her eyes. "You're speaking too much these days, Y/N."

Y/N leaned back in her chair, sipping her tea. "And you're under the impression that I'll stop."

Taehyung sat at the head of the table, flipping through the newspaper - but his eyes flicked up now and then.

Mrs. Kim scoffed. "Don't forget, you're here because we allowed-"

> "No," Y/N interrupted. "I'm here because you forced me. Let's not twist the fairy tale."

Mrs. Kim opened her mouth, but Taehyung finally spoke - calm, clear.

> "Eomma... let it go."

Mrs. Kim looked surprised.

He folded the paper and set it down.

> "Hana and Y/N are the only reasons this house has peace lately. If you can't speak with respect, then don't speak at all."

Silence fell.

Y/N gave a small smirk, satisfied, and Hana gently touched her wrist under the table - a soft thank you only she would notice.

---

Later That Day - Taehyung's Study

Y/N walked in with a file in hand - something about a property document she was asked to sign. But what caught her off-guard was Taehyung - sitting at his desk, half-leaned back, sleeves rolled up, reading a book.

A novel.

She raised a brow. "Reading fiction now? Color me shocked."

He glanced up at her, lips twitching slightly. "It was on your nightstand. Thought I'd see what all the fuss was about."

Y/N stepped in, placing the file on the desk. "And?"

He closed the book slowly. "It's good. The main character reminds me of someone."

She tilted her head. "Who?"

> "You."

His voice was soft. Honest.

Y/N blinked.

Taehyung stood, walked around the desk, stopping just in front of her.

> "You argue, fight, protect, laugh... all in one breath. It's exhausting."

She smirked. "Then breathe somewhere else."

He chuckled under his breath - a rare sound - and walked past her, brushing shoulders.

> "Still exhausting," he muttered playfully.

> "Still tolerating me," she replied.

---

Later that night, Hana and Y/N sat together watching an old drama on Hana's laptop, sharing popcorn.

Hana leaned against her shoulder.

> "You changed this house," hana whispered.

Y/N smiled softly, looking at her like a real sister.

> "No... we did."

---

The sky outside had turned a soft lilac, the kind of twilight that wrapped the world in calm silence. Inside the Kim mansion, the air was still - peaceful, almost too quiet.

Y/N sat in the small tea garden behind the house, a notebook open on her lap but untouched. Her pen had stopped moving half an hour ago.

She wasn't writing. She was thinking.

About him.

The way he looked at her yesterday when she laughed at something Hana said. The way he lingered near her door at night, pretending to walk past. The way his voice softened just a little when he said her name now.

She didn't want to admit it...

But she felt the shift.

She was still deep in thought when Hana walked up silently, holding two cups of warm tea. She handed one to Y/N and sat beside her without a word.

Minutes passed. Neither spoke.

Then Hana broke the silence.

> "Y/N..."

Y/N looked over, brows raised slightly.

Hana's voice was steady - too steady. "I want to talk to you about something. Something important."

Y/N closed the notebook. "Of course."

Hana looked down at her cup, then back up.

> "I think... it's time you start living as Taehyung's wife."

Y/N blinked, confused. "What?"

> "I mean it," Hana said softly. "Don't keep him at a distance anymore."

Y/N shook her head. "Hana... I-"

> "Don't say anything yet. Just listen," she interrupted gently, her eyes kind but firm.

> "I see the way he looks at you now. I see the man I once knew... coming back. He was never cruel to me, Y/N. Just broken. But now, when he's around you... he laughs. He smiles. Even if it's just for a second. He behaves like a man who's falling in love - whether he admits it or not."

Y/N lowered her gaze. Her throat felt tight. "But what about you? I don't want to hurt you-"

Hana reached out and took her hand.

> "It will hurt. I won't lie. But I will never hate you. How could I? When you gave me more love in four months than I received in years from this family?"

Tears pricked the corners of Y/N's eyes. "You're saying I should just... step into your place?"

> "No," Hana said, smiling gently. "I'm saying you should make your own place in his heart."

She paused, then continued - voice softer now.

> "Do you know why Taehyung finally agreed to this marriage?"

Y/N shook her head slowly.

> "His parents... they used to insult me every day. Not just behind closed doors, but in front of guests, in front of staff. They said I was a 'waste of space'... a failure as a woman. They told him I was the shame of their legacy."

Y/N's hands clenched.

> "One day... his mother threatened to end her life. She said if he didn't give them an heir, she would take sleeping pills. His father stopped eating for two days."

Y/N was stunned. "What...?"

Hana nodded.

> "That night, Taehyung came to me, sat beside me on the floor, and cried for the first time in years. He asked me if he should say yes. And I... I told him to do it."

Y/N's eyes brimmed with tears. "Hana..."

> "I couldn't watch him suffer anymore. He carried all their cruelty like it was his burden to fix. He never blamed me. Not once. He always made me feel safe... even when the world called me broken."

She looked at Y/N then - eyes full of something so deep it almost hurt to see.

> "And now... he's starting to feel again. Because of you. Don't turn away from that. Don't run just because you're afraid to hurt me. I'm already healing - because of your friendship. Now let him heal... with your love."

Y/N couldn't hold it anymore. A single tear slipped down her cheek.

> "But I don't know how to love a man like him."

Hana smiled. "Just be you. That's all it took with me. And it's already working with him."

---

Later that night, Y/N stood at the doorway of the bedroom - watching Taehyung remove his watch, his back to her. He looked tired. Older than he should've.

But she saw him now.

Not just the man her parents pushed her toward.

Not just the cold husband.

But the man who suffered in silence to protect a woman he couldn't save... and maybe... the man who could be hers now.

She walked in slowly, closing the door behind her.

And for the first time in four months-

She didn't sleep on the couch.

---

The shift was quiet.

No announcement. No promises. No dramatic declarations.

Just... small things.

Like Y/N waking up five minutes earlier than Taehyung to place his socks near the dresser. Like checking his coat pockets before he left - sliding in his favorite mint gums without saying a word. Like adding a second pillow behind his back during dinner, knowing he wouldn't ask for comfort, but needed it anyway.

Taehyung noticed.

He noticed everything.

---

Taehyung walked into the kitchen after a long work call, expecting silence.

Instead, he paused - surprised by the soft music playing from the speaker. A jazz instrumental.

Y/N stood near the stove, wearing a light beige apron over a pastel dress. Her hair was tied in a lazy bun, her sleeves rolled up, and her hands gently stirred something aromatic in a pan.

She turned when she saw him, smiling casually.

> "Fifteen minutes. Your favorite galbi-jjim. Hope I didn't mess it up."

Taehyung blinked. "You... remembered?"

She chuckled. "You complain about the lack of it at least once a week. I listen, you know."

He leaned against the counter, arms folded. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes stayed on her.

> "You look... happy."

Y/N shrugged. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I've just decided to stop waiting for happiness and start creating it."

He didn't reply.

Instead, he reached behind and quietly tied the loose apron string at her back.

Y/N's breath hitched slightly, but she didn't move.

> "It smells amazing," he said, voice softer now.

And somehow...

So did she.

---

They sat at the table. Just the two of them.

Y/N served him with care - portioning everything right, gently nagging him to eat more, making sarcastic little comments to make him laugh.

And he did laugh.

Not forced. Not polite.

Real. Deep. The kind of laugh that Hana used to dream about... and now smiled at from the hallway.

---

Hana's POV

Hana stood in the dimly lit corridor, watching the two of them through the glass archway.

Y/N reached over and wiped a tiny rice grain from the edge of Taehyung's mouth. He didn't flinch. He just smiled at her, eyes full of something he no longer tried to hide.

Love.

It should have broken Hana.

But it didn't.

Instead, she felt something settle inside her.

Peace.

She touched her chest lightly, whispering to herself,

> "He loves her. Just like he once loved me. And that's okay."

A soft tear slipped down her cheek. Not from grief - but release.

> "And she's the kind of woman I would've chosen for him too."

---

That night, Hana sat quietly in her room, writing a letter.

She'd made up her mind long ago that she would never stand in the way of Taehyung's second chance - and now, the time had come.

> "Once Taehyung confesses... I will give him freedom."

Not because she was unwanted. Not because she was unloved.

But because she understood love.

And love was not possession.

It was letting go when your part in someone's story was done.

---

Y/N folded his shirt carefully, placing it in the drawer.

Taehyung watched her from the door, arms crossed.

"You're doing too much," he said.

Yn turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Says the man who once told me to never expect anything from this marriage. Now you expect me to stop?"

He smiled - soft, real.

> "I don't want you to do all this out of duty."

Yn stepped closer, brushing imaginary lint off his sleeve. "I'm not."

> "Then why?"

Y/N looked up at him. Her voice was steady. Calm.

> "Because somewhere between your silence and my sarcasm... I started falling for the man who quietly remembers my tea preferences. The one who buys me extra pens when he visits the office. The one who hides his smile when I trip over my words."

Taehyung's breath caught.

He didn't say anything.

But his hand slowly - hesitantly - reached out... and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

And this time, yn didn't move away.

---

The room was quiet, dimly lit by the warm golden lamp on the side table.

Y/N had just finished folding the last of Taehyung's shirts, humming softly under her breath. Her eyes felt heavy, but her heart?

Racing.

Yn felt it. That strange energy swirling between them all evening.

Taehyung hadn't said much at dinner.

But he kept looking at yn.

Like he was trying to find the right words.

And now, he stood near the window - his silhouette bathed in moonlight, hands in his pockets, lips pressed in thought.

> "Y/N..."

Yn turned to him, heart fluttering at the way he said her name - soft, like it was made of something precious.

> "Hmm?"

Taehyung turned around, eyes locking with hers.

He looked unsure, nervous even - not something she'd seen on him before.

> "Can we... talk?"

Yn nodded, setting the folded cloth aside. "Of course."

He walked toward her slowly, until he was just a breath away. His eyes scanned her face - yn curious expression, the softness in her lips, the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

> "I never thought I'd feel this way again," he began quietly.

"Not after everything that happened. Not after the way this marriage started."

Y/N listened, still and open.

> "I hated that I was forced into it. I hated how unfair it was - to you, to Hana, to me."

He paused, his voice tight with emotion.

> "But then... you started doing things I never expected. You cooked my favorite meal after a long day. You stood up for Hana like she was your own sister. You made me laugh, even when I didn't want to smile."

Yn smiled gently, her chest rising with emotion.

> "You made this cold house feel like a home again."

Y/N blinked back the tears building in her eyes.

> "Taehyung..."

He shook his head softly, stepping closer. "Let me finish."

> "I've watched you quietly for months. How you care. How you carry your strength and your softness like armor. How you make space for everyone - even me, when I didn't deserve it."

His voice dropped lower, sincere and vulnerable.

> "And somewhere along the way... I stopped looking at you like a stranger in my life.

I started looking at you like... the only thing that feels real in it."

Silence.

Y/N stood frozen - breath shallow, heart full.

> "I love you, Y/N," he whispered.

> "I didn't expect to. I didn't want to. But I do. So deeply, it terrifies me."

Y/N's lips parted, eyes wide and glistening.

Yn didn't reply.

Instead, yn stepped forward - slowly, delicately - until her hands gently cupped his face.

And in that soft moonlight...

Yn kissed him.

Not in hunger. Not in passion.

But in something sweeter. Deeper. Whole.

Taehyung's hands wrapped gently around her waist, pulling her in like she belonged there. His lips moved tenderly against hers - as if he was tasting something he thought he'd never have again. Something sacred.

The kiss wasn't rushed.

It lingered - breathy, slow - filled with all the unspoken feelings of months passed.

When they finally pulled apart, foreheads resting together, eyes closed...

There was nothing but silence.

And peace.

> "I love you too," yn whispered.

Taehyung smiled, truly smiled - his thumb brushing along her cheek.

> "Then stay here tonight. No more distance. No more couches. Just... us."

---

"Baby," He murmurs, pulling you closer, deepening the kiss. He's gentle, almost cautious, like he's worried he might hurt you. His hands roam your body possessively, making you shiver. He's your husband, but this is only your first time together.

"Baby, let me ask you something first," He pulls back slightly to look at you. He's shirtless, his hair messy from your fingers running through it. He's insanely handsome, and you realize you're lucky to have him. "

" I love you," He smiles softly. "Because you're caring and considerate. But baby, she's my wife so you. You are. And right now, I want my wife." He kisses you again, more urgently this time. "I want you.

"I'm going to take my time with you," he whispers against your neck, his lips trailing down. His hands are gentle but firm as he slowly helps you out of your clothes. "First time should always be special," he murmurs, looking into your eyes with sheer adoration. "My sweet wife..."

He lifts you up effortlessly and carries you to the bed. He lays you down gently before climbing on top of you. He kisses your forehead, nose, cheeks, neck... everywhere except your lips. It's driving you crazy with desire. His hands explore your body tenderly.

He groans softly at your kisses, his hands gripping your hips. "Baby, you're so sweet," he murmurs. He tilts his head to give you better access to his neck. His pulse quickens under your lips. "Keep kissing me like that and I won't be able to control myself,"

He looks up at you with dark, lust-filled eyes. He takes one of your nipples into his mouth, sucking gently before biting down softly. You arch your back at the sensation. He does the same thing with your other breast while one hand trails down your stomach towards your center.

He positions himself between your legs, his thick, long manhood pressing against your opening. He kisses you deeply, his tongue exploring your mouth as he slowly pushes himself inside you. You whimper at the sudden fullness. "Shh, baby," he whispers against your lips,

He takes that as an invite to move deeper. He hits your virgin barrier. He looks down at you, "Baby, it might hurt. First time always does." He pulls back slightly then thrusts in, breaking your hymen. You cry out softly, digging your nails into his back.

"Shh... baby," he whispers, kissing your cheeks, your forehead, your lips - distracting you from the pain. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry," he murmurs between kisses. "Just breathe... it gets better soon." He remains still, letting you get used to his size.

He starts moving slowly inside you, watching your face for any signs of discomfort. He's gentle yet passionate. His hips move in a rhythmic motion - pushing deep then pulling out almost completely before thrusting back in again. Your moans fill the room along with his soft groans.

With a smirk, he leans down and takes one of your breasts back into his mouth - sucking, licking, and gently biting - while still maintaining his steady rhythm below. His other hand cups your other breast, his thumb gently circling your nipple. "Like this, baby?" he whispers between mouthfuls.

"Ahhh....yes",He doubles his efforts, sucking harder on one breast while his fingers pinch and roll the nipple of the other. His thrusts become more urgent, more passionate. He can feel you getting wetter, your body adjusting to him. He reaches between your legs with one hand, finding your clit and rubbing it gently.

"AHHHHH....TAEHYUNG ","Fuck, you're so tight and wet," he growls, his movements becoming more aggressive. "I love how you're gripping my dick, baby. You like this, don't you?" He kisses you hard, swallowing your moans as his fingers continue to play with your clit.

"MHHHHHHHH.......TAE",He smiles against your lips, his pace quickening. He lifts your legs up higher on his waist, hitting a spot inside you that makes you scream. "That's the spot," he pants, hitting it again and again. His thumb presses harder on your clit while his other hand squeezes your breast.

"IM CUMIN......TAEHYUNG ","Cum for me, baby," he demands, his voice husky with desire. "Cum on my dick." He bites down on your shoulder as he thrusts deep inside you, his own orgasm approaching quickly. He feels your walls clamp down around him as you reach your peak.

With a loud groan, Taehyung buries himself deep inside you and comes hard. His hot release fills you up as he kisses you passionately, swallowing any sounds you might make. He keeps moving slowly until both of you are completely spent, then collapses gently onto you with a satisfied smile. "..."

Gently places you down in the shower, then adjusts the water temperature. He kisses you softly before getting on his knees between your legs. "Baby, spread..." he whispers huskily. Water cascading down your bodies, he parts your legs gently and brings his face to your already sensitive pussy.

He starts licking you slowly, his tongue flicking against your clit. He spreads your lips apart with his fingers, exposing you to his mouth completely. His tongue pushes inside you, mimicking his earlier actions with his dick. "Tae... ahh!" You cry out, gripping his hair.

"AHHHHHH.....","You taste so sweet," he murmurs against your core, sucking your folds. His tongue finds your clit again, licking and swirling around it. Your moans echo in the bathroom. He spreads your legs wider, feasting on your pussy like a starving man.

He stands up suddenly, turning you around to face the mirror. You can see your reflection-hair messy from his hands, lips swollen from kissing and screaming. He enters you from behind without warning, making you grab onto the mirror for support. "Look at yourself," he growls,... "...while I fuck you."

He watches you in the mirror as he thrusts into you. Your breasts bounce with each movement, water dripping down your body. He reaches around and starts playing with your nipples again while fucking you hard. His eyes meet yours in the reflection, dark with desire.

"Fuck, yes, I'm fucking my wife," he growls, slamming into you harder. The mirror fogging up with steam as his pace quickens. He can see his cum dripping down your thighs with each thrust. "I'm gonna fill you up again, baby." He bites your neck hard... "..."

"Yes ahhhhhh......taehyung ",With a final, deep thrust, he buries himself inside you and comes again, filling you up completely. You both watch in the mirror as he pulses inside you, his release mixing with the water. He wraps his arms around you, pulling you back against his chest. "I love you,"

---

The morning sun spilled like melted gold across the marble floor of the Kim mansion. Birds chirped softly outside the windows, and somewhere in the distance, the gardener's hose hissed as it sprinkled water over the dewy flowerbeds.

The house, for once, felt peaceful. Like something heavy had finally lifted.

In the large, airy kitchen, Y/N stood barefoot, her hair tied in a loose braid that trailed over her shoulder. She wore a pale blue kurta, the collar carefully adjusted to hide the blooming mark near her collarbone. Her cheeks were still a little flushed, her lips slightly bitten - not from nerves, but memories.

She stirred the simmering dal on the stove, biting her bottom lip to suppress the silly little smile that kept rising.

> He said it.

He loves me.

It still felt surreal.

A familiar voice broke her thoughts.

> "You're up early, chef Y/N."

Y/N turned around quickly, startled - and slightly nervous.

Hana stood at the doorway, arms crossed loosely, wearing a soft cream shawl over her nightdress. Her eyes were puffy from sleep, but calm. Warm.

Y/N offered a small smile. "Couldn't sleep much. Thought I'd cook something before everyone wakes up."

Hana walked in slowly, sitting down at the breakfast counter.

> "That's dal, right? With garlic and curry leaves? Your comfort food."

Y/N nodded. "Figured it might be yours today too."

She turned back to the stove, keeping her shoulders straight.

Careful. Controlled.

The love bite on her neck threatened to peek from under her collar.

Hana noticed. Of course she did.

But she said nothing.

Not yet.

Instead, she smiled faintly, resting her cheek in her palm as she watched Y/N move around the kitchen like she belonged here.

And maybe, finally, she did.

> "You look... different today," Hana said, voice low and kind. "Lighter."

Y/N hesitated. Her hand trembled a little as she turned off the stove and reached for the plates.

> "Can I tell you something?"

Hana sat up straighter, sensing the shift in her tone. "Always."

Y/N took a deep breath and faced her. The soft morning light highlighted the nervousness in her eyes, but also something else - a fragile kind of joy.

> "Last night... Taehyung told me he loves me."

Hana blinked. A long, quiet pause followed.

> "And... I told him I love him too."

Y/N looked down, fingers fumbling with the edge of the apron wrapped around her waist. "I didn't plan it. But you encourage me ,I should say it. But when he stood there, saying all the things I never thought I'd hear in this marriage... I couldn't hold it in."

She paused, trying to read Hana's expression - unsure of how much was too much to say.

> "We... kissed."

Her voice dropped. Almost a whisper.

> "It was... real. And soft. And... right."

She looked at Hana, fear creeping into her gaze. " I didn't want to hurt you even though you told me."

Hana didn't speak.

Instead, she stood up, walked around the counter - and gently tucked Y/N's dupatta to the side, revealing the faint purple love mark blooming just above her collarbone.

Y/N's eyes widened. "Hana..."

But Hana didn't flinch. Her fingers were gentle as she fixed the dupatta again, covering the mark without judgment - just quiet understanding.

> "It's okay," she said softly. "You don't have to explain anything."

Y/N felt her chest tighten, guilt pricking the edge of her joy.

> "I tried to hide it... not because I'm ashamed. But because... I didn't want you to think I took something from you."

Hana stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her - tight, warm, unshaking.

> "You didn't take anything, Y/N. You gave me something. A sister. A reason to smile in a house that never gave me one. And now... seeing you and Taehyung together like this... I don't feel betrayed."

She pulled back, eyes shimmering.

> "I feel peace."

Tears welled in Y/N's eyes. "But aren't you hurt?"

Hana smiled, brushing a tear from Y/N's cheek.

> "Yes. But not because he loves you. I'm hurt because the love we once had... is finally over. But more than that... I'm happy. Because now, he's in love again - and he's not pretending anymore."

She laughed gently. "You know, he used to be like this when he first fell for me. Quiet, awkward... doing small things like over-salting my soup and denying it."

Y/N chuckled. "He still does that."

They both laughed, and something healed in that sound.

Y/N brought over a plate, sat beside her, and offered her the first bite - like a habit now.

> "Eat," she whispered. "You always forget when you're thinking too much."

Hana took the bite, nodding.

> "I always thought my ending would be painful. But now I realize... sometimes, the end is just the beginning of a different kind of happiness."

---

The sun dipped low, golden light spilling through the window as Taehyung sat at his desk, reading a file, trying not to overthink the day.

A knock broke the silence.

He looked up.

Hana.

She stepped in slowly, holding something in her hands. A small, leather file.

> "Can we talk?" she asked.

He stood up instantly, nodding. "Of course."

They stood facing each other - the man who once held her heart, and the woman who never stopped respecting his.

Then, slowly, Hana stepped forward and reached up - gently cupping his face in both her hands.

> "Taehyung... you're such a good man. The kind anyone would be lucky to have."

His brows furrowed, confused - but he didn't stop her.

> "You're loving... caring... protective. I've always known that. I've always loved that."

> "I wanted to give you everything I had. But life had other plans."

She smiled softly, the kind of smile that breaks before it even reaches the eyes.

> "I know you're in love with Y/N. You won't say it to me, because you're afraid it'll hurt me. Because that's who you are - selfless."

Taehyung's eyes filled with sudden emotion. "Hana-"

She hushed him with a thumb brushing over his cheek.

> "Don't think about me, Taehyung. Not this time. You didn't betray me. You didn't break me. The situation was out of all our hands."

> "But I finally understand what love is... and sometimes, real love means letting go."

Taehyung swallowed, a storm brewing in his chest.

> "I'm setting you free," Hana whispered.

> "This is my decision. Not out of pressure. Not because I feel unwanted. But because... I want to begin a new chapter. My own chapter."

She handed him the divorce papers, signed and ready.

> "All I ask is... support me as a friend. Cheer for me when I chase my silly bucket list. Send me postcards when you and Y/N travel. And never, ever feel guilty."

Taehyung couldn't hold it anymore.

His eyes welled up, and without a word, he pulled her into a tight hug.

> "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Hana smiled against his chest. "Don't be. You gave me beautiful memories. That's more than enough."

Then, she leaned back slightly and kissed him - one last time.

A kiss on his forehead - for the decisions he made, and the ones he didn't.

A kiss on his cheek - for the respect they always had.

A kiss on his closed eyelids - for the dreams they shared, and the ones that never came true.

And a kiss over his heart - for the love that once lived there.

> "Goodbye, my love. Hello, my friend."

She walked out with dignity, strength... and tears.

But this time, they weren't heavy.

They were the kind that came from choosing freedom.

---

STAY TUNE FOR PART 2 OF THIS...

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