The Choi Mansion lay cloaked in deep silence.

The hallway lights were dimmed, the tall windows dusted with dew from the chilly dawn air. It was just past 4:00 a.m.-a time when the world still felt heavy with sleep, dreams barely fading from memory.

But not for her.

Choi YN was wide awake.

She tiptoed across the marbled floor, barefoot and quiet, wearing nothing but an oversized navy T-shirt that stopped mid-thigh. The soft cotton clung to her like second skin, the sleeves drooping off her slender arms. Her long hair was tied up in a messy bun with a pink scrunchie-strands falling out and curling around her face.

Her cheeks were still a little puffed from sleep, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Today was special.

It was her grandpa's birthday-and she was going to bake him a cake herself.

The only problem?

She had no idea how to use the industrial kitchen without starting a small fire.

Which is why...

She found herself standing in front of his door.

Jeon Jungkook's room.

She hesitated for a moment, her finger hovering near the wood.

Then-knock knock knock.

A deep silence followed. For a few seconds, she thought maybe he was asleep.

But then-the door creaked open slowly.

And there he stood.

Jungkook blinked once, slowly, the light from the hallway illuminating the sharp cut of his jaw, the smoothness of his bare chest... and the very obvious fact that he was only wearing black cotton shorts.

His muscles flexed slightly with movement-his body sculpted like a statue carved from stone. His eight-pack abs defined and hard, shoulders broad, and a light sheen of warmth glistening on his chest from the disrupted sleep.

YN's breath caught in her throat.

She was staring.

And she knew it. But she couldn't help it.

This wasn't just hot. This was illegal-in-10-countries hot.

Jungkook, utterly unaffected, simply raised a brow. His voice was still thick with sleep, but his tone was as dry and cold as ever.

"Why are you at my door at four in the morning?" he asked.

YN blinked-once. Twice. And then finally looked up at his face instead of his abs. Her voice was small, sweet.

"Um... today's Grandpa's birthday."

His expression didn't change. "And?"

"I wanna make him a cake. A real one. Not the bakery kind."

"So?"

"I need your help."

Jungkook stared.

She gave a sheepish smile. "You just have to be there. I'll do the cooking."

"You don't even know where the measuring cups are."

"That's why I need you!" she grinned.

"C'mon, Jeon. Please?"

He exhaled slowly, brushing his hand through his messy hair. For a moment, he considered shutting the door.

But then she tilted her head, giving him that innocent, sleepy-eyed look with a soft pout on her lips.

"...Pretty please?" she added.

Goddamn it.

Jungkook sighed. "Fine. Give me five minutes."

YN beamed. "Yay!"

She turned and padded down the hallway, her oversized shirt swaying just enough to reveal the soft curve of her thighs as she walked.

Jungkook watched her disappear, then shut the door slowly, muttering under his breath-

"...Why am I like this?"

Fifteen Minutes Later - Mansion Kitchen

The massive, stainless-steel kitchen that usually remained untouched at this hour was now glowing under warm lights. YN stood on tiptoe, pulling out ingredients with a determined look, her hair bouncing with every movement.

Jungkook leaned casually against the counter, now wearing a loose black hoodie and joggers, arms folded, watching her with that ever-neutral gaze.

Flour dusted her cheek as she tried to measure it into a bowl.

"Stop smirking," she said without turning.

"I'm not."

"You are. With your eyes."

"You talk too much at 4 a.m."

She stuck out her tongue.

But her hands were trembling slightly-not from nerves, but from the sheer excitement of making something with her own hands for the man she missed for years.

Jungkook silently reached out and steadied her hand as she was about to pour too much milk into the batter.

"Use this much," he said, guiding her fingers.

She glanced at him, soft surprise in her eyes.

"You've done this before?" she asked.

He gave a small nod. "Used to cook a lot. When I was younger."

She wanted to ask more, but the look in his eyes told her not to. So instead, she whispered, "Thanks... for helping."

He gave no reply, but he didn't let go of her hand until she was done mixing.

And neither of them noticed how quiet the world had become around them-how peaceful it felt in that kitchen where revenge was momentarily forgotten, and only the warmth of a shared moment remained.

---

The kitchen still smelled like vanilla and sugar as YN stood back, proudly admiring the small chocolate cake she'd helped Jungkook make. It wasn't perfect-slightly uneven on one side, the frosting a little too thick-but to her, it was beautiful.

She clapped her hands quietly, her face glowing with joy.

"It's ready!" she whispered excitedly, glancing at the clock. 5:00 AM. Just in time.

She quickly untied the apron and rushed to her room. There, the morning light peeked through the curtains as she picked out a soft yellow sundress with tiny embroidered daisies, paired with white slippers. Her hair, still damp from the shower, was tied into two low braids that fell over her shoulders.

She looked into the mirror and whispered to herself, "Happy birthday, Grandpa," before grabbing the handmade card she had drawn the night before.

--

She knocked on her grandfather's door before quietly entering.

Il-Seong was already awake, seated near the window with a soft shawl around his shoulders, sipping warm tea.

"Grandpaaa!" she giggled as she tiptoed inside like a child. "Happy birthday!"

His face immediately lit up as she ran toward him and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"I made a card!" she beamed, handing it to him like a prized treasure.

Il-Seong opened it slowly. It was a messy but adorable drawing of the two of them, smiling under a tree, with "Best Grandpa Ever" written in big, bold colors. His eyes glistened with emotion.

"You made this?" he asked with a trembling voice.

"I designed it!" she nodded proudly.

"Now, wait here. Jungkook made cake!"

"Jungkook?"

"Yes! Well, I helped, but... he did most of the serious stuff. I just made it pretty."

She turned toward the door and called out excitedly, "Jeon Jungkook! Come here! Bring the cake!"

Down the hallway, Jungkook-still dressed in a simple black T-shirt and joggers-sighed deeply as he grabbed the tray with the small birthday cake resting on it. Three little candles flickered softly.

As he walked toward the room, he muttered under his breath, voice low and dry:

"Am I here to serve cake now instead of avenging my parents?"

He paused.

"God... why am I like this in front of her?"

Another sigh.

"Why the hell can't I say no to her?"

He entered the room, and YN gave him a bright grin as she took the tray from his hands and carefully placed it on the table.

"Ready?" she said, holding her grandfather's hand.

Il-Seong stared at the cake for a moment, overwhelmed.

"Come on, Grandpa, make a wish!"

He closed his eyes for a second. A deep breath. And then blew out the candles with a gentle smile.

There were no grand celebrations. No staff. No noise. Just the three of them.

And yet, somehow, it felt perfect.

YN fed her grandfather the first bite, then took one herself, and turned to Jungkook, offering him a forkful.

He leaned back slightly, raising a brow.

"Don't make this a habit."

"Shhh," she teased. "One bite won't ruin your cold heart."

And before he could reply, she fed him a bite.

It was soft. Sweet. Silencing.

After the quiet celebration, YN rose from the bed and hugged her grandfather one more time.

"I'll let you rest now," she whispered, touching his cheek. "Love you."

She left the room with a bounce in her step, humming a soft tune as she disappeared into the hallway.

But Jungkook didn't leave.

Not yet.

He stood silently in front of Il-Seong, who looked at him with deep, knowing eyes.

"...You didn't leave with her," the old man said quietly.

"No," Jungkook replied. "Because I need to know."

Il-Seong looked down at the half-eaten cake, then slowly placed the fork aside.

"What really happened," Jungkook said calmly, "two years ago. Why did you disappear to Busan? Why change your identity?"

The air grew cold.

Il-Seong's hands trembled slightly in his lap. He was quiet for a long time before finally speaking.

"It wasn't an accident," he said softly.

"YN's mother... my daughter... didn't die in a car crash like they said."

Jungkook's gaze darkened. "Go on."

"It was murder," Il-Seong whispered, his voice cracking. "A cold, calculated murder. Planned... by her own husband."

Jungkook didn't move, but his jaw clenched.

"I discovered it after the funeral," Il-Seong continued. "I found hidden documents, voice recordings my daughter kept. She had found out the truth-about what Sejin had done to your family. She was going to expose him."

Jungkook's breath froze.

"She had gathered everything-dates, fake accounts, names of people hired for your parents' assassination. She had proof. She... she wanted to take it to the police."

Il-Seong's eyes welled with tears.

"But Sejin was always watching."

He looked up at Jungkook now.

"I went to him," he said bitterly. "I begged to know why. Why would he...

kill the woman who gave him a daughter?"

FLASHBACK

Il-Seong storms into Sejin's office, slamming a folder on his desk.

Sejin doesn't flinch.

"You... you killed her!" the old man shouted. "My daughter! YN's mother!"

Sejin calmly looked up, adjusting his cufflinks. "She was going to ruin everything."

"You monster!"

"She found out about the Jeon family.

She was going to open her mouth to the wrong people," Sejin said coldly.

"She had to die. She gave me no choice."

"You're wealthy already! You have everything! Why would you-"

Sejin stood now, gaze dark. "Because I want more. Because no one gets in my way. Not even her."

Il-Seong's voice shook. "What if YN finds out?"

Sejin smirked. "She won't."

"And if I tell her-"

"Then she dies too."

Il-Seong froze.

"Yes, you heard me," Sejin said, stepping closer. "You say one word to her-I'll bury her like I buried her mother. Power, Il-Seong, is not something you earn. It's something you take. And I'll kill anyone to keep it."

"You're insane..."

"I'm a visionary," Sejin whispered darkly. "Now disappear. Change your name. Mourn quietly. Or lose her too."

FLASHBACK ENDS

Jungkook stood frozen, fury boiling under his calm face.

"That's why I left," Il-Seong whispered now, tears falling freely. "I didn't want to. But I had to protect her."

Jungkook closed his eyes.

So it was true.

His parents weren't the only victims.

And now... YN's mother was added to the list.

And Sejin?

He was a devil cloaked in silk.

Il-Seong reached for Jungkook's hand.

"Now you know. All of it. You have the right to do what you came for."

But Jungkook didn't respond. He just stood there... quiet, cold, and more broken than ever.

Because now... it wasn't just revenge.

It was personal.

---