The bright rays of the sun shone directly at my face, and a yawn escaped my lips as I attempted to stretch my arms, but something was holding me back.

My head turned to see Chan's firm chest on my back, one of his strong arms thrown across my waist, and I stiffened.

How could I forget? I was a married woman now, I belonged to Daegu.

"You're awake," He said, removing his arm, propped up on one elbow to have a good look at me. He had kept his promise, and hadn't consummated the marriage or touched me last night. "In a few moments, some of the women from my family will come to take the sheets, and we must give them a show,"

His hands reached for my hair, twirling a few strands, lost in thought before his eyes snapped up once more. "The blood will be the basics, but we need to fill in the rest. I trust that you can convincingly lie about our wedding night. I cannot afford to be seen as weak,"

"Weak because you gave in to your wife?" I asked softly.

His lips twitched into a cold smile. "Weak because I didn't take what was mine. Daegu will happily try to overthrow me if they found out,"

"I'll keep up the lie," I answered, and it was a promise. I had no intention of telling them.

"How can I be sure? You despise me,"

"I don't," I placed my hand over his tattoo. We would be making two promises in one day. "Bound by blood, I swear that I won't let anything slip about tonight to your family,"

His hand covered mine, a hint of respect in his eyes. "Bound by blood,"

We took a little more time eyeing each other, as though we couldn't quite believe what had just happened. Only last night was I sobbing at the thought of being Chan's wife, yet here I was, making an oath that I wouldn't say a word about what he had done for me.

"Now," He lifted himself off the bed, and my cheeks flushed slightly. Apparently, he'd removed the sweatpants at some point in the night. "When they arrive, I want you to put on a bathrobe. I don't want them wondering where I've left marks on you, but as for your face," His hands reached for my cheeks, cupping them slightly as my eyelids shut. "You need to look like you've been kissed,"

"Wha- "

I had no time to respond when Chan's lips descended onto mine and my palms sat on his chest, making no effort to push him away. It was strange to be so intimate with someone that I barely knew well, yet, it was pleasing, and felt good. I lost track of how long we'd been pressed up together, as he got more demanding, possessive, his hands tightening on my waist as I leaned into him.

A knock on the door made us draw back, and his eyes were dark with desire. 

"Go put on a bathrobe," He muttered and I left the bed, pulling on a white satin robe, draping it across my form whilst Chan placed numerous knives and holsters onto his body. He quickly put on his sweatpants once more, gave me a look before opening the door.

A few words of surprise, laughter and the occassional curse were let out as some of the women giggled.

"We've come for the sheets!" One woman grinned, not much older than my mother.

Chan opened the door a little wider, and the women craned their necks to have a good look. They chatted, giggling, smirking. Not one of them looked suspicious.

I risked a look at Mother who was desperately trying to refrain Bitna from coming through, but my sister was persistant as she shoved her way through the crowd. She finally reached me, pulling me into a hug, worry evident in her eyes.

"Will you help me get dressed?" I asked quietly, earning a single nod from her as we moved into the bathroom.

Bitna locked the door, and I released a breath that I was unaware that I'd been holding.

"I'm going to kill him," My sister spat, taking in my appearence.

"He didn't do anything,"

"What?"

"We didn't consummate the marriage," I lowered my voice so no one could hear us.

Immediately, Bitna's eyebrows were raised, as though she didn't quite believe me. "Are you sure?"

"He didn't touch me last night, he swore it,"

"That's impossible. You know the stories about him,"

"He cut himself, that's the blood on the sheets,"

Bitna raised a palm over her mouth, her eyes wide. I squeezed her hand. "Nobody can know, Bitna, not Mother, not Chaewon, anyone. Not a single person can know,"

My sister nodded, but the sharp expression on her face didn't disappear. "You realise that you've only just delayed it, right? You're going to have to sleep with him eventually,"

"I know, but at least it wasn't last night," I had only delayed the inevitable, but in a way, I was glad that I could get the opportunity to understand him better.

The door handle twitched, startling me and Bitna as Chan's form loomed into frame, pushing into the bathroom.

"No, you can't come in!" Bitna hissed. "Get out,"

"I can go where I like, this is my house, Song Bitna," Chan growled, obviously not pleased with my sister's attack. "Leave,"

"Absolutely not!"

"Bitna," I touched her arm, sending her a look. "Go,"

"But-"

"I'll meet you downstairs,"

Begrudgingly, my sister exited the bathroom, but not before sending my husband a look of absolute hatred, slamming the door shut behind her.

...

I had pulled on a sage green dress for breakfast, looking at my wedding ring when Chan appeared, applying guns to his body, making sure that they were hidden.

"Do you go anywhere without a gun?" I questioned, as he turned to face me.

"I can't afford it," He replied. "I'm guessing you don't know how to use one, or a knife,"

I shook my head. Father had barely let us touch weapons, believing that women shouldn't get involved with fights, or the more bloody affairs.

My husband scoffed. "Seoul is so much more ignorant than I thought,"

I didn't have an answer to that. He was right. My former mafia family were convinced that women were supposed to be protected, and had no business in getting involved with the much more messy side of the business.

Once he had finished getting ready, the two of us descended down the stairs, and I could already hear the laughter, chatter of both men and women alike. 

"They're all looking at the sheets, aren't they?" I whispered. None of the women earlier had suspected anything, but there was still a twinge of fear that someone would notice the lack of truth.

"Mainly the women, most of the men are here to get on my good side," Chan placed his hand on the small of my back, gently pushing me to keep walking as Changbin came into view.

He'd only gotten more stockier and more buff, the perfect bodyguard and mafia soldier. He nodded at Chan before offering me a smile. "Alright?" He asked, before grimacing slightly, the tips of his ears a little red.

I refrained myself from chuckling, but my fear at meeting the others was far more intense.

"They're looking at the sheets?" Chan asked his soldier.

"Poring over them like they'll show your fate," Changbin confirmed. "Sorry," He said, looking at me. "I know this isn't exactly ideal,"

It was less than ideal. But I couldn't stop it.

We entered the room where all eyes were now upon us. The sheets had been draped over some sort of wardrobe for better display, and I noticed that the younger kids, less than eighteen were not there. Perhaps to stop them from being terrified.

"Morning," Minho made his way over, clapping Chan's shoulder whilst shooting a grin at me. The Consigliere still unsettled me, and I wasn't quite sure what to make of him. "Assuming you both slept well,"

Chan gave him a warning look as my Father and Baek Ilsung came towards us. Father patted my shoulder and Baek Ilsung gave a curt smile.

"Any little Bang children we're expecting soon?" Father smiled.

I froze. Surely they weren't expecting for me to have kids so soon. I didn't want children until a good five years. And it seemed that Chan shared my thoughts.

"We have many enemies, bringing children at a time so critical isn't wise, and I want Nayoung for myself," He said coldly, not a hint of a smile on his face.

"Very well, very well,"

The men moved off to discuss business matters as I went over to Bitna and my Mother who were eating. 

"Thank God you're here," Bitna mumbled. "These women have been exchanging their wedding night stories,"

I wasn't surprised. The women of the Daegu Crime Family didn't strike me to be terrifying, but they were certainly frightening with their words.

"Chaewon and Junseo..."

"Mother banned them from coming, she didn't want them to see the sheets," 

Our cousins, Ara and Minhee had appeared and whilst Minee gave me a sad smile, Ara touched my cheek, convinced by the sheets that we had done the deed.

...

"I'm going to miss you so much!"

I tried not to let my tears slip as Chaewon hugged me tightly, her own cheeks stained with crying. My family were going home to Seoul today itself, and I knew it would be a while until I saw them again.

"I'm going to miss you even more, Chae,"

She drew back as Junseo wrapped his arms around my waist, leaning in. "Don't go," He said.

"I don't have a choice, troublemaker," I chuckled. "But hopefully, I'll see you very soon,"

"Come on, we don't have all day," Father tapped his foot impatiently, where he stood by the car with Mother. I knew he didn't approve of my brother's open display of affection.

Bitna had been crying too. Bitna, my sister who always had her head held high, who never felt defeated was crying. 

"Swear we'll talk on the phone, every day," She said fiercely. "Swear it,"

"I swear,"

I hugged her one last time before she took the hands of our siblings and headed towards the car. I watched, wordlessly, as it went round the corner, Junseo and Bitna looking back, much to Father's dismay, whilst Chaewon faced the front.

I felt the tears continue to fall as a shadow loomed over me.

"Seoul isn't too far," Chan said simply. 

"It'll be a long time until they're allowed to visit me," I mumbled.

He said nothing. Minho was a few steps behind him, watching us analytically, as though trying to figure us both out.

"We need to go,"

He extended a hand, and I took it. 

My new life began now, here in the city of monsters.