Y/N doesn't respond to Seung-joo's words, but her shoulders stiffen slightly. Without another glance back, we leave the room together. Outside, I guide Y/N to the waiting car, her face a mask of unreadable emotions. I open the door, and she slips inside wordlessly. Once I'm seated beside her, I give Taehyung a quick nod, and he starts the engine.

For several minutes, silence stretches between us, thick and tense. Finally, Y/N speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you really not know about all of this?"

I turn to face her, choosing my words carefully. "I knew about the arrangement for our marriage, but I didn't know the full history of your family's situation. Seung-joo kept many details private from me."

She nods slowly, digesting this. "And if you had known? Would it have changed anything?"I consider her question, searching her face for any sign of what she's feeling. "It wouldn't have changed my decision to marry you, but I might have approached things differently. Given you more time to adjust, perhaps."

Y/N lets out a bitter laugh. "More time? As if a lifetime would be enough to prepare for this."I hesitate before placing my hand over hers, feeling the tension in her fingers. To my surprise, she doesn't pull away. "I know this is overwhelming. Your entire world has been turned upside down, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. Whatever you need."

She looks at me, her gaze probing, as if she's trying to gauge my sincerity. "Why? Why do you care? This is just a business arrangement, isn't it?"

Her words pierce me unexpectedly, tightening something in my chest. "It started that way, yes, but you're not just a business transaction to me. You're my wife now, and I take my responsibilities seriously."

"'Responsibilities,'" she repeats, her voice flat. "Is that all I am to you? A responsibility?" I shake my head, struggling to find the right words. "No, that's not what I mean. I care about you more than I expected to. I want to help you navigate this new world, even if it's not what you wanted." My heart pounds in my chest, a feeling that only seems to amplify when I'm with her—a mix of protectiveness and the desire to shield her from the hurt.

Y/N is quiet as she watches the city blur by outside the window, her expression distant. "I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I'm strong enough."

I squeeze her hand gently, feeling the warmth of her skin against mine. "You are stronger than you know. I've seen it in you already, and you're not alone in this." There's a sincerity in my voice that I hope reaches her, urging her to believe in herself.

She turns back to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "What if I can't forgive him? What if I can't forgive any of this?"

"Then we'll deal with that," I say firmly, my resolve clear. "You don't have to forgive anyone right now, or ever if you don't want to. Your feelings are valid. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise." I mean every word, wanting her to feel safe expressing her pain.

She nods, a flicker of appreciation in her gaze. "Thank you for being honest with me, at least."Warmth spreads through my chest at her words. "I promise I will always be honest with you. Even when the truth is difficult." I lean in slightly, wanting to make the promise feel as solid as it sounds.

As we continue our drive back to the penthouse, I can't help but hope that this moment of vulnerability between us is the start of something deeper—something beyond the confines of our arranged marriage and political alliances. Something real.

Y/N'S POV

I step out of the treatment room, my skin glowing from the luxurious massage I've just received. The spa's soothing scent of lavender and eucalyptus lingers in the air as I adjust my plush robe. The weight of the past week—of chaos and uncertainty—begins to lift, replaced by a sense of calm I desperately needed. Jungkook made sure I had every luxury available to me, and it feels good to indulge, even just for a moment.

I'm about to head to the relaxation lounge, ready to let my mind drift into bliss, when I notice a maintenance worker at the end of the hallway. Something about him seems off. His uniform hangs loosely on his frame, and his gaze darts around nervously, as if he's checking for something—or someone.

Before I can process this unsettling feeling, he lunges toward me, a thin wire glinting menacingly in his hands.

I try to scream, but the wire wraps around my throat, cutting off my air. Panic floods my system as I claw at the wire, desperation clawing at my throat. My vision starts to blur, and in that terrifying moment, I'm certain this is the end. Suddenly, there's a commotion behind me. The pressure around my throat vanishes, and I stumble forward, gasping for breath, my heart racing. I whirl around to see Jungkook standing there, blazing with fury. A ceramic knife is embedded in the attacker's hand, and blood drips onto the pristine floor, a stark contrast against the serene spa surroundings.

"Y/N, get back!" Jungkook shouts, his voice a mix of command and concern, as he charges at the hitman.

I press myself against the wall, heart pounding, watching in horror and awe as Jungkook engages in a brutal fight with my would-be killer. The narrow spa corridor transforms into a battlefield, the air thick with tension as the two men trade blows.

Jungkook moves with lethal grace, dodging punches and delivering devastating strikes of his own. The hitman is skilled, but Jungkook's raw fury gives him an edge, a primal force that drives him forward. They grapple fiercely, slamming into the walls and knocking over decorative vases, the sound of shattering porcelain echoing in the confined space.

It feels like the fight lasts an eternity, each second stretching into a lifetime filled with fear and adrenaline. But finally, Jungkook gains the upper hand. He grabs the hitman by the hair, yanking him down and smashing his head against the marble countertop with a sickening crack. The attacker crumples to the floor, motionless—unconscious or worse.