Kim Taehyung

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The morning sun slipped through the curtains, casting a soft light across the room. I stirred awake, blinking as I took in the sight beside me. Miso was curled up, sleeping peacefully, a delicate calm on her face. After everything last night-the tension, the intimacy, her sudden change-I couldn't quite shake the weight that had settled in my chest. Carefully, I slid out of bed, not wanting to disturb her.

As I made my way to my own room, her innocent, childlike expression from last night played over and over in my mind. It wasn't something I could ignore, no matter how hard I tried. She'd been... different. It wasn't an act. I knew that now. But it left me with more questions than answers.

Once inside my room, I pulled out my phone and called Yin, my most trusted man.

"Yin," I said, keeping my voice low, "I need you to dig deeper into Miso's past. Everything from her birth until now. Not anything missing ."

"Yes, boss. I'll have a file prepared for you within the hour."

"One more thing," I added. "Today, you and yang will not come to the penthouse. I'll arrange other bodyguards. Keep your focus on gathering the details."

"Understood."

After hanging up, I took a moment to collect myself. This wasn't just a simple matter of curiosity-it was a need for clarity. There was a puzzle to Miso, one I couldn't quite piece together. I changed into my suit, but before heading out, I paused just outside her bedroom door, watching her sleep from the doorway. So vulnerable, yet last night I'd glimpsed someone fierce beneath that innocence.

"Soyeon," I called for the housekeeper as I stepped away from Miso's room. "Prepare food for Miso, and then take the day off."

"Yes, sir," she replied, a bit taken aback by the unusual instruction, but I didn't explain further.

Minutes later, I was out of the penthouse and headed straight for my office. I couldn't afford any distractions today. I needed answers.

When I arrived, Yin was already waiting, standing by my desk with a thick folder in his hands. He handed it over wordlessly, and I settled into my chair, flipping it open, my gaze narrowing as I began to read.

"She's the illegitimate child of Mr. Kim," Yin started, his voice respectful but steady. "After her mother passed away, she was brought to live with him in his mansion. However, her upbringing wasn't... ideal."

I raised a brow, studying the scattered photographs of Miso as a young girl, her face void of the confidence I'd seen her wear as a mask.

"Go on," I urged.

"She didn't receive a traditional family upbringing. Her father's wife was never supportive of her presence. It seems Miso faced hostility not only from her stepmother but also from her peers, especially at school."

I clenched my jaw, flipping through reports that described her frequent school transfers and various incidents of bullying. There was no record of her attending university, something I hadn't fully noticed until now.

"Why didn't she go to college?" I asked, my tone sharper than intended.

"From what I gathered, she dropped out from university and , It seems Mr. Kim was either unaware or indifferent to this."

I nodded, turning to the last section of the file. "And medical history?" I asked, keeping my gaze steady.

Yin shook his head. "Nothing, boss. I went through every record, but there's no mention of any medical condition."

I stared at the pages, frustration building up inside. Her behavior last night... there had to be something here that could explain it. But the file in my hands was nothing more than an outline of a painful childhood, an incomplete picture.

"No mention of any therapy or mental health evaluations?" I pressed, refusing to let it go.

"None," Yin confirmed, his expression apologetic. "If there's something deeper going on, it's either well-hidden, or..."

"Or she's never received any help for it," I finished, the realization landing with a heavy weight.

Closing the file, I looked up at Yin, trying to mask the irritation and confusion roiling inside me. There was so much about Miso that I still didn't know. This façade, this strength-what if it was all a cover? What if there was a side to her I hadn't yet seen?

"Thank you, Yin. I'll let you know if I need anything else," I said, dismissing him.

After yin leaves the room, I don't know what to do, then I think that I need to ask the right person. But who the hell is the right person? Miso's secrets are like smoke-constantly shifting and impossible to grasp. There's only one man who might hold the truth, and that's her father. If anyone knows why Miso has that side to her, it'll be him. The man who rules Busan's underworld with an iron fist-the man who handed his daughter over to me like she was some kind of bargaining chip.

I clench my jaw, determination solidifying my decision. I'm going to Busan. I'll get the truth out of him, one way or another.

I stride through the penthouse, my eyes cold and focused, and bark orders for Yin and Yang to be ready in five minutes. They don't ask questions-just move like the well-oiled machine they are. We're in the car within minutes, the sleek black vehicle speeding out of Seoul, heading south to Busan. The city feels a thousand miles away as I sit in the backseat, staring at the darkened skyline, my mind racing.

"Boss?" Yin's hesitant voice breaks the silence. I glance up, narrowing my eyes at him through the rearview mirror. "Why are we heading to Busan all of a sudden? What's going on? You've never shown interest in Miso's past before."

I don't answer immediately, letting the silence stretch until the tension is thick enough to cut. Yang, sitting in the passenger seat, turns to face me, curiosity etched on his face. "Yeah, Boss. You've always said that what happened before your marriage was irrelevant. So why now?"

My patience snaps. I lean forward, my voice dropping to a dangerously low pitch. "You want to know why? Because I'm the one in charge here. I don't owe you an explanation, and you'd do well to remember that." My gaze sharpens, and I feel the weight of my authority pressing down on them like a vice. "Keep your mouths shut and drive. I don't want to hear another word."

The tension in the car skyrockets, Yin and Yang exchanging quick, uncertain glances before nodding silently. Good. They know better than to push me when I'm like this. I settle back into my seat, my fists clenching and unclenching in my lap. The lights of the highway blur as we speed down the road, but I can't focus. All I can think about is Miso-her innocence, her vulnerability, the way she called me "Daddy" like I was the one she trusted more than anyone else.

But why? Why did she look at me like I was her savior and her nightmare all at once?

Hours pass in a tense silence, the hum of the engine the only sound. The farther we get from Seoul, the deeper the darkness around us grows. The mountains loom like silent sentinels, and the sea glimmers with the promise of answers-or maybe just more secrets.

"Are we getting close?" I ask, my voice cutting through the heavy quiet.

"Yes, Boss," Yang replies, his voice flat and controlled. "We'll be in Busan within the hour."

I nod, forcing myself to stay calm. My instincts tell me that whatever I learn in Busan will change everything. Maybe it'll give me the answers I need-or maybe it'll just make things worse. But either way, I have to know. I have to understand the woman who's become my wife, even if it's a truth that burns.

We arrive at the outskirts of Busan just as dawn breaks, the first rays of sunlight casting a golden glow over the coastal city. The city is quiet at this hour, but I can feel its pulse-the undercurrent of danger and power that mirrors my own world in Seoul.

"Where are we headed, Boss?" Yin asks, his voice steady but cautious.

"To Kim Jaehyun's estate," I reply, my tone clipped. I don't care what it takes. I'm not leaving until I get answers.

They nod, and I can sense their wariness. They know I'm not a man to be trifled with when I'm on a mission, and this is no exception.

We pull up to the estate's imposing gates, and my eyes narrow as I take in the sprawling mansion beyond. This is where Miso grew up. This is where the truth lies.

I'll get my answers. I have to. Even if I have to tear this place apart brick by brick.

With a nod to Yin and Yang, we step forward, and I steel myself for whatever lies ahead. There's no turning back now. Whatever Miso's father knows, I'm going to drag it out of him-even if I have to do it by force.

As we pull up to Kim Jaehyun's estate, the guards recognize me immediately. I don't waste time-just one sharp nod, and they're opening the car doors for us. Yin and Yang step out with me, both silent and watchful, their faces tense. The mansion before us is imposing, but I have no time to be awed. I'm here for answers, and I won't leave without them.

Inside, the opulence of the estate seems even more suffocating, the polished floors gleaming under ornate chandeliers. A servant leads us to a drawing room, where Kim Jaehyun sits, speaking to a maid with a gentle smile. The warmth in his expression vanishes the moment he sees me, surprise and confusion flaring in his eyes.

"Taehyung?" he asks, standing up as if he can't quite believe I'm there. "What brings you all the way to Busan? If it's about work, you could have called. Whatever you need, I can handle it through my men. You already have control over Busan's operations-"

I cut him off coldly. "I'm not here for business, Jaehyun-ssi." My voice is hard, my expression unyielding. "This is personal. We need to talk. Alone."

Kim Jaehyun's brows knit together in confusion, but he nods slowly. With a wave of his hand, he dismisses the servants hovering nearby. His eyes flicker towards Yin and Yang, unsure. "Shouldn't your men wait outside?" he asks, his tone gentle but uncertain.

"They stay," I reply bluntly. "What I have to say, they hear too."

Jaehyun looks uncomfortable, but he doesn't argue. "Fine," he says quietly, gesturing for us to sit. I remain standing, too tense to relax. He takes a seat himself, his movements slow, as if trying to mask his nervousness.

"So," he says, his voice steady but cautious. "What's this about?"

I take a breath, forcing myself to remain calm, even though the frustration is bubbling inside me like a storm. "I want you to tell me about Miso's condition," I say, my tone clipped and to the point.

Jaehyun's face goes blank, the confusion deepening. "Miso's condition?" he repeats, genuinely baffled. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my patience. "Stop playing games," I snap, my eyes narrowing. "I know about her 'little space.' I know she has something she's been hiding."

Jaehyun's eyes widen, shock flashing across his face. He seems genuinely taken aback, and his hands tremble slightly as he grips the armrests of his chair. "You... you know about that?" he whispers, his voice barely audible. There's a vulnerability there, something I wasn't expecting.

"Yes, I know," I say, my voice sharp. "I want the truth, Jaehyun. How long has she had it? When did you find out?"

He's silent for a moment, staring at me as if he's weighing whether he can trust me with the truth. But then he sighs, his shoulders slumping, and there's a weariness in his eyes that I can't ignore.

"It started when she was about fifteen," he admits slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor. "But I didn't know about it right away. I... I only found out after my wife's funeral. Miso's stepmother passed away, and I was trying to hold everything together-my family, my work. But then, one night, I found her... different."

He swallows, his voice growing strained as he remembers. "I walked into her room by accident. She was sitting there, holding an old stuffed bear from her childhood, speaking in this soft, childlike voice. I didn't understand what I was seeing... It was like she'd regressed, like she'd turned into a little girl."

I listen, my jaw clenched tight. "And you never did anything about it?" I ask, my tone incredulous. "You just ignored it?"

"No!" he says quickly, his voice breaking with emotion. "I didn't ignore it, Taehyung. I... I tried to help her. I took her to doctors, tried to understand what was happening, but she shut down every time. She wouldn't talk about it, and the specialists... they couldn't give me any clear answers. They just said it was a coping mechanism. A way for her to handle something that had broken inside of her."

His words hit me harder than I expect, and for a moment, I don't know what to say. I stare at him, searching his eyes, looking for some sign of deception, but all I see is a father who is genuinely hurting. A man who tried to do his best, even if it wasn't enough.

"What did you do when you found out?" I ask quietly, the rage in my chest slowly ebbing into something else-something almost like understanding.

"I kept an eye on her," Jaehyun says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I watched her carefully, but I never brought it up again. I made sure she was safe, tried to keep her world as stable as possible. I thought... I thought that if I just protected her, she'd eventually heal on her own."

He looks up at me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But I know now that I was wrong. I was so focused on protecting her image, on making sure no one saw her differently, that I never really faced what was going on inside her. I thought I was doing the right thing. But maybe... maybe I was just too afraid to face the truth."

I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of his confession settle heavily in the room. I didn't expect to find this-this raw, open pain from a man I'd only seen as a rival. But now, I can't deny the sadness that hangs in the air, the regret in Jaehyun's eyes as he looks at me, silently pleading for understanding.

"I never wanted this for her," he says quietly, his voice hoarse. "I never wanted her to have to face the world with that kind of burden."

For a moment, we stand there in silence, the air thick with unspoken words. And as much as I want to hate him, to blame him for everything, I find that I can't. Not completely.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I demand, my voice rising with anger. "Why keep it a secret?"

I stare at Kim Jaehyun, waiting for an explanation. My blood boils as I think about all the secrets he's kept from me, all the truths he chose to bury. He meets my gaze, his face crumbling under the weight of my anger. I can see the fear in his eyes-the fear of a man who's run out of excuses.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, my voice cold and demanding. My fists clench at my sides, every word coming out like a challenge.

He hesitates, looking down at his hands before he speaks. "I didn't want to complicate things, Taehyung," he admits, his tone almost pleading. "You have to understand, I was trying to protect her... and us."

"Protect us?" I bark out a bitter laugh. "From what? From the truth?"

"No, it's not that simple," Jaehyun says, his voice growing more desperate. "I knew that if you or your father found out about Miso's condition, everything would change. If your father thought she was weak... if you thought she was vulnerable, it might have led you both to choose a different path. A more violent one."

"You mean we would've taken Busan by force," I say flatly, my eyes narrowing.

He nods, guilt heavy in his expression. "Yes. I knew that your father wouldn't hesitate to use force if he saw Miso as a liability. I didn't want Busan to fall into chaos, and I wanted it to be yours-yours through the marriage, not through bloodshed. I wanted to make sure Busan was given to my son-in-law, to you, without unnecessary violence. I was afraid that if you both knew... if you saw her as weak, you wouldn't agree to the marriage, and everything I've built would be at risk."

"So you told her to hide it," I say, my voice colder than ice. "You asked her to hide who she was to protect your territory?"

"Yes," he admits, shame clear in his eyes. "I told her to hide it because I was scared. Scared that if you knew the truth, you wouldn't accept her, and Busan would be at risk. Miso agreed to keep it a secret. She didn't want anyone to know, either. She didn't want to be seen as weak. She just want to be free."

I glare at Kim Jaehyun, rage tightening every muscle in my body. His words are like a slap in the face, and I can feel my temper rising with each second of silence that passes between us.

"So, you made your own daughter a pawn," I say, my voice low and dangerous. "Just like my father and I wanted."

"No, Taehyung," he says quickly, panic flashing in his eyes. "It was never like that. I love her-she's my daughter."

"Love?" I snort, a bitter smile twisting my lips. "You call this love? You used her to secure Busan, knowing that if my father saw even the slightest hint of weakness, he'd tear everything apart. You played your own daughter like a chess piece, moving her into position just to keep your territory safe."He said "I just wanted to protect her"
"By hiding her," I counter, my tone icy. "By lying to me."

He looks down, shame clear in his expression. "I did what I thought was right. I was afraid, Taehyung. I didn't know what else to do."

I let out a frustrated breath, trying to rein in my anger. "And what about her triggers?" I demand, needing more answers. "What causes her to... slip into that state?"

Jaehyun hesitates, and for a moment, I think he's not going to answer. But then he sighs, his voice dropping to a weary whisper. "I don't know, Taehyung," he admits. "I've never understood all of it. She's always kept her distance, even from me. She was so careful, so determined to handle it on her own. I tried to be there for her, but she never let me in completely."

My fists clench tighter, frustration boiling inside me. "You must know something," I insist. "There has to be something you noticed."

He runs a hand through his hair, his expression pained. "I only know a little," he confesses. "She never showed much to me. But I do know that after big gatherings, parties, or events, she seemed... different. She would become quieter, more withdrawn. I think those social events overwhelmed her, but she never said it out loud. And Yoongi... he knows more than I do. If anyone can tell you what sets her off, it's him."

"Yoongi?" I repeat, the name sending a wave of uncertainty through me. I never considered that he might be the key to understanding Miso. "He knows?"

"Yes," Jaehyun confirms. "He was always close to her. She trusted him in a way she never trusted anyone else. If there's anyone who knows what she's been through, it's Min Yoongi."

I fall silent, the pieces of the puzzle slowly clicking together in my mind. I feel the anger receding, replaced by a cold determination. I came here for answers, and I'm not leaving without all of them.

I straighten, my eyes locking onto Jaehyun's. "I'm not done with this," I say firmly. "I will find out the truth, whether you like it or not. And if you've lied to me again, if there's anything else you're keeping from me... you'll regret it."

He nods, the fear plain in his eyes. "I understand," he whispers, his voice shaking. "I just... I just want her to be safe."

"Then you should've told me the truth from the beginning," I say coldly before turning on my heel. Yin and Yang follow me silently as I make my way out, the weight of what I've learned pressing heavily on my shoulders.

"Taehyung," Jaehyun's voice stops me, desperate. I glance back, and he looks older, wearier than I've ever seen him. "Please... take care of her. She's strong, but she's also so fragile. Don't make the same mistakes I did."

Kim Jaehyun's estate feels suffocating, the air thick with secrets and lies. But I'm not going to let those lies control me. I'm going to get the truth-one way or another.

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Author's Note

Hey lovely readers! 🌸

Wow, what a chapter, right? Taehyung's world has been completely flipped upside down after that confrontation with Kim Jaehyun. Now that he knows part of Miso's secret, the stakes have never been higher.

What do you think will happen next? Will Taehyung dig deeper into Miso's past to uncover the real reason behind her little space? What truly triggers her episodes? Do you think he'll go to Yoongi, the one who might hold all the answers? And if he does, will Yoongi be willing to share Miso's deepest secrets, or will he keep them guarded to protect her?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and theories! Let me know in the comments what you think is coming next and how you feel about the big revelations so far!

Until the next chapter,
StarlitWings 🌟