I have destroyed and betrayed myself for nothing...

Taehyung hung his head low as he sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a fluffy housecoat around his naked body. His hands clasped tightly together as he searched for the right words to answer Sri's question.

"Don't you, Tae?" Her voice trembled as she dressed herself, the sound of his nickname after so many years cutting through the tension. "Tell me if she was given a proper burial... please." Her voice cracked, and her sobs turned into whispers. "I'm so sorry. I failed as a mother. I failed as a wife. I— I broke my promise. I failed everyone. I promise I'll leave once everything's over. I won't bother anyone again. I—"

"No, don't!" Taehyung cut her off, his voice harsh and desperate. He turned his head to face her, and Sri saw the tears shimmering in his eyes.

"I'll only hurt you if I stay. We can never go back to normal."

"You're right," he scoffed bitterly, straightening his back, his chest tight with emotion. "Nothing can ever go back to normal, and your all-time solution is to run away. I don't care if you're the Queen of the mafias or the she-devil herself. You'll always be a coward if you keep running away."

Sri felt a sharp pang of guilt, and her words faltered. "Indeed. I ran away. I was scared to face you. Scared to face Jungkook, Jimin, Seokjin—everyone I knew. I couldn't bear to see you broken into irreparable pieces. I'm a fucking coward, trapped in my own sins."

"You are! But you know what?" he snapped, his voice filled with so much hurt. "Even after all the betrayal, and all the hate, I still want to forgive you. I still want our happy lives back. I tried... I tried so damn hard. I tried to erase you from my life. Trust me, I tried. I even dared to shoot you. But I couldn't. I need you. Our daughter needs you."

As if struck by a bolt of lightning, Sri's eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat. Her grip on the sheet loosened as she stared at him in disbelief. "Taesoo is alive?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper. For a moment, she thought it was a lucid dream—a final fleeting vision of happiness before death took her.

Taehyung swallowed hard, unable to meet her eyes. He knew the impact of his words would shatter the fragile moment they had shared. He couldn't keep his daughter away from her mother any longer. But he couldn't bear to look at Sri either. He knew she might lash out again, and their painful cycle would repeat, pulling them back to square one.

Sri hastily stood up from the bed, stumbling once or twice until she kneeled before him. Taehyung was looking down, and Sri found the exact spot to meet his gaze—his chocolate brown pupils. She tightly gripped his knees and asked again, her voice shaking, "Is my daughter alive?"

Taehyung gripped the bedsheet tightly, his knuckles turning white as he nodded, not breaking their eye contact. "She is. The Titans found her unconscious, and I risked everything to save her. It wasn't easy, but I assure you, she's doing well now."

"Jungkook knew?" Sri asked, her voice trembling. Once again, Taehyung nodded. Sri, in shock, sat back on her legs, cupping her mouth to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape. "It's been two fucking years! And I didn't even know... I already considered her dead without even checking on her!!" She pulled at her hair in guilt and frustration. Her bandaged wounds began to bleed again, crimson spots staining the fabric. "I need freedom from this cursed life!"

She felt herself sinking into a dark abyss of despair when, suddenly, two strong arms wrapped around her shivering body. Taehyung, ignoring his own pain, held her tightly. He had expected her to lash out, but he hadn't anticipated her breaking down like this. His heart clenched as he saw her agony; he couldn't bear it any longer. Maybe this was what love truly felt like—wanting to fix everything, even when it seemed impossible.

Sri held on to him desperately, her tears falling freely. She knew this would haunt her forever, but maybe, just maybe, she could wash away a fraction of the overwhelming pain with these tears. Until now, she had felt extremes—either overwhelmingly happy or overwhelmingly sad. But now, she felt both equally. She was enraptured with the knowledge that her daughter was alive, but crushed by the realization that she had not been there for her. She had given up on her.

"If it's a dream... then please, never wake me up," she whispered, tightening her hold around him.

"It isn't," he reassured her, his voice low but steady. "It's as real as you hugging me right now."

The couple sat across the table, holding warm mugs of coffee in their hands. Both were physically and emotionally drained, beyond what words could describe.

"Did she grow tall?" Sri asked quietly, taking a sip from her coffee.

"She's 4'5"."

"Did she get admitted to primary school?"

"Yep, last year. She's in second grade now."

Sri nodded thoughtfully. "I-is she okay? I mean, it must be traumatizing for a kid to go through all that—"

"She's doing fine. Sometimes she has nightmares, but it's manageable. Luckily, she doesn't remember most of it."

Sri let out a soft sigh, relieved but still concerned. "Does she miss me?"

"Every day. She asks for you. Do you want to meet her?"

Sri hesitated, her hands tightening around her cup. "I do... but..." She paused, gathering her thoughts. "But I'd rather not. I need to destroy the darkness first. I need to make sure I remove it from its roots before I re-enter her life. I want our story to have a happy ending." Her grip on the cup tightened, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.

Taehyung nodded in understanding, his expression soft but serious. "What's the plan?"

"Go back to Jungkook. Prepare an army of Titans."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What about you?"

Sri smirked, a wicked glint in her eyes. "Not everything I've done is messed up. In these two years, I managed to befriend the Russian mafias."

"Burn them to ashes, S." Taehyung darkly chuckled.

Jungkook walked through the dimly lit glass corridor, the floor beneath him transparent, revealing the complex structure below. Blueprints of unfinished robots were piled in the center of the circular hall.

Sherley followed just two steps behind, her silence unwavering as the guards bowed respectfully every five meters. The building was enormous, its vastness a labyrinth to anyone unfamiliar with its layout. It was the deadliest structure ever constructed by the Titans—a project that had taken two and a half years to complete, finally finished just last month.

Jungkook surveyed the space with satisfaction, admiring the advanced infrastructure. He paused in front of the elevator. Sherley placed her hand on the sensor to open the door, the familiar scan of her handprint granting them access. This was Jungkook's first time stepping into the building, so his biometrics had yet to be added.

The elevator doors slid open to reveal the topmost floor. A massive LED screen greeted them, casting a glow over the room. At the center stood a large circular table, surrounded by a team of engineers working diligently at their desktops, their focus absorbed by the tasks at hand.

"Good morning, boss!" The engineers greeted in unison as they stood up. Jungkook dismissed them with a brief nod, and they returned to their work.

Sherley flicked her fingers, and a robotic, female voice responded from the system. "Hi, this is Phoebe. How may I assist you, boss?"

"Switch on the big screen," Sherley instructed, and immediately, the screen flickered to life. Jk moved around the central table, inspecting the room with focused attention.

He nodded at Sherley, who flashed him a knowing smile. "Phoebe?"

"Sorry, I cannot recognize your voice," the bot replied smoothly.

Sherley explained, "It only responds to registered individuals. Right now, it's just me and the few scientists who built it. Phoebe is still being upgraded, but soon it will serve as the main system for the building."

Jungkook nodded, his eyes fixed on the soundless video playing on the screen. "Does it have access to the arms yet?"

"It does," Sherley reassured him. "Just call her by name, and she'll respond instantly. She's active everywhere within the building's boundaries, even in the lawn and basement. Phoebe?"

"How may I help you, ma'am?" the bot chimed in.

"Register the biometrics of another individual."

"Yes, ma'am." A small palette appeared in the lower left corner of the screen. Jungkook moved toward it, ready to follow the bot's instructions.

"Please place both palms on the screen. There should be no gloves or clothing covering them." Jungkook complied, his movements precise. "Now please open your eyes wide so that I can scan your retina."

"Data processing. Data saved. Scan your palm to register your voice."

He placed his hands on the screen again, a small frown appearing on his face. "Access granted. Please sing a few lines of any song to register your voice."

Jungkook's brows furrowed. "What the hell?" He looked at Sherley, baffled. "Am I supposed to sing a song for this stupid bot?"

Sherley sheepishly smiled. "I— I thought you wouldn't mind. Besides, it's just this one time, boss. Singing helps the system register all kinds of voice notes."

Jungkook cursed under his breath, clearly frustrated. The bot added, "Please make your voice clear. I am unable to recognize it."

"Lee Sherly, you are not getting away with this," he gritted through his teeth, a mix of annoyance and amusement on his face. He took a deep breath and began to sing loudly, the frustration evident in his tone.

"Feelin' like I'm floatin'

Something's in the air tonight

We're speakin' with emotions

Won't look away

Love me at my lowest

I'll love you when you're barely holdin' on

Lighting up the darkness

I can be a shoulder when you're not strong

Closer

Closer to you

Closer

Closer to you"

Sherly's mouth hung open as she absorbed the melodious voice of her dangerous boss. She would bet her life that no one in Korea could rival his voice. Even the employees, who had never seen Jungkook in person before, paused their work and stared at him in disbelief. Initially, they had assumed JK to be nothing more than an emotionless figure with a rough exterior. Most of them had been right, but his skillful singing was the most unexpected—and well-hidden—talent they'd ever witnessed.

"Your voice has been successfully registered," Phoebe's female voice announced once Jungkook finished.

He immediately rolled his eyes, irritated by the attention. When he noticed all eyes on him, he looked away dismissively. "What are you looking at?" he barked. "Go back to work." The employees quickly returned to their tasks, not daring to linger. "Such a waste of time," he muttered, and Sherly couldn't suppress her secret smile.

Phoebe's voice came through again. "What is your name?"

"JK."

"Pronoun?"

"He."

"How may I address you, JK?"

"Boss."

"Thank you, JK. You have been successfully registered into my system. You may give me further orders."

Jungkook turned on his heel and strode back toward the elevator. Sherly followed behind him as they descended to the basement.

The basement resembled an arena, with aisles labeled in two different categories. It was a high-tech, industrial space, clearly designed for advanced training and testing. "Phoebe?" Jungkook called out. "Bring a dummy."

A wooden figure, shaped like a human, emerged from the ground in front of them.

"Six guns fire!" Jungkook ordered, and the room was filled with the deafening sound of gunfire. The dummy was riddled with six bullet holes.

"Phoebe, eighteen guns fire at the same time. Aim for the head," Jungkook commanded. This time, eighteen shots rang out simultaneously, but only one bullet hole appeared on its entire body, the head. The accuracy was flawless.

"Very well, Phoebe," Jungkook said, his tone filled with approval.

"Certainly not better than you, boss, but thank you," Phoebe responded, her voice almost flirtatious. Sherly couldn't help but laugh at the bot's attempt to butter up its superior.

After two hours of meticulous inspection, Jk was satisfied with the progress of the building. Although some areas still needed upgrades, he couldn't deny that Sherly had done an excellent job overseeing the entire project. Even Namjoon had pitched in whenever he had the time.

As they walked toward the exit, Sherly broke the silence. "You sing very well, boss," she remarked, her voice hesitant but sincere.

Jungkook paused midway and tilted his head slightly, making his flawless side profile even more striking. His sharp jawline and chiseled features were enough to make anyone stop and stare. Sherly couldn't help but be captivated by his presence. But when he spoke, his words left her speechless.

"I can sing for you every night," he said, his voice low and smooth.

"S-Sorry, boss, I think I heard you wrong," Sherly stammered, a nervous laugh escaping her as she denied his words, not quite ready to believe what he had just said.

Jungkook ignored her response. He took a step toward her, his eyes locking onto hers with intensity. His presence towered over her, and his gaze was piercing, unwavering. His nose was almost touching hers, and the air between them thickened. "It's been two years, Lee Sherly," he murmured, his voice laced with something more than just authority. "I still have a place for you in my heart. Now, I want a final answer."

Sherly gulped, her throat dry as she maintained eye contact with Jungkook. The weight of his presence pressed down on her, but it was different this time. He was no longer the whirlwind of emotions that could stir her heart. The memories of his touch, his smiles, the promises he made—they felt distant. He couldn't win her heart like Jimin had. She had already made her choice, and no matter how much Jungkook's powerful presence threatened to unravel her, she couldn't—and wouldn't—replace Jimin with him.

"Lee Sherly, are you sure you want to let go of this opportunity?" His voice was calm, almost too calm, but there was a sharpness in it that cut through the air. "I can make you the future Queen of Titans. The most powerful woman in the gang, second only to me. I'll love you and respect you like no other man ever will. I'll protect you with my life. Do you still want to choose Jimin over me?"

The words echoed in her mind. Queen of Titans. The power, the luxury, the life she could have with him. The temptation to give in was still there, lurking in the corners of her mind. But every part of her resisted. She was already committed—her heart, despite everything, still belonged to Jimin.

Jungkook's nearness was suffocating. His body was so close to hers that she could feel the heat radiating off him. He wasn't touching her, but the intensity of his gaze, the weight of his presence, made her feel as if he were pressing against her very soul. Her knees felt weak, her breath shallow. She could almost taste the power he offered. But in her heart, she knew. She knew this was not the path she would take.

She closed her eyes, breathing in deeply to steady herself. When she spoke, her voice was firm, though the internal battle raged within her. "I'm sorry, Jungkook. I cannot leave him."

The words landed between them like a slap. Jungkook took a step back, but the subtle hurt in his eyes didn't escape her notice. His expression became cold, his face an emotionless mask, but she could feel the weight of his rejection inside him. His heart had been laid bare, and she had rejected it. She knew that hurt, though he wouldn't show it.

"Fine then," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I hope you both serve the Titans properly. Because I can compromise on myself, but not on this gang. Do you get that?"

Sherly's heart clenched at his words. She had hurt him, but the choice was hers. The choice had always been hers. She nodded sharply, her resolve returning. The hard edge in his voice reminded her of the reality they both lived in—the Titans were ruthless, and there was no room for weakness. "Yes, boss," she said, her voice steady, though her heart still twisted in guilt. She straightened up, standing at attention as her mind focused on the task at hand. "We'll never give you a reason to complain."

Jk gave a short nod, his eyes colder than she had ever seen them. His face remained expressionless, but she could feel the finality in the air—the end of something. Without another word, he turned, his back to her, the silence that followed thick and suffocating. It was as if the world had stopped breathing.

Before he reached the exit, he paused. "Phoebe," he called, the command cutting through the tension. "Delete all other registered biometrics except mine."

The finality in his words echoed in the room. It wasn't just a command—it was a declaration of his control, his power. He was the Leader of Titans. Not everyone should have the same access as him. 

As Sherly watched him leave, she could feel the weight of his decision in her chest. She had made hers, but now... now she had to proof her dedication to her boss.

20 VOTES FOR NEXT UPDATE!!

Taste!!