T/W: Please be aware before proceeding with this chapter.

Taemin's words had her in extreme nervousness. She couldn't deny the fact that they were still legally married, and hearing him refer to her as 'Lee Taemin's wife' unsettled her.

The concerned sales assistant stepped in, sensing the tension. "Ms, do you still want the clothes?"

Krystal handed the shirt and suit to her. "Wrap them for me, here's my card."

"Of course, Ms." The sales assistant promptly took the card and neatly folded the clothes before placing them in a box.

Ignoring Taemin completely, Krystal paid for her purchase and quickly exited the store. Taemin, however, was not ready to let her go. He chased after her, grabbing her wrist without caring about the curious onlookers.

Krystal struggled with all her strength to break free from Taemin's grip, her eyes filled with anger and frustration. "What are you doing here? Don't you have anything better to do than to keep bothering me? How can I make you understand that I don't want to see you, and I feel disgusted every time I see you?"

Taemin's voice was laced with bitterness. "Why? So now that you're with Taehyung, you think every other man is disgusting?"

Krystal's patience was wearing thin. "No, only you. Even if there were no Taehyung, I would still be disgusted by you! Have you ever thought about everything you've done? How can you still show up in front of me?"

Ignoring her protests, Taemin forcefully pulled her toward the elevator. She managed to break free just as the elevator doors closed, leaving her standing there impatiently, feeling uncomfortable in such a confined space.

When the elevator finally reached the ground floor, she rushed to her car to put her shopping bag inside. Before she could complete the task, Taemin grabbed her and carried her away.

"Help!" Krystal shouted desperately. "Help me!"

Passersby were hesitant to intervene, fearing Taemin's intimidating presence. He dismissed their concerns with a cold glance. "It's just a little argument with my wife. What are you all looking at?"

Krystal continued to protest. "I'm not his wife! He's a sick bastard! Help me!"

No one dared to challenge Taemin when he presented their marriage certificate as proof. They assumed it was a domestic dispute and refrained from getting involved. Helpless, Krystal was forced into Taemin's car, her heart pounding with fear and uncertainty. "Taemin, you're sick! What do you want?"

Krystal felt completely powerless in her struggle to escape Taemin's grasp. No matter what she did or said, it seemed to have no effect on him. He was determined to do as he pleased, and she longed desperately to be free from his presence.

As Taemin drove her away from her car and toward an unknown destination, Krystal's anxiety grew. She reached for her phone, hoping to find a way to call for help, but before she could make any progress, Taemin snatched the phone from her and tossed it out of the car window.

"Lee Taemin!" she exclaimed in frustration.

"I'll get you a new one," he replied calmly.

Eventually, Taemin pulled over in front of a restaurant, a place Krystal recognized all too well. It was a restaurant they had frequented during their happier times. She hadn't been back here since their falling out, and she couldn't fathom why he had brought her to this particular place.

"Let's have dinner," he suggested.

"Are you crazy? Go have dinner with someone else. I don't want to dine with you!" Krystal retorted.

Taemin turned to her, his gaze unwavering. "I've told you many times, I'm only interested in you."

"And I am not interested in you!"

Before she could finish her protest, Taemin was already pulling her into the restaurant. He had reserved a private room and ushered her inside. The waiter presented them with menus, which Krystal promptly threw at Taemin's face, shocking the staff. Taemin remained composed, picking up the menu and opening it.

"I still remember your favorites. I'll order for you," he said calmly.

Taemin placed their order, including a bottle of wine. Once the waiter had left the room, Krystal decided to discreetly exit the restaurant, not wanting to cause any further trouble by being there.

Krystal, feeling trapped, attempted to leave the private room but found the door locked. Frustration welled up inside her, and she let out an angry laugh as she turned to Taemin.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

Taemin, however, remained silent, sitting calmly as if he had all the time in the world. Krystal realized there was no escaping the situation, and she reluctantly returned to her seat.

When the waiter brought their food, Krystal refused to eat a single bite. Taemin, on the other hand, proceeded to select dishes and place them in her bowl. He encouraged her to eat more.

"Lee Taemin, I am not Yoona. She is dead. I am Krystal," she reminded him.

Taemin continued eating without much reaction. "I am not blind. I know you're Krystal."

After finishing their meal, Taemin poured them each a glass of wine and handed one to Krystal, suggesting they drink. She only glared at him, leaning back in her chair.

Taemin raised his glass, taking a sip before setting it down. He then stood and gently pulled Krystal to her feet.

"What are you doing?" she questioned.

"Krystal," Taemin began, gripping her shoulders. "I don't want to be alone anymore."

Krystal laughed bitterly. "So what?"

"Come back to me," Taemin implored, his eyes searching for the warmth that had once been there.

"Not a chance!" Krystal shot back. "You're heartbroken because you discovered she wasn't who you thought she was, right? But what does that have to do with me? I have no reason to return to you! Never, not even in the next life!"

Desperation filled Taemin's voice as he implored, "What do you want? What should I do to make you come back to me? I can give you whatever you want, as long as you come back to my side, as long as you leave Taehyung..."

Krystal's expression remained resolute. "I just want you to leave me alone and stay away from me. Don't ever show up in front of me, and I will be beyond happy. Lee Taemin, you have ruined me. What did I ever do to you? What did I do to deserve this? All of this just because my face is similar to hers?"

Taemin's eyes betrayed a hint of regret, but he pressed on. "I don't want anything but to start my life over."

Krystal paused before responding, "Lee Taemin, if you still have any conscience, then please divorce me."

"So you can be with Taehyung and get rid of me from your life?" Taemin countered.

Krystal remained silent.

"But I don't want to let you go. What should I do?" Taemin's desperation deepened.

"Sooner or later, you will reap what you sow. I will wait for that day, and then I will be free from you," Krystal declared.

Taemin pointed to himself. "Free from me? Then let's see how you do that."

Their conversation was interrupted when the waiter arrived with dessert. Krystal seized the opportunity to push Taemin away and made a quick escape, leaving her bag behind. She sprinted away without looking back, fearing that Taemin might chase after her.

She managed to flag down a taxi, but just as she was about to get in, Taemin appeared, pulling her away and forcing her into his car before speeding away.

Krystal's panic grew as Taemin's car came to a stop in an isolated area. She surveyed their surroundings, finding no one in sight, which heightened her anxiety. "Where is this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Taemin's face remained devoid of emotion, intensifying Krystal's fear. He abruptly seized her by the neck, pulling her closer to him, and forcefully captured her lips in a kiss.

"Let me go!" Krystal protested, her voice muffled by their forced embrace.

Taemin then shifted his car seat backward and placed her on his lap. Despite her continued struggles and desperate attempts to resist, he paid no heed to her resistance. The sound of fabric tearing reached her ears as her clothes were forcibly ripped.

"Lee Taemin!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she was consumed by terror. "Let me go!" she implored, her voice quivering with fear and desperation.

She kept scratching his skin until it was bleeding but he still didn't stop. "Taemin, no!"

Taemin looked her in the eyes, panic and hatred was written all over her face. He knew she didn't want to but he kept going.

After it happened, Krystal was a total mess. Her cheeks were full of tears and her lips were swollen. Taemin zipped his pants and lit his cigarette.

Krystal was still crying, she didn't even bother to wipe the tears off her cheeks. She opened the door but it was locked. She slapped the car window: "Open the door!"

"I said open the fucking door!"

But Taemin was still silent.

"Or should I just kill myself in front of you now?"

Taemin grabbed her hand to stop her.

"Can you hear me? Open the door."

He remained silent for a moment before finally unlocking the door. She swiftly opened it and rushed out of the car.

Watching her run frantically, Taemin realized that chasing after her now might lead to an accident. He approached her in an attempt to persuade her to stay, but she was determined to leave. She had moved on to another man, and in her eyes, he was no longer a part of her life.

She had moved on to another man, and in her eyes, he was no longer a part of her life. He didn't want to act this way towards her, but he couldn't control himself.

When Krystal returned home, her parents were engrossed in a melodramatic movie on TV. They watched with rapt attention, completely absorbed in the storyline. Upon hearing her enter, her mother turned her head and greeted her, "You're back. Why don't you invite Taehyungie in to join us?"

Krystal's parents assumed she had been out with Taehyung, so her silence in response didn't raise any concerns. They returned their focus to the drama on the screen.

Krystal, on the other hand, quietly made her way upstairs, locking herself in her room. In the dimly lit space, she sat on the floor, wrapping her arms around herself as tears streamed down her face.

After some time, she went to the bathroom, shedding her clothes and discarding them in the trash bin. She turned on the shower, allowing the water to cleanse her body.

When she emerged from the bathroom, she felt a profound sense of emptiness. She lay down on her bed, cocooned herself beneath the blankets, and closed her eyes, trying to find solace in the darkness.

The following morning, Krystal's mother glanced at the clock and turned to her husband. "Krystal hasn't woken up yet?"

Her husband, still in his relaxed Saturday mode, responded, "Today is Saturday, dear. Our daughter loves her sleep; let's not disturb her."

Krystal's mother, however, was growing concerned. She checked the clock again and frowned. "It's almost noon now. She hasn't had breakfast, and it's almost lunchtime. Shouldn't we wake her up?"

Her husband sighed, reluctantly putting down his newspaper. He made his way upstairs, heading to Krystal's room. He knocked gently on her door. "Krystal, it's time to wake up. We're about to have lunch."

There was no response from within the room.

"Krystal?" he called again, his voice filled with worry. He assumed she must be in a deep slumber.

As a responsible father, he decided not to intrude into his daughter's room abruptly. Instead, he headed back downstairs to the kitchen to assist his wife with lunch preparations.

Krystal's mother, growing increasingly concerned, continued calling for her daughter from outside the locked bedroom door. "Krystal, why would you lock the door if you're asleep?" she wondered aloud. Her voice filled with a mix of irritation and worry.

With determination, Krystal's mother descended the stairs in search of a spare key to unlock the door. She soon found it and returned to her daughter's room. The room was shrouded in darkness, the curtains drawn tightly shut.

Krystal lay beneath her blanket, covering her face and form as if hiding from the world. Her mother approached and pulled the curtains open, allowing daylight to flood the room.

"Krystal, what time is it? It's already afternoon; you should wake up," her mother gently urged. "Come on, let's have lunch."

Krystal, wrapped in her cocoon of blankets, remained silent. Her mother couldn't help but chide her internally, thinking, "This girl is addicted to sleep, a real lazy one!"

Krystal's mother gently patted her daughter's shoulder, coaxing her. "Come on, hurry up and wake up. Let's have lunch now. You can always sleep again later."

Krystal remained silent, prompting her mother to become more concerned. "Krystal, what's wrong?" she inquired, noting that Krystal was facing away from her.

"I just want to sleep some more," Krystal replied, her voice sounding hoarse. Her mother, a bit worried, tried to gauge her daughter's temperature by placing a hand on her forehead, finding it to be normal.

"It's quite late now, nearly noon," her mother informed her gently.

Krystal responded, her voice still groggy, "When I get hungry, I'll wake up and eat."

Her mother, understanding her daughter's tendency to enjoy her sleep, decided to leave her be for the time being. "Alright, dear. Your father and I will go ahead and have lunch. Don't sleep too long, though. I'll prepare some food for you, so remember to eat it later."

Krystal acknowledged her mother's words with a faint "Em" and once again pulled the blanket over herself, seeking the comfort of sleep.

Krystal's mother descended the stairs, finding her husband already finished cooking and the dishes set on the table. He untied his apron and inquired, "Where's our daughter?"

"She's still sleeping," his wife replied. "She said she wants to sleep more. She must be tired from working hard these days. She'll eat when she's hungry."

He nodded in understanding but didn't say anything more. After their lunch, Krystal's parents had some errands to run and left her some food on the table before heading out.

Upon their return around four o'clock, they noticed the food remained untouched. Her mother frowned, saying, "This girl hasn't woken up yet."

Her father, concerned, asked, "Is she unwell?"

"I checked her temperature before, it's all normal," her mother replied, sharing the same worry. "I'll go upstairs and check on her."

She ascended the stairs and approached Krystal's room. As she entered and lifted the blanket, she found Krystal sitting up on the bed. Her daughter's gaze was vacant.

"You've slept for the whole day, are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm okay. I just want to sleep," Krystal replied. She finally left the bed and headed to the bathroom.

"Your dad brought the car home for you," her mother mentioned before leaving the room. As she descended the stairs, she noticed Taehyung had arrived.

"Taehyungie, you're here," she greeted him.

"Auntie, I called Krystal several times, but there was no answer, so I came to check on her."

"She didn't answer her phone?" her mother inquired.

Taehyung replied, "No, it's turned off."

"Is there a problem with the phone? Let's ask her when she comes down. This girl stayed at home for the whole day. She just wasted her Saturday," Krystal's mother lamented, shaking her head. She then turned to Taehyung. "Taehyungie, later on, take her out for a stroll. Don't let her stay at home. She's had enough sleep for the whole day."

"I came to take her out," Taehyung replied with a smile.

"That's good," Krystal's mother said.

As they chatted, Krystal eventually made her way downstairs. Upon seeing Taehyung, she clenched her hands nervously.

Her mother encouraged her, saying, "Krystal, come down quickly. Taehyungie has been waiting for a long time. He's taking you out for dinner."

Krystal took a deep breath and replied, "I don't want to go out."

Taehyung approached her and asked, "What happened? Auntie said you've been sleeping the whole day. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay," she replied.

"Seems like she's just being lazy and wants to sleep," Krystal's mother concluded, shaking her head.

Taehyung spoke to her gently, "Jeon Jungkook and Lisa are back. They've invited us out for dinner tonight. It's their first dinner treat as a couple; shouldn't we go? Everyone tried to call you, but your phone was off. Why did you turn off your phone?"

Krystal met his gaze and replied, "My phone was stolen by someone yesterday."

"Then after dinner, I'll buy you a new one," Taehyung suggested.

"Let's go. Change your shoes," Krystal said, glancing back at her parents before following Taehyung out of the house.