Ariana was in the foyer of the mansion, lacing up her shoes and mentally preparing herself for a day out with Taehyung. He had offered to take her shopping, claiming she needed some fresh air and a change of scenery. It had been a while since she’d done something so normal, and though part of her wanted to just hide away, she agreed. She could use the distraction, and spending more time with Tae wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

He had this way of making her feel at ease, and after the chaos of the past few months, she craved that kind of peace.

"Ready to go?" Taehyung’s smooth voice echoed through the hallway as he appeared in the doorway, his signature grin lighting up his face. He was dressed casually, but as always, he looked effortlessly handsome, his charm radiating with every step he took.

Ariana smiled up at him, pulling her bag over her shoulder. “Yeah, I think I’m ready.”

Just as she was about to stand, Isabella appeared from the other end of the hall, her presence commanding as ever. The air in the room seemed to shift as she approached, her eyes locking onto Tae with a look that meant business. Ariana paused, sensing a bit of tension she hadn’t expected. Isabella wasn’t one to beat around the bush, and her sudden arrival felt like something was brewing.

“Ariana, could you give us a minute?” Isabella’s tone was polite, but there was a firmness behind it that made it clear she wasn’t asking.

Ariana glanced between the two of them, her curiosity piqued. She wasn’t sure what Isabella wanted to discuss, but she nodded and slipped out of the room, leaving her sister and Tae alone. As she walked away, she couldn’t help but wonder what this was about.

Taehyung, however, knew exactly what was coming.

Isabella crossed her arms, her expression unwavering as she leveled Tae with a sharp gaze. “We need to talk.”

Tae gave her a boyish smile, trying to lighten the mood. “What about?”

Isabella didn’t budge. “Don’t play dumb, Tae. I know what you’re doing.”

His smile faltered slightly, though he tried to keep his cool. “And what exactly am I doing?”

Isabella stepped closer, her voice low but firm. “You’re trying to wiggle your way into Ariana’s life. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

Tae’s playful demeanor dropped, and he stood a little straighter, meeting Isabella’s gaze with his own. “I’m just spending time with her. She’s been through a lot. I’m trying to help.”

Isabella’s eyes narrowed, her tone becoming more pointed. “I know you, Tae. I know how you operate. You think I don’t see the way you look at her? The way you’re always finding an excuse to be near her?”

Tae didn’t deny it. He knew better than to lie to Isabella, especially when she was in this mood. Instead, he sighed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I care about her, Isabella. She’s been through hell, and I just… I don’t want her to feel alone.”

Isabella’s expression softened, but only slightly. “I get that. But if you hurt her… if you mess this up, you won’t just be dealing with me as Jungkook’s partner. You’ll be facing the mafia queen.”

Tae raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Mafia queen, huh?”

Isabella didn’t blink. “You know I’m serious, Tae. Ariana is my sister, my blood. I won’t let anyone hurt her, especially not someone who’s supposed to be our friend.”

Tae’s smirk faded, and he nodded solemnly. “I’d never hurt her, Isabella. You know that.”

“I hope so,” Isabella replied, her voice firm. “Because if you do, there won’t be any coming back from it.”

For a moment, there was silence between them, the weight of Isabella’s words hanging heavy in the air. Tae didn’t doubt for a second that she meant every word. He had seen her in action, knew what she was capable of. But more than that, he respected her loyalty to Ariana. He would feel the same way if the roles were reversed.

“I’m not trying to play games,” Tae said softly after a pause. “I really do care about her.”

Isabella studied him for a long moment, as if weighing his words. Finally, she nodded, though her expression remained serious. “I hope that’s true, Tae. Just… be careful.”

With that, Isabella turned and left the room, leaving Tae standing there, deep in thought.

---

Ariana was waiting by the front door, her curiosity still lingering after seeing Isabella pull Tae aside. When she saw him approaching, she raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. “Everything okay? You look like you just got lectured.”

Tae chuckled, though there was a touch of awkwardness to it. “You could say that.”

Ariana tilted her head, intrigued. “What did she say?”

Tae shrugged, trying to play it off casually. “Just the usual—don’t hurt her sister, or she’ll kill me.”

Ariana laughed, rolling her eyes. “That sounds like Isabella.”

“Doesn’t it?” Tae grinned, though his mind was still replaying the conversation. He didn’t want to burden Ariana with the details, but Isabella’s warning wasn’t something he could easily shake off.

As they stepped outside and made their way to the car, Tae glanced at Ariana, who seemed blissfully unaware of the tension that had briefly passed between him and Isabella. She was in good spirits, looking forward to the day out, and he didn’t want to ruin that.

Once they were on the road, Ariana leaned back in her seat, looking out the window as the city passed by. “It’s nice to get out,” she said softly. “I feel like I’ve been cooped up in that mansion for way too long.”

Tae nodded in agreement, glancing over at her. “You deserve a break. A little retail therapy never hurt anyone.”

Ariana smiled, turning to him. “Thanks for doing this, Tae. I appreciate it.”

Tae waved her off. “It’s no big deal. Plus, I kind of wanted to spend some time with you.”

There was a moment of silence between them after that, and Ariana felt her heart skip a beat. She didn’t know why Tae’s words made her feel a little flustered, but there was something about his easygoing nature that always put her at ease. He had been her rock ever since the rescue, always there in the background, offering quiet support. And now, as they spent more time together, she couldn’t help but feel a growing connection between them.

When they arrived at the shopping district, Tae parked the car, and they both stepped out into the bustling streets. The air was filled with the sounds of people chatting, cars passing by, and the occasional music from a nearby street performer. Ariana felt a sense of freedom wash over her, like she could finally breathe after everything that had happened.

Tae led the way, guiding her through the shops as they browsed, laughing and joking together. He made her try on ridiculous hats, and they took silly pictures in front of storefronts. It was the most fun Ariana had had in a long time, and she couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this light.

As they wandered from shop to shop, Ariana found herself stealing glances at Tae. There was something about him that was different, something that drew her in. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but the more time they spent together, the more she realized that Tae wasn’t just a friend. He was someone who genuinely cared about her, someone who saw her for more than just the broken girl she had been when they found her.

And maybe, just maybe, she was starting to feel the same way about him.