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CHAPTER 48
⸻ TRAGEDY
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A/N: Hi, yes! I'm back after two months. I'm truly and terribly sorry for the longest wait but here you go and also, I did a lot of thinking and I've decided to change the second lead from Lee Dohyun to Ahn Hyoseop since he's more suitable to the character's traits. Sorry for the character change! :/ Anyways, enjoy the update! And please, do vote <3

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T A E H Y U N G' S P O V

I LEFT THE RESTAURANT before my long forgotten order arrived. It was pathetic to feel this way but I couldn't stand seeing them together.

So, I discreetly exit the restaurant, heaving out a huge sigh with an empty heart. I trudge to my car but stop when I notice an old woman walking alone in the dark alleyway.

She is carrying plastic bags with both of her hands, reminding me of my late grandmother that I love so dearly. Such a kind, gentle and sweet, sweet soul. I've missed her so much.

Before I could offer her a hand, I notice a black motorcycle keeps trailing behind her as if they're trying to rob or worse, kidnap her. I set up my pace but it is too late when the man from motorcycle halts to tug plastic bags from her.

The woman seems to struggle but still tries to pull it desperately. I step in immediately and shout at him.

"Oi, bastard!"

The man turns his head as his eyes widen in surprise.

I punch my knuckles to his face roughly, which send him flying to the ground. He groans and curses a few words, glaring hard at me.

"Halmeoni, are you okay?" I worriedly ask, a pitiful look in my eyes to realise that she's shaking.

"Y-Yes, thank you, young man," she croaks out, her breathing heavy.

"Go, halmeoni. I'll take care of this, alright?" I assure her.

She looks petrified but then nods her head, sending a concern look in my way before she heads off with her plastic bags, trembling.

"What's your problem, man?" The male voice questions, his voice silks with frustration. He is now stalking towards me with murderous look. "Do you have a problem with me?"

I swallow thickly but try to appear unfazed. "What were you trying to do that poor old woman? Rob her?"

"That's none of your business," he violently shoves my shoulder, causing me to stumble backwards.

I roll my eyes and take a brave step forward. "Don't you have something better to do rather than robbing an old woman?"

He lets out a dark and low chuckle, advancing another step. There is something strange about him, especially his eyes that gives me a look that could kill.

As I'm distracted, he digs something inside his pocket and out of nowhere, pain shoots right on my lower stomach.

I choke out a strangle cry and press down to apply some pressure to stop the agonising pain and bleeding. But it was hopeless. Soon enough, my visions start to get blurry and I pass out, cold and defeated on the ground.

•••

M I A' S  P O V

An hour. It has been an hour ever since Taehyung is being held to the emergency room. I couldn't think straight. Panic, anxious, pain — everything, I could feel it coursing through my veins that begins to slice my insides into halves.

Jungkook was the first person I called and he came after hearing the news. He immediately regarded the news to Taehyung's parents and family.

I was sitting outside the room with Jungkook and my poor daughter, who looked very confused and overwhelmed.

"Hey, everything is going to be fine," Jungkook softly assures. He takes my trembling hands and squeezes them. "Taehyung is a strong man. He can endure it. Now, you go rest and take Eunbyul home. I'll call you when he wakes up,"

I nibble on my lower lip anxiously, my legs bouncing. "W-What if he doesn't wake up? What i—"

"Shh, don't say that. He's gonna wake up," he interrupts.

"He lost a lot of blood, Jungkook!" I sob, my chest suffocated from air. "How am I not supposed to think about the worst?"

"Listen to me. He's going to be fine, I promise you that," he convinces again.

"How do you know? You didn't see him!" I pause, tears suddenly brimming into my eyes. "I don't know what to do. What am I gonna do, Jungkook?"

"Stay calm, okay? He'll be alr—" his sentence cuts off when another voice booms in the hospital hallway.

"Where's my son? Where is he?" A voice of a woman, that I could easily recognise shouts hysterically.

My breath hitches to watch Taehyung's parents stalking forward with a lack of sanity as their faces visibly shown anxiousness.

I begin to feel nauseous as it has been so long I've seen them. Do they hate me for what I did? What if they resent me?

My eyes meet theirs and my heart beats rapidly when they don't seem surprised but rather emotionless as they quickly saunter to us.

"You! You did this to him!" Mrs. Kim suddenly shouts, pointing a finger to my face.

I stare and blink at her in shock, dumbstruck upon her harsh and angry words.

"If it wasn't for you, he wouldn't be so miserable for three years! He's sick because of you!" she accuses as tears flowing down. "You left him when he was at his worst!"

My mouth agape, overwhelmed and deadpanned. "I-I'm—"

"Dear, relax," Mr. Kim softly says, placing both hands on her shoulders before she could go on for another harsh accusation.

Mr. Kim offers a small, apologetic smile as I only manage to seal my lips tight, eyes focusing on the ground as I hold onto Eunbyul's hand tightly.

"Why are you here?" she chastises, her brown eyes judging with disgust. The warm smile that I once saw before, long gone. "Wait, let me guess.. he got into a car accident again because of you, only this time, you're here to pay the consequences." What?

Before I can reciprocate, Jungkook chides in between.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Kim, but Taehyung hyung is fighting for his life in there, all we have to do is be here for him. Not fighting because of him,"

Mrs. Kim huffs, her cheeks puffy and her eyes red when it lands on Eunbyul, who begins to cry softly. Her gaze immediately soften, her mouth parts as if she wants to question but refrained herself.

The heated atmosphere soon disengages after the door to Taehyung's emergency room pushes apart to reveal a male doctor with a white coat, wearing a face mask.

Taehyung's parents abruptly usher towards the doctor, who's slowly removing his mask. My eyes widen a fraction to see Hyoseop as his eyes subtly searching until it lands on my figure.

He clears his throat before any expected questions could be thrown. "The wounds aren't too deep and thankfully, he hasn't lost that much blood. He has a few stitches and he should be fine,"

I heave out a huge sigh of relief after hearing the good news. Oh, thank God.

"Thank you so much, doctor! Thank you, thank you," Mr. and Mrs. Kim repeatedly bow their heads in courtesy of appreciation.

"But, he needs to rest for a few days before discharge," he adds a second after and immediately saunter towards us, his vision focusing on Eunbyul.

With a weak smile against his lips, he wordlessly kneels down and hoists her into his arms. She cries even louder and my heart clenches to see my own daughter crying. I feel so conflicted to even be here. About everything.

"Shh, don't cry, it's okay, it's okay." Hyoseop softly strokes her hair to cease her crying.

Her sob continues for a while until it turns into sniffles, her head finally resting on his shoulder. Hyoseop sighs before he looks at me, his lips pursed with unreadable expression.

"Why didn't you call me? I told you if anything happens, you call me,"

I sigh heavily, my voice vaguely shaking. "Sorry, I-I was too shocked and I didn't kno—"

"It's alright," he cuts off my sentence, his eyes tracing my features carefully. "But are you okay?"

I nod and smile with assurance. "I'm okay, but why are you here? Didn't you finish with your shift earlier?"

"I got a call in last minute on a patient and after I heard his name, I wasn't sure it was him until I saw you,"

"Oh, u-um, I'm sorry I didn't call you," I answer, not knowing how to respond.

"I'm just glad you're okay. Why don't you go home, hm? You must've been so tired," he replies. "I'll be here and I'll call you when he's awake,"

"What? No, it's okay. You can go home with Eunbyul. Would you mind taking care of her just for tonight? I promise there won't be—"

"And why would I let you stay here? Do you know that hospitals are haunted?" he attempts to light up the situation, which causes me to scoff.

"And I'll make sure to stay away from the ghost," I reply in a humour tone and he smiles very sweetly.

"I'm a doctor, Mia. I have responsibilities and your responsibility is to take care of your daughter. Let me handle this, okay?"

I gnaw on my lower lip, contemplating. I wanted to see him. "But—"

"No buts. Buts are limited,"

"However—"

"Ah, that's a special replacement of but,"

Sighing, I chew my inside cheeks, frustrated. As I'm about to oppose to his words, someone interrupts.

"So.. this is the reason why you left Taehyung. You cheated on him and you left without saying a word because you're pregnant with someone else's baby. Huh, who would have thought,"

I stand still, eyes bugging wide, heart accelerating to hear the familiar voice again. I whip my head around to meet face to face with Taehyung's mother.

She has a calm but unhinged composure, death dagger that gives out her wrathful anger. Meanwhile, Mr. Kim, beside her, is trying to cool down his wife.

"Excuse me?"

"It's true, isn't it? God, I should've known better than marrying you into this family. You're nothing but a two faced!" she petrifies, which drags the attention from some people around the hallway.

I shake my head violently, denying her ridiculous insinuation. I couldn't wrap the notion inside my head when another voice jumps in.

"I told you, Mr. Kim and Mrs. Kim. She's a two faced bitch,"

Suddenly, everything in my nerves and blood goes rigid. I turn and an old foe, with a little smirk across her face flaunt herself upfront.

"Did you miss me, bitch?"

•••

A/N: And hi! How was this chapter after a long hiatus? I was going to update earlier but I was so busy with school and everything, and also, to be honest, I was having a major writer's block but now, I'm suddenly having an inspiration to write, all because of you guys. And oh, we just hit 20k this month! I couldn't be more happy!!! Thank you so much for reading and I'll try to update more sooner than this time. I love you. See you in next chapter! <3