Taehyung sat frozen on the edge of the couch, his heart shattered into a thousand pieces. Jungkook's words echoed endlessly in his mind, like a haunting refrain: "I can't marry you." The pain was unbearable, squeezing his chest until it was hard to breathe. Tears blurred his vision, but he refused to let them fall, as if doing so would make the heartbreak even more real.

He clutched his phone tightly, fingers trembling as he fought to stay composed. His whole world felt as if it had just crumbled beneath him. The warmth of Jungkook's love, the promises they made, the future they dreamed of together-all of it now felt like an illusion, slipping away beyond his grasp.

He hugged his knees to his chest, burying his face in them, trying to think. Was it something he had done? Had he misjudged Jungkook's love? A small sob escaped his lips, and for a moment, he allowed himself to mourn the dreams he had held so close.

But just as despair threatened to swallow him, Taehyung's mind wandered back to a conversation with Lisa and Rose two days ago.

"Tae, you know Jungkook's life isn't simple," Lisa had said, her voice serious for once. "Being the future CEO of a huge corporation like Jeon Corp means he has enemies. Real ones."

Rose had chimed in, her eyes wide with concern. "And those enemies? They won't hesitate to hurt the people he loves just to get to him. You need to be prepared, Tae. Sometimes, things might not be what they seem."

The memory hit Taehyung with the force of a tidal wave, pulling him out of his despair. His breathing steadied, and a new thought slowly took root in his mind.

What if... this was all a lie?

His heart thudded loudly in his chest as he considered the possibility. It could have been a prank. Or worse-what if someone had forced Jungkook to make that call? Enemies. Lisa had warned him about this. Was Jungkook in danger?

Taehyung clenched his fists, determination replacing the sadness in his heart. He couldn't sit around and drown in sorrow, not when the person he loved could be in trouble. He needed to see Jungkook.

Wiping his tears away, Taehyung stood and grabbed his coat, his jaw set with resolve. He hurried out of his room and down the grand hall, finding the family's chauffeur.

"Hyungi, get the car ready,". "I need to go to Jeon Corp."

The driver, sensing Taehyung's determination, didn't ask any questions. Within minutes, the sleek black car was waiting at the entrance.

As Taehyung slid into the back seat, he pulled out his phone again. His fingers hovered over Jungkook's contact. He wanted to call him, to hear his voice one more time, but something stopped him. If there was a threat, he couldn't risk exposing Jungkook further.

The driver glanced back through the rearview mirror. "Where to, sir?"

"Jeon Corporation," Taehyung answered, his voice unwavering. "And please drive fast."

The car sped down the highway, the streets flashing by in a blur. Taehyung leaned his head against the window, trying to calm the storm inside him. He knew Jungkook's world was dangerous, filled with complexities and responsibilities. But no matter what, Taehyung trusted his love for Jungkook-and that trust gave him the strength to confront whatever lay ahead.

The city skyline shimmered under the afternoon sun as the car weaved through traffic. Taehyung's heart raced, not from fear but from a fierce need to protect the one person who meant everything to him.

"Please, let me be wrong," he whispered to himself, hoping with all his heart that this was just a misunderstanding. But no matter what awaited him at Jeon Corp, Taehyung knew one thing: He wouldn't let go of Jungkook without a fight.

***************

Jungkook stared at Mr. Kim, his mind clouded with disbelief and anger. Every word spoken felt like a dagger to his heart, cutting deeper with each second. His fists clenched at his sides, and his breath came out in shaky bursts as he tried to maintain his composure.

Mr. Kim's sharp gaze softened slightly as he added, "Yes... child. You've made the right decision. Now, there is no turning back. You must marry my grandchild. He truly likes you." Mr. Kim's lips curled into a satisfied smile, one that Jungkook found unsettling-too calm, too calculated. It was as though the man had planned everything perfectly, leaving no room for escape.

Jungkook felt his chest tighten. His heart pounded violently, and for a moment, he could hear nothing but the erratic thumping in his ears. Tae... His thoughts whispered the name like a plea, as if clinging to something-someone-he was about to lose. His lips trembled, and a wave of guilt crashed over him like a tidal wave, threatening to drown him.

"I'm sorry, baby," Jungkook muttered under his breath, though no one was around to hear his words. It wasn't enough-not even close. No apology could undo the betrayal he was being forced to commit. But what choice did he have?

Without saying another word, he grabbed the car key from the table and stormed out of the room, each step feeling heavier than the last. His chest burned with suppressed emotion, but he forced himself to keep moving. He had to get out of there-away from the suffocating weight of Mr. Kim's expectations, away from the unbearable truth that he couldn't face Tae anymore.

Once outside, Jungkook barely registered the night breeze hitting his face as he unlocked the car in a blur. His hand shook when he gripped the steering wheel, and with a swift motion, he turned on the ignition. The roar of the engine filled the empty street, but the noise did nothing to quiet the storm inside him.

He pressed his foot hard on the accelerator, driving recklessly down the dimly lit roads. The world outside rushed by in a blur of lights and shadows, but Jungkook's thoughts were consumed by one image: Tae's face, smiling at him so trustingly, so lovingly. The very thought made his heart ache in a way that was unbearable. How could he ever look into those eyes again? How could he tell Tae that everything they built was slipping away-no, being torn away from them?

Jungkook's knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel tighter, his foot pressing harder on the accelerator. The speedometer climbed higher and higher, mirroring the frantic pace of his thoughts. It wasn't just the road he was running from-it was the guilt, the heartbreak, and the love he didn't know how to protect.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Tae," he whispered, tears stinging his eyes as he sped through the empty streets. But no matter how fast he drove, he couldn't outrun the truth: He was leaving behind the one person he wanted to hold onto the most.

**************

Taehyung pushed open the door to Jungkook's room, his heart heavy with unease. The room was eerily quiet, the bed neatly made, and the clothes untouched-too perfect, as if no one had been there in hours. A cold sensation ran down Taehyung's spine as he scanned the room, his heart pounding faster with each passing second.

"Jungkook?" he whispered softly, hoping for a response, but only silence answered him. His eyes darted toward the closet, the balcony, and even under the bed, searching frantically for any sign of Jungkook's presence. He refused to believe that Jungkook would leave without telling him. Something was wrong-he could feel it in his gut.

Suddenly, a familiar but ominous voice echoed from behind him. "Taehyung..."

Startled, Taehyung spun around, and there, standing in the doorway, was Mr. Kim. The old man's face was expressionless, his dark eyes gleaming with something unreadable. His wrinkled hand rested on the handle of his ornate walking stick, gripping it with quiet authority.

"Mr. Kim...?" Taehyung's voice faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Are you here for Jeon?" His voice was cautious, as if he already knew the answer but hoped he was wrong.

Mr. Kim's lips curled into the slightest of smiles, a twisted, knowing expression that sent a chill through Taehyung's body.

"You're looking for him, aren't you?" Mr. Kim said softly.

Taehyung gave a hesitant nod, taking a step closer toward the door. "I need to find him... Where is Jungkook?" he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

But before he could react, Mr. Kim's expression darkened. With terrifying speed for a man his age, he raised his heavy walking stick and swung it.

Crack.

The blunt end of the stick struck Taehyung's temple with brutal force. His vision blurred instantly, stars exploding in front of his eyes as pain radiated through his skull. He stumbled, his legs giving out beneath him.

"Jung...kook..." he whispered weakly, trying to call out, but his voice barely made a sound. His knees buckled, and his body swayed before collapsing onto the cold floor.

His head throbbed in agonizing waves, and darkness began to creep into the edges of his vision. He struggled to lift himself, but his limbs felt heavy and useless. The last thing he saw was Mr. Kim standing over him, looking down with a cold, detached expression.

"Some people are better off apart," Mr. Kim murmured to himself, turning away without a trace of guilt.

********

Meanwhile, Jungkook was flying down the highway, his mind in turmoil. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his foot pressed firmly on the accelerator. The speedometer climbed higher and higher, but the faster he drove, the more trapped he felt by the suffocating weight of his decision.

Why does it have to end like this? His thoughts raced wildly, just as fast as the car hurtling down the road. Tae's face kept flashing in his mind-his soft smile, the warmth in his gaze, the way his presence made Jungkook feel like he could breathe freely for the first time in his life.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Tae," Jungkook whispered through clenched teeth, his voice cracking under the weight of guilt. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring his vision, but he didn't care. All he knew was that he had to get away. Far away.

The road ahead twisted and turned, but Jungkook didn't slow down. He pushed the car harder, faster-chasing an escape that would never come. His heart felt like it was shattering with every mile, and no amount of speed could piece it back together.

Suddenly, a blinding light cut through the darkness-headlights, growing larger and closer with terrifying speed.

HONK! HONK!

The deafening sound of a truck's horn filled the air, but it was too late.

Jungkook slammed the brakes, but the tires screeched helplessly against the asphalt. The car skidded violently, spinning out of control. His body lurched forward, but the seatbelt locked him in place with a jarring force.

The truck collided with the side of his car with a bone-shaking CRASH, sending metal and glass flying in every direction. Jungkook felt the impact rattle through his entire body, but there was no time to process the pain. The car spun wildly, careening toward the edge of the bridge.

For a brief moment, everything seemed to move in slow motion. Jungkook saw the jagged railings of the bridge snap like toothpicks as the car plowed through them. The river below shimmered under the moonlight, dark and cold, waiting to swallow him whole.

His heart clenched. Tae...

The car broke through the final barrier, and in the next instant, it plummeted off the edge. The force of gravity yanked Jungkook's body downward as the car nosedived toward the water.

The sound of rushing wind filled his ears, drowning out every thought and fear. All he could do was close his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks as the river came rushing up to meet him.

With a deafening splash, the car hit the surface of the water, shattering the stillness of the river. The impact was brutal, forcing the air from Jungkook's lungs in a violent gasp. The icy water surged in from every direction, filling the car within seconds.

Jungkook struggled to move, but the seatbelt held him tight, trapping him in place as the car sank deeper and deeper into the black abyss. The coldness of the water was numbing, stealing the last of his strength.

His vision blurred, and his limbs grew heavy. The world around him faded, the weight of guilt and love dragging him down into the depths.

I'm sorry, Tae...

As the river swallowed him whole, everything went silent.

*********

Apologies for the delayed updates, everyone!

Things have been quite hectic lately. I've been commuting 10 kilometers to work every day, and between household chores and other responsibilities, it's been tough to find time.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. I'll do my best to get back on track soon!