"Shi-jia," Jungkook's father called, his tone softened in a way Jungkook had never heard directed at herself. His youngest brother's daughter glanced up from her phone, barely concealing her irritation, raising an eyebrow as if to question why she'd been interrupted.

"Get Jungkook ready. Some people are coming to see her today for marriage," he said, waving his hand dismissively as if the task were a nuisance. His expression contorted with visible disgust as he uttered Jungkook's name, a reaction so familiar yet still cutting.

Shi-jia huffed, rolling her eyes in open annoyance. "Why do I have to deal with her?" she muttered under her breath. She stood up reluctantly, giving her phone a final glance before shoving it into her pocket. She walked over to Jungkook, who stood quietly in the background, shoulders slightly hunched, hoping to remain invisible.

Before Shi-jia could reach her, Jungkook felt a wave of desperation break over her, stronger than anything she had ever felt. Without thinking, she ran to her father, tears already streaming down her face. She knelt in front of him, clutching his legs, her fingers trembling as she clung to him.

"Please," she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. "Please, Father... don't do this. Don't send me away. I'll do anything you ask, I'll work harder, I'll stay out of the way. Just... please don't make me leave." Her voice broke as she held onto him, her words spilling out in a desperate rush.

He looked down at her, his face a mask of indifference, eyes cold and distant. Jungkook's tears continued to fall as she begged him, her voice thick with sorrow. "I'll do anything, Father. I'll be quiet, I won't cause trouble... just, please... don't make me leave."

With a frustrated huff, he took a step back, prying her hands away from his legs as if he couldn't bear her touch. His face twisted in disgust. "Enough of this nonsense, Jungkook," he snapped, his voice sharp and unforgiving. "You think I care about what you want? Stop acting pathetic."

Jungkook froze, feeling the final sliver of hope shatter inside her. He looked down at her with open disdain, as though she were a bothersome insect he couldn't wait to be rid of.

"Shi-jia!" he called, turning his back to Jungkook without a second glance. Shi-jia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, clearly annoyed by the interruption but ready to obey.

"Get her ready," he said, his tone cold and dismissive. He didn't spare Jungkook even a single glance as he walked away, leaving her kneeling on the floor, still trembling from her futile plea.

Shi-jia walked up to her and grabbed her arm with impatience. "Stop wasting everyone's time," she muttered, pulling Jungkook up forcefully. "They're not going to cancel this, so get over it."

Jungkook let herself be dragged along, feeling as though she were moving through a fog, the reality of her situation settling heavily in her chest.

Shi-jia practically shoved Jungkook into her small, dimly lit room, her grip firm and unkind as she pulled her toward the mirror. Jungkook barely registered the harshness of Shi-jia's movements or the roughness in her voice—she felt detached, as though she were watching everything from a distance. Her father's rejection, his cruel indifference, still echoed in her mind, leaving her numb.

Shi-jia rummaged through the small pile of clothes, muttering complaints under her breath. "This is what you have? Honestly, Jungkook, do you even try? No wonder they're eager to marry you off," she scoffed, pulling out a faded dress and thrusting it into Jungkook's hands. "Put this on. Hurry up."

Mechanically, Jungkook took the dress and changed into it, her movements slow and robotic. Her mind was blank, her body moving out of sheer habit. She could barely feel the scratch of the fabric against her skin or the pull of the zipper as Shi-jia jerked it up roughly.

"Sit still," Shi-jia snapped, grabbing a brush and dragging it through Jungkook's hair with little care. Each tug felt harsh, but Jungkook barely reacted. Her thoughts were lost, her eyes unfocused as she stared blankly at her reflection.

Shi-jia's grip tightened as she twisted Jungkook's hair, pinning it back with a few hairpins, muttering irritably the entire time. "You'd think you could at least do this yourself. But no, even this is too much," she sneered, yanking harder than necessary as she forced Jungkook's hair into place.

Jungkook's mind drifted as Shi-jia continued working, her words and the rough movements blurring into the background. It was as if she were an object, a mannequin being dressed up without any thought or care. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, the blankness in her own eyes a reflection of the emptiness she felt within. Her heart felt heavy, and her mind drifted to a place where she couldn't feel anything at all, where she was simply... gone.

"There," Shi-jia said finally, stepping back with an exasperated huff. "Now try not to mess it up." She looked Jungkook up and down, her expression a mix of disdain and indifference before she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Jungkook alone.

Jungkook remained where she was, staring at her own reflection, yet feeling as though she were staring at a stranger. A hollow shell looked back at her, the girl in the mirror dressed and ready but empty, as though all sense of self had been drained away.

The living room was filled with lively chatter as Jungkook's cousins lounged on the plush couches, each of them dressed in bright, elegant clothes that shimmered under the soft light. They were all laughing, adjusting their accessories, and scrolling through their phones, barely acknowledging Jungkook as she moved silently around them, her small shoulders weighed down by the endless list of chores she'd been assigned.

Jungkook quietly cleared away the empty teacups from their table, feeling their gazes skim over her as if she were invisible. She had worked since dawn, her hands sore from scrubbing, her legs aching from running up and down the stairs fetching things. She hoped, with each task completed, that she might finally get a chance to rest. When she was done, she moved to a corner of the room, lowering herself slowly to the floor, her back leaning against the wall as she tucked her knees up close.

The cousins exchanged glances, smirking, and one of them, Min-Seo, leaned forward, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, look at you, Jungkook. Taking a break already?" she mocked, twirling a strand of her perfectly styled hair. "You've got to work a little harder if you want to impress your 'future husband' when he gets here. Can't have him thinking he's marrying a lazy girl."

The others chuckled, and another cousin, Hee-jin, smirked as he added, "Speaking of which, did you hear how old this guy is? Father said he's nearly as old as Uncle. Can you believe that? I mean, the man's practically ancient!" He feigned a shudder, making the others laugh.

Jungkook felt her heart sink, but she didn't say anything, her gaze fixed on the floor, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.

"Yeah, but hey," Min-seo continued, her voice turning falsely sweet, "maybe he's exactly what you need. You know, a mature man who can deal with a burden like you. It's not like anyone young and decent would ever want..." she paused, eyeing Jungkook up and down with a smirk, "... that."

The others burst into laughter, and Jungkook's cheeks flushed. She tried to look away, to drown out their words, but they seemed determined to tear her down.

"Oh, come on, you guys," Hee-jin added, leaning forward with a wicked grin, "think about how peaceful it'll be once she's finally gone. No more tiptoeing around her, no more hearing her sniffling around the house. Imagine—one less burden to worry about."

Jungkook swallowed, willing herself to hold back the tears that pricked at her eyes. She pressed her back harder against the wall, wishing she could disappear into it. Their laughter echoed around her, each taunt burrowing deeper into her heart, making her feel smaller and more unwanted than ever. They didn't care about her fears, her wishes, or even her existence. To them, she was just a problem, a shadow they couldn't wait to be rid of.

As the laughter died down, one of the cousins leaned back with a sigh, her voice carrying a final cruel edge. "Well, Jungkook, you're finally getting the life you deserve—a future that suits you perfectly. An old man, a life of serving him, far away from here. That's where you belong."

Jungkook hugged her knees tighter, feeling utterly alone, each word slicing through the last remnants of hope she'd held onto.

The doorbell rang, and instantly, the whole family sprang into action. Jungkook's cousins and other family members flocked to the entrance, wearing bright smiles and greeting their guests with practised warmth and enthusiasm. As the visitors were ushered inside, they exchanged pleasantries, filling the entryway with the scent of perfume and a hum of polite conversation.

Meanwhile, Jungkook had retreated to the kitchen, her heart pounding as she busied herself arranging the refreshments on a silver tray. She knew her presence wasn't expected; she was there simply to prepare the food, to stay out of sight unless specifically called. She could hear the muffled voices from the living room as the family settled in, offering their guests tea and pastries.

In the living room, Jungkook's father gestured for everyone to take their seats, his voice cordial yet slightly strained as he spoke to the family who had come to see Jungkook. "We're so glad you could make it," he said, nodding politely. He threw a glance toward Min-Seo, who was standing close by, her phone still in her hand.

"Min-seo," he called, lowering his voice just enough to make sure the guests wouldn't hear the strain of impatience in his tone, "Go and call Jungkook. Tell her it's time."

Min-seo sighed, her face contorting briefly in annoyance before she smoothed it out with a practiced smile. She nodded and slipped away from the group, making her way down the hall and toward the kitchen.

Jungkook was just finishing arranging the teacups when she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Min-seo standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, eyes rolling as if the task were a chore. "They're ready for you," she said, her tone dripping with impatience. "Don't keep everyone waiting. Father doesn't want this to take any longer than it has to."

Jungkook's hands stilled, her stomach knotting with nerves. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, her gaze dropping to the tray as she fought to keep herself calm. Min-seo, noting her hesitation, smirked.

"Try not to look too miserable, will you?" she added with a sneer. "It's already bad enough they're stuck with you."

Jungkook nodded silently, her expression masked, and carefully lifted the tray, forcing herself to keep her steps steady as she followed Min-seo back toward the living room, bracing herself for what awaited.

Jungkook entered the living room cautiously, her gaze fixed on the tray in her hands, every step measured to keep her from trembling. Min-seo walked a step behind her, flashing a bright, welcoming smile at the guests that seemed almost out of place. Jungkook felt her cheeks flush under the weight of all the unfamiliar eyes resting on her, and she focused intently on setting the tray down on the table without making a sound.

The groom's family sat together, a respectable-looking group, with a distinguished air about them. They were in the middle of a warm conversation with her father, exchanging polite smiles and laughter. The family members included an older couple, the parents, two brothers seated nearby with their wives, and at the center, their youngest son—Kim Taehyung, the prospective groom. He sat quietly, his gaze trained ahead, barely sparing Jungkook a glance.

As Jungkook straightened up, Mrs. Kim's eyes landed on her, and a soft, warm smile curled at the older woman's lips. She leaned forward slightly, her curiosity evident, and with a kind expression, she addressed Jungkook.

"What is your name, dear?" Mrs. Kim asked gently, her tone inviting but firm enough to capture the attention of the entire room.

Jungkook's heart raced, and she instinctively lowered her gaze, feeling every eye on her. Her voice came out in a quiet, unsteady stammer as she managed to respond, "I... I'm Jungkook, ma'am."

The soft murmur that passed between the family members made her shoulders tense, but Mrs. Kim only nodded, her smile growing as she exchanged a glance with her husband. It was clear they were observing her closely, weighing their impressions of the shy young girl standing before them.

Taehyung, however, remained unmoved, his eyes fixed elsewhere as if the proceedings were of little importance to him. He sat with his arms folded, looking aloof and detached, not even sparing Jungkook a second glance.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The room was filled with smiles and nods of approval as the final decision was made. After a brief conversation among themselves, Kim Taehyung's parents looked toward Jungkook's father with pleased expressions. Mr. Kim finally gave a confirming nod.

"We are happy to proceed," Mr. Kim said, his voice warm and resolute. Mrs. Kim's eyes sparkled with satisfaction, and she reached out to give Jungkook's father a congratulatory handshake. "Let's hold the ceremony next week."

Jungkook stood silently, her heart sinking even as the family around her lit up with smiles and congratulations. She glanced at Taehyung, who remained as impassive as ever, his face revealing nothing, his gaze fixed on some distant point as though he were somewhere else entirely.

Her father's voice cut through the air with unmistakable pride. "We're honored, truly. Jungkook will be ready."

As the details of the marriage arrangements continued around her, Jungkook felt a hollow ache fill her chest, a strange numbness settling over her as the realization hit—her life would be changing completely in just a week. She'd be leaving everything behind, thrown into a future she hadn't chosen.