"What are we going to do about Hee-sung?" Y/n’s voice broke the silence, drawing Taehyung’s attention away from the invitation card in his hand. His sharp gaze lifted, a smirk tugging at his lips as he set the card down on the table before casually sliding it across to Y/n.

“Take a look,” he instructed, leaning back in his chair with an air of calculated confidence.

Y/n’s brows knitted in confusion as she picked up the card, the weight of his unspoken implications settling heavily in the room. Nonetheless, she unfolded the invitation, her eyes scanning the ornate script until the words spilled from her lips. “You are cordially invited to Lim Hee-sung’s—what the actual hell?” she exclaimed, her head snapping up to meet Taehyung’s calm, calculating expression.

Taehyung shrugged nonchalantly, though his eyes gleamed with intent. “Clearly, he’s planning something.”

Y/n let out a weary sigh, placing the invitation back on the table as if the mere touch of it tainted her fingers. “Well, it looks like he’s throwing down the gauntlet. It’s a challenge.”

Taehyung hummed in agreement, rising from his chair with the grace of a predator. He strolled to the office window, his hands slipping into his pockets as he stared out into the darkness beyond. “One thing doesn’t add up, though,” he mused, his voice low but sharp. “We haven’t heard from him in three years—since that day.”

At the mention of that day, Y/n’s heart clenched involuntarily. She bit her lip, the memory of the past threatening to resurface, but she forced herself to push it aside.

“And now,” Taehyung continued, his brows furrowing in thought, “out of nowhere, he sends a spy to infiltrate us, followed by this... invitation to celebrate his first-year anniversary. Suspicious, wouldn’t you say?”

Y/n stepped toward him, her movements deliberate, and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. “Don’t overthink it, Tae. You’ve faced countless rivals and brought them to their knees. Hee-sung will be no different.”

Taehyung turned to face her, his expression softening slightly as he searched her eyes. “You really think so?”

Her lips curved into a reassuring smile, her confidence unwavering. “I don’t just think so. I know so.”

He nodded slowly, a faint smile gracing his face before it vanished, replaced by the resolute demeanour of a leader. “Send word to him that we’ll be there.”

Y/n’s eyes widened in alarm. “Wait, what? Are you serious? It could be a trap!”

Taehyung’s smirk returned, this time laced with a hint of danger. “Who said we’d go unprepared? I always have a backup plan, Y/n. If he tries anything, he’ll regret it. But we’re going.” He stepped past her, his voice cold and determined. “This rivalry has gone on long enough. It’s time to end it—once and for all.”

“But your father doesn’t want you to kill him, Taehyung,” Y/n reminded him, her tone cautious yet firm.

Taehyung scoffed, turning sharply on his heel to face her. “Can’t you see, Y/n? Yesterday, we caught one of his spies. Who knows what he’ll try next? I should’ve ended this three years ago when I had the chance. But I didn’t—because of my father’s insistence. And look where that’s gotten us. I won’t make that mistake again. If I let him go now, he’ll bring Liondale to its knees.”

He stepped closer to her, his dark eyes burning with conviction. “As the boss of Liondale, I can’t let that happen. I can’t stand by and watch everything we’ve built fall apart.”

Y/n knew he was right. Taehyung’s father had warned her of this path long ago. She had been brought into their world with the promise that she would stand by Taehyung’s side, and over the years, their bond has deepened. They had trained together, laughed together, and endured countless hardships as one. She had witnessed him ascend to power at the age of eighteen, stepping into the role his late brother, Kim Gaeul, had shunned in favour of exploring the world.

Taehyung’s voice broke her reverie. “Arrange a meeting for tomorrow. I’ll finalise the plan during the briefing.”

Y/n nodded, her resolve firm. “I’ll inform everyone.”

As she turned to leave, Taehyung watched her go, his mind already racing through scenarios and contingencies. The air between them was heavy with the weight of what lay ahead, but neither of them would falter. The time for hesitation had passed. This was a war they would win—together.

——

That night, Taehyung stumbled into the living room, his steps unsteady as he rubbed his temples, his face contorted in evident pain. With a frustrated sigh, he tugged at his tie, pulling it loose before tossing it carelessly onto the sofa. Undoing the top button of his shirt, he slumped heavily onto the couch, leaning his weary frame against its backrest, his exhaustion palpable.

The sudden touch of a hand pressing gently against his forehead startled him. Instinctively, he grasped the hand, his reflexes sharp despite his fatigue. Turning his head, his gaze softened upon recognising Y/n.

“Y/n...?” he murmured, his voice rough yet tinged with a hint of relief.

She smiled, her expression warm and understanding. “You look like you’ve got a splitting headache. I thought I’d help by giving you a massage.”

Taehyung exhaled deeply, letting his guard down. “By all means, go ahead...” he muttered, closing his eyes as he leaned back. A soft chuckle escaped Y/n’s lips as she positioned herself behind him, her delicate fingers beginning to knead his temples with a practiced, soothing rhythm.

A low whine rumbled from Taehyung’s throat, his body relaxing under her ministrations. “God, this feels like... heaven,” he mumbled, his voice laced with a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability.

After a moment, Taehyung reached up, gently taking hold of Y/n’s hands and guiding her around the couch to sit beside him. She allowed herself to be led, though confusion danced in her eyes.

“Tae? What’s this about? Why are you making me sit here?”

Her breath caught as Taehyung leaned his head against her shoulder, his movements uncharacteristically tender. Crossing her arms defensively against her chest, she stammered, “Hey... what are you doing?”

He hummed softly, nuzzling his head into the curve of her shoulder, his proximity causing her heart to flutter uncontrollably. “I’m tired,” he murmured, his tone almost pleading. “Let’s just stay like this for a while.”

As the faint scent of alcohol wafted toward her, Y/n furrowed her brows in concern. “Tae... are you drunk?”

He shrugged nonchalantly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “No... well, maybe just a little?”

Alarmed, Y/n tilted her head to study him, her worry deepening. Taehyung was not one to drink without reason. In fact, she knew he only turned to alcohol when trying to escape something weighing heavily on his mind.

“Why would you drink? Did something happen?” she pressed, her voice soft but firm. Nothing unusual had occurred today—or so she thought. If something was amiss, why hadn’t she noticed?

Her thoughts raced, piecing together the fragments of the day. Taehyung had been out with Jin earlier—had something happened between them?

Instead of answering, Taehyung lifted his head from her shoulder, his gaze locking with hers. His eyes, dark and intense, seemed to search her soul. “You’re so rude, Y/n... so incredibly rude,” he mumbled, his voice carrying an almost childlike petulance.

Before she could respond, he shifted, laying his head onto her lap. The unexpected movement left her momentarily stunned, but she instinctively began running her fingers through his hair, the soft strands weaving through her touch.

“Rude? How am I rude?” she asked gently, her voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyung leaned into her touch, his words slurred yet weighted with emotion. “I’m trying so hard to hold back, but you... you’re making it so hard for me.”

Her breath hitched, her lips parting as if to respond, yet no words came. What could she possibly say? That he was making it hard for her, too? That his presence unravelled her carefully constructed composure?

His voice broke through her turbulent thoughts, raw and aching. “Why does no one understand why I did what I did three years ago...? Why can’t anyone see that I’m hurting too?” His hand reached for hers, guiding it to rest against his chest. His heart thudded beneath her palm, its rhythm uneven and pained. “It hurts, Y/n. It hurts... right here.”

His voice wavered, a quiet confession slipping through. “It hurts to stay away from you... it hurts.”

He repeated the words like a broken chant, each utterance more fragile than the last, until his eyes finally fluttered closed. His breathing softened, his body succumbing to the pull of sleep, leaving Y/n to stare down at him in quiet turmoil.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. She lifted her head to see Jin standing in the doorway, his expression etched with concern as his gaze flickered between her and Taehyung.

“Just a moment, Oppa,” Y/n whispered, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. She carefully shifted Taehyung’s head off her lap, replacing it with a cushion before standing to face Jin.

Jin’s worry was evident as his eyes lingered on Taehyung. “I just came to make sure he got back safely,” he explained softly.

Y/n’s brows furrowed. “He’s drunk. Did something happen?”

Jin hesitated, biting his lip as if debating how much to reveal. Finally, he nodded. “Yes... something did happen.”