You had once believed his son was everything you wanted. Minjae, charming, spontaneous, beautifully unpredictable. But love with him was chaos. Days of passion followed by nights of silence. Promises that dissolved the moment they left his lips. Every fight ended with you apologizing for things you didn’t break, for emotions you didn’t cause.

You loved him until you forgot what peace felt like. The day you walked away, Jungkook was there, quiet, distant, watching from the doorway when you left Minjae’s apartment with tears on your cheeks. He didn’t say anything, didn’t stop you. He watched.

That was months ago. Now, you sat across from him in his elegant home, the same place you had visited countless times as a teenager when Minjae dragged you over after school. It felt different now, calmer, heavy. His gaze was unreadable as he poured tea for you, his hands steady, precise, like everything he did. You’ve changed,” he said quietly.

There was silence. The faint sound of the rain outside filled the space between you. Then Jungkook set his cup down, leaned slightly forward, and said in that calm, deliberate voice of his, “Marry me.”

You froze. “I said marry me,” he repeated. No hesitation, no nervous smile. His eyes held yours with terrifying sincerity. “I’ve thought about this for too long. I want to give you what my son couldn’t, peace, respect, devotion. You deserve more than what you were given.”

“I can.” he interrupted, firm but gentle. “I’m not asking for a chance to replace anyone. I’m asking to love you the way you should have always been loved.” Your breath hitched. His words were gentle, dangerous, comforting. You knew he meant it and what saying yes would do to Minjae.

You said it anyway. He smiled, just a little, as though something deep within him had finally found rest.

The wedding was private, quiet. He treated you with reverence. Every morning he’d make sure breakfast was ready before you woke. Every evening, he’d ask about your day with genuine interest. He never raised his voice, never made you feel small.

And yet, part of you knew you didn’t enter this marriage out of love. You wanted Minjae to see what he’d lost. You wanted him to know how easily his father could give you what he never could.

Weeks passed. Jungkook’s affection was steady, unwavering. He touched you with care, kissed you with tenderness, held you as if you were something fragile and precious. But that one afternoon, everything shattered.

You were on the phone with your friend, unaware he had come home early. His footsteps were silent as he stopped by the half-open study door, he heard how you weren't there for love but revenge.

There was silence. A silence so heavy it made the air itself tighten. You turned around and froze.

Jungkook stood there. His expression wasn’t angry. It was worse. Devastated, disbelieving. His eyes, usually calm and warm, were hollow. “Revenge, huh?” he repeated, voice quiet but trembling with restraint. “Don’t,” he said softly. “Don’t lie now.”

He stepped into the room slowly, each movement deliberate. “All this time… I thought you accepted me because you wanted me. Because you cared. But it was never that, was it?”

“No?” he whispered. “Then tell me what it is. Tell me why you look at me as if you’re trying to convince yourself it’s real. Sorry?” he laughed bitterly, just once. “I gave you everything, and you gave me a performance.”

He turned to leave, his voice breaking for the first time since you’d known him. “You didn’t just break my heart. You made me believe I was finally worthy of love.”