Chapter 43

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Author's Point of View

Yuri's week long stay at the Kim household was carefully planned. She hoped to find a way into Taehyung's life and cause cracks in his marriage with Jungkook. But despite her many schemes, everything she tried failed, leaving her feeling frustrated and alone.

When Yuri arrived, she pretended to be a friendly family friend. Namjoon and Jin welcomed her warmly, as they were close to her father. They admired her success and treated her with kindness, unaware of her real motives. However, Yuri's obsession with Taehyung, which she had kept hidden for three years, was now in plain view... though she disguised it well in front of Namjoon and Jin.

Throughout the week, she took every chance to sit close to Taehyung, talk about their past encounters, and engage him in personal conversations. Jungkook noticed her behavior but remained calm, trusting the deep love he shared with Taehyung. Taehyung, however, didn't ignore Yuri's actions.

Yuri's main tactic was to create doubt in Taehyung's mind about his relationship with Jungkook. She would say things like, "Jungkook is so quiet. Don't you think he struggles to match your energy?" or "Do you ever feel like he doesn't fully understand you?" But Taehyung, steadfast in his love for Jungkook, dismissed her comments with a calm but firm response every time.

When this failed, Yuri tried to provoke Jungkook directly. She interrupted him during family conversations, cut him off mid-sentence, and compared her accomplishments to his, trying to make herself seem like the better match for Taehyung. Yet, all this did was highlight Jungkook's grace and patience. He responded to her behavior with quiet dignity, never giving in to her provocations.

Namjoon and Jin, still unaware of Yuri's intentions, often praised Jungkook for his kindness and his devotion to Taehyung and their daughter, Aera. This only frustrated Yuri further. No matter how hard she tried to draw attention to herself, Jungkook's genuine love for the family always outshone her.

As the days passed, Yuri's desperation grew. She started openly criticizing Jungkook in subtle ways, saying he was "too young" or "too inexperienced" for someone like Taehyung. But during one of these remarks, Taehyung finally confronted her, stating firmly, "If you can't respect my husband, then you don't respect me. This behavior is unacceptable."

Yuri's most reckless move came when she took Aera to the park without telling anyone. She thought this would impress Namjoon and Jin by showing her initiative with their granddaughter. But it backfired when Aera cried for Jungkook the entire time. When they returned home, Jungkook comforted Aera immediately, while Namjoon and Jin gently scolded Yuri for not informing them. Watching the family's love for Jungkook and his natural connection with Aera, Yuri realized she was losing.

On the sixth day, Jimin, Yoongi, and Hobi came to visit. Their warmth and support for Taehyung and Jungkook filled the house, making Yuri's attempts to interfere even harder. When she tried to undermine Jungkook again, Jimin and Yoongi quickly shut her down, making it clear they wouldn't tolerate any disrespect toward the couple. Hobi reinforced Jungkook's confidence by reminiscing about his and Taehyung's beautiful love story. Their presence made it impossible for Yuri to isolate Taehyung.

By the end of the week, Yuri's frustration turned into humiliation. Every effort she made to come between Taehyung and Jungkook only strengthened the love and support surrounding them. When it was time for her to leave, Namjoon and Jin remained polite, unaware of the turmoil she had caused. Jungkook, ever gracious, offered her a kind farewell. But Taehyung was distant, his tone cold and formal.

As she left, Yuri felt defeated. Her obsession with Taehyung had only pushed her further away from him, and she realized she could never break the bond he shared with Jungkook.

—

After Yuri left, life at the Kim household slowly returned to normal. Taehyung and Jungkook leaned on each other, their love growing stronger after enduring Yuri's attempts to disrupt their peace. They spent time with Aera, sharing quiet family moments, while Namjoon and Jin continued to dote on Jungkook. Taehyung's friends stayed watchful, determined to protect the couple from any future threats.

For a while, everything seemed calm and happy. But Yuri wasn't ready to let go.

In the days following her departure, Yuri couldn't stop thinking about Taehyung. She replayed every interaction they'd ever had, convincing herself there had been a special connection between them. She couldn't forget his smile, his laugh, or the way his eyes had met hers. But every memory was tainted by Jungkook... the man who had the life Yuri believed should have been hers.

Her obsession grew darker. She started stalking Taehyung and Jungkook, watching their every move. She memorized their routines, followed them to work and outings, and spent hours parked outside their home. The sight of Jungkook laughing with Taehyung or holding Aera filled Yuri with rage. She saw Jungkook as an obstacle, the reason Taehyung wasn't hers.

Yuri's hatred consumed her. She couldn't focus on her life, isolating herself from friends and family. Her nights were restless, her thoughts filled with plans to separate the couple. She analyzed Jungkook's every move, searching for weaknesses she could exploit, but everything about him only reminded her of what she could never have... Taehyung’s love.

Her obsession took over her life, driving her into a dangerous spiral. Yuri's world had shrunk to a single focus... Taehyung. And she was willing to do anything to get him back... even if it meant crossing boundaries she could never return from.

—

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, and Taehyung and Jungkook decided to go grocery shopping together. These small, ordinary moments were their favorite, a chance to escape their busy lives and just enjoy each other's company. Hand-in-hand, they strolled through the bustling market, laughing softly and pointing out items on their list as vendors shouted out their daily specials.

But as they moved from aisle to aisle, Taehyung felt a strange unease creeping in. It was subtle at first, like the weight of a gaze lingering too long. He glanced around but didn't see anything unusual. Still, the feeling refused to go away. Jungkook, always in tune with Taehyung's emotions, quickly noticed his distracted expression.

"Hyung, are you okay?" Jungkook asked gently, touching Taehyung's arm with concern.

Taehyung gave a small nod, his eyes scanning the crowd. "I don't know. I feel like someone's watching us."

They continued shopping, but the nagging sense of being followed only grew stronger. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Taehyung caught a glimpse of someone familiar... a flash of blonde hair and a figure dressed in black lingering at a distance. His chest tightened as realization hit him: it was Yuri.

Taehyung's grip on the shopping basket tightened, his jaw clenching in frustration. He leaned closer to Jungkook and whispered, "Kook, Yuri's here."

Jungkook's expression darkened, his usual calm shifting to quiet annoyance. "Where?" he asked, his eyes scanning the aisles.

"I saw her a few rows back," Taehyung replied, his voice low. "I think she's been following us."

Jungkook let out a slow breath, clearly irritated. "Let's finish up and get out of here," he said firmly.

Taehyung nodded, but the tension between them was palpable as they quickly grabbed the rest of their groceries. Yuri wasn't hiding anymore. She followed them openly now, her gaze fixated on Taehyung. It felt predatory, invasive, and Taehyung's frustration bubbled dangerously close to the surface.

Once they stepped out of the market, Taehyung couldn't hold back any longer. He turned sharply, his voice cutting through the air with raw anger. "Yuri! What the hell are you doing here?"

Yuri stopped, startled by the sudden confrontation. For a brief moment, her expression wavered, but she quickly replaced it with a strained smile. "Taehyung! What a coincidence," she said, her tone fake and sugary. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Taehyung's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp and cold. "Don't lie to me. You've been following us. Why are you here?"

Yuri's carefully crafted mask began to crumble. Her smile faded, replaced by a mix of anger and desperation. She stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Why am I here?" She pointed a shaking finger at Jungkook, her eyes blazing with resentment. "I know. He's the reason you've pushed me away! He's the reason you're ignoring me!"

Jungkook, who had been standing quietly beside Taehyung, finally spoke. His voice was calm but firm, every word carrying weight. "Yuri, this has to stop. Taehyung and I are married. You need to accept that."

"Accept it?" Yuri's voice rose, her face twisting with rage. "How can I accept it when I've been here all along, waiting for you to realize that I'm the one who truly loves you, Taehyung? Him? He doesn't deserve you! He'll never be good enough for you!"

Jungkook stayed composed, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Taehyung and I love each other, Yuri. You can't change that."

But Yuri was no longer listening. Consumed by her jealousy and desperation, she lunged forward, her hands outstretched to shove Jungkook. "You ruined everything!" she screamed, her voice shrill with fury.

Before she could reach Jungkook, Taehyung stepped between them, his protective instincts taking over. With a firm push, he sent Yuri stumbling backward. She collided with a parked car, her body jolting from the impact.

"Enough!" Taehyung's voice was loud and commanding, filled with anger and frustration. "This ends here, Yuri. I've had enough of your lies, your manipulation, your obsession. Stay away from us. Stay away from my family."

Yuri sat on the ground, stunned and humiliated. Taehyung's words cut through her like a knife, leaving her shaken. Slowly, she stood, her chest heaving with a mix of heartbreak and rage. She glared at them, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You'll regret this," she hissed, her voice trembling with venom. "Both of you."

As Yuri walked away, her figure disappearing into the distance, Taehyung let out a shaky breath. His hands trembled slightly as the adrenaline left his body. Jungkook reached for him, gently squeezing his shoulder.

"Let's go home," Jungkook said softly, his voice soothing.

Taehyung nodded, though his thoughts were still swirling with everything that had happened. Once home, the weight of the confrontation settled over them. Taehyung paced the living room, his frustration evident.

"She's not worth it, Hyung," Jungkook said, his tone calm but firm. "Let's focus on what matters... us, Aera, and our family. She can't come between us."

Taehyung stopped pacing and looked at Jungkook, the love in his husband's eyes grounding him. "You're right," he said, taking a deep breath. "She can't touch what we have."

But despite Jungkook's reassurances, Taehyung couldn't shake the feeling that Yuri's obsession wouldn't end here.

—

Meanwhile, Yuri's mind spiraled into darkness. The humiliation she'd felt during the confrontation only deepened her obsession. Her thoughts burned with hatred for Jungkook and a desperate need for revenge. If she couldn't have Taehyung, she'd destroy everything he held dear.

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ᴛ ᴀ ᴇ ᴋ ᴏ ᴏ ᴋ

Preview ~

To be continued...