Chp 45- The Sins of the Past
The morning after the wedding arrived with a heavy, deafening silence. The mansion felt completely hollow. The two brightest lights of the household had departed, leaving behind empty rooms to brighten another home.
It was barely five in the morning, but sleep was a distant stranger to Minjun. A suffocating wave of remorse was slowly consuming him from within.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, he whispered into the quiet room, his voice choked with grief.
"How cruel fate is... God blessed us with two children, yet we failed them both. We spoiled one with so much blind affection that he didn't just hang our heads in shame, he ruined us completely, leaving us unable to face the world. And our daughter,
the one we should have cherished like a delicate flower... we nourished her heart with nothing but poison and bitter hatred."
Minjun turned his gaze toward Sana, who was fast asleep beside him, completely oblivious to his torment.
"We failed as parents, Sana," he murmured softly. "You couldn't become a good mother... and I failed as a father, a son, a husband, and a brother."
His eyes drifted back to the ceiling, haunted by memories.
"I still remember what I did five years ago. The blood on my hands has never washed clean, and perhaps that's why you and our children are paying for my sins today. Maybe... maybe if I die, this guilt will finally die with me."
Flashback
Five years ago...
Back when Daehyung, Taehyung's father, was still alive, the Kim family stood united. Taehyung was returning home from London, and Daehyung had personally driven out to receive his son at the airport.
The night before, a single decision had shattered the peace of the household.
It was announced that upon his return, Taehyung would inherit the Kim Empire, stepping into the role of CEO and rightful heir.
The news burned through Minjun with envy.
Unable to accept it, he decided to sign his own elder brother's death warrant.
On a deserted highway, as Daehyung drove toward the airport, a heavy truck swerved out of nowhere and slammed head-on into his car. Daehyung died instantly.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the tragedy, Taehyung stood waiting at the terminal.
Hours bled into one another as morning faded into evening.
Panic began to set in until his phone finally rang.
It was Suga, calling to tell him that Daehyung had been in an accident.
Keeping the devastating truth hidden, Suga sent a car to bring him home.
Trembling with a growing sense of dread, Taehyung arrived at Kim Mansion, only to step into a hall draped in grief. The reality hit him like a physical blow, his father was gone.
Taehyung shattered on the spot. After years away, the only thing he had dreamed of was rushing into his father's arms...
his hero, his role model and proudly showing him all the medals and achievements he had earned in London.
But before he could utter a single word, his father had been taken forever.
Flashback End
"I feel like my punishment is long overdue, Sana... and it's coming very soon," Minjun whispered, a stray tear escaping his eye and tracing down his cheek.
"Just a few more days... Please take care of yourself. In these final moments, I will try to give you everything I failed to offer over all these years of our marriage. At least when I leave this world, I can leave you with some happiness, so that when my dark secrets finally come to light,
you won't be able to hate me completely."
Leaning down softly, Minjun placed a tender kiss on Sana's forehead.
"Bahu! Jungkook! Are you still asleep? Get up! How late are you planning to sleep today?!"
Dadi's sharp voice echoed through the hallway, jolting Jungkook awake. She instantly tried to sit up, but Taehyung's arm was wrapped firmly around her waist, holding her rooted to the bed.
The pounding on the door persisted.
"Yes, dadi! Coming! Just two minutes!"
Jungkook called out desperately. She heard dadi grumble something under her breath before her footsteps faded down the hall.
"Ji... let go of me," Jungkook coaxed, tugging at his thick arm. "I have to get up, dadi is calling."
Instead of releasing her, Taehyung tightened his grip, pulling her flush against his chest.
"No, biwi..." he murmured, his voice heavy with sleep. "Let me sleep a little longer. I worked so hard all night, I deserve a rest. Unless, you want to make love again?"
Jungkook's face instantly flushed a burning shade of crimson. "Ew! What on earth are you saying first thing in the morning? Move, let me go! There's so much work to do downstairs."
That caught his attention. Taehyung's eyes snapped open.
"Work?" His voice lowered into a firm, raspy tone. "Did you forget about last night, biwi? You aren't doing any chores today. I'll handle dadi myself."
"Oh, you'll handle her?" Jungkook teased sarcastically.
"It's six in the morning, you're still half-asleep in bed, and you're going to 'handle' her? Everyone expects breakfast by seven! If I don't make it downstairs in five minutes, she'll be right back up here. Why can't you just understand.....ah!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Taehyung scooped her up effortlessly into his arms and began marching toward the bathroom.
"What are you doing?! Put me down! Where are you taking me?"
"To shower," he replied smoothly, a shameless smirk playing on his lips.
"You said it yourself, you have five minutes. Going one by one takes too long, so we'll shower together. It saves time... and water."
Jungkook turned completely red, utterly speechless at his shameless logic.
Taehyung set her down gently on the marble vanity counter and turned his back to grab a fresh towel from the linen cabinet. That was when Jungkook caught sight of his bare back.
Deep, red scratch marks crisscrossed his skin, courtesy of her own fingernails from the night before.
Jungkook clamped both hands over her mouth, her eyes widening in sheer shock. 'Am I a human or a wild cat? Who scratches someone like that?!' she panicked internally before quickly calling him over.
"Yes, my lady?" Taehyung asked sweetly, stepping up to her with an amused glint in his eyes.
"There is a first-aid kit in the top left cabinet. Could you pass it to me?"
"As you say my love," he chuckled, fetching the small white box and setting it on the counter. "So, what is doctor saheba pulling out of there?"
"Ointment. For your back."
"Ah, leave it! It doesn't even hurt," Taehyung teased, leaning in closer to enjoy the flustered look on her face.
"Besides, these are love marks, gifted by my wife's lovely little nails. I'm thinking of turning them into a permanent tattoo."
Jungkook grabbed his shoulders, spinning him around firmly to face away from her.
"Keep quiet!!" she huffed, opening the tube of medicine. "I know it hurts! If we leave these untreated, they won't heal properly and could get infected. You just love finding excuses to tease me instead of listening to me!"
Jungkook applied the cool ointment onto Taehyung's back with gentle, lingering taps, trying her best not to cause him any pain.
"Ah... so my tiny wifey has actually started scolding me now, has she?" Taehyung chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement as Jungkook's lips instantly pulled into a pout.
"Honestly, doctor saheba, I'm starting to fear for my life," he teased, putting a hand over his heart with exaggerated drama.
"Who knows when that fiery temper of yours will flare up and you'll jab me with a lethal injection? Oh, sweet Lord... what would happen to poor me? And what on earth would happen to my little children?!"
Jungkook's cheeks puffed up in sheer indignation, the tip of her cute little nose flushing a bright, rosy red.
"Little children?!" she demanded, resting her hands on her hips. "Care to explain where these 'little children' suddenly came from?!"
Taehyung turned around, and the moment his eyes landed on her adorable, puffed-up face, he burst into a warm, low laugh.
The sight of his laughter only fueled her fake anger, yet secretly, the pure joy in his voice made her heart swell with affection.
"W-Why are you laughing like that?!" she huffed, sulking and crossing her arms. "I didn't say anything funny!"
Taehyung's chuckles slowly tapered off into a fond smile.
Stepping right between her knees, he rested his hands on the vanity counter on either side of her thighs, leaning in until their breath mingled.
Before she could process his proximity, he leaned down and gently nipped the tip of her flushed red nose.
Jungkook caught her breath. She was wearing nothing except one of his crisp, oversized white button-down shirts, while Taehyung stood before her bare-chested in a pair of dark trousers.
Seeing her wearing his clothes for the very first time was a sight that tore right through Taehyung's remaining self-control.
"You look dangerously beautiful in my shirt" he murmured, his voice dropping into a low, velvety rasp as his gaze locked onto hers. "Next time I make love to you, I'm definitely keeping it on you."
Jungkook's cheeks burned a deep crimson at his unashamed words.
This man was starting right first thing in the morning! Averting her gaze, she stammered,
"M-Move! I need to get ready and head downstairs, and here you are..."
"Look at you blushing," Taehyung chuckled softly, his voice low and rich. "You're flushing even redder than you did last night, my love and I haven't even properly touched you yet."
Slipping one firm arm around her waist and resting his other palm against her bare thigh, he pulled her flush against him. Jungkook's hand landed directly on his broad, bare chest, the heat of his skin radiating beneath her palm.
"L-Listen to me..." she tried again, her breath hitching. "We really need to go downstairs"
Taehyung gently pressed his forefinger against her soft lips, hushing her.