† 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟲𝟬 †

╭─━─━─━─━─━─╮𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟲𝟬†❝𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗙𝗨𝗥𝗬 𝗨𝗡𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗗❞╰─━─━─━─━─━─╯

༺ ☠︎ †  𝖁 𝖎 𝖘 𝖎 𝖔 𝖓  𝖎 𝖓  𝕯 𝖆 𝖗 𝖐  † ☠︎ ༻

It was late, dark and terrifying.

Evie stood frozen near the side of the road, trembling, her eyes red from crying. Her hands were shaking, her chest rising and falling in short, panicked breaths. She felt cold and scared, not because of the night chill, but from the terrifying realization that she was truly alone.

She didn't have her phone, no money, no idea where their hotel was and she couldn't even ask anyone for help-she didn't speak the language and the people around the club were either drunk or shouting, too wrapped up in their own world to care.

This is the worst feeling she has ever experienced.

Her mind kept spinning with one thought—Where the hell did Jungkook go? Why would he leave her like this?

She kept stepping away from the club, trying to get somewhere safer, somewhere with more people or maybe some passing cars, thinking at least if something bad happened to her, she might be able to call for help.

But even walking felt heavy- her legs weak, her eyes stinging and the fear continuously building into her chest like a pressure she couldn't stop. She called out his name again and again into the night, but it was swallowed by the noise of the street and the music still thumping faintly in the distance.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she wiped them roughly with the back of her hand. She was overwhelmed, angry, and terrified all at once. She tried to calm down, telling herself Jungkook must've just gotten caught up in something, that he wouldn't just abandon her but another part of her kept whispering—–

He left you.

He left you alone in a place like that.

Her breathing grew uneven again, and she had to stop walking, afraid she might collapse. She stood still on the sidewalk, arms hugging herself tightly as if that could protect her from everything around her.

Time passed–long enough that she stopped trying to check the street every few seconds. Her body just stayed there, stuck, like she couldn't even move anymore.

And then, finally, she heard a familiar voice.

"Evie!"

She looked up quickly, and there he was-Jungkook. Walking toward her fast, like he had been looking for her, his face showing concern. But not guilt, not panic. Just... calm, like he had no idea what she'd just gone through. Like he hadn't disappeared for so long and left her in a foreign place surrounded by strangers.

The moment she saw him, she ran to him without thinking.

All that built-up fear exploded. She clung to him tightly, crying harder now that she finally saw him, her arms around him as if she was afraid he'd disappear again.

But then she pulled away, her face soaked in tears and her eyes wild with fear and confusion. She grabbed the front of his shirt, her fingers curling into the fabric as she looked at him in disbelief. "Where the hell were you?!" she shouted, her voice shaking. "Why would you leave me there like that?!"

Jungkook blinked, slightly startled by the sudden outburst. He looked at her, calm and collected, and said in a soft tone, "I got a call, Evie. I couldn't hear anything inside, so I stepped out to take it. I thought I'd be back in a few minutes..."

Her eyebrows drew together tightly, her lip trembling. "A few minutes? Jungkook, I was there for so long. I didn't have my phone, or any money, or even know where the hotel was. You left me inside a club full of drunk strangers and just disappeared."

He reached up, gently wiping the tears from her cheek with his thumb. "I didn't mean to leave you like that. I didn't think it would take so long."

"But you didn't tell me anything!" she yelled again, still clinging to his shirt. "You just vanished, Jungkook. I didn't know where you were or what happened. I thought I was lost, I was scared out of my mind! First, you drag me to that awfully shit place for your fun, and then you leave me alone like I'm some kind of afterthought? What if something had happened to me?"

The thought of being trapped inside that place, surrounded by drunk people-especially men-terrified her. A few of them had already stopped her and tried to approach her, which only made her panic more. The fear clung to her chest, tightening with every step she took. God, she couldn't even imagine what might have happened to her in a place like that.

But what unsettled her the most wasn't the club anymore-it was him. The way he reacted. Or rather, the way he didn't.

He didn't look worried. Not even a little. While she was still trying to steady her breathing, her chest tight from the lingering panic, he stood there as if nothing had happened. He let out a small sigh and said in a low, calm voice, "But nothing happened, right? You're okay. So don't overthink it."

For a moment, she just stared at him, unable to process his words.

Overthinking?

Was he serious?

She had felt like she couldn't breathe back there. Like something terrible was about to happen to her at any second. The fear had been real-so real it still clung to her skin. And yet, he stood there as if it was nothing. As if she was overreacting.

She froze for a second, staring at him, hurt flashing across her face. "So that's all that matters? That nothing happened?" Her voice broke slightly. "Are you seriously telling me I should've waited until something did happen before you cared?"

From the way his calm tone made her feel small, like she was being unreasonable for feeling scared. She opened her mouth to say more, but the fight inside her was fading. He knew exactly how to talk her down, and even though she was still hurt, confused, and full of questions, she didn't have the energy to keep shouting.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and started leading her away from the road. "Come on. Let's go. You need rest."

And just like that, the conversation ended because she didn't know what else to say. She quietly followed him, wiping her tears, her heart still heavy.

The cab ride last night had been quiet. Painfully quiet. She sat beside him, her eyes glued to the window, pretending to be interested in the blurry streets of Paris when all she could think about was how hurt and disappointed she felt inside.

Jungkook didn't speak much. He had one arm lazily draped around her shoulder, the other busy scrolling through his phone.

He hadn't asked if she was okay. Hadn't said sorry. Hadn't shown any sign that he realized just how badly she'd panicked. It was like the entire thing being lost, scared, helpless- was just a minor inconvenience to him. Something she was overreacting about.

And the worst part? He acted like it was normal. Like she was being dramatic for expecting basic concern. He didn't even look up from his phone when she let out a soft sigh, sitting next to him in the cab. As if her tears, her shaking hands, the terror she had felt in that club, were all just noise in the background of his life.

She had come to Paris hoping for something different.

A new beginning, maybe.

A trip where they could escape the tension that had been building for months. No fights. No cold silences. Just time for each other.

But now, sitting beside a man who couldn't even look at her after what happened, she started to wonder if that hope was nothing more than foolish wishful thinking.

⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆𝔙 𝔦 𝔰 𝔦 𝔬 𝔫  𝔦 𝔫  𝔇 𝔞 𝔯 𝔨⋆༺𓆩♱𓆪༻⋆

The next day passed in silence.

It wasn't the kind of silence that felt peaceful or shared– it was discomfort, stretched too long and left too much unsaid.

Jungkook spent most of the day lying on the hotel bed, eyes fixed on his phone. He didn't talk much, not even over breakfast. Every now and then he'd smile faintly at his phone screen or chuckle under his breath, typing quickly like he was deep in some interesting conversation. Whether it was work or friends, Evie didn't know. She didn't ask.

Evie, on the other hand, hadn't been able to shake off the cold feeling in her chest since last night. No matter how much she tried to brush it off, it clung to her- the memory of being left alone, of crying in the middle of a foreign street and of Jungkook's indifferent response like it wasn't a big deal. He hadn't brought it up once today. Not to check on her, not to apologize, not even to mention it casually.

It was like it never happened.

In the morning, he said he had some office calls to take, so they postponed their plans to go out.

Fair enough, she had thought.

She waited. But then noon passed and still nothing. She didn't feel like dragging herself outside alone in the heat of the day, so she stayed too. Now it was evening, and the sun was beginning to set. And still, Jungkook hadn't moved from the bed.

She sat quietly on the balcony attached to their room. The breeze brushed against her skin as she looked out at the city, Paris glowing in soft hues of gold and grey.

This was supposed to be something special. A trip to patch things up. To make things better. And yet... it felt exactly the same. Maybe even worse.

She sat there for a long while, thinking. Remembering the fight that led to this trip-the way Jungkook would ignore her at home too, get too absorbed in his world, forget to acknowledge her presence, forget to ask if she was okay. He apologized then and promised to fix things. But here they were again. Nothing had changed.

Eventually, her inside felt too heavy to sit with anymore. She got up and walked slowly back inside. Jungkook was still there, lying on his side, scrolling on his phone. He didn't look up when she walked in. Didn't ask where she had been. It was like she was invisible.

She sat down quietly at the edge of the bed, close enough that he could notice her if he just looked up. But he didn't.

After a long pause, she finally asked, her voice soft but steady, "Who's keeping you so busy?"

He blinked, briefly glancing at her. "Huh?"

"I mean," she said, tilting her head slightly, "you've been glued to your phone all day. Didn't even notice the day passed. Who is it? Work?"

Jungkook let out a short breath. "Yeah. Work. A few emails, some things I had to sort."

It had been a whole day, and his work still wasn't finished. This was insane. He had been sitting in the same spot on the bed since morning, scrolling through his phone, and he still hadn't completed it.

She looked at him, frustration building in her chest. "You've been busy since morning. Not a word. Not a glance. Not even a simple 'how are you feeling' after everything that happened yesterday. Do you even care, Jungkook?"

He sighed and finally looked up, frowning slightly. "Evie, I told you I had calls. And now I'm just catching up on some stuff. You always make everything bigger than it is."

Seriously? He's doing this again.

She blinked. "Bigger than it is?" she repeated, her voice cracking. "You left me alone in a club full of strangers yesterday. I thought I was lost. I was panicking. You didn't even ask about me and even care much- it's like you didn't care at all. It's basic human decency to show concern for someone, and you couldn't even do that. And now you still don't care. You've been sitting in the same spot since morning, not even bothering to look around or check on me."

He sat up slightly, resting his elbow on his knee. "Why are you bringing this up again? Didn't we move past it already? You're safe, right? Nothing happened to you. Why dwell on it?"

Evie stared at him for a long second, trying to keep her composure. "Because it's not about the fact that nothing happened. It's about the fact that you don't care. You didn't then, and you don't now. We came here to get away from this kind of coldness... this exact distance between us."

Jungkook groaned under his breath, clearly annoyed now. "God, Evie. Why do you always complain about every single thing? No matter where we go or what I do, it's never enough. You find a way to ruin everything."

She inhaled sharply, hurt flashing across her face. But her voice remained calm, low, and steady. "It's not about complaining, Jungkook. It's about expecting the bare minimum from the person I married."

He rolled his eyes slightly. "You're being dramatic again."

And that was it-the final crack. The one she couldn't ignore anymore.

His words cut deeper than he probably realized, and the way he dismissed her, like her feelings didn't matter, was more painful than any fight they'd ever had.

Evie stood up slowly, her movements calm but full of quiet hurt. She didn't want to argue anymore. Her voice was soft, but there was no mistaking the finality in it.

"I'm going out. Alone. Since you clearly have no interest in anything beyond that screen."

Jungkook didn't even glance up, no question, no reaction, just silence.

She grabbed her phone and purse, holding back the sting behind her eyes. Then she stepped out, gently closing the door behind her.

The evening air was cooler than before. The sky above Paris was turning dusky pink, with golden lights slowly blinking along the streets. People passed by on the sidewalks- laughing, holding hands, enjoying their time. It felt strange how the world could look so alive when something inside her felt so quietly broken.

Evie remembered the hotel staff mentioning a park nearby-something tourists often visited. She saw a small sign pointing the way and followed it, walking with no rush, just needing space. Needing a moment where she could breathe without feeling ignored.

She kept walking, hands tucked in her coat pockets, not quite sure what she was looking for-maybe peace, or maybe just a place where it didn't hurt so much to feel alone.

She reached there, the distant sound of laughter and street music echoing faintly in the air. The park was wide and open, lined with old trees wrapped in tiny fairy lights, with small statues and benches placed along the way. Couples strolled hand in hand, children chased after each other, and tourists stood by fountains taking pictures. It was beautiful, peaceful-even romantic but to her, it only made the emptiness inside feel louder.

She moved through the pathways slowly, trying to take in the view and distract her mind, but as she followed one trail and turned a few corners, she suddenly realized she was unsure where she was headed. There were signboards around, but they were all in French.

She stopped walking, turning to glance around. Some signs pointed in different directions toward attractions inside the park, but the words meant nothing to her. She bit her lower lip, trying to recall the way she came, but even that was fuzzy now.

Looking around helplessly, she stood near one of the signposts, hoping someone might pass by and help her. Most people seemed busy or in their own world, and the few who glanced at her spoke in quick French that she couldn't follow. She didn't want to look completely lost, so she pulled out her phone and tried to use the map, but the signal was weak and the GPS didn't show her exact location.

Her brows furrowed as she turned the phone in different directions, trying to figure it out.

Just then, a calm male voice spoke up beside her. "You okay? You look a little confused."

She turned her head and saw a tall man standing a few steps away. He was probably in his late twenties or more like older than her by a few years but carried a friendly, approachable vibe. His blond hair was slightly tousled, and he wore a dark coat and a warm smile. She blinked, startled for a moment, before realizing he was speaking in English.

"Yes," she replied softly, thankful to hear a familiar language. "I mean... I think I'm just a little turned around. These signs don't really help when you can't read French."

He chuckled gently. "Yeah, I've been there. This park can get kind of confusing. I've been in Paris for a week now, and I still lose track of which path goes where."

She smiled slightly, feeling a little more at ease. "Are you American, I assume because of your accent?"

"Yep. Born and raised in Chicago," he said, then stepped closer and looked at the board beside her. "Where were you trying to go?"

She showed him the place marked on her phone. He nodded quickly, pointing down the opposite path. "Ah, okay. That way. You're actually not too far-just took a wrong turn back there."

"Oh," she sighed, a little embarrassed. "Thank you. I had no idea."

"No worries," he said kindly. "I'm heading that way too. I can walk with you, if you don't mind?"

She hesitated only for a second, but then gave a small nod. "Sure. Thank you."

They began walking slowly down the pathway. There was a comfortable silence at first until he turned to her and asked, "You sound American too."

"Yeah," she said with a surprised smile. "from New York."

"I've met a lot of people this trip. Kind of easy to tell now," he replied. "You here for vacation?"

She paused for a second, unsure how to answer that truthfully. "Yeah... sort of. A getaway, I guess."

He didn't push further, just nodded respectfully. Then he added, "I'm Nathan, by the way."

"Evie," she replied, offering a small smile. "Evie Parker."

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Evie," Nathan said warmly.

"Nice to meet you too," she replied softly, genuinely grateful for the kindness.

As they continued walking together toward the destination, Evie felt a bit of the tension ease from her chest. It was strange how a stranger's small act of kindness.

She walked ahead, Nathan, the young man who had helped her earlier, walked beside her at a comfortable distance, occasionally pointing out landmarks and places that were a bit off the beaten path.

"The best parts of the city aren't always the ones everyone talks about," Nathan said casually, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jacket. "Like that little garden we passed earlier. Not many people know about it, and it's quiet, peaceful. It's perfect if you want to get away from the crowds."

She nodded, feeling grateful for his company. It was nice to have someone who wasn't wrapped up in their own world, someone who actually seemed to care about the places they were visiting.

"You're right," she agreed. "I think I would've missed a lot if I was just going to the usual tourist spots."

They continued walking, enjoying the simplicity of the conversation. Nathan shared a few more gems of knowledge about the city-places that only locals seemed to know. The conversation was light and pleasant, and for a while, Evie was able to get on a little ease.

As the evening wore on, the sky deepened into a darker shade and the air grew cooler. The park was still lively, but now there were fewer people around, and the quiet began to settle in. They slowly started making their way back toward the exit.

Evie felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She glanced at the screen-another call from Jungkook.

She sighed but didn't answer it. It wasn't like she was trying to be rude, but she couldn't bring herself to talk to him right now. After all, he hadn't been concerned enough to even notice her earlier. So why should she pick up?

She put the phone back in her bag, ignoring the continued calls that came in.

As they approached the exit of the park, Evie felt her mood lighten. Despite everything that had happened today, there was a small part of her that was happy for this quiet, simple experience. Nathan turned to her as they reached the street.

"Hey, before I go back to my place, there's a street vendor over there selling coffee and some drinks. Do you want anything?"

Evie paused for a moment, looking over at the vendor. It was a small stand, but the smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the crisp evening air, making it sound like the perfect end to their stroll.

"Sure," she said, smiling. "I could use a coffee."

They both walked over to the vendor, and Nathan ordered a drink for himself. She ordered for herself.

After getting their orders, they stood there for a moment, quietly sipping their drinks. It felt good, refreshing, almost calming. And Nathan... a complete stranger she had met just a few moments ago, someone she might never see again, somehow made her feel at ease. It reminded her that there were still kind people in the world, even strangers.

For a little while, she was able to escape reality.

But the constant buzzing from her purse pulled her right back.

Her breath hitched slightly as she reached for it. Again.

Jungkook was calling. Over and over again.

Each time, she pulled out her phone, silenced the call, and shoved it back into her purse-only for it to start buzzing again moments later. The cycle repeated, and with every vibration, the tension in her chest grew tighter.

She could tell Nathan had noticed. He wasn't oblivious. But he didn't say anything and she appreciated that more than she could explain.

She wasn't going to ruin this small moment of peace by answering him.

Still... the continuous calls were starting to make her uneasy. What would his reaction be? Why was he calling so persistently?

No.

She cut the thought off immediately.

She wasn't going to think about him. Not now.

Forcing a small smile, she turned her attention back to Nathan, focusing on the conversation in front of her. After all, they would part ways soon anyway-just two strangers who happened to cross paths for a brief moment.

†

Meanwhile, Jungkook was still in the hotel room, growing more frustrated by the minute. It was getting late, and the darkness outside only seemed to make his irritation grow. He had tried calling Evie again, but there was no answer.

He fucking hated this attitude of hers-acting like she didn't care about anything, like she is some superior.

He tossed his phone aside, a scowl on his face. This was ridiculous. He couldn't let her just disappear on him like this. His mind was running in circles and he knew he needed to get out of the room before it drove him crazy.

With a sharp breath, he stood up from the bed and grabbed his jacket, deciding that he wasn't going to sit around waiting any longer. He had to find her.

The hotel lobby was quiet as he walked through it. Outside, the streets of Paris were alive with lights and movement, but Evie was nowhere to be seen. He checked around the hotel's immediate area, but there was no sign of her.

His frustration grew.

Where the fucking hell had she gone?

He walked toward the main road, looking up and down the street, trying to spot her. People were milling about, heading in various directions, but there was no sign of her among them.

After walking for a little while, he spotted a familiar figure in the distance. He squinted slightly, his brows drawing together as he tried to make sense of it. And then it clicked.

It was her.

For a brief moment, something in his chest loosened. Relief rushed through him before he could stop it. After hours of searching, calling, walking around like he had lost his mind-there she was. Standing right there.

But as he got closer, that relief didn't last.

Something about the scene felt off. Wrong.

She wasn't alone.

She stood near a street vendor, a paper cup in her hand, her posture relaxed in a way that made his steps falter for just a second. There was a man beside her-someone Jungkook had never seen before. Too close. Standing just a little too comfortably within her space.

And she was smiling.

Easy. Light. Like nothing had happened.

Like he hadn't happened.

Jungkook stopped, just for second.

His jaw tightened, the muscles in his face going rigid as he watched the scene unfold in front of him. The sound around him faded into something distant, muffled, as his focus narrowed entirely on her- on them.

Standing there, talking, laughing softly, casually sipping her coffee beside a complete stranger as if everything was perfectly fine.

As if she hadn't been on the verge of breaking just a few hours ago.

He had been pacing around like a madman, searching for her, calling her over and over again, only to find her standing here with some guy like nothing ever happened.

A few hours ago, she had been all teary-eyed, drowning in emotions in front of him, literally sulking like a child for his attention, like she was desperate.

And now, she was out here smiling with a stranger-without a care in the world? As if she hadn't just been begging for his attention before?

Literally have no self respect.

He couldn't hold back anymore. With stiff, determined steps, he walked toward them. The sound of his footsteps was quick.

"Evie," he called out, his voice sharp but low, like a warning.

She turned, startled, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him standing just a few feet away. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him- didn't think he'd come out looking for her like this. Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup she was holding, and the tension settled between them like thick air.

Jungkook approached them and stopped right in front of her, his dark eyes fixed on her with quiet fury. "Where the hell were you and what are you even doing here?" he asked in a low but pointed voice, just enough for her to hear. "I called you. You didn't bother to pick up."

Evie blinked, trying to gather herself. The shift had been too sudden, and she needed a moment to catch up. She tried to stay calm, aware that people were still around especially Nathan, and she didn't want a scene.

"I was just roaming around and I didn't hear my phone," she said gently, swallowing as she met his eyes. "It was in my purse. I didn't check it. I wasn't ignoring you... I just didn't know you called."

Jungkook gave a scoff under his breath and leaned in slightly, his tone colder now as his gaze shifted behind her, to the guy. "Of course, you didn't hear it. Hard to hear anything when you're busy laughing with strangers, isn't it?"

Evie's expression tensed. She could already feel where this was heading, and she didn't like it.

Nathan, sensing the obvious tension and hostility, cleared his throat awkwardly and glanced at Jungkook. "Uh... I didn't know she was with someone," he said politely, his voice a little nervous. "Maybe you're her boyfriend or something... I just helped her when she got confused with the directions. That's all."

"Husband," Jungkook snapped, correcting him without a second of hesitation, his gaze sharp. "I'm her husband."

Nathan blinked, his brows rising slightly as he registered the correction. "Woah... Look, man, I really didn't mean anything by it. I was just helping her out. That's all. I'm complete stranger and there's nothing going on here. You're misunderstanding the situation-completely."

But Jungkook's eyes didn't leave him. He stepped a little closer, and with a swift motion, gave Nathan a slight push, just enough to send a message. "Then what are you still doing here?"

Nathan stumbled back a step, now clearly uncomfortable. He frowned, holding his hands up slightly in defense. "Hey... What the hell is your problem dude? I didn't touch her. I didn't say anything wrong. I only helped her find her way. You don't get to treat people like that."

The tension escalated quickly, thick enough to draw attention. People around them had already started glancing over, their curious eyes making everything feel even worse. It was embarrassing-painfully so. The last thing Evie wanted was for this to turn into a full-blown scene.

But it already was.

Jungkook suddenly lunged forward, his anger directed at Nathan, the same man who had done nothing but help her. The situation spiraled further, slipping out of her control.

This was bad. Really bad.

"Stop," she said quickly, stepping between them. Her hand reached for Jungkook's arm, gripping it firmly as she sensed the tension in his body, the way he was ready to push things further. "That's enough. Let's just go."

But Jungkook didn't move.

He remained still, his gaze locked on Nathan and nd in that moment, Evie felt a wave of humiliation and shame crash over her-stronger than anything she had felt before.

She turned to Nathan, unable to meet his eyes properly. Her voice dropped to a low murmur, barely audible. "I'm really sorry you had to witness this."

She couldn't even bring herself to look at him. The thought of what he might be thinking about her only made it worse. She tried to calm herself, reminding herself that he was just a stranger-someone she would probably never see again.

But it didn't help.

Not when there were still people around them watching.

Swallowing her discomfort, she turned back to Jungkook and pushed him a step back, trying to create some distance before things escalated any further.

"Stop making a scene," she said, her voice tight with frustration and embarrassment.

Nathan glanced at her one last time, then at Jungkook. With a tense expression, he chose not to say anything. Instead, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd without another word.

Jungkook's eyes followed him until he was out of sight, but the fury hadn't left his face. His jaw was clenched tight, and his breathing had grown heavier.

Evie looked at him with disbelief. "What was that behaviour, Jungkook? You di—"

But he didn't want to hear it. He turned firmly to face her, stepping in closer. "—Shut the fuck up," he snapped. "I was calling you for an hour. And you-what? Just out here smiling with a stranger? Like it's all fine? What kind of woman does that?"

Evie's lips parted in shock, and she stepped back slightly, stung by his words. "He just helped me with directions. That's it. You can't talk to me like that."

But Jungkook wasn't listening. The anger in him was blinding now. He grabbed her by the forearm, his grip firm and unrelenting. "We're going," he said, his voice cold and final.

"Jungkook—" she tried to protest, but he didn't let her finish.

He began walking, dragging her with him through the sidewalk, his pace fast and his grip tight enough that she had to almost jog to keep up with him. Her wrist throbbed under the pressure of his hold, and she bit her lip, trying not to cry out. She didn't want more people staring.

He didn't care who was watching. He didn't care about the confused looks or the curious glances from people in the lobby. His grip on her forearm stayed tight as he dragged her through the hotel corridor like she was nothing but an object he owned.

She stumbled behind him, trying to keep pace, her wrist throbbing in his hold, her heart racing with a mix of fear, anger, and growing humiliation. The lump in her throat was heavy, her eyes already burning with unshed tears. But he didn't stop. Not even once.

Once reaching the hallway he pushed open the door to their room with force, dragged her inside, and the moment they were in, he let her go with a sharp shove. She stumbled backwards, barely managing to stay on her feet, her back hitting the edge of the bed as he turned and slammed the door shut behind them, locking it.

"What the fuck were you doing out there with some random guy?!" he almost shouted, his voice echoing through the walls, too way loud. His eyes were dark, filled with rage and his chest was rising and falling quickly. "Are you that fucking shameless? You have a husband here, and you're out smiling, drinking coffee, laughing with some stranger like a goddamn flirt?"

For a moment, she stood frozen, blinking rapidly as tears burned at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill. Her mind struggled to catch up with what he had just said.

She couldn't believe it.

How could he twist things like that? How could he reduce everything to something so ugly?

Shameless?

Flirting?

Her lips parted slightly, her breath uneven as the weight of his words sank in. He wasn't just angry-he was questioning her morality.

"What are you even trying to say?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

But Jungkook wasn't done.

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, the anger radiating off him in waves. Before she could react, his hand shot out, gripping her shoulder tightly. The sudden force made her flinch, a small yelp escaping her lips as pain shot through her.

"Is this what you do now?" he spat, his voice sharp, reckless-like he wasn't even thinking before speaking. "If I don't give you attention for a few fucking minutes, you go looking for it from some random asshole? What were you doing, huh? Passing time with him while I was calling you like crazy? Or were you planning to take it further? Is that how desperate you are?"

Each word hit her like a slap.

Her chest tightened painfully, her heart racing so fast it made her feel dizzy. For a second, she couldn't even react- couldn't even process it properly. It wasn't just anger anymore. It was humiliation.

A deep, sinking hurt that settled somewhere in her chest.

Her fingers slowly curled into fists at her sides as she tried to breathe, but it felt impossible. The more she tried to steady herself, the more everything inside her spiraled, anger, disbelief, all crashing into each other at once.

He was questioning her character.

Her dignity.

Something inside her snapped.

The tears that had been threatening finally spilled over, hot and uncontrollable but this time, they weren't just from hurt. They were from anger.

"How dare you?" she breathed, her voice breaking.

With a sudden burst of strength, she shoved him hard, forcing herself out of his grip. Jungkook stumbled back a step, clearly caught off guard by her reaction, but he quickly compose himself.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" she snapped, her voice shaking but loud, raw with emotion. "Are you even listening to yourself right now? Do you hear the kind of things you're saying?!"

Jungkook's jaw tightened at her tone, his expression darkening further.

"Shut the fuck up and mind your tone," he shot back, his teeth clenched, anger still burning through him.

"NO, YOU SHUT UP-NOT ME!" she yelled, her voice rising despite the tremble in it. "I went outside because I needed air! Because my husband was ignoring me like I didn't even exist!"

Her breathing grew uneven, her words spilling out faster now, unable to hold anything back anymore and not letting him speak.

"I was sitting there alone, waiting for you, trying to talk to you and you didn't even look at me! Not once! So yes, I walked out. I needed to breathe. And I got lost, okay? I didn't even know where I was going! And someone helped me. That's it. That's all that happened. And for that, you're calling me shameless?" She let out a scoff shaking her head. "Are you seriously that insecure?"

"Evie, I said shut—"

He didn't get to finish.

She pushed him again, harder this time, her hands pressing against his chest with all the frustration and anger she had been holding in. He stumbled back slightly, completely unprepared for it.

She took a shaky breath, her hand lifting as she pointed a finger at him, her eyes burnin. "Don't you dare twist this into something it's not," she said, "What did you expect me to do? Push him away for helping me? Insult someone just because your insecure ego can't handle it? What the hell kind of thinking is that? If you think makes me shameless, then the problem is in your fucked-up mindset, not in me. I know who I am. I know my values and morals. I don't need to prove anything to you."

Tears streamed down her cheeks now, but her anger burned stronger than her heartbreak. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she should stop- that she was pushing him too far, testing his patience. He hadn't said anything yet, but his silence spoke enough. The rigid way he stood, his clenched jaw, the anger simmering in his eyes-it was all a warning.

She should let it go before things got worse.

But she couldn't.

Not after the way he had questioned her character.

So instead, she pressed on.

"I don't know what's going on inside your head, Jungkook," she said through clenched teeth, her voice shaking with hurt, "but this—this is insane. You brought me here for our honeymoon, right? A fresh start, you said. Something beautiful, you said. Then what is this? What the hell is this supposed to be? Because all you've done since we got here is make me feel worse than I ever did back at home!"

Her chest rose and fell sharply as the frustration poured out of her.

He had ruined everything.

This trip... the plans she had held onto so carefully... the hope that maybe things would get better between them. He had brought her here, promised her something different-only to tear it apart with his own behavior, his unpredictable moods.

What was the point of any of this?

They had come here to fix things. To spend time together. To start over.

But nothing had gone the way it was supposed to. Not even close.

A bitter feeling rose in her chest.

She hated this.

She hated how he made her feel.

She looked up at him again, her eyes red, her breathing uneven. He was still standing there the same way-tense, silent, his jaw clenched, anger barely contained. But there was no guilt. Not even a hint of it.

That made it worse.

"You're angry? Fine. You're stressed? Fine," she said, her voice trembling but sharp. "But since when did your bad mood become a fucking excuse to humiliate me and control me like this?"

She took a step closer, her voice dropping, but the intensity in it only grew stronger.

She knew she should stop talking, as it was going to hit him hard and only make things worse, but she still pressed on, pouring out all of her frustration.

"If you're having a bad day, do you just destroy everything around you so you don't feel alone in your misery?" she let out a scoff. "Is that how you function? Because honestly, at this point, it just makes you look pathetic. Because right now? You're not acting like a man. You're acting like someone who's so insecure that he needs to break the person next to him just to feel bigger."

That was it.

Something in Jungkook's expression shifted the second her voice rose again. It wasn't just anger anymore-it was terrifying. The words she had thrown at him, the way she had looked at him without backing down... it hit somewhere deeper than it should have.

And he couldn't take it.

For a split second, his mind burned with one thought-she forgot her fucking place.

Forgot who he was.

Forgot who she was in comparison.

She's fucking beneath him.

The defiance in her eyes only made it worse.

Before she could even finish what she was saying, he moved.

His hands shot out, grabbing her shoulders hard– too hard. His fingers dug into her skin with a force that made her body jolt. Evie flinched instantly, a sharp cry escaping her lips as the impact of his grip sent a shock through her.

The words on her tongue died there.

Her breath hitched.

"Don't fucking forget who you're talking to," he growled, pulling her slightly closer as if to force her to listen. His face was inches from hers now, his presence suffocating. His voice wasn't loud-it was low and far more threatening that way.

"Just because I let you talk doesn't mean I'm going to stand here and listen to your fucking bullshits."

Evie's hands instinctively came up to his wrists, trying to ease the pressure, but his grip only tightened in response. His fingers pressed deeper into her shoulders, enough to make her wince, her body tensing under him.

"Don't even dare to raise your voice at me again. Watch that fucking tone, Evie. And those words? I dare you to say something like that again and I swear—"

He stopped mid-sentence, but the pause wasn't relief.

It was worse.

His jaw clenched tightly, his eyes locked onto hers-burning, warning.

"—you'll see what it means to cross the line with me."

Her heart slammed against her chest, fast and uneven, panic creeping in under the pain. She tried to speak-tried to push back again but the way he suddenly jerked her slightly, a sharp movement meant to shut her up, stole the air from her lungs.

"You're getting too fucking bold," he spat, his voice laced with something almost disgusted. "Too damn bold for your own good. And don't forget-I can say what I want. I can do what I want. And there's not a damn thing you can do about it."

A soft, broken sound left her lips.

His grip hurt.

It wasn't just firm anymore-it was punishing.

Tears filled her eyes instantly, spilling over before she could stop them. Her fingers weakly pushed at him again, but there was no strength behind it now-just instinct, just the need to get away from the pressure, from him.

And then—

He shoved her.

Hard.

The sudden force sent her stumbling backward before she could steady herself. She hit the edge of the bed harshly, falling onto it with a sharp intake of breath. Her hands barely caught her weight as she landed, her body shaking from the impact.

For a second, she couldn't move.

Her hair fell into her face, her shoulders trembling as she struggled to breathe properly. The room spun slightly, the shock settling deeper into her bones.

Jungkook stepped back.

Just like that as if nothing had happened.

He stood there, looking down at her with that same cold, unreadable expression. Like she was something inconvenient. Something that had pushed him too far.

And now this was the result.

Evie stayed where she was, frozen on the bed, her chest rising and falling unevenly as quiet, broken breaths left her lips. The sting in her shoulders throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the heaviness settling inside her.

The silence that followed was suffocating, no more shouting, no more movement.

Just the faint sound of her quiet sniffles... and the weight of everything that had just happened pressing down on her.

Because whatever this honeymoon was supposed to be—

it had already turned into something she wouldn't forget.

★ ★ ★

—𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝗈𝗍𝖾          𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗉 𝖺 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍···୨ৎ