Love Candidate - Secret Admirer - Chapter 26

Disclaimer: This chapter contains a mature scene.

A surge of resentment erupted throughout my body when the pretentious sobbing wouldn't stop echoing in the room. Slowly, I averted my listless eyes to find Mrs. Kim crying at the side of the room with a napkin pressed against her cheeks, even if there weren't any tear stains on her face. Mr. Kim sadly patted his wife's shoulder as Seokjin and Namjoon greeted the guests in their grieving suits. Her fucking cry is making my eardrums bleed. Mrs. Kim glanced up, and our eyes suddenly met, so I sat composedly with a blank expression until she awkwardly averted her eyes away to greet a guest. I scoffed and slowly got onto my feet in my black handbook with a neatly tied bun and a pin in my hair when a flood of men poured into the room.

"Jiyoung," Yoongi appeared with Jimin, dressed in formal black suits. I glanced at the thugs as they filled the room in black attires to mourn their leader's passing. The Kims turned stiff at the presence of Taehyung's men but didn't dare stop them as they each took turns to bow at Taehyung's wreath. Jimin gave me a warm hug, so I lowered my face to rest it on his shoulder in exhaustion.

"My lady," The thugs politely bowed to me after they bowed at Taehyung. I blankly stared at their respectful manner and finally nodded at them. They all straightened their bodies and carefully stepped aside to clear the room for the other guests. Taehyung's men, Yoongi and Jimin, stayed behind at the funeral with me until it was over. Jungkook, Hyeri, and even Hoseok showed up to pay their respect. I quietly sat on the floor to eat the funeral food with a dull expression beside Jimin as Jungkook anxiously stared at me from across the table but didn't strike a conversation. He left with Hyeri afterward. I can't feel anything.

Creak. I pushed open Taehyung's bedroom door to stare at the empty room after returning from the funeral and slowly sat on the vacant bed to stare at his pillow in silence. Why can't I feel anything? Just like appa's death... my chest is numbed with the uncomfortable emotion. I gently ran my fingers over the bedsheet as flashes of heartwarming memories filled my head. And yet... my heart refused to acknowledge whatever I was supposed to feel. The buildups will wreck me. Knock. Knock. I slowly turned to find Jimin leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed.

"Do you need company?" He sadly stared at me.

"I'm fine. Good night," I weakly smiled. Jimin bitterly stared at me but didn't say anything and closed the door to leave me alone as I requested. I let out a deep sigh and slowly laid down on the mattress to stare at the empty pillow in the hushed room. I can hear the distant echoes of his cute laughter, and... his voice whispering in my ears. How did I lose you like this?

The cold winter eventually passed as spring slowly emerged with blooming flowers and dancing bees, yet my heart remained exhausted of happiness. I have been sleeping endlessly in his room without seeing anyone. Yoongi and Jimin would place meals for me in Taehyung's room and leave me alone... day after day. My prediction was accurate. My emotions finally took their toll a week after his passing. I'd bawl my eyes out and scream in pain when I'm home alone. And then I'd lay quietly on the bed to cry in silence after I ran out of fuel to keep my energy running. Silent tears would drip from my cheeks onto the cold bedsheet as I hugged his warm pillow, sniffling in pain with my face buried against his light body scent.

There was no way to numb the unbearable heartbreak, so all I could do was wait for it to subside. The only time I felt a little at ease was when I slept, eventually waking in a cold sweat as the traumatic nightmare replayed in my sleep. I'd burst out crying the moment I realized Taehyung was still gone, and I was still yearning for his presence. It takes time... but I'm already giving up on healing my inner wounds.

"You're getting better," Yoongi muttered, sitting beside me to watch the television as I quietly watched the drama in silence. I finally left Taehyung's room after almost a month. My period is delayed because of my messed-up diet and hormones, so I feel very sick most of the time.

"You must be exhausted from all the workload," I muttered without looking at him.

"Not really. Jimin is a quick learner, and he's good at his work. Talking about that... I think you should join us," Yoongi exhaled. I didn't respond to him and remained hushed to anticipate the scene as the main character fell off the bridge, plunging deep into the dark river below her. She took the hard way out after suffering so much.

"I'm not experienced enough to lead. I'm sure Taehyung left everything for you," I finally replied. The woman was arguing with her husband to save her ex-boyfriend after she returned from the river. Men are so toxic. Her life is just as miserable... even if she had everything. She had a complete family, money, and even handsome partners. She had it all, except happiness. Why is it so hard to be happy? If the main character in the show can't even find her happiness... How will an ordinary person like me... achieve my happiness? Maybe happiness is just a sick illusion created by society to sugarcoat its dystopian society to present it as some sort of utopia. If happiness really exists... then why are so many people suffering? The human species are literally killing themselves every day in this so-called perfect world.

"Jiyoung, Taehyung registered all of his ownerships under your name while preparing for your wedding. He wants you to take over," Yoongi replied. I averted my eyes from the screen after the OST ended with a lifeless expression.

"You were by his side for much longer," I muttered. Yoongi has been working alongside Taehyung for years. He deserves everything for his hard work.

"I know, but you've shown us your capabilities, so I want you to lead with me. The thugs have grown fond of you," Yoongi sorely searched my blank eyes.

"They fear you, not me. Your men tried to rape me when I showed up here for the first time," I exhaled, turning to stare at the dark glass view in disinterest. Men only see women as sex subjects. As if we're only born for one purpose... that's to be fucked by men. Physically, mentally and emotionally.

"You've already established your authority. Also, Taehyung's stepmother is trying to claim Taehyung's assets. She killed him, Jiyoung. You can't let that witch swallow all of Taehyung's hard work. If it's anyone, you're the only person entitled to protect his properties. You're his fiancée. You're technically his wife even if you're not married yet," Yoongi shook his head. I grew hushed with my eyes fixed on the city view when someone suddenly rushed into the apartment.

"We're in trouble! Shik's men are disrupting our operations again!" Jimin gasped, appearing inside the room with a bewildered expression.

"That son of bitch! It's the third time this week!" Yoongi sighed in frustration. Jimin quickly left with Yoongi to deal with the commotion in the basement as I sat on the couch with an aching heart. I slowly averted my eyes to the wedding portrait samples to stare at Taehyung's cheeky smile with a dreadful expression. I don't want to give up on you, even if you've already given up on me.

After thorough considerations, I stood up in my lacy red night gown to pull on the silky robe and slowly strode out of the apartment. I didn't take the elevator and carefully walked down the stairs in my fluffy slippers with a gun clenched tightly in my hand. CRASH. CRASH. I halted at the base of the stair when loud crashing sounds erupted in the noisy basement. Someone was screaming, and men were tackling each other over the broken tables. Yoongi was wrestling a man while Jimin helped a thug onto his feet. I scanned the crowd while standing in my short nightwear until I found the familiar buzz-cut face.

BANG. I fired a warning shot at the ceiling to silence the disorder within the room. It worked. Everyone froze in their position at the sudden disruption, and the room grew hushed. The thugs stopped attacking each other, slowly averting their deadly attention to me. I wore a straight face as I scanned their intimidating glares without a hint of fear. Jimin's jaw dropped in disbelief as I slowly walked through the crowd with an unbothered expression.

"Huh? The bitch is still alive? I thought you killed yourself over the pathetic scumbag," The buzz-cut man mocked as his men stood behind him with weapons.

"Release them," I nodded at the thugs on the floors. They were being beaten on the floor by his people. The man scoffed at my order, cockily walking up to me with his filthy tongue pressed against the inner side of his mouth.

"Why should I listen to a whore like you? Revealing your wretched cleavage so shamelessly after your boyfriend died? Why? Are you desperate for a new dick? Look at her! Do you really want her to lead you dumbfuckers?! Or do you want to join me? I'll let you fuck her as you please. I'll make her our personal sex slave," The man turned to spat at the muted men in the room. His men excitedly cheered at their leader's statement while spitting harsh words at me, yet I stood in my position with my eyes fixed on his dick face.

"Kneel," I said shortly.

"Moh? Kneel? Me? No, baby. You kneel for me... and maybe I'll let you suck my dick," The man took a step forward with his fierce eyes fixed on mine.

"Why would I suck a dickless man?" I raised my eyebrows, causing the room to erupt with a loud uproar at my stinging insult. The man glanced at the thugs' reaction with an offended glare before snapping his angered face towards mine.

"You bitch-" The man gritted, attempting to snatch my hair, but I swiftly dodged his arm and elbowed him hard in his face. His men suddenly launched at me but were immediately held back by Yoongi and Jimin. The buzz-cut head spat out a mouth full of blood after receiving the damaging blow against his cheek and turned to glare at me in anger.

"Beg me," I demanded, slowly turning to face him with a blank face.

"I will fucking kill you!" The man roared, launching toward me like a bulldog. BANG. Everyone flinched in panic when the man suddenly tumbled onto his feet before me. He grunted in pain with his hands clasped over his wounded thigh. I fired the shot without warning him. I handled the gun again and aimed it straight at his forehead as he groaned on the floor, helplessly clutching his bleeding leg with a pained yet angered face.

"Good boy," I smiled, slowly bending over to stare at his outraged expression. The dick face glared sharply at me as he remained on the floor, struggling to contain his discomfort.

"Did you think you can get away with this-"

"The next time you disrupt the operation... I will force the remaining bullets down your fucking throat," I warned, hastily grabbing his cheeks to shove the gun barrel into his mouth. The man tried to resist me, but I firmly held his chin upward and thrust the gun into his mouth until he muffled in difficulty.

"That's right... suck it- you fucking assface. Talk about fucking me one more time and I'll rip off your tiny dick. I'll make you suck your own cum from it- and I'll make you swallow your fucking hairy balls until you choke on your own testicles," I gritted, roughly shoving his ugly face away, sending him tumbling backward. The thugs backed away from the man as he gagged pathetically on the floor until spit drooled from his beaten lips. Dangerously, I straightened my back and turned to eye the intimidated-looking men. No one dared to budge an inch as they stared at me in fear, so I turned around and went back upstairs. Yoongi and Jimin took care of the aftermath. I slowly slipped off my gown and got into the warm tub to lean against the headrest, finally closing my eyes to enjoy the muted silence.

Flashback 02 | Villa Trip

I rolled over on the bed in the middle of the night to place my arm over Taehyung's chest, but he wasn't on the bed, so I opened my eyes in confusion to find an empty bed. I lifted my head to search the dim room, but he was nowhere to be found. Where did he go? Yawning, I sat up to stare at the dark lake with a sleepy expression and finally turned to find Taehyung's pajamas... left on a chair in the room. Why did he take off his clothes? Did he go swimming? Ah. He did ask me to swim with him before bed, but I was too sleepy after dinner, so I went to bed early. Scratching my head, I slowly got up from the bed and strolled down the dark staircase to find Taehyung swimming back and forth in the glowing pool.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" I yawned, sliding the door open to step inside the room.

"Wanna join me?" Taehyung smirked as he stroked back and forth. I watched his muscular shoulders clenching under his firm skin with every stroke. He's hot. Taehyung stopped paddling and slowly walked toward me to rest his muscular arms on the pool edge with a sexy smirk. I stared at his alluring pushed-back hair before averting my eyes to his seductive smirk and slowly unbuttoned my shirt. He quietly watched me as I dropped the thin shirt to the ground, then pulled down my shorts until I was standing in my lingerie.

"I didn't bring a bikini," I whispered, slowly sitting between his arms on the edge of the pool to rub the water from his eyelids.

"You don't need a bikini because I'll undress you anyways," Taehyung smiled, suddenly pulling me into the pool with him. I shrieked in shock when I fell into the pool but didn't submerge because Taehyung was holding onto my butt to support me.

"I thought we're here to swim?" I smirked, leaning forward to hover my lips over his. Taehyung carefully lowered me into the warm water as I encircled my arms around his neck to hold him close. We stared at each other's tempted faces with a faint smile.

"Yeah. I wanted to soak our bodies," Taehyung replied, teasingly squeezing my buttcheeks, making me giggle at his inappropriate action. I pushed him away and swam to the opposite side of the pool.

"The pool is warm," I gasped, emerging from the water to comb my wet hair out of my face as Taehyung eyed my glassy skin with a sensual gaze.

"There's a heating system," Taehyung muttered, back stroking across the pool, so I swam after him. He playfully grabbed my arm and tried to drown me, so I scoffed and pushed him away. Taehyung chuckled as he playfully splashed the cool water on my face to blind me. I shrieked in annoyance and turned away to rub my face- when he suddenly tackled me into the water.

"Ah!- Stop it!" I screamed in shock after emerging out of the water again. Taehyung funnily snorted as I coughed in distress after accidentally swallowing the pool water.

"Your bra is unclasped," Taehyung raised his eyebrow, nodding at my cleavage with a naughty expression.

"Oh? Oh no-" I quickly glanced down to find my loose bra and reached backward to fix it when Taehyung suddenly grabbed my shoulders to turn me around.

"I'll hook it for you," Taehyung offered as I stood facing away from him. He grabbed my bra clip, so I slipped my wet hair to the side of my shoulder when I suddenly felt the presence of his hands on my breasts.

"Stop it!" I giggled, trying to push his hands away. He firmly pulled me back against his soaked torso, firmly clutching my boobs under the loose bra.

"I think it's better left unclasped," Taehyung whispered, sensually biting my earloop from behind until I shuddered at his lewd action. Taehyung skated one of his hands from my breast to slither his fingers over my stomach. He reached down to my crotch until his hand slipped beneath my panties.

"Why are you like this?" I deeply inhaled when I felt the presence of his fingers as he stroked my sensitive area under the water with my head tilted against his shoulder. Taehyung didn't respond to me and proceeded to fondle my body from behind until I felt my legs wobbling at the intense pleasure. I lost my patience and turned to kiss him aggressively with my arms encircled around his soaked neck as he massaged my firm breasts.

"This is thrilling, isn't it?" Taehyung smirked as he pinned me against the pool wall to hold my floating body in position while touching me between my thighs. I spread my arms over the edge as he kept his hand in my panties to warm me up. It's uncomfortable to do it in the opening like this. I moaned in distress when he suddenly lowered his head to bury his face in my boobs with the loose bra still clinging over my body.

"We should go to our room. Someone might see us," I whispered, glancing down at Taehyung as he sucked my bare chest. The pleasure was so pleasing it got me tilting my head backward with my mouth hanging open.

"Let's just play a little longer," Taehyung lifted his face to press his moist lips against my neck. So I grabbed his wet hair and pulled him closer to me until our chests rubbed against one another. Taehyung lowered his hands to hold my hips when I wouldn't stop twitching against him. I shuddered in satisfaction as he nibbled my jawline, firmly pinning me against the pool wall.

"You're naughty," I smiled, reaching down to grab his hardened private part beneath his shorts. He let out a breathy moan against my face while rubbing his nosetip over my cheek with his lustful lips slightly open as I gave him a handjob under the water. I turned my face to kiss him until our breaths grew unsteady. He suddenly pushed the fabric of my panties aside to push himself inside me, causing my leg muscles to stiffen at the insertion.

"Fuck-" Taehyung cursed as he slowly thrust inside me.

"Are you crazy!? Hah~! Let's go to our room," I whined as he gripped my hips, steadily pounding inside me until I moaned in distress. He suddenly trapped my cheeks between his palms to shove his lips against mine. I whimpered in difficulty when he suddenly sped up the pace of his hip thrusts and tried to break the kiss, but he refused to let me breathe and kissed me harder. I whimpered against his lips as he twisted his tongue around mine to stop me from pulling away until I dug my fingers into his flesh. He's sucking out my breath!

I gasped in shock when he finally broke the kiss to let me catch my breath, so I tilted my head backward to pant for air as Taehyung lowered his face to nibble my breasts again. I gripped his hair in difficulty with my legs wrapped around his strong hips under the water surface. Sensually lifting my head to look at his lustful tongue activities with flustered cheeks as he licked my sensitive spots. Taehyung intensely sucked on me until I moaned out loud with his every thrust when I noticed a silhouette of a person standing on the other side of the glass wall. Am I seeing things? I blinked again, and even if the villa was dim... there was clearly a person watching us in the dark.

"Hah~ Tae-Taehyung, stop-" I stuttered in panic with my eyes fixed on the person. Taehyung's back was facing the man, so he didn't notice the presence of another person and proceeded to shove his way into me. I pushed Taehyung's face away from my breasts and firmly wrapped my arms around his neck to pin my body against his with my eyes fixed on the person. He's sipping his drink from his mug.

Taehyung wouldn't stop his action, and the pleasure was too good to resist, so I grew hushed with my eyes glued to the transparent glass. The person and I held eye contact as I had sex in the pool with Taehyung until I moaned and lowered my head to bury my face in his soaked shoulder in defeat. Why is my body burning so much? I should be embarrassed! For some reason, I didn't tell Taehyung about the man... and allowed him to make love with me while being aware we were being watched by the person. We didn't finish inside the pool because it was uncomfortable. Taehyung quickly pulled out his meat and fixed my bra to secure my breasts. We hurriedly grabbed our clothes and ran to our room. I turned to look at the spot the man was standing to find him sitting on the armchair in the dark with his gaze fixed on us. Taehyung didn't notice his presence and dragged me up the stairs with him. We quickly took off our soaked clothes inside our bedroom and crawled onto the bed to finish our deeds.

End of Flashback

I pushed the door open and entered the meeting room without a notice in a formal black dress. The shareholders grew hushed at my presence. Namjoon glanced at me with a startled expression as I calmly walked toward Taehyung's seat to sit in his place without greeting The Kims or my parents. Seokjin studied my rude attitude with an annoyed expression when I refused to explain my intrusion.

"Keep talking," I muttered, dully turning to Secretary Yoo since he was discussing something with the shareholders.

"What are you doing here?" My stepfather questioned, unsurely leaning on the table with his hands clasped together.

"Why else? I'm a shareholder," I answered with a straight face.

"What do you mean-"

"My fiancé passed away, so I'm here to succeed in his position," I interrupted my mother when she tried to question me.

"You have no right to succeed his shares because you're not married. Our family will acquire all his ownerships," Mrs. Kim frowned at me. I scoffed at her shameless declaration to possess Taehyung's resources.

"He registered my name as his partner under all his ownerships, mother-in-law," I mocked with my eyes fixed on her. Her face suddenly flushed red in anger.

"You're not his family! We are-"

"Taehyung did register the shares under Jiyoung's name," Namjoon exhaled, lifting up the documents to show his parents. Mrs. Kim's jaw dropped in disbelief as she stared at the official files.

"Hah. Does that mean the Hwang gained 150 million additional shares?" My stepfather smiled proudly at the Kim's bewildered frown.

"That's unfair!" Mr. Kim snapped at my parents.

"Actually. The share doesn't belong to either the Hwang or the Kim. Taehyung registered his ownerships under Jiyoung's real name. Lee Jiyoung. So it's technically the Lee's shares," Secretary Yoo exhaled, handing the shareholders a copy of the records. Seokjin didn't react to the verified document and kept his narrowed eyes trained on me.

"This is absurd!" Mrs. Kim huffed in disbelief as she clenched the document with an angered expression before turning to fire me a deadly glare.

"You shouldn't have killed your own son if you didn't want me to succeed in his shares," I weakly smiled, causing her to flare her nostrils in anger. The other shareholders averted their wary eyes to Mrs. Kim as she struggled to contain her frustration.

"I look forward to working with everyone. Especially you, Seokjin-shi," I averted my eyes to Seokjin's stony face. You said I wasn't competent. Now I'm above you. Did I wound your pride, Mr. Perfect man? Don't worry... this isn't the end. I will avenge Taehyung's death.

This is only the beginning.

Fast Forward

"WHOOOOOH!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs as I danced to the song with the strangers on the dance floor after I emptied a bottle of champagne. The DJs intensified the beat until I felt my skin crawling in anticipation with every deafening beat. I roared at the top of my lungs as I carelessly swung and swayed my body to the music in the packed crowd. A stranger suddenly grabbed hold of my hips, so I turned to smile at the handsome face. He winked at me as I wrapped my arms around his neck to fire him a flirty smile and bopped with him in the crowd. The man bought me a couple of drinks, so we chatted until we were both drunk, then dragged ourselves back onto the dance floor to release our stress with the crwod.

"Haha!" I laughed as we stumbled out of the clubs together.

"Do you want to go to a motel?" The guy turned to smile at me with flustered cheeks.

"Motel? Ah- I can't-"

"I know a good place. It's nearby," The guy insisted, dragging me with him. I was too drunk to resist him, so I stumbled after him down the road until we reached a sketchy motel. Whatever. I'll just sleep with him and leave. We were about to enter the building when I felt the urge to puke, so I yanked my arm free from his grip and turned to barf in distress.

"AH!" A stranger shrieked when I accidentally vomited on him.

"I'm sorry- *blurp*" I apologized in shock after my foul discharge splattered all over his T-shirt. But before I could breathe- I puked again onto the side of the road.

"Jiyoun-shi???" Changwon gasped when he suddenly recognized me.

"I'm sorry! She's quite drunk!" The guy I met at the club apologized as Changwon stood in his soaked shirt to examine my unstable condition.

"Who are you? What are you doing here!?" Changwon stared at my unstable condition in shock before averting his eyes to the stranger.

"Oh- I was just clubbing-"

"Do you guys know each other?" The guy from the club questioned us. Changwon studied my vulnerable condition unsurely and glanced at the red motel light with an uptight frown.

"Oh! I'm her cousin! Aigo~! My mother asked me to pick her up! Let's go home!" Changwon grabbed my wrist to pull me away, making me stumble over the side of the road.

"Oh? Is that so-" The guy glanced at me in disappointment.

"Goodbye! I'll take her home safely!" Changwon waved at the man and dragged me away.

"Cousin? We aren't cousins!" I drunkenly chuckled as he led me down the busy night street. People sniff their noses in disgust as Changwon walked in his dirty shirt.

"Do you know the guy?" Changwon asked as I walked by his side.

"Nope, but he's handsome," I burped, gripping his forearm for support when I felt my head tilting to the side.

"Then why did you go to the motel with him? I heard you're engaged," Changwon frowned at me.

"My fiancé passed away," I shrugged as we walked down the street. Changwon suddenly grew hushed as he bitterly eyed my hopeless state. He brought me to a mart and got me a hangover drink as I dozed off on the exterior table with my arms tucked under my face.

"You shouldn't sleep with strangers," Changwon exhaled after uncapping the bottle, handing it to me. I grunted in discomfort when I felt my head aching, so I accepted the hangover drink and drained it in one gulp.

"Then... Do you want to sleep with me?" I giggled, smiling brightly at him after placing the glass bottle down.

"M-Moh?" Changwon frowned at my invitation.

"You said I shouldn't sleep with strangers- we're not strangers. Wanna sleep with me?" I chuckled, reaching across the table to hold his hand. He jerked his hands away in surprise.

"I didn't mean it that way-"

"It's just sex. Just go and grab a condom from the mart," I nodded at the condoms on the cashier counter with a slight smirk. Changwon stared at my daring statement with a dumbfounded expression.

"You're drunk! We're not sleeping together! Do you often sleep with men when you're upset? That's unhealthy!" Changwon scoffed, firing me a disappointed glare.

"Aigo~ Ajumma raised you well! How adorable!" I chuckled at his flustered cheeks in disbelief.

"Come on. I'll walk you home," Changwon grimaced, dragging me onto my feet.

"Oh! Namjoon-shi!" I gasped when I noticed Namjoon heading towards the mart in his work attire. He must've worked overtime again. Namjoon blinked at me in surprise, then turned to greet Changwon.

"Jiyoung? What are you doing... here? Are you drunk?" Namjoon asked, frowning at my smudged makeup unsurely before rubbing his sensitive nose when he smelt the foul vomit odor on Changwon's shirt.

"Namjoon! This is Changwon! He's a qualified doctor! And Changwon! This is Namjoon! He's the president of my firm! My fiancé's older brother!" I introduced them to each other. Namjoon and Changwon awkwardly greeted each other again as I giggled with a bright beam.

"You're her fiancé's brother?" Changwon warmly shook Namjoon's hand.

"Yeah," Namjoon nodded at Changwon.

"She's in an unstable condition-"

"I'll take her home. Your shirt is stained, so you should head home," Namjoon smiled at Changwon's stinky shirt.

"Oh? I was about to walk her home-"

"Go home! Ajumma must be waiting for you! I'll be fine with Namjoon!" I nudged Changwon. He uneasily eyed me before glancing back at Namjoon.

"She doesn't live in her old house anymore. Her apartment is quite far from here, so I'll drive her there," Namjoon nodded at Changwon's anxious frown.

"Alright then. Call me when you get home," Changwon patted my shoulder and walked off to leave me with Namjoon.

"What are you doing here?" I turned to smile at Namjoon as he unsurely studied my not-so-appealing state.

"I wanted to grab a beer-"

"Great! Let's drink!" I grabbed his hand and dragged him into the mart. Namjoon grimaced at my chaotic behavior but didn't complain. He grabbed a few packs of beer and microwaved food before driving me home.

"I don't want to go home!" I whined as he calmly drove down the road.

"You're drunk-"

"I'm hungry, and I still want to drink! Don't take me to the apartment, or I'll sulk over Taehyung's death again!" I drunkenly complained until Namjoon surrendered to me. He reversed the car and took me to his parents' empty mansion instead because they were on a business trip. The maids were asleep, so we sat in the living room to eat and drink the beer. I shrieked at the top of my lungs when Namjoon suddenly covered my mouth to shush me in panic. He didn't seem to enjoy my company because I was loud and sloppy. Namjoon would nod at me with a bitter expression as I randomly spat out stories to entertain him. He tried to convince me to head home, but I screamed and threw a tantrum until he agreed to drink with me.

"Oh no. Are you drunk already? You barely drank!" I giggled when Namjoon lowered his face to rub his sleepy eyes.

"I'm just sleepy," He muttered while rubbing his face.

"I guess you can't drive me home. Get some sleep! I'll crash on your parent's couch!" I grumbled, thoughtlessly leaning forward to peck his cheek. Namjoon froze in shock when I harassed him without his consent and slumped on the couch to sleep. He rubbed his cheek with a flustered face before getting up to collect the beer cans and food packages to throw them away in the trash. He told me I could use his parent's guest room, but I insisted on sleeping in the living room, so he went to grab me a warm blanket. Namjoon left to sleep in his room as I snuggled on the couch to drift off to sleep after the wild night out to distract my sorrow.

Next Morning

The radiant beam woke me up from my deep sleep, and I was very annoyed by the disturbance, so I grunted in discomfort when I felt my head aching intensely. Did I drink too much? It wasn't much though- Why am I so weak nowadays? I turned on the bed to rub my face in frustration, slowly opening my blurry eyes to find Namjoon, laying shirtless beside me. I closed my eyes again and turned to hug his warm body. Right. I am sleeping on the president's bed. Namjoon turned on his side to hug my naked body when he suddenly jerked away from me in shock after he felt my warm skin.

"What's the matter?" I grumbled when he suddenly sat up on the bed to stare at his naked body with a petrified expression.

"Why am I naked- What-" Namjoon gasped, lifting the blanket to look under the blanket- only to realize he was entirely naked as I sleepily watched him from the pillow.

"Don't you remember? You took off your own clothes," I yawned, turning to lay on my back with my arms extended upward to stretch my stiff body. Namjoon's face flushed red in embarrassment after he recalled the steamy night between us.

"Cover yourself!" Namjoon gasped, hastily throwing the blanket over my body. I chuckled at his adorable reaction and got up to smile at his red face. He quickly turned his face away to avoid looking at my body.

"Cover my body? Weren't you the one taking off my clothes last night?" I laughed, teasingly poking his buff bicep.

"I'm sorry! I wasn't in my right mind! I must have lost my mind!" Namjoon whined, frantically scrambling off the bed to pull on his clothes in a hurry. I shook my head at his awkward reaction, then turned to search for my dress on the floor.

"It's alright. Let's just consider it as a one-night stand. Don't worry- I won't judge a hard-working man like you. Women aren't your thing, huh," I smiled and got off the bed to dress before him. Namjoon awkwardly scratched his head when he realized I was standing naked, so he turned his stiff body away to give me some privacy.

"You're not upset?" He asked as he slowly sat on the bed edge to stare at the wall.

"Upset? Why would I be upset?" I mumbled as I slipped on my bra, then pulled on my loose dress.

"Last night-"

"Stop worrying about it. I really don't mind," I shrugged, sleepily picking my heels from the floor, and walked toward Namjoon as he sat with a flustered face.

"It was my first time," Namjoon muttered. I halted to frown at him in disbelief.

"No way??? Are you kidding me?" I laughed at his stiff face. Namjoon was a virgin?

"What if I get you pregnant-"

"I'll take medication to prevent it. I'll leave now. Stop worrying," I smiled at Namjoon's nervous expression and walked out of his bedroom with the heels dangling from my fingers.

"-the kitchen manager-" Mrs. Kim suddenly halted in the corridor when she found me walking toward her in my revealing dress. Mr. Kim gawked at me in confusion as the maid blinked awkwardly. They were all startled by my unexpected presence.

"Oh. Annyeonghaseyo!" I greeted them with my hand clasped over my cleavage. Mrs. Kim stared at me with her mouth hanging open, unable to process my presence in her mansion.

"What are you doing here?" Mrs. Kim questioned as she eyed my revealing skin with her terrified eyes.

"Ah! I was drunk last night, so Namjoon was nice enough to let me crash at your place!" I nodded at them, causing the Kim's eyes to widen in shock.

"Namjoon brought you-"

"Jiyoung! You forgot your panties!" Namjoon strolled out of his room in his casual hoodie and sweatpant to hand me my lacy panties. The Kims stared at their second son in shock.

"Oh! I'm so clumsy! Thank you!" I giggled, grabbing the panties from Namjoon's hand and quickly lowered it to slip on my underwear in front of the Kims and the maid. Namjoon froze in place when he looked up to find his parents gawking at him in disbelief. Mrs. Kim averted her eyes from Namjoon to me with a startled expression. She still can't believe her eyes.

"Oh. Eo-eomma- appa-" Namjoon stuttered until his face flushed red in embarrassment.

"What did you-"

"I'll leave now! Thank you for taking care of me!" I smiled, quickly pecking Namjoon's cheek, and hurried away to leave the Kims and their son staring at one another in awkward silence. I smiled with my head hung low as I strolled out of their mansion to grab a taxi and headed back to the apartment.

Fast Forward

"Yah! Stop avoiding me!" Jungkook snapped as he chased after me through the corporation building.

"I'm not avoiding you," I rolled my eyes, dismissively sitting at the table in the cafeteria to eat my lunch. Jungkook frowned at my abnormal behavior and sat before me with his eyes narrowed on me.

"You refused to speak with me ever since he passed away!" Jungkook stubbornly interrogated me. I exhaled in defeat while poking the cold food, finally lifting my eyes to meet his. He's trying to read my mind.

"What do you expect? I was grieving my boyfriend's death," I fired him a sour expression. I was crying over Taehyung. Did he expect me to see him every day? Dumbass.

"It's not about him! It's about you! Are you alright? I know you're not!" Jungkook frowned at my impenetrable shield after failing to uncover my real emotions.

"I'm alive but not well, if you're curious," I replied as I ate the bland cafeteria food. Jungkook glared at my food and glanced back at me.

"How are you coping with it??? I'm worried about you, so answer me!" Jungkook eagerly leaned forward to stare at my face with his curious doe eyes.

"I cope with it by sleeping with men and drinking," I answered without thinking.

"Stop joking around!" Jungkook whined in frustration, causing the staff to stare at us from the other tables.

"Who says I was joking?" I raised my eyebrow.

"No way! Are you serious?!!" Jungkook fired me a doubtful look, but I maintained my unbothered expression until he gasped in disbelief. I know he's disappointed in me.

"Yeah. What did you expect???" I shook my head with a weak smile. Did he expect me to deal with it the healthy way? It'll take forever to heal. I'm too impatient, so I chose the quick and easy way to distract myself.

"You can't sleep with strangers! Are you nuts? You're walking on the same path again-"

"It wasn't a stranger," I muttered as I stirred the seaweed soup in disinterest.

"What? Who did you sleep with??? Seokjin?! Again!?" Jungkook funnily gasped like a dramatic school girl as he intensely stared at me from across the table.

"I slept with the president," I muttered, dully chewing the rice.

"Stop fooling around!" Jungkook suddenly pulled the food tray from me. I gripped my spoon in irritation when he wouldn't stop poking me for answers.

"I'm telling the truth!" I snapped, spitting my wet rice all over his face. The staff turned to look at us again as Jungkook wiped the stain from his face.

"I don't believe you-"

"He's a virgin!" I rolled my eyes and tried to pull the tray back, but Jungkook wouldn't let me have it.

"This isn't funny!" Jungkook grimaced- abruptly freezing in place when his eyes suddenly drifted to something beside me. I turned to look in the direction in confusion- only to find Namjoon standing beside me with a lunchbox. He awkwardly stood by my side.

"Uh... Can I join you guys?" Namjoon questioned, unsurely standing with his cute lunchbox.

"Sure," I smiled approvingly, so Namjoon sat down beside me to unpack his home-cooked meal. Jungkook stared at Namjoon with a dumbfounded look before averting his baffled eyes to mine for an explanation.

"How are you and Hyeri?" I changed the topic as Namjoon quietly ate beside me.

"We're fine. We got back together..." Jungkook answered but trailed off when Namjoon suddenly placed a few eggs omelet on my plate without looking at me. I glanced at the egg rolls on my rice and turned to look at Namjoon as he quietly ate beside me.

"Told you," I mouthed Jungkook in silence. Jungkook wanted to snap back at me but held back and rubbed his red face in frustration.

"I'll get going now. See you later," Jungkook huffed, quickly getting onto his feet when he couldn't stand my attitude anymore. I watched Jungkook leave the room, slowly averting my eyes back to the eggroll on my tray.

"He's your best friend?" Namjoon muttered without looking at me.

"Yeah," I replied shortly.

"About that night-"

"I'm not pregnant with your baby. Don't worry," I exhaled as we ate side by side.

"It's not about that," Namjoon muttered as he chewed his food.

"I was just drunk and horny, and so were you. I'm not over Taehyung because I love him, so if you're interested in me... it won't work. I told you it's just a one-night stand," I whispered to keep my voice low. The staff shouldn't overhear us.

"I know you love my little brother. You were mumbling his name in your sleep," Namjoon exhaled. I stopped chewing and turned to look at Namjoon with a blank face.

"So why do you keep bothering me about it?" I frowned at him.

"I know you slept with me to irritate my parents. I know what you're doing, and I'm asking you to stop. My mother isn't someone you should provoke," Namjoon muttered with his eyes trained on his food. So he knows. He knows my intention.

"She killed your brother. Are you going to forgive her?" I whispered, turning to stare at my plain rice.

"If you don't stop- you'll be next," Namjoon replied.

"Why don't we team up?" I scoffed as I stirred the soup with my spoon.

"Didn't you learn from your mistake? What happened the last time you teamed up with Taehyung to resist my mother?" Namjoon exhaled, turning to look at me sharply.

"I'll do it on my own then. Just stay out of my way," I smiled and got up to bow at Namjoon before walking away with the tray. I dumped the remaining food and his untouched egg rolls into the trash, carefully placing the tray on the rack afterward. Namjoon watched me leave the cafeteria with a slight frown. I got back into the elevator just as Seokjin strolled out. He didn't look at me as we passed each other, so I entered the lift and returned to Namjoon's office.

Fast Forward

"Get some rest," Yoongi muttered, strolling away to leave me in the living room after we returned from an operation together. I work at the corporation during the day and run the mafia with Yoongi at night. It's fucking exhausting, but I can't sleep at night anyways. My insomnia is killing me. I slumped on Taehyung's bed with an ice pack over my forehead to ease the throbbing headache, sadly turning to stare at his empty pillow in silence. It gets more difficult for me to stay in his room without his presence. My body is aching for him.

Sighing, I sat up on the bed and got dressed to leave the apartment in the middle of the night. I didn't feel like clubbing tonight, so I took the taxi and headed towards the cremation house instead. The property was dead quiet since it was past midnight, so I exhaled and walked inside when the usual janitor strolled out of the building with a gift bag in her hand.

"Annyeonghaseyo. You're working late today," I greeted her.

"Oh! Young lady! What are you doing here at this hour?" She beamed at me.

"I missed my father," I smiled.

"Oh! The young man is here to see your father! I was working overtime, and he was nice enough to bring me a gift! Is he your brother?" He chuckled, lifting the gift bag to show it to me.

"My brother...? I'm not sure," I smiled at her.

"Aigo~ I'll head home now. Get home safely after visiting your father," She patted my arm and strolled away, so I sighed and quietly walked into the building. Clack. Clack. Clack. My short heel's collided consistently against the marble floor as I slowly approached my father's shelves when I noticed a man dusting his picture frame. I slowed down and glanced at the flower bouquet on the bench as he organized my father's section. The man halted when he noticed my presence and turned to stare at me under the dim moonlight shining through the glass window on the opposite wall. I stood staring at his pale expression without blinking as he carefully closed the glass lock and turned to face me in his warm coat.

"You came to see your father," Seokjin nodded, dismissively turning to place the bouquet beside appa's portrait. So the mysterious young gentleman is Seokjin?

"You've been seeing my father all these years?" I asked, slowly walking forward to sit on the bench.

"I only visit him at night," Seokjin replied, sitting beside me to stare at the photograph.

"Why?" I asked shortly. Why is he seeing my father? Why is he making an effort to visit my father when it was his brother who killed appa? Why is he here to organize my father's memorial?

"I knew your father before he passed," Seokjin exhaled. I turned to look at his dejected mood with a questioning look.

Flashback

Third Person POV

The former chairman halted at the back door when he found a young man sitting on a bench behind the corporation building after he dumped the trash bags in the dumpster. The man walked into the corporation's kitchen to wash his hands, eventually walking back out to sit beside the boy for a lunch break. The handsome young man looked up at Lee Hyun Seung (Jiyoung's father) with a dark gaze.

"Aigo~ What is the chairman's son doing besides this smelly dumpster?" The man chuckled, turning to nod at the massive bin.

"Do you usually eat beside the dumpster?" Seokjin muttered, lowering his face to stare at the document in his hand.

"Life isn't as forgiving," The man smiled at Seokjin. The man handed Seokjin his lunch box after unpacking it to reveal a cute teddy bear kimbap inside it.

"Did your daughter make this again?" Seokjin weakly smiled at the adorable food decoration. The man chuckled as he chewed a fish bun after giving the young heir his food.

"She loves to cook," The man smiled at Seokjin. The young man picked up the cute teddy with his chopstick and ate it beside the man at the back of the building.

"I saw her a few days ago. She's a high school student now?" Seokjin smiled, turning to face Jiyoung's father while recalling the day Jiyoung shielded him from the rainstorm with her umbrella.

"She just started her school year a week ago. How did you meet her?" The man laughed as he fumbled through his pocket to find his phone. Seokjin quietly chewed the kimbap without answering until he swallowed it.

"I was breaking down on the sidewalk after I realized my girlfriend cheated on me with my younger brother. They were having sex- at her apartment when I visited her to apologize for our foolish fight. Jiyoung found me by coincidence and gave me her umbrella. I lost a competition at the university to my second brother the same day. So I- collapsed in despair after failing to prove my worth to... both my parents and my girlfriend. My second brother won the championship with his thesis, and my younger brother stole my girlfriend," Seokjin sorely exhaled as he ate the teddy bear.

"That's why Jiyoung caught a cold. She gave you the umbrella," The man laughed and turned to smile at Seokjin.

"Is she sick? I'm sorry," Seokjin frowned at the man.

"It's fine. Jiyoung is a fighter. She did what she had to do to help a stranger she doesn't even know. I'm proud of her," The man shook his head.

"I'll repay your kindness and hers too. Just wait a little longer, and I'll help you recover from your slump," Seokjin smiled at the man.

"Her future depends on you now," The man shrugged as he happily ate his food.

"What do you mean?" Seokjin glanced at the man.

"I'm tired of watching her live a miserible life, so I'm going to invest my remaining fund in your startup because I believe in you. Once your company becomes successful... I can provide Jiyoung with everything again, so do me a favor and be successful. I'm spending my last cards on you, so make sure to acquire your status in the corporation," The man nodded at Seokjin with an encouraging smile. Seokjin laughed at Jiyoung's father and turned to finish the Kimbap with a cheerful smile.

"The former businessman is my partner in the corporation- I'll succeed for sure," Seokjin agreed. The man eventually left Seokjin on the bench and returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the staff. Seokjin got up after finishing his food, confidently entering the corporation to submit his startup proposal to the board of directors.

End of Flashback

Seokjin offered to take me home after we accidentally met at my father's memorial site. I refused his offer and insisted on grabbing a taxi, but it was already late, so I had no choice but to leave with Seokjin. There are no taxis around this area of the city. I fell asleep on our way home and finally woke up from the brief nap- only to realize I wasn't at my apartment. I sat up to stare at the familiar room and glanced at the empty bed. Why did he bring me to his place??? I quickly got off the bed and stepped out of Seokjin's bedroom to search for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Huh???

"Seokjin???" I called in confusion as I glanced down the hallway when I noticed a shadow at the far end, so I turned in the direction to follow it. Why is he moving away?

"This isn't funny! I asked you to bring me home-" I snapped, halting abruptly when I noticed the a slightly opened door. It's Seokjin's private room. I approached the room, carefully lifting my hand to push the door open and nervously stepped inside. The room was dimly illuminated by the moonlight glow... so I could clearly see a bunch of photographs plastered all over the wall. I switched the lights on to scan the pictures with a slight frown.

"What the fuck?" I whispered as I examined the person in the pictures. Every photograph was a snapshot of the same person. I slowly lifted my fingers to pluck a photograph from the wall and stared at it with an uptight frown. The picture was... me... kissing a random stranger in front of a sketchy club. I glanced at the wall with a terrified expression when I realized the entire collection was pictures of me.

A picture of me walking down a side walk. Talking with Jungkook. Walking on the street with Jimin. Sitting at a cafe. In my school uniform. Working at ajumma's store. Dumping trash in front of my house. Drinking in a dark club. With my stepfather and my mother. There were too many shots for me to count.

I took a step backward to find the scattered photographs of me on the entire wall with a bewildered expression. What is this? Why are there so many pictures of me throughout all the stages of my life??? My eyes suddenly landed on a shot of Taehyung... proposing to me at the snowy park in shock. What the fuck- I abruptly sucked in my breath when I felt a pair of strong arms encircling my waist. A surge of chills swept across my entire body when I felt his warm chest pulsating against my back.

"You were curious about me, right?" Seokjin whispered in my ear, sending a wave of goosebumps all over my skin when I felt his hot breath panting beside my neck.

"What is this...?" I whispered, wildly turning to look at Seokjin's straight face.

"Have a look around since you're so curious," Seokjin nodded at the stacks of files and documents all over the room. I couldn't process anything, so I frantically opened the files to find articles... related to my birth father. Every file was about me... and my father. News... articles... biography... everything.

"You were stalking me???" I whispered as I flipped through detailed files of my whereabouts and activities on each specific date. It was like a diary... He had the date. My actions. My pictures... everything. Even when I was doing drugs in the hideout. He had it all.

"I was watching over you," Seokjin nodded, calmly watching me skim through all the files in the room until blood drained from my face.

"Why??? What is this for?!" I snapped, turning to stare at him in shock. Why would he do this!?

"It was your father's last wish for me to watch over you," Seokjin exhaled.

"Moh!? Why would my father-"

"Before he passed at the hospital- He asked me to look after you," Seokjin interrupted me.

"He died on the spot during the accident!" I argued.

"No, he didn't. He was still alive when I accidentally met him at the hospital. He asked me to take care of you, so I did," Seokjin confessed. I frowned at his composed face in disbelief. What's this!? My father was alive!?

"My mother told me-"

"That your father died on the spot? No. He died after someone killed him at the hospital," Seokjin shook his head with a dull expression.

"What? He was murdered???" I blinked at Seokjin in confusion.

"He was in a stable condition when I saw your father that night. But they claimed he died the day after... and insisted that he was already dead before arriving at the hospital. It doesn't make sense, does it?" Seokjin shook his head. I glanced at the files in horror and averted my eyes back to him. I can't handle this much information-

"You saw my father? Alive?" I repeated after him in tears.

"Yeah. Your father even told me he was fine. I visited him again the next day, but the doctor told me he never made it to the hospital," Seokjin nodded at me. What the fuck? Is he playing mind games with me!? I can't trust him!

"But what does that have to do with you stalking me!?" I snapped in anger. He was aware of my dirty history this entire time but played dumb- to play mind games with me??!

"Like I said... it was your father's will for me to watch over you. Stalking you became a hobby and... I sort of became obsessed. But I couldn't reach you because you were always unavailable... so I waited for the right chance," Seokjin nodded, suddenly taking a step towards me with a weak smile.

"So you were seeing me because-"

"Because I really like you. Because it's your father's wish for us to be together. Jiyoung... I've been dying to be with you," Seokjin whispered, gently caressing my rosy cheek with his thumb. I fearfully studied his harmless energy as he stepped closer to me... until his body towered right over mine.

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered, sternly staring at his tender gaze.

"I told you. I like you, and I have been admiring you from afar. I know... there's still something left between us," Seokjin smiled as he sensually breathed over my lips, gently placing his finger under my chin to tilt my face upward.

"Stop the nonsense-"

"Nonsense? How long are you going to deny your feelings? Hmm? That night... at the villa... in the pool... you saw me watching you. Why didn't you tell Taehyung to stop? Hmm? Why did you keep your gaze on mine while he was inside you? It turned you on... didn't it? To be watched? It turns me on to... to watch you from afar," Seokjin whispered, slowly lifting up a picture between his fingers. I stared at the photograph of Taehyung and me in the pool without blinking. I was tightly hugging Taehyung's body in the pool with my eyes fixed... right at the camera.

"You-"

"This is solid evidence. Taehyung is dead... so give me another chance. I've proven everything for you. You might be in love with him... but I'll make you fall harder for me," Seokjin whispered, tossing the picture aside and firmly took a step forward. I quickly backed against the desk in panic. He slowly pressed his arms on either of my body to trap me between his chest and the desk as I stared at him with a guilty expression.

Seokjin tilted his head to the side and slowly leaned forward to kiss me. I shakily gripped his forearm in response to his assertive action until my body turned stiff, so he pulled away to stare at my flustered cheeks and leaned forward to kiss me again. Seokjin suddenly lifted me onto the desk as we kissed and pushed my body backward while standing between my legs. I swallowed in difficulty when I felt his sensual lips over my neck. His hands... firmly massaging my waist to ease my muscles, so I gripped his hair and kissed him back until Seokjin interlaced our fingers to hold me down.

"You can't be doing this to your brother's woman-"

"He's dead. So I'll take care of you from now on, alright? Let's fulfill your father's wish," Seokjin impatiently pushed his tongue into my mouth to stop me from countering him. I gripped my fists restlessly as Seokjin tenderly fondled the side of my waist until I felt my body relaxing against his. He stood up to remove his shirt before leaning back down to slip my shirt over my head as I lay on the desk in defeat. I let him pull my knee-length skirt down to my ankle until I was left vulnerable in my lingerie. Shit. I walked right into his trap.

Seokjin stared at my body in silence before lowering his head to kiss my shin, slowly working his way up to my torso. I moaned on the desk while gripping his broad shoulders when he startled kissing my stomach. His wet tongue technology... triggering a spasm of tingling sensation all over my body. I bit my lower lips to resist the urge until I felt my body flaming with the lustful heat because he was so good with whatever he was doing with my bare skin. I felt as if... he was waking up my hidden nerves with every stroke or kiss until my entire body was sensitive to his touch.

I was overpowered by his heat that night, so I lost control of myself and submitted to his dominance.

Next Morning

The morning sky was very gloomy as I stared at the dark clouds with my listless eyes after pulling on my lingerie. I feel so stuffy. After all the heated rendezvous with random men- I'm not feeling any better. What's the purpose of my life? To fulfill my father's wish? What about mine? Mine? I lost the man I love. I don't know what I'm doing with my life anymore! This feels so stupid! The brief moment of pleasure only lasts when I'm being fucked! I'm still as miserable and desperate as ever, and my wound is definitely not healing! You're taking revenge- Revenge?! How is fucking his brothers' revenge? You should be ashamed of yourself! I sighed and lowered my head to rub my face anxiously when Seokjin sat beside me on the bed to rub my shoulder. I gulped and lifted my face to find him staring at me with a soft smile.

"You don't feel well? You look sick," Seokjin exhaled, gently kissing my forehead. I didn't respond to his action and stared at him in silence. Appa... why did you turn him into my stalker? This man knows every phase of my life, and it's scary! He knows all of my darkest and deepest secrets!

"I'm fine," I exhaled. Seokjin suddenly scooted closer to kiss me on my lips, but I was too weak to pull away, so I let him hold me without resisting.

"I made breakfast for you," Seokjin smiled, pulling away to ruffle my hair. I pulled on my clothes, and left the room with Seokjin to eat in his living room. I stared at the warm meals with a blank face as Seokjin poured a cup of juice, so I ate in silence when he suddenly got up to leave the living room.

"Why are you so determined to have me?" I mumbled, bitterly looking up at him after he returned with a file in his hand.

"I showed you the reasons. Why do you keep asking the same question?" Seokjin replied as he sat across from me with a file and slid it across the table.

"What is it now?" I mumbled, glancing at Seokjin for explanations.

"Your father used his remaining funds to invest in my startup before he passed. It's a mining project abroad in various resourceful countries," Seokjin nodded at the paper. I carefully pulled out the document to find my father's name on the shareholder documents.

"100 million shares? He had that much money?" I whispered as I scanned the shocking number on the document.

"The shares weren't that pricey back then, but it is now. I own an international mining corporation, and your father is the second shareholder with the biggest share," Seokjin nodded. My jaw dropped after seeing the amount of money stamped on the paper.

"Why did you keep this from me-"

"You stepfather. I couldn't risk revealing your father's assets without your stepfather's interference, so I wanted to wait until we were married. Until you're fully independent of your family to hand you everything," Seokjin confessed. I flipped the files in disbelief with the food left unchewed in my mouth.

"Does that mean-"

"Yeah. Your father left everything under your name. It's all yours. You're a multinational shareholder, possessing more than most businessmen in the nation. Your net worth is within the top 0.1% with the combination of Taehyung's assets and your father's," Seokjin tapped the document with his finger. I blinked at the records in silence. Appa really invested everything he had in Seokjin's first project to support him? He really trusted a stranger with his remaining money???

"So it's all mine?" I whispered with my eyes glued to my name in shock.

"Yeah. I couldn't have succeeded without your father. He didn't only help with the investment, but it was your father... who gave me the advice to launch my business from his personal experiences. I used your father's strategies against Namjoon by focusing on the national economy while Namjoon focused on foreign affairs. So... eomma sent him abroad to give me full control of the corporation in Korea while I had complete control of my subsidiary companies abroad. I'm controlling the foreign firms from Korea," Seokjin explained. Appa helped Seokjin beat Namjoon in their game to prove his competency? So Seokjin has been seeking help from my father? They knew each other.

Fast Forward

Third Person POV

Changwon lazily walked up to Jiyoung's old house with a pack of fresh side dishes packed by his mother and unsurely stared at the closed gate. He gently pushed the gate with his elbow, and to his surprise... it wasn't locked.

"Oh? Is she home?" He muttered, carefully closing the gate behind him and walked up to the front door to knock on it.

"Jiyoung-shi? It's me! Changwon! Eomma asked me to bring you her side dish and japchae!" Changwon repeatedly knocked on the door, but there wasn't any response, so he drew out his to call his mother.

"Oh. Changwon-ah," Ajumma answered.

"Eomma, I don't think she's home," Changwon told her as he peeked through the curtain gap in the window to search for Jiyoung.

"Just place the side dish in her fridge if she's not home. The spare key is usually under the pots around her house," Ajumma instructed him. Changwon hung up on his mother, then turned around to search her dead plant pots until he found the key to unlock Jiyoung's door.

"Damn. Why is her house so warm?" Changwon muttered as soon as he felt the heatwave from inside her house. He carefully walked into the neat house after taking off his sneakers.

"Is she a ghost? Doesn't she eat anything???" Changwon frowned when he opened the fridge to find nothing inside it. Not even water. He deeply sighed while organizing the lunchbox on the rack in a neat row before closing the fridge door.

"Oh. Jiyoung was home?" Changwon turned to find soggy ramen splatter in the sink. He scratched his head unsurely before returning to the living room.

"Why is her house so warm??? And what's with the smell???" Changwon rubbed the sweat beads from his forehead while sniffing the odd scent with a slight frown. The entire house was so warm- Changwon's sweat was beginning to drip all over his shirt. He was about to leave through the front door when it suddenly struck him.

"It smells like smoke," Changwon froze at the door as sweat dripped from his chin. Slowly, he turned around to look at the stair leading to the upper floor and glanced at the scattered shoes on the floor. 

"Jiyoung???" Changwon bolted toward the stair and rushed to her room, but the door was securely locked.

"Jiyoung?!? Are you in there!?!?" Changwon called, dropping to his knees to peek through the gap under the door, but there was no movement inside the room.

"Shit! Jiyoung open the door!" Changwon cursed when he realized the room was filled with smoke. THUD. THUD. THUD. The man repeatedly kicked Jiyoung's door, but it wouldn't budge, so he bolted at full force into the door- THUD- The violent impact sent him stumbling backward. It wouldn't open. Changwon immediately ran down to the ground floor and crashed into her front yard while dialing an ambulance.

"Please send an ambulance!- Neh? The person- I don't know! Just send one over!" Changwon screamed into the phone after requesting for an ambulance. He frantically searched the yard in a panic until he found a ladder. Changwon glanced at her bedroom window with an uptight expression before dashing towards the fence to grab the ladder to set it below her window. He grabbed a brick from one of her pots and climbed the ladder with it until he reached the glass panel.

THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD- SMASH.

Changwon violently banged her glass window with the brick until the window shattered at the impact. He quickly took off his jacket to wrap it around his forearm and smashed the remaining glass fractures on the window borders to create a safe passage.

"Fuck!" Changwon gasped when the ladder suddenly wobbled, sending it tumbling onto the ground.

"ARGH!" He gasped in shock when he lost his balance, so he frantically grabbed the window seal with his bare hand. The glass shards sunk deep into his palm as he hung from her window. Changwon grunted in pain as he pulled himself upward until his torso slipped halfway over the window- THUD.

"Urgh-" Changwon crawled on the floor in pain after falling through the window. He gripped his bleeding hands but halted in shock when he realized the window frames were sealed with duct tape. Slowly... He got up from the floor and turned to look at the door. The tape... was securely taped over the door frame as well.

Disclaimer: This scene contains content about suicide.

"Why is she blocking all the airway-" Changwon whispered under his breath when he turned to find Jiyoung... laying on the bed in her nightgown. The room was so hot... Changwon felt as if his skin was melting off his muscle. He quickly rounded the bed to find a small burning charcoal grill beside her bed. The ember was sizzling brightly, releasing deadly poison gas into the air-sealed room.

"Carbon monoxide poisoning..." Changwon whispered in horror as he slowly turned to stare at Jiyoung's sweaty face and skin in horror.

"Jiyoung!" Changwon gasped, scrambling onto her bed to pull her into a sitting position. Her body flopped weakly against him as he tried to wake her from her sleep, but she wouldn't respond to his call. He quickly dropped her back onto the mattress, frantically searching for her pulse in fear. Beat. Beat. Beat. Changwon shakily monitored her abnormally rapid heartbeat with a petrified expression.

"Why are you doing this to yourself?!" Changwon gritted, scrambling off her bed to rush inside her bathroom. He filled a bucket with water and hurried into her room to put out the charcoal before dashing toward the sealed door to tear the tape off the frame in a hurry with his bleeding hands. He sprinted back toward Jiyoung to lift her lifeless body off the mattress before kicking the locked door open. He stomped down the stairs with Jiyoung in his arms to evacuate her from the gas-filled room.

"What's taking them so long?!" Changwon seethed after stumbling out of her gate when an ambulance suddenly appeared. He rushed toward the vehicle as a few medics scrambled out of the car to help Changwon.

"I'm a doctor! Let me help! It's carbon monoxide poisoning! Please supply her with oxygen!" Changwon scrambled onto the ambulance and quickly snatched a medical light to inspect her responsive pupils in fright as the ambulance shot forward at full speed. Two medics immediately pulled an oxygen mask over Jiyoung's red face to filter her lungs with clean air.

A moment later...

"What happened?!?" Jungkook yelled as he sprinted down the corridor to find Yoongi, Jimin, Jiyoung's parents, and the Kim waiting outside the door after receiving the emergency call from the hospital.

"My poor child!" Ajumma suddenly appeared after Jungkook in tears as she ran toward the emergency room.

"Changwon found her unconscious in her bedroom," Yoongi exhaled, nodding at the emergency door as ajumma sobbed in distress. Jungkook patted the old woman's shoulder to comfort her when Seokjin appeared with a bewildered expression, followed by Namjoon.

"Why was she unconscious???" Seokjin frowned, snapping his anxious eyes toward the ER.

"Carbon monoxide poisoning," Jimin replied, dimly exchanging glances with Jungkook.

"M-moh?" Blood drained from Seokjin's face.

"She tried to commit suicide," Jimin answered.

_____________________

How's everyone doing? I tried to update earlier but I was held back because I was looking after my sick pet hamster. He passed away yesterday. That why I couldn't update on time. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you so much for supporting Love Candidate <3 I love you guys <3 Stay safe and healthy <3