“Being in love with you makes every morning worth getting up for.”

Chapter 13: Immediately

Taehyung sat alone in Jungkook's cabin, the silence pressing down on him like a weighted blanket. Though he felt safe here, a sense of unease lingered. Jungkook had left abruptly earlier, offering no explanation, and his absence now gnawed at Taehyung's nerves. He tried to distract himself, settling on the bed with a book. The warmth and familiarity of the space momentarily eased his mind.

But a sharp knock on the door shattered the calm. Taehyung's face brightened with anticipation as he set the book aside and hurried downstairs, already picturing Jungkook's face. However, his excitement froze when he opened the door to find his mother, Hanyeol, standing there, flanked by two imposing guards.

“Mom,” he muttered, his expression quickly shifting into a blank mask.

“Taehyung, we need to leave. Now,” Hanyeol commanded her tone firm, her eyes cold.

“Why?” Taehyung asked, his voice devoid of emotion, though his fists clenched behind the door.

“The wedding,” she said curtly.  “It's today. Yohan is waiting. You're already late, and I refuse to let your stubbornness humiliate me. The words hit Taehyung like a slap. His chest tightened with anger and fear.

“I'm not going,” he said firmly, his voice steely. “Cancel it. Tell Dad I refuse to marry him.”

“You don't have a choice, Taehyung,” Hanyeol snapped, her lips curling into a snarl. “You will come, whether you like it or not.”

“I won't marry a man who disrespects me!” Taehyung's voice rose with defiance. “If you want this so badly, you marry him!”

As he moved to shut the door, one of the guards stepped forward, kicking it open with brutal force. Before Taehyung could react, the man grabbed his arm, yanking him forward.

“Enough!” Hanyeol hissed, her lips twisting into a cruel smile. "You're coming with me. No more arguments.”

“Let me go!” Taehyung screamed, twisting against the iron grip. His desperation turned to fury, and he bit the guard's hand, drawing blood. But his defiance earned him a swift punch to the stomach, leaving him gasping and weak.

“Get him in the car,” Hanyeol ordered coldly. She turned and strode away without so much as a glance at her son.

Taehyung struggled feebly as the guards dragged him toward a sleek black car. He tried to dig his heels into the ground, to push them away, but they shoved him roughly into the backseat.

“You'll regret this,” he rasped, his voice shaking with rage and pain. “I'll make sure you do.”

His threat was met with another harsh punch to his abdomen, stealing what little strength he had left. The edges of his vision blurred as darkness crept in, and the last thing he saw before succumbing to unconsciousness was the unforgiving face of his mother beside him.

Hours later, Jungkook returned to the cabin, parking his motorcycle outside with practiced ease. He removed his helmet, placed it on the handlebars, and unlocked the door.

“Taehyung, I'm back!” he called out, his voice echoing in the stillness. There was no response.

Frowning, Jungkook searched the cabin, his concern growing with each unanswered call. When he reached the bedroom, his stomach dropped. Taehyung's phone lay abandoned on the bed, ringing faintly as Jungkook tried to call him. Something wasn't right. Jungkook's instincts screamed at him to act.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he called Suga. “I need you to check the CCTV footage around my cabin. Something's happened to Taehyung.”

Taehyung stood in front of the church, trembling. Tears blurred his vision as he stared at the grand doors that would soon open. A guard loomed behind him, a knife pressed lightly but threateningly against his spine, a silent reminder of what would happen if he dared to run. The delicate gown they had forced onto him felt like a cage, and the humiliation burned in his chest. He wanted to fight, to scream, but his body refused to move.

“Stop crying,” Hanyeol hissed, stepping closer with her guards.

“You're ruining the makeup. This is a
special day, and I won't let you ruin it
with your theatrics.”

Taehyung clenched his fists around the bouquet of flowers in his hands. “I hate you,” he muttered, his voice shaking with suppressed fury.

“Be quiet,” Hanyeol snapped, her eyes narrowing. “This marriage is for the family. You should feel honored to marry someone like Yohan. He's handsome, wealthy, and─”

“And a monster!” Taehyung shot back, his voice trembling. “This is about your greed, not my happiness!”

Hanyeol's gaze darkened, and she leaned in closer. “Keep talking, and I'll make sure that knife digs a little deeper. You have no choice, Taehyung. Learn your place.”

The massive doors creaked open, revealing the opulent interior of the church. Hanyeol pushed him forward, and he stumbled slightly, struggling to walk in the towering heels they had strapped onto him. His eyes darted around the room until they landed on Yohan, who stood at the altar with a smug smirk. The look in his eyes sent shivers down Taehyung's spine. The ceremony passed in a haze of misery. Yohan slipped a ring onto Taehyung's trembling finger, and Taehyung did the same, his movements robotic. When the priest finally uttered the dreaded words,

“You may now kiss the bride,” Yohan
grabbed Taehyung's nape roughly, pulling him into a bruising, humiliating

Taehyung wanted to recoil, but Yohan's grip was iron-tight. When Yohan finally released him, Taehyung glanced around the room, his heart sinking as he saw his parents clapping with delight.

As they stepped outside, Taehyung's heart broke further when he spotted Jungkook watching from afar, sitting on his motorcycle. Their eyes met briefly, but Jungkook's expression was unreadable. He put on his helmet and sped away without a word.

“Get in the car,” Yohan ordered, dragging Taehyung by the wrist. His grip was so tight it left angry red marks on Taehyung's skin.

“We have things to... celebrate.”

Taehyung's heart sank further as he climbed into the car, Yohan's hand already sliding possessively over his thigh. He stared blankly out the window, his mind screaming for a savior, for freedom, for Jungkook. But all he had now was despair.