Second Chance (Taekook)

Echoes of Darkness

A lūstrum Later

Taehyung did not know where he was or how he got there, but he had a small guess about what was actually happening.

Another assassination attempt.

At this juncture, Taehyung had grown accustomed to the treacherous dance with danger and the relentless spotlight that came with the title "Mr. Jeon." Enemies lurked at every turn, and survival demanded unwavering strength. He immersed himself in grueling training and relentless practice, sculpting himself into the formidable figure he had become. Though the path was fraught with challenges, the unyielding and meticulously trained cadre of Jeon's men shielded him from the worst of it.

Yet, with Jeongguk's absence casting a shadow over his life, Taehyung sought refuge from the relentless ache of grief. The pain, an ever-present specter, was unyielding. In a desperate bid for distraction, he submerged himself in the labyrinthine world of corporate affairs and high-stakes missions, hoping that the whirlwind of business would drown out the sorrow that refused to relent.

Even after all these years, 'The Jeon Empire' has maintained its position at the pinnacle of success, flourishing under the guidance of its new CEO.

The shuffling of footsteps and the metallic clicking of keys signaled their arrival. Taehyung remained motionless on the cold floor, his body a rigid form of defiance. When two large hands closed around his own, he hissed in reflex. His tolerance for touch had all but vanished; he had once maintained a strict boundary of ten feet around himself, a zone reserved for the one person he allowed in. Now, with that person gone, he had no intention of permitting anyone else to breach what was irrevocably his.

The person all but gently dropped Taehyung onto the couch, and he landed with a jarring bounce. As he lay there, he tried to scan the room through the narrow gap in his blindfold, heightening his senses for any signs of imminent danger. The acrid stench of cigarette smoke filled his nostrils, seeming to come from directly in front of him. It soon became evident that his abductor was seated directly across from him, a realization quickly confirmed.

The man's eyes locked onto Taehyung with an unnerving intensity, making his stomach churn under the weight of that loathsome gaze.

"Stop leering at me with those eyes; it's making me nauseous—I might just vomit," he spat, his voice dripping with revulsion. The person flinched at his harsh tone, but the shock was fleeting.

"Oh, come now; that's no way to speak to your lover," the person drawled, his voice oozing with a smug, self-satisfied smirk.

The moment Taehyung heard that voice, a chill raced up his spine, and his body tensed in reflex. He knew that voice—one he could identify anywhere. What had once been a soothing sound now felt like an unforgiving curse. The person he had longed for, wished for, and prayed to be gone for years was still very much alive and seated directly across from him.

Jang Mi Kwan

The man he had once loved deeply—the man for whom he would have done anything five years ago—the man he adored and worshiped like a god—the man he believed loved him in return—was seated right in front of him. This was the same man for whom he ignored his family, disregarded his husband's true love, and fought with him. He had been publicly humiliated and cheated on, yet he had foolishly clung to the lies, diminishing his own self-respect. Now, it was painfully clear: this man was a monster who had used him to gain power and eliminate Jeongguk. He had lied, manipulated, and exploited him like a puppet, pretending to love him before betraying him and disappearing with another woman.