Chapter 45 - Bonus chapter

Episode 13: Two Lives

AUTHOR: HELLO READERS... I REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW? LIKE REALLY LOVE YOU! YOU KNOW I ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU'LL BE THINKING... "WHO'S THE NERD TO KIM? WHY DID HE RUN? AND WHY DID HE CALL HIM BITCH?" DON'T WORRY, I'M GOING TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST FOR GOSSIP... TIHIHI~ I LOVE YOU GUYS. DON'T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE.. THANK YOU 😘🤩

---

TWO LIVES

The car ride was awkwardly silent until Tae decided to break it. He pulled me into a warm and soothing hug. I snuggled closer into him, feeling safe in his arms.

"I'm sorry about earlier," he whispered.

"Don't... You did nothing wrong," I mumbled.

He lifted my face gently and looked deep into my eyes. "Kim... I will always love you. No matter what. You don't have to be insecure. And I know jealousy is a normal thing—but at least try not to worry too much."

I swallowed hard. His words hit me like a rock. They were true. It hurt, but it was the truth. Still, I couldn't help how I felt.

"Tae... If I told you I wasn't like this before, would you believe me?"

He kissed my teary eyes—soft, patient—and didn't rush to lift his lips from my face. Then he pulled me back into his embrace, my head gently pressed against his chest.

"I'll believe anything you tell me—as long as it's coming from you," he said.

I took a deep breath. "I used to have this lover... I loved him a lot. I trusted him, but... he went behind my back and slept with my brother."

He blinked, confused. "Hyung did that to you?"

I shook my head. Then I looked straight into his eyes. "Will you forgive me?"

I braced myself, expecting the typical response—depends on what you did. But what he said next completely melted me.

"The only thing you'll ever do in this life that'll make me not forgive you... is if you die and leave me alone."

Fuck. That hit harder than anything else ever could.

Tears welled in my eyes. I hugged him tightly. "I swear I love you... I promise with my life that I love you. I love you so much. I can't live without you."

He stayed so calm, so gentle. "Calm down, baby... and tell me what's driving you nuts."

Luckily, no one else was in the car—it was self-driving.

I took a shaky breath. "That nerd... was my brother."

His eyes widened. "Your brother?"

I nodded. My heart was racing.

He looked lost, still trying to connect the pieces. I helped him. "I was reborn... I've been living a fake life all this time. I died. My father and stepmother killed me for my inheritance. And then... I was reborn into the Woo family."

I waited. Braced for him to push me away. For him to feel betrayed. But Tae didn't move. Instead, he took my face in his hands and kissed me—softly, so carefully—as if afraid I might break.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all this alone. I wish I had known earlier. I would've stayed far away from him. But... he doesn't know who you really are, right?"

He looked so concerned. All that love in his eyes—it never left me. And I knew, in that moment, this man was really mine.

---

Awwn, as promised, here's your bonus chapter. I won't make any more promises for now, but if I'm free, I'll upload three longer chapters soon. I took my medication and I'm getting sleepy, so before I start typing nonsense, I'll sleep. Love you! MUAH 💜❤️❤️