♡ Library
I climb up the tall library ladder, stretching my fingers toward the top shelf where I knew my favorite romance novel was hiding like a coy lover. Of course, the book was practically mocking me from the edge.
A voice broke the silence below me.
"Still climbing shelves like a squirrel, huh?" Minho asked.
I glanced down, surprised to see him leaning against a bookshelf with that usual bored-but-knows-everything look on his face.
"Squirrels are agile and determined, Minho," I said. "Unlike certain people who judge from below without offering help."
He chuckled, arms crossed. "Fair. What are you reaching for? Another fairytale? You and those unrealistic romance novels..."
"Unrealistic? Please," I replied. "At least in books, the guy doesn't fake professions, lie about his past, and make you question your entire life."
He smirked and asked, "Touché. So, tell me—what is love to you then?"
I paused, my hand brushing against the book's spine. "Love? Hm... maybe just someone who makes me feel safe without cages. Who doesn't ask me to become someone else to be worthy."
Minho nodded slowly. "That's surprisingly deep coming from you. I thought you'd say food or sleep."
"That's second and third on the list. Right after not being lied to," I said.
We both laughed, a soft moment in the quiet room. I had almost grabbed the book when—
"Ladders and sarcasm? Dangerous combination," Taehyun's voice echoed like a devil's spell.
My hand froze. "Why does my heart go full drumline the moment he opens his damn mouth..." I muttered.
I turned slightly to glare at him—mistake. The ladder wobbled under my shifting weight. Minho's eyes widened.
"Hey—!" Minho shouted.
But it was too late. My foot slipped. The book fell. And so did I… right into a pair of arms. Taehyun's arms. Pressed against his chest, his eyes smoldering, lips annoyingly close—I gasped, breathless.
"Falling for me again?" Taehyun asked in a low voice. "That's what… the 6th time this week?"
I tried to push away but my traitor heart skipped like a faulty record player. Minho cleared his throat in the background like he saw way too much.
"Put me down before I break your face with this book," I said, blushing and scowling.
"That's no way to thank your life savior, Mrs. Kim," Taehyun said, teasingly tightening his grip.
Minho snorted. "Love looks exhausting."
Taehyun hadn't let go. Of course, he hadn't. His arm still wrapped tightly around my waist, holding me hostage in the most annoying princess-carry ever invented by romance novels. I glared at him, my face way too close to his for sanity.
"Put. Me. Down," I demanded.
"But you look so comfortable," Taehyun said, tilting his head. "You sure you didn't fall on purpose?"
"I'd rather fall into a volcano than into your arms," I snapped, gritting my teeth.
"Yet somehow, you keep choosing him over gravity," Minho said dryly, flipping through a book without looking up.
I struggled, but Taehyun only tightened his grip, his voice brushing my ear. "Careful. You're blushing. Is it the fall? Or me?"
"It's rage," I said. "Pure, fiery, lava-like rage."
"You two need therapy," Minho said, finally glancing up. "Or a cage match."
Taehyun laughed, deep and unbothered, setting me down slowly—finally—but not without trailing his hands a little longer than necessary.
"Romance novels again, hm?" Taehyun asked. "Looking for love or comparing notes?"
"Looking for peace," I replied. "Then you entered like a walking war."
"She was just saying love should be honest," Minho said to Taehyun. "You know, no lies. No manipulation. Thought that might be useful info for you."
Taehyun's eyes flicked toward me for a heartbeat. Something unreadable danced there. Guilt? Or just that usual mystery? I turned, pretending to browse the shelf again—anything to avoid the heat crawling up my neck.
"Don't fall again," Minho said, grinning at me. "He looks way too ready to catch you forever."
I scoffed, clutching the book to my chest. "Trust me, Minho. I'm not the type to fall twice for the same mistake."
"Then maybe I'll become something you can fall for again," Taehyun said quietly behind me.
I froze for a second. Just a second. Then I marched past them, book in hand, cheeks burning like the pages inside.
___
The mansion's grand staircase echoed with the sharp clicks of polished dress shoes. One by one, they descended like a mafia runway show.
Minho. Damn.
Black suit, slicked hair, those sharp cat eyes. Quiet, deadly, and elegant—exactly the type of man my fictional book boyfriends warned me about. I blinked. Once. Twice.
"He's... definitely my type," I muttered to myself.
Minho noticed my dazed look but simply adjusted his cufflink with a faint smirk, pretending not to notice the way my soul just exited my body.
"Did your brain short-circuit? Or are you admiring someone else's husband?"
Taehyun asked, stepping beside me coldly.
I grinned innocently and replied, "Someone else's? Since when is Minho taken? Oh wait, you're just threatened."
I stuck my tongue out at him and skipped past with a little twirl, my smug grin widening when I saw his jaw clench.
"Hyung! She's stealing all the attention again!" Junho groaned dramatically. "It's my night! Look at my shirt! It's shiny!"
"Not shiny enough," Minho said, cool as ever.
I looked at Junho and said, "You'll always be my favorite puppy."
"I don't want to be a puppy, I want to be the main character!" Junho protested.
Jinwoo walked in, fixing his tie, and said, "Too late. She already became the plot twist."
While they argued, Minho turned toward me, his voice calm and smooth like espresso.
"If you want, you can come with us," Minho said. "No rule says the club is boys-only."
My eyes sparkled like a kid in a candy store. I gasped dramatically and asked, "Really?! You guys won't ditch me in the corner?"
"Only if you can't handle the attention," Minho replied, half-grinning.
That was it. Taehyun's patience snapped like a broken violin string.
"She's not going," Taehyun said, gritting his teeth.
"Watch me!" I shouted, already halfway up the stairs.
I raced to my wardrobe with a wicked giggle, flinging open doors like a storm. No way in hell was I missing a chance to make him lose his mind.
"Let's see how much this 'husband' can handle," I said to myself cheekily.
I stood in front of the mirror, slipping into a deep wine-red satin dress. It hugged every curve like it was stitched with sin. The slit ran dangerously high. My makeup was soft but seductive, my lips glossy. Hair down, waves cascading. I looked like trouble. And I wanted to be.
"Let's give the devil a heart attack tonight," I said to myself, smirking.
I stepped out of the room. The hallway went quiet. Junho whistled.
"Aish! We said club, not kill everyone!" Junho said.
Minho raised an eyebrow and said, "Classy chaos. I approve."
But the moment he turned—Taehyun's jaw tensed, his eyes darkening as he slowly scanned me head to toe. Deadly. Silent. Burning. He walked toward me with slow, sharp steps.
"Eyes. On. Me. Wifey," Taehyun said in a low voice.
I grinned sweetly and asked, "Why? Afraid someone else might fall for me?"
He leaned closer, his lips brushing against my ear.
"No," Taehyun said. "I'm afraid I'll lose control if someone dares to look at what's mine."
I grinned mischievously and asked, "Ohhh, is that a threat or a promise?"
___
The bass thumped, lights flashed violet and blue. The mafia brothers sat at their reserved VIP lounge, attention magnetized to the crowd—except for one.
Taehyun's gaze never left me.
But did I sit beside him? No. I danced. With the crowd. With Minho for a moment. Even with a stranger, just a little, just to feel free
.
Taehyun stood up. Oh. Sht.
He cut through the crowd like a panther, eyes locked on me like a storm building. He grabbed my wrist gently but firmly.
"Come. Now," Taehyun said.
"What if I say no?" I asked playfully.
He leaned in, nose brushing mine, his voice thunderously low. "Don't test me, love. You won't like what I do when I'm jealous."
"But I do," I said, smirking. "I love seeing you mad. I want to see it."
His hand slid around my waist, pulling me flush against him in front of everyone.
"Then don't cry when I bite," Taehyun growled.
💋 — The Fallout
He didn't say a word in the car. He kept one hand on my thigh, possessive, claiming. I could feel the tension in his body, the way his jaw clenched. Back at the mansion, I was halfway up the stairs when he suddenly pulled me into the study and slammed the door behind us.
"Why do you always do this to me?" Taehyun asked, dangerously calm.
"Because your anger's hotter than your smile," I replied.
He slammed his hand against the wall beside my head, caging me in. His breath tickled my skin.
"I love you. I worship you," Taehyun said. "But if you make me lose control—"
I looked up at him, my heart hammering against my ribs, and whispered, "What if that's exactly what I want?"
His eyes turned a shade darker, the last bit of his restraint snapping like dry wood. He didn't wait for another word. He crashed his lips onto mine, his hands tangling in my hair as he claimed me with a ferocity that made my knees weak.