At Golem’s Mansion

In the grand hall of Golem’s Mansion, everyone was gathered: Zaru, Daniel, July (Neil’s wife), and Neil himself. Suddenly, a loud slap echoed as Neil struck Daniel hard across the face. Everyone froze, shocked by the force. July jumped up, angry, and shouted, “What’s wrong with you, darling? Why did you do that?” But Neil’s fierce glare silenced her.

Zaru watched the scene with a calm, neutral expression. Neil, trembling with rage, his eyes burning, grabbed Daniel by the collar and yelled, “What’s your problem, you idiot? You’ve been partying and wasting time for two years instead of finding her!” Daniel, unfazed, laughed and pushed Neil’s hands away, fixing his collar.

“Yeah, I couldn’t find her,” Daniel said coolly, “but what about you and your trusted men? Zaru’s the one getting all the information, and you’re searching too, but we’ve got nothing.” Neil’s anger flared even more.

Daniel smirked and continued, “It’s simple, Dad. You want her money, I want her. We’re after the same girl, but we don’t know where she is. She’s alone, just an ordinary girl. We’ll find her.”

Neil pointed at him sharply. “She’s not ordinary! She’s the key to our future. Find her soon!” Daniel rolled his eyes. “Fine, not ordinary, but she’s alone. We’ll get her.”

Zaru cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Lilly has something to say,” he announced. Lilly, Neil’s personal assistant and Zaru’s girlfriend, was kind to Kiara and the only one Kiara trusted. Neil sat down, calming himself, and said gently, “Yes, sweety, speak.”

Lilly, still shaken, said, “You’re all invited to Wolf’s party this weekend.” Neil nodded with a smile, and Lilly left without looking at Zaru, knowing he was serious during work. Neil, deeply tied to the underworld with many illegal businesses, was obsessed with taking over Kiara’s company, Golem’s Group of Industries.

The Other Side

Kiara, with her delicate hands, was focused on buttoning Yoongi’s sleek black coat, her fingers moving with practiced care. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her lips formed a subtle pout, a habit Yoongi found endlessly endearing. Her dark hair fell loosely over her shoulders, framing her face, which carried a quiet strength despite the vulnerability she often felt. She wore a simple yet elegant outfit—a fitted sweater and jeans—that hugged her frame, reflecting her unassuming nature. Yoongi, standing tall and composed, watched her with a gaze that was both playful and intense. His sharp features softened as he observed her, his dark eyes glinting with affection. Dressed in a tailored coat and crisp shirt, he exuded an effortless charisma, but there was a hardness beneath it, a man who had seen and survived the darker corners of the world.

As Kiara fastened the last button, Yoongi’s lips curled into a mischievous smirk. He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek, tracing the curve of her face with a tenderness that made her heart skip. “You know, baby girl,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “I was just thinking something.” He leaned in, pressing a quick, soft kiss to her pouting lips, catching her off guard. Kiara blinked twice, her cheeks flushing a faint pink as she tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

“What might that be?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with a playful challenge as she continued adjusting his collar, her fingers lingering on the fabric as if anchoring herself to the moment.

Yoongi chuckled, the sound warm and rumbling. “I was wondering… will our kids be extraordinary like you, or just ordinary like their dad?” His tone was light, but there was a sincerity behind it, a glimpse into his hopes for a future they hadn’t yet fully dared to dream.

Kiara’s hands paused, and her expression shifted. The flush on her cheeks deepened, but her eyes clouded with a sudden sadness. She looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just want them to be like you, not like me.” The words hung heavy in the air, and Yoongi’s playful demeanor faltered. He tilted his head, searching her face for answers.

“Why would you say that?” he asked, his voice gentle but firm, urging her to open up.

Kiara sighed, her shoulders slumping as she turned away slightly, her gaze fixed on the floor. “Because I’m weak,” she admitted, her voice trembling with a mix of shame and resignation. “I want our children to grow up strong, like their father. Not like me, always being used, always… breakable.” Her words carried the weight of years of self-doubt, of feeling like a pawn in the hands of others—people like Neil and Daniel, who saw her only as a means to an end.

Yoongi’s expression darkened, not with anger but with concern. He reached out, his hand gently catching her arm and pulling her toward him. She stumbled slightly, landing against his chest, the solidity of his frame a stark contrast to the fragility she felt within herself. His arms encircled her, creating a protective cocoon as he looked down at her, his eyes searching hers. “Love ,” he said softly, his voice steady and reassuring, “you’re not weak. Don’t ever say that.”

Kiara’s lips parted, ready to protest, but Yoongi’s gaze held her in place. “It’s not fair,” she murmured, her voice cracking. “Everyone uses me because I’m so easy to break. It’s like… salt in a wound.” Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and the raw pain in her expression struck Yoongi like a blow. He hated seeing her like this, diminished by the cruelty of others, by the weight of a world that had tried to crush her spirit.

His smirk was gone now, replaced by a look of quiet determination. He loosened his hold just enough to cup her face with both hands, his thumbs brushing gently against her cheeks. “Listen to me,” he said, his voice low but intense. “You are not weak. You are not ugly. You are perfect just the way you are, Kiara my Kiara my wife Don’t let anyone—especially not yourself—tell you otherwise.” His words were a vow, each syllable infused with a fierce protectiveness that made her heart ache.

Kiara managed a small, tremulous smile, her hands resting lightly against his chest as she looked up at him. The warmth of his touch grounded her, pulling her back from the edge of her insecurities. Yoongi leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, then pulled her into a tight embrace. “I love you,” he whispered against her hair, his voice soft but unwavering. “And you’re mine now. Anyone who tries to hurt you, who even thinks about it, will regret it. I promise you that.”

His tone grew steely, his eyes narrowing as he spoke, and Kiara knew he meant every word. Yoongi wasn’t just her protector; he was her shield, her safe harbor in a world that had been anything but kind. She felt the strength in his arms, the resolve in his voice, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as weak as she thought.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Kiara’s eyes welled with tears again, but this time they were different—tears of gratitude, of hope. She took a shaky breath and pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a newfound determination.

“I have something to tell you,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling within her.

Yoongi raised an eyebrow, his expression softening again as he waited for her to continue. The room seemed to hold its breath, the city’s hum fading into the background as the moment stretched between them. Whatever Kiara was about to say, it was clear it carried weight, a revelation that could shift the course of their lives. And Yoongi, with his unwavering gaze and steady presence, was ready to face it with her, no matter what it was.

Outside, the city pulsed with life, unaware of the storm brewing in the shadows—Neil and Daniel’s relentless pursuit, the looming threat of the underworld, and the fragile yet fierce bond between Kiara and Yoongi. But in that moment, in the quiet of their shared space, it was just the two of them, standing together against the world, ready to face whatever came next.

To be continued ..