━━━━━━━━━┈♕┈━━━━━━━━━

❝ I know my love should be celebrated but you tolerate it. ❞

•••

CHAPTER FORTY

THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST BITTER COFFEE I've had in my life. My eyes burn from lack of sleep and unquestionable tension, that has started to build up in my bones. Ever since two days ago, Jungkook dropped the news, the warning of the new storm awaiting us, I felt it. Even though nothing has happened yet, after the funeral and everything, I just felt that this will crash us.

Jungkook has given the best of his life to this business, he's done everything he's capable of, in bringing this business to what it is. After my father, my uncle might not have been that great but he was a good president. And now he's gone, his son and my other uncles they won't easily let Jungkook come into power.

    “I need the fucking file, at my table today Jake,” Jungkook charges from the next room, as he abruptly walks into the kitchen area where I was sitting with my paper work and the disaster of the deal that has ended after my unsuccessful trip to Tokyo,“ I don't care, her uncle died. She's not going to take this bullshit.”

Great --now he's talking about me. And cursing his employ at the same time. Dropping my face between my arms, I groan when he angrily slams his palm against the counter, gesturing for me to pass the paper work to him.

I gulp and I do as he asks, because arguing over this would be something neither of us want. So, I take one more sip of my coffee and turn to look at my husband, his face is sharp and pale, I could see bags underneath his eyes. His hair is pushed back, but still dishevelled. He has been like this for three days now, no sleeping, less eating, and more and more snapping.

He's not acting like himself. In these few days I've seen the version of my husband I never saw before.

“Tell me something Jake, I asked you to handle the paper work yourself, or make someone else do it, why the hell are you sending it to my wife?”

When he stops speaking after that and turns completely still, I knew then he heard his answer. And from the way his jaw clenched I know it is not something he wanted to know. Putting aside my empty mug, I exhale soundly, when he harshly places his phone on the counter, and faces fully towards me.

His eyes were lethal they spoke of a threat, an anger that threatened to burn every inch of my defense. He takes a step towards me, his hand reaching out to clasp around my shoulder but I flinch, not because I was scared but because I was genuinely, concerned about his next words, or mine.

“When were you going to tell me that you'd be attending the board meeting as well?”

Jungkook asked, sternly making the hair at the back of my neck to stand as I quiver, when he draws one more step towards me. His thigh brushing against my knee, as I swallowed breathless when he presses his thumb against my nape, his fingers curled around my neck. Not tight but definitely apoplectic. I look up, my eyes searching to find the light the familiar gaze, the comfort of my husband but all I am left to see is just a stone, a man who is unbreakable.

“I was going to tell you,” I don't know how I managed to make my voice so even, so casual especially with the way he was staring at me.

        “Not telling me and only telling me when I asked are two different things --Ivy” He commented, his voice intolerably cruel and, fierce just like his accusing eyes.

“I have to do something, Jungkook they would not give up so easily,” I said that but his absurd laugh was what made me loose my composure.

He thinks I'm incapable of doing anything for him? Is this what it is? Or it is just his male ego?

“I don't want you to tangle yourself into this mess, Ivy. You're my wife, and those people -—they are savages.”

Curling my fist around his sweat shirt, I murmured softly, “I can still make things turn the other way, after all I am my father's daughter. Just let me handle this.”

“No—” His absolute refusal surprises me. This is not just his male ego, it is something else entirely.

Looking into his eyes, I ponder trying to look for the reason behind his alarm, his unrest. Summoning up my courage I take both his hands in mine and make him sit on the stool I was sitting on moments ago, pressing my thumb underneath his eye, and my other hand still curled around his fingers, I kneel in front of him.

“Jungkook-” He raises his face, his gaze dark and exhausted, “Talk to me.”

“Ivy-—” He draws his face near mine. His gaze trained upon my face. Silence fills the air around like a warning, causing my heart to beat faster every passing second in palpation. I wait patiently for him to speak further but when he does not, I sigh standing up moving away from him.

This is the most, intimate most physical we've been in a week. This moment means something. It's different.

It's the intimate love language of our bodies, the little, small and careful caress, each glance. He's here, just as I am.

     “Fine. Don't say anything,” Saying that I stand up, ready to move away but just then, his hand that was still, few seconds ago moves and roughly pulls me back, his fingers clasp around my wrist in a tight grip, as he stares daringly back at me.

“Do you trust me?” Jungkook asks, feverish. His voice subtle, and tender yet at the same time it was too overbearing, that it was hard for me to not look at back him with puzzlement, and helplessness.

Helpless because, his question demanded an answer. But his eyes told me a different story. They appeared defeated, dejected. His soul was in a constant turmoil of self loathing.

“What sort of question is this?”

His face hardened, his muscle stiffened, “It's not that hard to answer. So, do you trust me?”

I don't hesitate. Because it will break him further.

“I do. I trust you Jungkook-—-” drawing in a long breath, I pull out my hand from his grasp and take out a stool to sit near him, I once again and lock our hands together, "How can I not trust you? I think I can not trust myself, but with you I know."

He eyes shut close, as he sighs with a whimsical smile.

“I love you so much, Ivy. I would never let anything hurt you, know that. You're embedded into my soul. My bones. Every inch of my heart, since the moment I met you, knows nothing but loving you, living for you.”

He sighs, again bringing my hand against his lips, as my breath shudders when his lips press against my knuckles, making shivers to run down my spine. The warmth in Jungkook's gaze and the sincerity of his words have calmed thousands years of unease from my heart. Now all I feel is just him.

This is it. This is everything, nothing else exist in my world except him.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note:

HI! It's been a while since I last updated. I know that it's really annoying and frustrating for those who recently started reading this book, I'm trying my best here guys, but college is just draining the life out of me. Forgive me please.

I hope you are doing well. Thank you for sticking around.

Which song do you think about when read this book?

For me, it's most probably All too well by Taylor Swift or, Summertime Sadness by Lana del Rey.

Stay precious as you are to me and remember to smile. Don't worry about the future, good things take time, not every failure is a verdict of
your future. 💜

Thanks for reading <3

Love,
Shafaq-shapel ♥