The tension between Evelyn and Seok Jin had grown into an invisible barrier, one that neither was willing to cross. After their ugly argument two days ago, they had fallen into a pattern of avoidance—each pretending the other didn't exist within the confines of their shared home.

Seok Jin had thrown himself even deeper into his work, arriving at the office earlier than usual and leaving long after the sun had set. The crisis at his company was still unresolved, and the pressure to find a solution was mounting. Every morning, he would quietly slip out of the house before Evelyn awoke, and every evening, he would return to find the house dark and quiet, save for the light seeping under her door.

In contrast, Evelyn found comfort in writing. Her room became a sanctuary where she could immerse herself in her work and forget about the strained atmosphere outside of it. As she poured her emotions into her manuscript, her fingers flew across the keyboard. Focusing on fictional conflicts was easier than facing the real conflict between her and Seok Jin.

Their lives had become parallel lines—close, yet never intersecting.

Evelyn ruffled her hair in annoyance as she pressed the backspace hard and long. Nothing good was coming out, her research was pending and she had to proofread blogs that were to be posted by the company. She was on her third cup of coffee and it was only afternoon. She had not eaten anything the whole day because she was stuck with the piles of work waiting to be completed. Suddenly, she heard the doorbell ring, confused, she looked at her phone and it was just two in the afternoon. Seok Jin would not return so early, she thought, and she got up from her chair and walked towards the door. She looked through the peephole and took a deep breath, noticing two familiar faces waiting at the door. She tied her hair neatly, taking off the pen tangled in her messy bun and using the scrunchie she had around her wrist. She then dusted her clothes, straightening out the crinkles on her t-shirt due to long hours of sitting. She then opened the door slowly and greeted the two people with a smile plastered on her face.

"Good afternoon!" Taehyung greeted loud and clear, "Did we disturb you?"

Evelyn smiled wider, "No, absolutely not. Please come in." She glanced at Jungkook who was standing behind Taehyung with a wooden box in his hands, awkwardly, she greeted him too, "Good afternoon, Jungkook."

He looked at her and smiled softly, "Good afternoon."

The duo entered the house, and Taehyung wasted no time in plopping down on the couch. Jungkook followed closely behind and took a seat beside him, placing the box on the table in front. Evelyn closed the door and came to take a seat opposite them.

"Noona, we brought some snacks too," Taehyung chirped, passing a brown paper bag towards her, "Do you like Tteokbokki and Jajjangmyeon?"

"You're not a true Korean if you don't," Evelyn replied, opening the bag, taking out the boxes of snacks, and placing them before the two, "But there was no need for this, Taehyung."

"It was Jungkook's idea!" Taehyung revealed, making Jungkook more awkward than he was before.

Evelyn chuckled at them and passed the chopsticks and napkins to Jungkook, "That's very thoughtful of you. Thank you, Jungkook."

"It's nothing, noona," Jungkook muttered softly taking the items and placing them over the box of jjajangmyeon. "I thought it'd be nice."

"It is," Evelyn replied, "By the way, what's in the box?" She asked.

"It's your wedding album and some other stuff like calendar, frames et cetera," Taehyung informed her and opened the box, "This is probably Jungkook's best work so far. I have not seen him work this hard even for our company's photoshoots."

"Hey! I do work hard," Jungkook whined, "I just paid more attention because Hyung asked me to."

That caught Evelyn's attention, "Jin asked you to do this?"

"Who else?" Taehyung shrugged his shoulders and continued having his tteokbeokki.

"Hyung asked me to prepare them well because they're going to go to the two families in today's family dinner." Jungkook informed her,

"Right," Evelyn mumbled as she remembered the family dinner today at six in the evening. She was informed about it beforehand but she wasn't prepared for it still. The thought of both families coming together at the same table gave her jitters.

"Why are you not eating, noona?" Taehyung asked Evelyn, bringing her out of her thoughts, "Oh and by what time would Hyung come?"

Evelyn shifted in her seat awkwardly. They hadn't changed a single word after that incident, let alone knowing when he would return. "I just had coffee, and I'm full. Please share my portion, too. I'll just take a little tteokbeokki."

"Sure!" Taehyung chirped and divided the jjajangmyeon between him and Jungkook while he shook his head.

"Oh! Jin Hyung is calling," Jungkook mentioned as he picked up his ringing phone and went to take the call.

Evelyn's heart raced at the mention of her husband's name. She realized they had not once spoken on the phone or even texted each other and it had been four days in the marriage. She bit her lips embarrassed for a reason she was unaware of. She pouted her lips as she stared at the open box filled with pictures of them posing as an oh-so-lovely couple. She went through all the pictures and she had to admit, the pictures came out great. Only if there was one good experience attached to them.

"Noona, you have been trending lately," Taehyung mentioned.

Evelyn tilted her head confused. Taehyung took out his phone and showed her the top searched results, one of which was her recent novel, 'Road Not Taken'. She smiled awkwardly at the acknowledgement.

"I admit I did a bit of digging," Taehyung announced, giving his sister-in-law a wide boxy smile. I'm not big on reading, but I'd love to read your work. Would you mind honouring me with a signed copy of your book?"

This made Evelyn chuckle, "That'd be my honour, good sir. I don't have all my stuff yet, I'm bringing them over slowly. I'm expecting my study table and cartons of my previous works, stationery, manuscripts and all to arrive today."

"Works!"

Taehyung chirped clapping his hands in excitement while Jungkook returned from his call. He took a seat beside Taehyung. Evelyn looked at him unconsciously hoping he would mention what he and Seok Jin talked about. But Jungkook did not utter a word, disappointing her. He went back to finishing his food while she looked out of the glass door, staring at the busy city of Seoul in the lap of the Han River. But it didn't take her long to indulge in the hilarious stories of Jungkook and Taehyung. She couldn't help but laugh at the stories of Taehyung, Jungkook and the rest of the friends who were absent in the room but still a very big part of their conversation. She was surprised to know that Seok Jin played the role of supportive eldest and would usually take charge of the group and treat them to meals, especially the younger three. She expected him to be that introvert of the group who doesn't talk much and more of a listener, she just learned that it was Yoongi who played that role.

Evelyn was laughing at one of Taehyung's jokes while Jungkook's shyness was slowly dissipating as they continued to chat. The light atmosphere in the room was a refreshing change from the tension of the past few days. Just as Taehyung was about to launch into another story, the doorbell rang.

"I'll go get it," She stood up and opened the door. It was the deliverymen who had come to deliver her old study table from her apartment along with cartons of manuscripts, research papers, her books, plans etc. They kept it inside, she thanked them and was ready to close the door when another person, decked in a suit, came holding up a big carton of stationery, hiding his face. She furrowed her eyebrows and the man peeked from the side of the carton, filling her with joy.

"Oppa!" She exclaimed in pure glee, hugging him as soon as he kept the carton down. He chuckled as he went back a few steps due to her hug's intensity.

"Surprise, Little one," He mumbled, patting her back affectionately.

"I thought some burglar broke in," Jungkook commented as Evelyn broke the hug and giggled.

Taehyung nodded his head. "I had my chopsticks ready for protection purposes." He showed off the two metal chopsticks, clinking them together, and making the other three chuckle.

"By the way what a pleasant surprise, Mr. Jeon," Taehyung said shaking Wonwoo's hands formally, but then he leaned, "Can I call you hyung?"

Wonwoo smiled and nodded his head, giving Taehyung a sense of accomplishment. He then proceeded to shake hands with Jungkook. Evelyn was feeling warmth in her heart looking at her brother and her brother-in-law's bond. It was a small thing but she knew it meant a lot to her brother, which automatically made it twice more heartwarming to her. She was smiling, looking at her brother smiling as he chatted with Taehyung and Jungkook. She brought some cookies and water for Wonwoo. He wasn't feeling any less warmth looking at his sister getting along with her new family. He took the glass of water and took a sip of it.

"Oh! Congratulations, Wonwoo Hyung!" Taehyung felicitated Wonwoo, which he acknowledged with a welcome and sweet smile.

"For?" Evelyn asked them, clearly confused over the exchange.

"You haven't told Noona yet?" he asked Wonwoo, who just shook his head. Then he turned towards Evelyn and smiled, "Noona, Hyung has been announced as the managing director of Regalia."

Evelyn's eyes widened at the information. She looked at Wonwoo, who was already looking at her, and smiled, heaving a heavy sigh of relief.

"You deserve it! I'm so happy for you!" She congratulated her brother as he acknowledged it, and they exchanged a warm glance.

Only Evelyn knew how long and hard Wonwoo had been working to get the recognition and validation of their father. She smiled warmly as she stared at her brother with a genuine smile for the first time in years. He was happy. He was finally happy. She clapped her hands together, gaining the three's attention.

"Shouldn't we celebrate it? Let's celebrate it!"

"Oh no no, there's no need, Eve." Wonwoo replied calmly, "We're setting up your table and other stuff today. We only have three hours till the family dinner."

"Perfect!" Taehyung chirped in, "We'll help too!" He said tackling Jungkook in a side hug, making it hard for him to breathe.

"It's alright, Taehyung," Wonwoo said, "I'll manage. You guys don't need to bother."

Evelyn nodded, disappointed over the rejection of her amazing proposal to celebrate the achievement.

"Hyung, we'll help. Taehyung took the rest of the day off and well, granted me it too," Jungkook informed.

Even after the siblings tried to protest against it, the two friends didn't listen and helped complete the setup of Evelyn's room. Taehyung and Jungkook helped Evelyn unpack her boxes and stack the stationery and books on the shelf, while Wonwoo took charge of setting up the study table. The room was soon filled with laughter and conversation as they shared a bunch of stories and jokes, the earlier tension from her life with Seok Jin momentarily forgotten.

Jungkook, despite his initial shyness, started opening up more, and soon the three of them were working in perfect sync, making quick progress. Evelyn was touched by how they all pitched in, even her usually reserved brother, who seemed genuinely happy to be there. This was a side of Wonwoo she hadn't seen in a long time—relaxed, almost playful. Taehyung and Jungkook brought out a sense of innocence in him that she rarely witnessed, and it was heartening to see her brother let his guard down.

"Good thing I didn't do gym today, my entire body is sore," Taehyung said massaging his knees, as he plopped down on the sofa after finishing the work.

"I asked you guys not to do it," Evelyn said, putting down the tray of glasses filled with juices. "You insisted."

"Honestly, I think I'm good at this job," Taehyung prompted after chugging down the entire glass of juice, "Should I consider a change of profession?"

"I wonder," Evelyn muttered chuckling.

"I can see that happening, if you ask me," Jungkook commented cracking his neck, "You'd do wonders, Hyung."

Taehyung looked at his friend offended, which made the rest of them chuckle.

"Should I order something sweet? Do you guys like desserts? My treat!" Evelyn proposed yet another idea, "And please don't reject this one."

Wonwoo chuckled, "I don't have a problem."

"Neither do I," Taehyung replied, "I want doughnuts and Jungkook would like banana cheesecake."

"Hey! Don't stereotype my desert choices." Jungkook punched Taehyung's shoulder lightly, "I don't eat them all the time. Noona, please don't order that. I'm sick of it."

Evelyn showed him a thumbs up, "What would you get then?"

"Anything works for me. What do you like?" He asked her instead.

"I like bagels, should I order that for you too?"

Jungkook agreed, and Evelyn went on with ordering the desserts for everybody. Soon enough, the table was adorned with an assortment of cakes, bagels, and doughnuts, each more tempting than the last.

Taehyung was the first to dig in, grabbing a slice of chocolate cake with a mischievous grin. "Ah, nothing like rewarding yourself with something sweet after a hard day's work."

Jungkook, who was quietly spooning ice cream into his mouth, nodded in agreement. "This is the best part."

Wonwoo, ever the serious one, carefully selected a small piece of tiramisu, but even he couldn't hide the slight smile of satisfaction as he took a bite.

Evelyn, watching them all enjoy themselves, picked up a fork and joined in. The rich taste of the dessert melted in her mouth, and for a moment, all the stress of the past few days seemed to dissolve away.

"Can I get the autographed book now, Noona?" Taehyung asked, to which Evelyn nodded her head, smiling.

Jungkook cleared his throat, "Please give me one too, Noona. I, erm, bragged about it in front of my cousins and one of them turned out to be your big fan. She went feral."

"Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. Which one would she like?" Evelyn asked Jungkook.

"Uh, she said something about taking roads— I'm sorry if I butchered the name. She said it's your recent work and booming these days."

Evelyn shook her head, "It's alright. It's called 'Road Not Taken', Taehyung asked for the same. I'll give you guys."

Wonwoo, silently observing the exchange, could feel a sense of relief washing over him. He was glad that his sister had good company, but he wasn't sure about Seok Jin yet; he hadn't seen him around her yet. He could be completely relieved once he made sure that she was treated well by her husband, too.

"By the way, Noona. Call me over whenever you feel like having desserts. Hyung can be boring at times, there's no need for you to have them alone." Taehyung mentioned as he scraped off the last bite of chocolate cake.

Evelyn furrowed her eyebrows, confused by his statement. "Uh, sure?" she said, chuckling awkwardly, still not understanding his sentence.

"I don't understand how can a person not like sweet stuff— Hyung loathes it," Taehyung added.

Evelyn felt a small knot form in her stomach at the new information. She was confused because the desserts she brought for Seok Jin were gone the next day. A tinge of embarrassment entered her body, making it hard for her to swallow her dessert.

"He prefers savoury over ice cream," Jungkook piped in, "Like how can one not like ice cream out of all the things?" He shook his head in disbelief.

"Oh, I can picture him saying, 'Good luck with your sugar crash' in his deep, cold, manly voice." Taehyung imitated his elder brother, which made all of them laugh, except Evelyn, who was laughing artificially, affected by the new information.

After some time, they could hear the passcode being entered and they knew Seok Jin was back. He entered in no time and stopped in his tracks as soon as he entered. Taehyung and Jungkook greeted him with wide grins while Wonwoo bowed softly which Seok Jin reciprocated with equal formality. Evelyn looked away after having a very brief eye contact with him. She got up and started collecting the dessert boxes, putting them in big plastic bags.

Seok Jin's gaze shifted from Evelyn to the three men who remained seated. He cleared his throat, trying to navigate the awkwardness. "Why are you all still here?" he asked, attempting to sound casual but unable to mask the underlying stiffness and awkwardness.

"Well, somebody had to fill in on the fun, you know?" Taehyung replied, not failing to give his brother a sarcastic answer, "Besides, we had business to take care of. You know it."

Seok Jin rolled his eyes and took off his coat, loosening his tie and taking a seat opposite Taehyung, Jungkook and Wonwoo. Evelyn came back with a glass of water for him and kept it on the table in front of him. He muttered a small thankyou, which she acknowledged, before chugging it all down. Evelyn took a seat beside him, silently.

"The pictures came out really well, Mr. Kim," Wonwoo said silently. "I'm sure both the families would be pleasantly surprised."

"Hopefully," Seok Jin mumbled his attention on the wooden box placed near the legs of the couch. "I hope you had no problem commuting, Mr. Jeon. This area tends to be a bit hard to navigate."

"Oh absolutely not," Wonwoo answered genuinely, "All thanks to Mr. Jung, he kept me company."

"Oh? Hobi hyung?" Jungkook asked Wonwoo to which he nodded.

"You guys talked before coming here?" Evelyn asked, her gaze pinned on her brother, since it was too awkward for her to face her husband.

Wonwoo nodded his head, "Mr Kim called me to congratulate me on my promotion. I remembered your stuff was being delivered today so I thought of surprising you. He and Mr Jung helped me and the delivery service reach the place."

Evelyn's mouth formed an 'O' as she nodded her head, "That's why I didn't get a single call about location. Did they contact you?" This time she turned to Seok Jin who nodded his head. She mouthed a thankyou with a soft smile planted on her face.

"And I thought I was the only one who knew," Jungkook pouted.

"Wait," Taehyung said, "You knew too?"

Jungkook nodded his head, "Remember he called? That was to let me know Wonwoo Hyung was coming and he might call in case he needs directions."

"Hobi could've been busy that's why I told you," Seok Jin cleared, "I knew you guys were over here."

Evelyn was clearly touched by Seok Jin's gesture. He had taken the time to congratulate her brother and also made sure that he had no problem reaching their house. Even if it was out of formality, it meant a lot to her. She could feel a hint of warmth creeping into her chest.

Taehyung stood up and stretched. "Well, as much as I'd love to stay and keep noona company, we should get going. Don't want to be late for dinner."

Wonwoo nodded, also rising to his feet. "We'll meet you there in about an hour, Mr. Kim."

Seok Jin nodded, his eyes lingering on Evelyn for a moment before he turned back to the others. "I'll see you there."

With a final round of goodbyes, Taehyung and Jungkook headed for the door, their playful banter continuing as they left. Wonwoo gave Evelyn a reassuring smile before following them out, leaving her and Seok Jin alone in the now-quiet room.

"Umm," Evelyn started, unsure of what exactly to say, "Thank you for all of that, Jin. Means a lot."

He looked at her as he collected his coat and nodded his head, "It's alright, there's no need for it."

"No, really," Evelyn added, taking a deep breath. "Thank you for taking the time to congratulate my brother and, uh, help him out."

Seok Jin pursed his lips in a thin line, acknowledging her thankfulness, "He isn't just a business partner to me, and he deserved the position so I should do my part."

Evelyn's eyes sparkled at his words, "You think so?"

Seok Jin, who was ready to go inside his room stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at her, noticing the radiance in her eyes, "Of course."

Evelyn gave him a full smile, "Me too!" She exclaimed happily.

That did something to Seok Jin. He took a moment to still himself. His heart was palpitated at a weird pace for a moment there. He stared at her for a brief second before she went back to the living area to clean the table.

"Evelyn?"

He called out her name. It rolled so smoothly over his tongue. She turned and looked at him. A big question mark was visible on her face. She wiggled her eyebrows asking him the reason he called. He looked away before looking back at her.

He cleared his throat, "I'm sorry for that day. It was too harsh. I shouldn't have reacted that way."

Evelyn stood up and locked her hands behind her back. "It's okay," a soft smile tugged on her face. "Just warn me next time, and I'll be prepared for your wrath."

He looked at her confused, trying to figure out if she was joking or if she was being serious. This made Evelyn laugh a little.

"Chill. Please don't dissect the soul out of my joke." She said shaking her head, "Go get changed. We have to leave in an hour."

He nodded and went to his room, closing it behind him. Unknowingly, a smile played on his face as he recalled her smiling face and the sparkle in her eyes. He had no idea someone's smile could actually make his mood better. Maybe it was just that the board meeting went well, and he apologised for his behaviour, which made him feel light. He wasn't sure.

Meanwhile, in the living area, Evelyn felt a similar sense of contentment. The tension between them had eased, and the fact that Seok Jin, a goal-oriented, hardworking businessman, had appreciated her brother meant more to her than she could express. It wasn't just about the resolution of their earlier issues; it was also the pride she felt for Wonwoo, who had finally achieved what he deserved.

—

Evelyn and Seok Jin entered the elegant, dimly lit restaurant, and the soft hum of conversations against the calmness of the space. They were led to a private room where their families were already gathered. Taehyung was chatting animatedly with Seok Jin's father, while Wonwoo and Sowon sat quietly beside Evelyn's parents, her mother holding her usual composed expression.

"Evelyn!" Seok Jin's father beamed, rising to give his daughter-in-law an affectionate pat, "You look absolutely stunning, dear. Doesn't she, honey?" He turned to Seok Jin's mother, who nodded in agreement.

"Always a delight," she said kindly, her voice deep with affection as she smiled warmly at her.

Evelyn smiled back and bowed to them in respect. She also greeted Taehyung, who smiled back mischievously. She just realized how much she liked his company, as she recalled all those moments of a few hours ago. She took a seat beside Seok Jin and her gaze fell upon her parents who were sitting right opposite to her, her smile faltered and she wore her monotonous demeanour while greeting them. They reciprocated with the same icy reaction, except Wonwoo and Sowon who were clearly happy to see her.

The soft murmur of their chatter surrounded the private dining room, the faint scent of the lavishly prepared dishes wafting through the air. Everyone was seated around a large, polished table, the mood seemingly light as small talk filled the space. But the tension, just beneath the surface, was palpable to Evelyn. Across the table, Mrs Jeon's poisoned figure leaned forward, her sharp eyes always finding something to comment on. Seok Jin too was visibly uncomfortable by the dynamic of Evelyn's parents. Something about the way they talked to her didn't quite sit right with him, but he focused on not paying much heed to it.

"And then noona treated us to desserts!" Taehyung raved about their little quality time in the afternoon.

"Of course, she's indeed a sweetheart," Mrs Kim said softly. Evelyn looked at her mother-in-law shyly and smiled. She wasn't used to such sweet words, especially from a mother figure.

"That's lovely. Evelyn, dear," Mrs Jeon spoke, her voice sweet but with an underlying edge, "I wondered why you seem fuller. Now I can guess the reason. You're settling in nicely, I suppose." She gave a tight-lipped smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Evelyn stiffened, her hand gripping her fork under the table. She could feel Seok Jin glance at her out of the corner of his eye. His expression was neutral, but she knew he was judging them.

"Doesn't that mean marriage is suiting her beautifully, Mrs Jeon?" replied, Seok Jin's mother, with a sweet smile plastered on her face, with a hint of dislike in her eyes.

Evelyn's mother laughed shaking her head, "Oh absolutely. But it's also true that a woman should always look presentable, a married one especially." She glanced at Evelyn, who was already glaring at her, "Just saying, in general."

Evelyn tightened her jaw and focused on the food in front of her, which then looked unappetizing as ever. She knew why Mrs Jeon was doing that. She hated Evelyn. Always did, ever since she came to their house. She controlled the urge to reply because Seok Jin's family was there and she didn't want their day to be ruined by her dysfunctional family dynamics.

"I was curious, how was Seok Jin as a kid?" Mrs Jeon struck again.

Seok Jin's father smiled, "He was always a bright kid. Very hardworking and creative. We never had to worry about him much. He lived in a dorm during his college and it never looked like it belonged to a bachelor," he laughed, "Although, he has a bad habit of doing everything on his own. He thinks he can solve everything. I'm glad he respects God at least."

"Dad..." Seok Jin whispered, embarrassed.

"What?" Mr Kim shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

Evelyn chuckled silently, but it was enough to reach his eyes, he glanced at her for a brief second and then went back to his food.

"That's why he's such a great businessman, Mr Kim," Evelyn's father remarked, "There are very few who can solidify their presence in this business world and he's one of them."

Seok Jin gave him a respectful smile and bowed his head slightly.

"Interesting!" Mrs Jeon exclaimed, "Evelyn has always been the kid who slacked behind. She did well in school but always needed help from her friends." She glanced with a menacing smile at Evelyn, "She's also very disorganized. Her room was always a disaster. Isn't it funny how these two ended up together?"

Wonwoo and Sowon looked at Evelyn, concerned painted all over their faces. Wonwoo shifted uncomfortably, his brows furrowing as he exchanged a quick glance with Sowon, who gently squeezed his hand beneath the table. They both knew this pattern all too well but stayed silent because a word from their mouth and it would all be in shambles. Meanwhile, Evelyn was calm, and collected, there was not a hint of the frustration that must have been bubbling beneath the surface, she hid it well.

"I'd prefer calling it cute, Mrs Jeon," Mr Kim remarked with a sweet smile. "My son needs someone to keep his antics in check anyway. Not everything can go according to him always."

"I hope you're not troubled, Seok Jin." Mrs Jeon said looking at Seok Jin intensely, blatantly ignoring Mr Kim's words.

Evelyn grew anxious for the first time as she remembered the incident two days ago. She had done it again. She had given her mother a chance to jab at her. She bit the insides of her lips and cheeks as she kept staring at the ceramic plate, not having the strength to look at the side, at her husband. His growing silence was making her more nervous.

"Nothing you need to worry about, Mrs Jeon."

Evelyn shot her head at Seok Jin as he replied. But before he could look at her, she looked away. A sigh of relief unconsciously left her body. She could feel herself relax and made a mental note to thank him after the dinner was over.

Evelyn's father chuckled quietly, adding, "Mr Kim, I must say, she's lucky to have someone to keep her in line. She's always been free-spirited."

Evelyn's stomach churned at the choice of his words, but she stayed quiet, sipping her water to buy herself time. She'd learned long ago that arguing only gave them more ammunition. She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her skin, a habit she had developed over time. Every time the nails pierced through her skin, it gave her a good reason to be hurt because being hurt by her parents' words was just not worth it. She took in deep breaths as she dug deeper into her skin, not enough to make it bleed. She didn't want unwanted attention on her. She was aware of how her family was making Seok Jin's family uncomfortable. That was the last thing she wanted.

Seok Jin's gaze flickered towards her again, uncertain. His silence was heavy with discomfort now as if he wasn't sure how to respond to the veiled insults. This wasn't the way family dinners went in his household. The praise from his parents had always flowed freely, never a word about what anyone was doing wrong, let alone so openly. He had no idea Evelyn faced this kind of belittling. All of this was a lot for him to take in too. Nobody deserved a treatment like that and it was his wife being treated like that, right in front of his family by her very own family.

The waiter came by, refilling glasses and setting down more dishes, temporarily breaking the tension. But the air remained thick with unspoken tension, and Seok Jin's unease was palpable. Taehyung, who was cracking jokes in the beginning also grew silent as the conversation proceeded.

The waiter came with the last course of the meal and cleared the table. He laid down the delicious platter of all kinds of desserts and went back. It looked gross and disgusting to Evelyn suddenly. She was shaking due to the anger and anxiety building up inside her but was trying her best to keep her composure. She leaned forward to get the napkin from the holder, but accidentally hit the glass near her.

The clatter of the glass hitting the floor echoed through the quiet room, a sharp sound that drew everyone's attention. Evelyn froze for a moment, her hands trembling slightly as her gaze followed the shards of glass now scattered across the furnished flooring. She could feel her heartbeat quickening, the frustration and anxiety she had been holding back throughout the evening bubbling dangerously close to the surface. She immediately bent down to pick it up while taking in deep breaths to calm herself. She didn't look up, she didn't dare to look into the pairs of eyes that bore in her back. She was falling weak. She was failing at keeping her calm.

Mrs Jeon's voice cut through the silence, laced with the kind of condescension that Evelyn had grown too accustomed to. "Careful while picking that up, love," she said with a thin smile, "Broken shards always end up hurting regardless of the situation and place."

The implication was clear. It was directed at Evelyn and she knew that. She focused on the mess she had caused and swallowed the big lump formed in her throat. She knew very well that she was the broken piece of her family, the one that put everyone in a tight spot. She did it again. She embarrassed herself in front of her condescending stepmother and her always loving other family. She wasn't even sure if she could call them her family. They were Seok Jin's family, she had let him down too. She bit her lips nervously as she hurried in her actions.

Seok Jin's brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing as he glanced between Evelyn and her mother. He had been watching, silently absorbing the passive-aggressive jabs aimed at his wife throughout the evening, unsure of how to intervene. But something about this moment—the quiet cruelty in her mother's words—struck a chord deep within him.

"I think it depends on who's handling the shards and the way they do it, Mrs Jeon," Seok Jin spoke, bending down too, on Evelyn's level. "One must be willing to handle it efficiently."

Evelyn, who was carefully placing each shard on a napkin, looked at Seok Jin who was already looking directly into her eyes.

"I'm sorry for this. Just give me a moment."

She went back to her work but he caught her hand, stopping her from picking any more pieces of shattered glass.

"Let it be." He whispered to her and pulled her up, gently.

He picked up her handbag and looked at her parents, "We have a place to go to. I apologize for leaving early. It was lovely meeting you." Seok Jin said, coldness laced in his tone and daggers hanging from his glare.

Evelyn glanced around the room, seeing the stunned expression on her stepmother's face, the way Seok Jin's parents exchanged approving glances, and how Wonwoo and Sowon looked silently relieved.

Taehyung, who had been watching the whole scene unfold, smiled faintly as if witnessing something he had been hoping for all along. His respect for his brother had always been there, but now there was an added layer of admiration for how Seok Jin had handled the situation gracefully. Seok Jin then gently guided Evelyn towards the door.

As they stepped out of the room, Evelyn felt an unexpected warmth bloom in her chest. For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel alone in facing her parents. And Seok Jin, without saying much, had shown her that he was there even if he didn't look like it.

He was still holding her wrist, softly, and pulled her out of the restaurant. He didn't even spare her a glance as they marched towards his car. His grip tightened with each stride. Evelyn winced as she felt the sharp edge of her bracelet poking in her skin.

"Jin, loosen your grip."

He didn't. She looked at his side profile and majestic back. He looked furious. As they reached their car, Evelyn couldn't take it anymore. She jerked her hand free from his grip, rubbing at the faint red marks left behind. She looked at him furiously, he had no right to exert force on her like that.

"Could you not feel how tight your grip was on my wrist?" She questioned him.

Seok Jin heaved a heavy sigh and looked directly into her eyes, "Why did you do that?"

She furrowed her brows, "Do what?" She remembered the glass incident and felt embarrassment creeping up her cheeks, "The glass— I'm sorry about that. I didn't do it on—"

"Why did you let your mother humiliate you like that?" Seok Jin asked in his infamous low tone.

She looked at him surprised. She didn't know what to say. She thought he was mad at her because of her clumsiness but he was asking a different question suddenly. A question she didn't have an answer for because she never expected anyone to notice.

"I— what, uh, no?" She opened the car door, "I'm tired, let's just go home."

Seok Jin stared at her and closed the car door back, "Answer me, Evelyn."

Her heart skipped a beat as she heard her name coming out of his mouth. She looked away not knowing what answer to give him to make him quiet on this topic.

"I'm asking something." He repeated himself, impatiently. Irritation dripped off his tone.

"Jin," Evelyn rested her back on the car, "Your family was there. It was our first family dinner. I didn't want to create a scene."

"First of all, this was our second family dinner. You didn't even bother taking out some time back then." He replied, "And my family being there is no excuse."

Evelyn looked at him confused, "Second time? When was the first?"

"Two months ago," He answered, "Does it really matter?"

Evelyn looked at him in disbelief, "It matters, Jin." She bit her lips and took in a deep breath before looking at him again, "I had no idea about this."

"What?" It was now Seok Jin's turn to be surprised, "What do you mean?"

"I was in Busan for an event then." She said, "I was never told anything about any dinner."

Seok Jin became silent for a moment before he spoke again, "We were told you were in Berkley for some work, and well, Wonwoo was on a business trip too."

Evelyn chuckled in disbelief as she connected all the dots, "Of course. Of course, he was busy too. It was just another dirty little trick by my so-called mother to cause problems in my life." Evelyn ruffled her hair in annoyance, while Seok Jin stood there speechless.

"Can I sit inside now?" Evelyn asked, suddenly looking dishevelled and tired.

Seok Jin nodded his head. He was very baffled at the revelation too. All this time, he had been judging Evelyn for skipping such an important meeting and thought of her as irresponsible. He was guilty of thinking like that. Though, he still couldn't wrap his head around whatever Evelyn said and he knew it wasn't the time to confront her on this. He took the driver's seat and powered the engine, on the way to his— their apartment.

The tension in the car was thick, the silence suffocating as Seok Jin drove, his grip on the steering wheel tight. Evelyn stared out of the window, biting her lip to keep the emotions from spilling over. Every bump in the road seemed to echo the unease sitting between them, the words they couldn't or wouldn't say.

Suddenly, the car slowed down, and Evelyn glanced up, surprised to see that they had pulled up in the middle of an unknown locality. It was quiet and dark. Seok Jin parked the car and got out without a word. Evelyn blinked in confusion, her mind racing to catch up with what was happening.

"Wow, did he finally decide to dump me in the middle of nowhere?" She muttered to herself as she waited for him to return.

She leaned back on her seat, putting her head on the headrest and closing her eyes. Her mind went numb with all the thoughts running in her head, it was chaotic up there. The entire fiasco was consuming her from within. She couldn't help but keep rewinding those bitter words.

"Broken shards always end up hurting regardless of the situation and place."

She had been constantly told that by the same woman. She has tried to overcome it multiple times but she failed each time. However, Seok Jin's reply to the statement did provide her a little comfort. Suddenly, she heard a knock on her window, making her jolt up and get in her defensive position. Seok Jin looked at her visibly displeased. Evelyn chuckled awkwardly and slid down the window.

"Do you want one scoop or two?" Seok Jin asked her.

"Huh?" She tilted her head, "Of?"

"Of defence tactics." He eyed her up and down, "You could use some."

Evelyn rolled her eyes, "No thank you, good sir." She started sliding the window up, annoyed.

"Hey!" Seok Jin soft-yelled, "I asked you something."

"And I asked something too, Mr Kim."

"Of ice cream. How many scoops?" Seok Jin replied disinterested.

Evelyn's eyes lit up at the mention of it, "Three! Vanilla, mint and strawberry. Get me some sprinkles on top too."

"I asked one question, lady."

Evelyn grinned, "I answered three."

Seok Jin shook his head and disappeared again. This time she followed his back and found him lining up in front of a dimly lit ice cream parlor. It looked very old. She was trying to figure him out but was unable to. Just moments ago he was hurting her and now there he was, in a queue, waiting for his ice cream. She smiled as she looked at his disgusted expression from afar, and appreciated his efforts. He returned with two cones in his hand and took his seat. He handed one with three scoops with all the flavours she mentioned and took the other one with one scoop of vanilla for himself.

"I heard you loathe ice cream," Evelyn mentioned as Seok Jin nibbled on his scoop.

"I am not good with spicy food. This is to soothe my tastebuds." He answered, focusing on his ice cream. "And what kind of combination even is that?" He mumbled under his breath.

Evelyn shot him a glare, "God forbid, a woman can have taste, Jin."

"Not sure if you can call that one," He replied nonchalantly, getting ready to drive.

"Ugh, whatever." Evelyn muttered, "Thank you though. I appreciate it."

This time Seok Jin didn't reply and nodded his head as an acknowledgement. With that, his car's engine roared and he drove to their apartment. Evelyn couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She was angry, hurt, and confused all at once—but beneath it all, there was a flicker of something else. Something tender, fragile, and unformed.

Maybe, just maybe, they weren't as distant as they both thought.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Author's Note: Damn that was LONG lol. At first, I thought of breaking it down into two chapters but then it didn't sit right with me so I'm publishing it as one only. 

Please be kind if you find any grammatical errors. It's midnight here (╥‸╥)

Thank you for reading. Have a great day/night! <3