Namjoon lay awake in the stillness of the night, the rhythmic sound of Hana’s soft breathing next to him a soothing melody. She was curled into his side, her head resting on his chest, her fingers loosely intertwined with his. As much as he tried to focus on the peaceful moment, his mind kept circling back to the secret he had kept from her. It wasn’t a small lie, either—something that could be brushed off easily. It was a truth that, if revealed, could change everything between them.

He sighed, running his fingers gently through Hana’s hair. The truth of his and his friends’ real lives gnawed at him, a weight on his chest that wouldn’t let up. He had told her about their "professions"—the mafia ties Jungkook and Taehyung were upfront about—but the others, like Yoongi, Seokjin, and even Hoseok and Jimin, were just as deeply involved in the underworld as Jungkook. Their professional lives, the CEO title, the restaurant owner, the dancer, and the baker, were merely covers.

Hana stirred slightly in her sleep, pressing closer to him. He couldn’t stop the guilt that washed over him. She had accepted his friends so warmly, mingled with them, even joked with Jungkook about his mafia connections as if it were something so distant and foreign. But it wasn’t. And now, Namjoon was caught in the middle—unsure of how to tell her the rest of the truth.

He stared at the ceiling, the weight of it all pressing down on him. The mafia wasn’t just a part of his life—it *was* his life. It had shaped him, made him the man he was today. His connections ran deeper than he let on, and the last thing he wanted was to bring Hana into that world. But now that she was his wife, wasn’t it her right to know?

He sighed again, trying to quiet his mind, but it was no use. He had to tell her, had to come clean before this secret festered into something worse.

“Hana,” he whispered softly, his voice barely audible in the dark.

She stirred, her eyes fluttering open slightly. “Hmm?” she murmured sleepily, lifting her head to look at him, her features soft and serene.

Namjoon hesitated, swallowing hard as he searched for the right words. “I need to tell you something,” he began, his voice low but serious.

Hana blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep as she sat up slightly, turning her body toward him. “What is it?” she asked, her voice soft but laced with concern.

Namjoon sat up as well, leaning his back against the headboard. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the weight of his confession pressing down on him. He reached out, taking her hand in his, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.

“I haven’t been completely honest with you,” he said quietly. “About me. About my friends.”

Hana’s brow furrowed slightly, but she didn’t say anything. She waited patiently, her eyes on his, giving him the space to speak.

“The professions I told you about—they’re real, in a sense. But they’re not the full truth,” he continued, his voice heavy. “Jungkook and Taehyung are open about their connections to the mafia, but what I didn’t tell you is that the others—Yoongi, Seokjin, Hoseok, Jimin—they’re all involved too.”

Hana’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t pull away. Namjoon continued, his grip on her hand tightening slightly.

“Yoongi’s a CEO, yes, but his business is tied to the mafia. He’s responsible for laundering money for a lot of powerful people. Seokjin’s restaurant? It’s a front. He handles meetings, makes deals, and works as a middleman between rival gangs. Hoseok… his dance company is used as a cover for moving product. And Jimin, well, his bakery is a legitimate business, but it’s also a way to funnel money into the right hands.”

Hana was silent for a long moment, her eyes searching his face as if trying to process everything he was saying. Namjoon held his breath, unsure of how she would react. This wasn’t something easy to digest, and he wouldn’t blame her if she got up and walked out right now.

“So… they’re all involved in the mafia?” she asked, her voice quiet but steady.

Namjoon nodded slowly. “Yes. And so am I.”

Hana didn’t flinch, though he saw the confusion and surprise in her eyes. “But… you never mentioned it before.”

“I didn’t want to drag you into that world,” Namjoon explained, his voice tight with emotion. “It’s dangerous, Hana. I’ve been a part of it for as long as I can remember. My family has ties to the mafia, and there was no escaping it. I didn’t want that life for you. I wanted to keep you safe from it.”

Hana’s hand tightened around his, and to his surprise, she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned in closer, her voice gentle. “Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because I don’t want to lie to you anymore,” Namjoon said, his voice raw with emotion. “You deserve to know the truth. You’re my wife now, and I don’t want to hide anything from you. I love you, Hana. I love you more than I ever thought possible, and I can’t live with myself if I keep this from you.”

Hana’s eyes softened, and she reached up, cupping his cheek gently. “Namjoon,” she whispered, her voice tender. “I’m glad you told me.”

His heart swelled with relief at her words, but the guilt still lingered. “You’re not angry?”

Hana shook her head. “No, I’m not angry. I’m… surprised, yes. But I’m not angry. I trust you. And I know that you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”

Namjoon felt a wave of emotion wash over him, and he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the familiar scent that calmed him in ways he couldn’t explain.

“I promise I’ll keep you safe,” he murmured against her hair. “I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”

Hana nodded, resting her head on his chest. “I know you will.”

For a long moment, they stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s embrace. Namjoon felt a sense of peace settle over him, knowing that Hana had accepted him—accepted all of him, even the parts he had tried to hide.

Finally, Hana pulled back slightly, looking up at him with a soft smile. “So, do I have to worry about Jungkook offering to take care of all my problems now?” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Namjoon chuckled, relief flooding through him as he shook his head. “No, you don’t. But if anyone ever messes with you… he’s definitely the guy to call.”

Hana laughed softly, and Namjoon couldn’t help but marvel at how strong and resilient she was. She had taken everything he had told her in stride, and instead of pushing him away, she had accepted him fully. It made him fall even more in love with her.

As they settled back into bed, Namjoon pulled Hana close, wrapping his arms around her as she rested her head on his chest. The weight of his confession had lifted, and for the first time in a long while, he felt truly at peace.

No more secrets. No more lies.

It was just him and Hana now, together in this crazy, dangerous world. And Namjoon knew, without a doubt, that he would do whatever it took to protect her, no matter what.