Chapter 22: The Scandal

The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting a warm glow over the room where YN and Seokjin lay entangled in each other’s arms. The night had been a whirlwind of passion, leaving them both stated and content. YN snuggled closer to Seokjin, resting her head on his broad chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. For a moment, everything felt perfect.

But the peace was short-lived.

Seokjin’s phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling them both from their blissful reverie. He reached for it, his expression shifting from relaxed to concerned as he saw the flurry of notifications lighting up his screen. YN noticed the change in his demeanour and lifted her head to look at him, worrying and starting to creep into her thoughts.“What is it?” YN asked, her voice tinged with unease.

Seokjin didn’t respond immediately, his eyes scanning through the messages and emails that had flooded his phone. The more he read, the more his expression darkened. Finally, he looked at YN, his usually confident face now etched with anxiety.

“YN… something’s happened,” Seokjin said, his voice serious as he handed her the phone.

She took it from him, her heart sinking as she saw the headlines, the images, and the videos that had been circulating around their office. The intimate moments they had shared last night, the moments she had thought were private, had been captured on camera and were now the talk of the company.

“Who… How did this happen?” YN’s voice trembled with a mix of anger and disbelief as she scrolled through the images, her face growing pale as she realised the extent of the invasion.

“I don’t know,” Seokjin replied, his jaw clenching as he tried to control his anger. “But someone must have had access to the building’s security cameras or planted something in your apartment. This wasn’t an accident.”

YN felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she processed what Seokjin was saying. The thought that someone had been watching them during their most intimate moments, recording everything, and then sharing it with the entire office it was too much to bear. She felt exposed, violated, and humiliated.

Her hands began to shake as she placed the phone back on the nightstand, her mind racing with thoughts of the repercussions this would have on her reputation, her career, and her relationship with Seokjin. The office would be buzzing with gossip, and she could already imagine the whispers and judgmental stares.

“This is a nightmare,” YN whispered, her voice breaking as she buried her face in her hands.

Seokjin reached out, pulling her into his arms, holding her tightly as he tried to offer some comfort. “We’ll get through this, YN,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I promise you, we’ll figure out who did this and make them pay.”

But even as he spoke, Seokjin couldn’t ignore the growing sense of dread in his chest. He knew how unforgiving the corporate world could be, especially for someone like YN, who had worked so hard to build her reputation. This scandal could ruin everything she had worked for.

As they held each other, the reality of their situation began to sink in. They weren’t just dealing with the fallout of a private moment made public; they were facing the harsh judgement of a society that was quick to condemn and slow to forgive. And worst of all, they had no idea who was behind it or what their motives were.

The day ahead would be filled with damage control, difficult conversations, and the unenviable task of facing their colleagues and superiors. YN’s mind raced with thoughts of how to handle the situation, how to protect her career and her dignity, but beneath it all, there was a gnawing fear that this scandal might be more than she could handle.

“I don’t know if I can face them,” YN admitted softly, her voice small as she clung to Seokjin. “What if this ruins everything?”

Seokjin pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. “You’re one of the strongest people I know, YN,” he said firmly. “You didn’t get to where you are by letting other people’s opinions define you. This is just another challenge, and we’ll face it together. I’m not going to let you go through this alone.”

YN searched his eyes, finding solace in his unwavering support. But even with Seokjin by her side, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that clung to her, the fear that this scandal might have consequences far beyond what they could control.

As they dressed and prepared to face the day, YN steeled herself for what was to come. She knew that walking into the office would be one of the hardest things she had ever done, but she also knew that she couldn’t let this scandal define her.

With Seokjin at her side, she would confront the gossip, the judgement, and the shame head-on. But as they left the apartment, the weight of the situation pressed down on her, making her wonder if their relationship could survive the storm that was about to hit.

Please Vote.