Chapter 24: The Breaking Point

The office had become a war zone, the once silent whispers now loud, vile comments that cut deeper than any knife. The viral pictures had thrown gasoline on the fire, and the world outside had become cruel, filled with lecherous eyes and dirty propositions. YN had tried to stay strong, but each day, her defences weakened under the weight of humiliation.

She was returning from a meeting, her head low as she walked through the parking lot of her office. The walls felt like they were closing in on her, the stares of people in the corridors growing sharper with every step. Even in her own company, she felt like a stranger.

“Miss YN,” a voice called from behind her, oozing with a sleazy tone. She ignored it, quickening her pace, but the man was persistent.

“Come on, don’t ignore me,” the voice persisted, closer now. YN felt a chill run down her spine. She finally turned around to face him a man in his mid-thirties, a reporter who had been lurking around the building for days.

“What do you want?” YN’s voice was firm, though her hands shook slightly at her sides.

The man smiled in a way that made her skin crawl. “I think you know what I want,” he sneered, taking a step closer. “It’s no secret what you’ve been up to with your secretary. Maybe you should try someone more… experienced.”

YN’s stomach twisted in disgust, but the man kept talking, undeterred by her silence. “I could make things easier for you, you know. Give you some good press in exchange for a little… favour.” He looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on her body in a way that made her want to vomit. “You’re a very sexy woman, Miss YN. I could show you a much better time than that secretary of yours.”

“You’re disgusting,” YN spat, backing away from him. But he just laughed, a low, ugly sound.

“Come on, don’t be like that,” he coaxed, stepping closer. “I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking. You’ve already ruined your reputation, so why not have a little fun with it? I’d love to see you in my bed, naked, begging me for more.”

YN felt her heart race, the panic rising in her chest. She turned to walk away, but the man grabbed her arm, his grip tight and painful. “Don’t walk away from me,” he hissed, pulling her back toward him. “You’re not better than me, you hear? You’re just a slut who—”

The man’s words were cut off as Seokjin appeared out of nowhere, his fist colliding with the reporter’s face with a sickening crack. YN gasped, stumbling back as the reporter hit the ground, clutching his nose as blood poured from it.

Seokjin didn’t stop. His face was twisted with rage, his usually playful eyes now filled with a dark fury. “How dare you touch her?” he growled, grabbing the man by his collar and hauling him to his feet, only to punch him again, and again.

“Seokjin, stop!” YN cried out, trying to pull him back, but he was beyond reason. All the anger, all the frustration he’d been holding back finally erupted, and he unleashed it on the man who dared to disrespect the woman he loved.

“You think you can talk to her like that? Touch her like that?” Seokjin snarled, his fists pummeling the reporter’s face, each punch harder than the last. The man tried to fight back, but he was no match for Seokjin’s strength, his fury.

“Seokjin, please!” YN’s voice was desperate now, tears streaming down her face as she watched the man fall limp under Seokjin’s relentless assault. But Seokjin couldn’t hear her. He was consumed by the need to protect her, to punish the man who had tried to hurt her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Seokjin stopped, breathing heavily as he looked down at the unconscious man at his feet. Blood stained his knuckles, his chest heaving as the reality of what he had done began to sink in.

The parking lot was eerily silent, save for YN’s soft sobs. She stepped forward, placing a trembling hand on Seokjin’s arm. “Seokjin… you have to stop,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Seokjin turned to her, his eyes wide with horror as he realised the extent of his actions. The man lay motionless on the ground, his face a bloody mess. “I… I didn’t mean to…” Seokjin stammered, his hands shaking.

The sound of approaching sirens filled the air, and YN knew they were in deep trouble. The press had already blown their relationship out of proportion, and now this… this was going to make everything worse.

“We need to go,” YN said urgently, pulling Seokjin away from the scene. “Please, Seokjin, we have to leave.”

But Seokjin didn’t move, his eyes fixed on the man he had nearly beaten to death. “What have I done?” he whispered, his voice broken.

“You were protecting me,” YN tried to reassure him, though her own fear was rising. “But we can’t stay here. The police are coming, and if they see this… it’ll ruin everything.”

Finally, Seokjin allowed YN to pull him away, his mind reeling as they made their escape. The sirens grew louder, and he knew there would be consequences for what he had done. But at that moment, all he could think about was YN, and the desperate need to keep her safe, no matter the cost.

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