Chapter 28: A Storm of Consequences

The morning light filtered weakly through the curtains, casting a muted glow over the room that felt more like a fragile attempt at comfort than the usual promise of a new day. YN lay nestled in the crook of Seokjin's arm, her breathing shallow and uneven, the remnants of a restless night clinging to her like a second skin. Every time she closed her eyes, the nightmare returned the sneering faces, the condemning headlines, the merciless glare of the cameras.

Seokjin hadn’t slept either. Instead, he had spent the night watching over her, his protective instincts on high alert. He’d traced the delicate curve of her face with his eyes, memorising every line, every shadow, as if to reassure himself that she was still here with him, still real. The bruises of their reality were etched into his features, dark circles under his eyes, a tightness in his jaw that hadn’t relaxed since the scandal erupted. But none of that mattered as much as the woman in his arms, the woman he had vowed to protect at all costs.

As the first rays of dawn touched her face, YN stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. For a fleeting second, the warmth of Seokjin’s body against hers was enough to make her believe that everything was okay, that the world outside their bedroom hadn’t turned into a living hell. But the illusion shattered as quickly as it formed, the weight of their situation pressing down on her chest like a ton of bricks.

Seokjin, sensing her distress, tightened his embrace. “Good morning,” he whispered, his voice tender yet carrying the exhaustion of a sleepless night.

“Morning,” YN replied, her voice barely above a whisper, thick with the heaviness of everything she was trying to suppress. She curled closer to him, seeking comfort in the solidness of his presence. “I don’t want to leave this bed. I don’t want to face them.”

Seokjin’s heart twisted at the vulnerability in her voice. She, who had always been so strong, so unyielding, was now reduced to a shadow of herself by the cruelty of a world that thrived on scandal. “You don’t have to face this alone,” he assured her, his tone firm, as if trying to impart some of his strength to her. “We’ll get through today just like we got through yesterday together.”

A small nod was the only response YN could muster, though the anxiety gnawing at her insides refused to let her rest. “What if it gets worse, Seokjin? What if I lose everything? The company... my reputation… my life as I know it?”

Seokjin’s grip on her tightened, his protective instincts roaring to life. “Then we’ll rebuild,” he said, his voice low but resolute. “You’re stronger than this, YN. I’ve seen you face impossible challenges before, and you’ve always come out on top. This time won’t be any different.”

YN swallowed hard, trying to take solace in his words, but the fear wouldn’t release its hold on her. “But this feels different,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “This is personal. They’re attacking everything I am, everything we are.”

Seokjin’s gaze softened, his thumb brushing gently across her cheek as he cupped her face. “They’re attacking because they’re afraid of you of your strength, your success, your ability to thrive no matter what. They don’t know the real you, YN. The woman I fell in love with is so much more than what they see on the surface.”

A tear escaped the corner of YN’s eye, trailing down her cheek. “I wish I could see myself the way you do. But all I see is a woman whose life is falling apart.”

“You’re not falling apart,” Seokjin insisted, his tone brooking no argument. “You’re standing in the middle of a storm, and you’re still standing. That’s what matters.”

Before YN, could respond, the harsh sound of her phone vibrating on the nightstand broke the fragile moment. It buzzed insistently, a rude intrusion into their sanctuary. YN stared at it, dread curling in her stomach, knowing that whatever awaited on the other end could only make things worse.

Seokjin noticed her hesitation and reached for the phone, his protective nature flaring up. “Do you want me to answer it?”

“No,” YN said, though the word felt like it was being dragged from her. “I need to do this.”

She took the phone from his hand and glanced at the screen. Her heart sank when she saw her father’s name. The disappointment she feared was likely just a few words away. She drew in a shaky breath and answered.

“Dad?” YN’s voice came out small, almost childlike, as if she were already bracing herself for the inevitable blow.

“YN,” her father’s voice cut through the line, gruff and icy. “We need to talk.”

The words alone made YN’s stomach churn, but it was the tone so cold, so full of disdain that nearly brought her to her knees. She gripped the phone tighter, her knuckles turning white, her voice trembling as she replied, “Dad, please, you have to understand—”

“Enough!” her father’s voice was like a whip crack on the other end. “You’ve brought shame on this family. I don’t even recognize you anymore. I raised you to be better than this!”

The tears that YN had been holding back now threatened to spill over. But she fought them with every ounce of strength she had left. “I’m still the same person, Dad. I’m still your daughter.”

“Are you?” her father sneered, the question laced with bitterness. “Because the daughter I knew wouldn’t have let her name be dragged through the mud like this. You’ve destroyed everything I’ve worked for.”

Seokjin watched as YN's composure crumbled right before his eyes. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, her free hand clutching the sheets as if they could anchor her to reality. It broke his heart to see her like this, to know that the person hurting her was someone she loved so deeply. He couldn’t take it any longer.

Gently, he took the phone from her hand, pressing it to his ear before YN could protest. “Mr. Lee,” Seokjin said, his voice steady but laced with an edge of steel, “I know you’re upset, but YN doesn’t deserve this. She’s been through enough.”

“And who the hell do you think you are?” YN’s father’s voice was sharp, dripping with disdain. “You think you can just swoop in and fix this? You’re just as much to blame for this mess as she is!”

“I’m not trying to fix anything,” Seokjin responded, his tone calm, though his heart was racing. “I just want you to see that YN is still the strong, capable woman you raised. She doesn’t deserve to be judged like this especially by her own father.”

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the tension of a battle neither side wanted to fight but felt compelled to continue. Seokjin held his breath, waiting for whatever YN’s father might say next, his heart hammering in his chest.

When YN’s father spoke again, his voice was softer, almost broken. “Just... take care of her, Seokjin,” he said, the fight gone from his tone. “She’s all I have.”

Seokjin’s heart ached at the vulnerability in the older man’s voice. “I will, sir,” he promised. “I love her, and I’ll do everything I can to protect her.”

Another long pause followed before YN’s father sighed heavily, the sound filled with the weight of his own helplessness. “I hope you mean that,” he said, before the line went dead.

Seokjin slowly lowered the phone, his mind reeling from the intensity of the conversation. He turned to YN, who was staring at him with wide, tear-filled eyes, her lips trembling as she tried to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape.

“He... he asked you to take care of me?” she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she had just heard.

Seokjin nodded, his expression softening as he reached out to cup her face with one hand. “He did. He’s hurt and angry, but he still cares about you, YN. We’ll get through this together. We just have to stay strong.”

YN’s lips quivered as she tried to find the words to express what she was feeling, but instead, she let out a choked sob and threw herself into Seokjin’s arms. He held her tightly, his hand running soothingly through her hair as she cried into his chest. Her body shook with the force of her emotions, and all Seokjin could do was hold her, offering his silent support as she released the fear and pain that had been building up inside her.

For what felt like hours, they stayed like that wrapped in each other’s arms, sharing the weight of the world’s judgement and the pain of a father’s disapproval. It was a storm, one that threatened to tear them apart, but as long as they had each other, Seokjin knew they could weather it.

When YN’s sobs finally began to subside, Seokjin pulled back just enough to look at her, brushing away the tears that stained her cheeks. “You’re stronger than you think, YN,” he whispered, his voice filled with conviction. “And no matter what happens, I’ll be right here by your side. We’ll face this together, and I promise you, we’ll come out on the other side stronger than ever. You’re not alone in this, and you never will be as long as I’m here.”

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