Chapter 1: The Shadow That Follows

Dr. Hana Lee was not just any doctor; she was a renowned surgeon whose reputation had spread across South Korea. Her days were filled with long hours at Seoul General Hospital, where her skills in the operating room had saved countless lives. However, while she was known for her steady hands and brilliant mind, her personal life was a quiet one. She preferred it that way, allowing her work to consume her attention and energy, leaving little room for anything else.

Unbeknownst to Hana, her life was about to change in ways she could never have imagined.

---

The city of Seoul was a sprawling metropolis, a place where millions of lives intersected, and secrets were hidden in the shadows. Among these shadows lurked a powerful force—BTS, the country’s most dangerous mafia group. Known for their ruthlessness and their tight-knit brotherhood, the seven members of BTS were feared by everyone who knew of their existence. But fear was not something Hana Lee was accustomed to; in fact, she was blissfully unaware of the deadly attention that had been directed her way.

The interest began innocuously enough.

It started with Kim Namjoon, the leader of BTS, who stumbled upon Dr. Hana's name while searching for the best surgeon in Seoul. Namjoon’s younger brother had been in a severe car accident, and only the best could be trusted to operate on him. Hana had performed the surgery with her usual precision and care, saving the young man's life. This act of life-saving, however, did not go unnoticed by Namjoon. Gratitude, though present, was overshadowed by a growing curiosity about the woman who had become his brother's savior.

Namjoon was not the type to act on impulse, but there was something about Hana that intrigued him. He began to dig deeper into her life—who she was, where she lived, her daily routine. It was harmless at first, or so he told himself, just a way to satisfy his curiosity. But then, he found himself wanting to know more, and not just about her professional life. He wanted to know what she did when she wasn’t in the operating room, what she liked to eat, who she spent her time with.

This idle curiosity soon spread among the other members of BTS. Kim Seokjin, the eldest, was next to take an interest. His usual role within the group was that of the caretaker, always looking out for the others, ensuring they were safe and well-fed. He saw Hana's calm demeanor and admired her dedication to her work. It was rare to find someone so disciplined and selfless in their line of work, and Seokjin found himself wanting to protect her, even though she was unaware of his existence.

Min Yoongi, the group's strategist and mastermind, approached this new fascination with a cold, analytical mind. He researched her background, her family, and her past. Nothing escaped his scrutiny, and he built a profile of Hana that was more comprehensive than any police file. Yet, even Yoongi found himself intrigued by the woman behind the surgeon's mask. There was something about her that didn’t fit the sterile profile he had created. She was different, and that difference gnawed at his normally detached demeanor.

Jung Hoseok, the group's enforcer, was more direct in his interest. He watched her from afar, tracking her movements when she left the hospital. He wasn’t sure what drew him to her—maybe it was her kindness, or the way she smiled at the children in the hospital ward. Whatever it was, Hoseok found himself wanting to be closer, to be a part of her world, even if it meant doing so from the shadows.

Park Jimin, the group's charmer, approached Hana's existence with a different kind of interest. He was used to getting what he wanted, and he saw Hana as a challenge, someone who was untouched by the darker side of life. He imagined what it would be like to bring a woman like her into their world, to see her lose that innocent smile and become something different—someone who belonged to him.

Kim Taehyung, or V as he was known, was drawn to Hana for reasons he couldn’t explain. There was a softness in her eyes that contrasted sharply with the violence that surrounded him daily. He found himself captivated by her, watching her whenever he could. He fantasized about meeting her, talking to her, but every time he thought about it, he reminded himself of the blood on his hands and the darkness in his soul.

Jeon Jungkook, the youngest, was the last to become aware of Hana, but his interest was perhaps the most intense. He was fiercely loyal to his hyungs and would follow them into any battle without question. But when it came to Hana, he felt something new, something dangerous. It wasn’t just curiosity; it was an obsession. He wanted to possess her, to be the one she looked at, the one she smiled at. And he knew, deep down, that this obsession could only lead to one thing—destruction.

---

The members of BTS began to weave themselves into Hana's life, each in their own way, all without her knowledge. It started subtly, with Namjoon ensuring that she always had the best security when she was at work. Seokjin made sure that whenever she ate at the hospital cafeteria, her meals were paid for anonymously. Yoongi took it upon himself to discreetly remove any threats from her life, even if she never knew they existed.

Hoseok began to leave small gifts where he knew she would find them—an umbrella on a rainy day, a cup of coffee when she looked tired. Jimin sent flowers to her office, always unsigned, always leaving her guessing. Taehyung arranged for her to meet people in the hospital who could further her career, pushing her into opportunities that would benefit her, though she never knew he was behind it.

Jungkook, however, was not content with staying in the shadows. He wanted to be near her, to hear her voice, to see her smile in person. One evening, as Hana was leaving the hospital late, he made his move. She was exhausted, her mind still on the surgery she had performed earlier that day, when she noticed a figure standing near the entrance. At first, she thought it was just another patient or visitor, but as she approached, she realized the young man was watching her intently.

"Dr. Lee?" he called out, his voice smooth and polite.

Hana paused, slightly taken aback. "Yes?"

"I'm Jeon Jungkook. I wanted to thank you for what you did for my friend a few weeks ago. He was in a car accident, and you saved his life."

Hana searched her memory, trying to recall the specific patient. She had operated on so many people recently that they all blurred together. "I'm glad I could help. How is he doing?"

"Much better, thanks to you," Jungkook replied, flashing a smile that would have melted the heart of any other woman. But Hana, ever professional, merely nodded.

"That's good to hear. Take care," she said, turning to leave.

But Jungkook wasn’t ready to let her go just yet. "Can I buy you a coffee? As a thank you."

Hana hesitated. She was tired, and the last thing she wanted was to spend more time at the hospital, even for a simple coffee. But there was something earnest about his expression, something that made her pause.

"I appreciate the offer, but I really need to get home," she said gently.

Jungkook’s smile didn’t falter. "Maybe another time then."

Hana nodded, offering a polite smile of her own before walking away. As she left, Jungkook watched her retreating figure, a dangerous glint in his eyes. This was just the beginning.

---

Days turned into weeks, and Hana began to notice strange occurrences in her life. The same young man, Jungkook, seemed to appear more often, always with a polite greeting or a casual comment. She would find herself receiving flowers or small gifts, and while she appreciated the gestures, something about them felt off. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched.

One evening, as she walked home from the hospital, she heard footsteps behind her. She glanced over her shoulder, but saw no one. Her heart raced, but she told herself it was just her imagination. She was a surgeon, not someone prone to paranoia. But the feeling persisted, and it began to affect her work. She found herself distracted, making small mistakes that she wouldn’t normally make.

The members of BTS, meanwhile, were growing bolder. Namjoon had managed to get hold of her personal phone number, and though he resisted the urge to contact her, he couldn’t stop himself from checking in on her through the hospital's security feeds, which Yoongi had hacked into. Seokjin continued to send her meals, but now they were delivered directly to her office, ensuring she would notice. Hoseok took to following her discreetly, always staying just out of sight.

Taehyung and Jimin, on the other hand, began to orchestrate chance encounters. They would bump into her in the hospital corridors, always with a smile and a greeting. Hana, polite as ever, would respond, but the encounters left her feeling unsettled.

It was Jungkook, however, who escalated the situation. His obsession had grown, and he could no longer be content with simply watching her. One night, he followed her home, staying far enough behind that she wouldn’t notice. When she unlocked her apartment door and stepped inside, he waited until the light in her living room flicked on before making his move.

Hana was startled by a knock on her door just minutes after she’d entered her apartment. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and she hesitated, her hand hovering over the doorknob. The knock came again, more insistent this time, and she finally opened the door a crack. To her surprise, she saw Jungkook standing there, his expression a mixture of concern and something else she couldn’t quite place.

"Jungkook?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion. "What are you doing here?"

"I’m sorry to disturb you, Dr. Lee," Jungkook began, his voice soft and apologetic. "I noticed you left something behind at the hospital." He held up a small, familiar object—her phone, which she hadn’t even realized was missing.

Hana’s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, thank you! I didn’t even realize I’d forgotten it." She opened the door a bit wider and took the phone from his hand. "You didn’t have to come all the way here to return it."

"It’s no trouble," Jungkook replied, smiling gently. "I wanted to make sure you got it back safely."

Hana offered him a grateful smile, though she couldn’t shake the unease creeping into her thoughts. "Well, thank you again. It was very kind of you."

"Of course," Jungkook said, his smile never wavering. "If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m always around."

With that, Jungkook gave a polite nod and turned to leave. Hana watched him go, her mind racing with questions. Something about the encounter didn’t sit right with her. She closed the door, double-checking that it was locked before retreating into her apartment.

As she leaned against the door, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong. She had met countless patients and their families in her career, but none had ever gone to such lengths to track her down outside of the hospital. She tried to push the thought away, chalking it up to fatigue, but the seed of doubt had been planted.

---

Meanwhile, BTS was far from satisfied with the progress they had made in infiltrating Hana’s life. Namjoon gathered the group together in their private headquarters, a luxurious penthouse hidden away in one of Seoul’s most exclusive neighborhoods. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the tension of their shared obsession.

"She’s becoming suspicious," Yoongi noted, his voice calm but laced with concern. "If we push too hard, she might start asking questions."

"I agree," Seokjin added, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "We need to be careful. The last thing we want is to scare her off."

"But we can’t just stop," Jungkook argued, his frustration evident. "I’m so close to getting through to her. She just needs a little more time."

"Time we don’t have," Namjoon interjected, his tone authoritative. "We need to be smarter about this. We’ve been watching her for weeks now, but we still don’t know enough. We need to find out what makes her tick—what she really wants."

Taehyung, who had been silent until now, spoke up with a quiet intensity. "I think we should approach her directly. We’ve been hiding in the shadows for too long. She needs to know who we are."

"That’s too risky," Jimin countered, shaking his head. "If she finds out who we really are, she might go to the authorities."

"Not if we make her an offer she can’t refuse," Hoseok suggested, a sly grin spreading across his face.

Namjoon considered their words carefully, his mind racing with possibilities. They had invested too much time and effort into Hana to let her slip away now. He needed to devise a plan that would bring her closer to them without alarming her.

"We’ll take a different approach," Namjoon finally decided, his voice firm. "We’ll continue to integrate ourselves into her life, but we’ll be more subtle. We need to gain her trust, make her see us as allies, not threats."

The others nodded in agreement, their expressions resolute. They had always been a force to be reckoned with, and they would not let something as trivial as a hesitant doctor stand in their way. Each of them had their reasons for wanting Hana in their lives, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their goal.

---

The following days passed in a blur for Hana. She tried to focus on her work, but the strange occurrences in her life continued to nag at her. Gifts kept arriving at her office—beautiful flowers, expensive chocolates, and even a handwritten note that simply read, "For all that you do." There was no signature, but Hana suspected it was Jungkook, or perhaps one of his friends she had encountered in the hospital.

Despite her growing discomfort, Hana found herself drawn to the mystery of it all. Who were these people who seemed so intent on showing her kindness? And why? She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than simple gratitude.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day at the hospital, Hana decided to visit her favorite café, a small, cozy place just a few blocks from her apartment. She needed a break, a moment of peace to clear her mind. The café was quiet, just the way she liked it, and she settled into a corner with a cup of tea.

As she sipped her tea and tried to unwind, she noticed someone sitting across from her. It was Taehyung, his intense gaze fixed on her. He smiled warmly when he saw her looking at him, and before she could react, he stood up and walked over to her table.

"Dr. Lee," he greeted her with that deep, melodic voice of his. "I didn’t expect to see you here."

Hana blinked in surprise. "Taehyung, right? We met at the hospital."

"That’s right," Taehyung said, his smile never fading. "Mind if I join you?"

Hana hesitated, but she couldn’t find a polite way to refuse. "Sure," she said, gesturing to the empty chair across from her.

Taehyung sat down, his movements graceful and deliberate. "It’s nice to see you outside of the hospital. How have you been?"

"I’ve been fine," Hana replied, though her voice lacked the conviction she usually had. "Just busy with work, as always."

"I can imagine," Taehyung said, nodding sympathetically. "You’re one of the best surgeons in Seoul. That must come with a lot of pressure."

Hana was taken aback by his words. "How do you know that?"

Taehyung’s smile widened slightly, but there was something unsettling about it. "Word gets around," he said casually. "People talk. And from what I’ve heard, you’re someone who truly cares about your patients. That’s a rare quality these days."

Hana didn’t know how to respond. There was a sincerity in his tone that made her want to trust him, but the circumstances surrounding their meeting made her wary.

"Thank you," she finally said, her voice cautious. "But I’m just doing my job."

Taehyung leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. "Maybe so, but not everyone does their job with such dedication. You’re different, Dr. Lee. That’s what makes you special."

Hana felt a strange warmth spread through her chest at his words, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. She needed to keep her guard up, especially around someone as enigmatic as Taehyung.

"I should get going," she said, standing up abruptly. "It’s getting late."

Taehyung stood up as well, not missing a beat. "Let me walk you home. It’s not safe for you to be out alone at this hour."

Hana wanted to refuse, but something in Taehyung’s tone made it clear that he wasn’t asking. Reluctantly, she nodded, and they left the café together.

As they walked through the quiet streets of Seoul, Hana couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped. Taehyung was polite and charming, but there was an undercurrent of danger in his presence that made her uneasy. She could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move.

When they finally reached her apartment building, Taehyung turned to her with that same disarming smile. "Goodnight, Dr. Lee. I hope you sleep well."

"Goodnight, Taehyung," Hana replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

She quickly entered her building, her heart pounding in her chest. As she ascended the stairs to her apartment, she couldn’t help but glance back over her shoulder, half-expecting Taehyung to be following her. But the street below was empty, and she breathed a small sigh of relief.

However, as she closed her apartment door behind her, the feeling of unease only intensified. She knew now, without a doubt, that something was very wrong. The gifts, the chance encounters, the way Jungkook and Taehyung had appeared in her life—it all pointed to something much darker than she had initially thought.

And as she lay in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling, Hana couldn’t shake the terrifying thought that she was being hunted. But by whom? And for what purpose?

Little did she know, the seven shadows that followed her every move were closing in, and her life was about to take a turn from which there would be no escape.