Gilded Hearts, Hidden Scars

chapter 31

Their laughter was still lingering in the air when Taehyung glanced at the tiny clock on Jungkook’s wall.

And then—
Her smile slowly faded.

Her eyes widened.
Her heart dropped.

“No… no no no,” she whispered, taking a step back.

Jungkook noticed the sudden change in her expression.

“Taehyung? What’s wrong?”

She clutched her forehead, the color draining from her face.

“Today… today’s my engagement.”

Her voice came out barely above a whisper — panicked, broken.

Jungkook’s face turned pale too.

“Engagement? You mean… with Minjae?”

She nodded slowly, eyes unfocused now — like everything around her was slipping through her fingers.

“I-I forgot. I was so… caught up, I didn’t realize... it’s today.”

She looked at him, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

“What do I do, Jungkook?”

Taehyung stared at the clock again.
11:00 AM.

Her knees buckled a little.

“It… it was at ten...” she whispered, voice trembling. “I missed it.”

The color drained from her face. Her breath quickened as the weight of what she had just done — or rather, didn’t do — came crashing down on her chest.

“Jungkook…” she looked at him with teary eyes, her voice breaking, “please… send me home.”

Jungkook, who had been silently watching her crumble, felt like the ground was pulled from beneath his feet. He nodded, quickly grabbing his jacket and keys.

“Let’s go.”

Taehyung wrapped her arms around herself tightly, biting her lips to stop the tears from spilling. She couldn’t even look at him anymore. Her heart was thumping so loudly in her chest, it hurt.

In the cab, she sat beside Jungkook — silent, stiff, eyes fixed on nothing. Her lips were trembling, and her hands were shaking.

Jungkook clenched his fists on his lap, glancing at her but saying nothing. He wanted to ask, Are you okay?
But he already knew the answer.

As they neared her house, Taehyung let out a shuddered breath.

“They must be so angry,” she said, voice shaking. “My parents... everyone…”

Jungkook looked at her, but she still wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“Do you want me to go in with you?” he asked gently.Tae nods.

As the gates opened and the car rolled into the estate, Jungkook’s eyes widened.

The house — no, mansion — stood towering in front of him. Pristine white walls, grand columns, marble steps, and a garden so well-trimmed it looked unreal.

Taehyung stepped out first, her heart hammering inside her chest. She quickly wiped her face and straightened her expression, preparing for the storm that awaited her inside.

Jungkook stepped out next, slower — his gaze fixed on the massive house. His worn-out sneakers felt out of place against the shining stone steps. The clothes he wore suddenly felt cheaper, his presence… smaller.