chapter 4

Jungkook drove to the office with both hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His reflection in the window showed a clenched jaw, hard eyes, and a storm he couldn’t shake off.

Every second replayed the same sentence in his head.

*“I regret marrying you.”*

Even though Taehyung never said it.

But Minji’s voice echoed louder than Taehyung’s trembling one.

By the time Jungkook reached the office, his chest felt like it might explode. He slammed the car door shut, not caring that a few employees nearby flinched.

Inside his cabin, he threw his file onto the desk and sank into his chair, rubbing his face roughly.

But the anger remained.

No—more like the ache beneath the anger.

A soft knock sounded.

“Yah, why are you slamming things at 9 AM?”

Jung Hoseok walked in first, full of sunshine as always—until he saw Jungkook’s face.

Min Yoongi followed behind him with a coffee in hand and a blank expression that slowly sharpened with suspicion. “What happened to your face? You look like you fought a bear.”

Jungkook didn’t smile.

Didn’t joke.

Didn’t greet them.

Hoseok and Yoongi exchanged a look.

Something was wrong.

Yoongi sat on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other. “Explain.”

Jungkook ran a hand through his hair with a frustrated exhale. “It’s Taehyung.”

Both of them straightened.

Hoseok spoke carefully. “What did he do?”

Jungkook let out a bitter scoff. “Exactly. What *didn’t* he do?”

And the floodgates opened.

He told them everything.

Every single incident Minji narrated—every misunderstanding she planted like poison seeds.

Jungkook repeated them with conviction, as if each word stabbed him fresh.

He told it all—raw, angry, hurting.

When he finished, he expected Hoseok or Yoongi to take his side.

But they didn’t.

Instead, Yoongi stared at him for three full seconds before saying flatly—

“Jeon Jungkook. Are you stupid?”

Jungkook’s head snapped up. “What?”

Hoseok sighed deeply. “Jungkook-ah… how can you hear all this and not think even once that something is off?”

Yoongi leaned forward, voice firm. “We knew Taehyung before you did, remember? College. You think the Taehyung we knew would do any of this?”

Jungkook’s chest tightened, memories flashing unwillingly.

Taehyung laughing in the college courtyard.

Taehyung cheering for him during basketball matches.

Taehyung waiting outside the library with hot chocolate whenever Jungkook studied too long.

Taehyung holding his hand shyly at night walks.

Taehyung crying when Jungkook got hurt at a match.

Taehyung smiling like Jungkook was his entire world.

Hoseok continued gently, “Jungkook… Tae adored you. He was loyal to a fault. That boy would rather break himself than hurt someone he loves.”

Jungkook swallowed hard. The anger inside him trembled—just a little.

“You think he’s lying?” Jungkook whispered.

Yoongi shook his head. “I think someone else is lying.”

Hoseok nodded. “And you’re believing them too easily.”

Jungkook clenched his fists. “Minji wouldn’t lie about this.”

Both Yoongi and Hoseok stared at him like he’d grown two heads.

Yoongi asked bluntly, “Why wouldn’t she? Has she ever liked Taehyung?”

Jungkook hesitated. “No… but—”

“But what?” Hoseok cut in. “Has Taehyung ever lied to you? Even once?”

Jungkook opened his mouth… and closed it again.

Because no—Taehyung never lied.

Not in college.

Not in their early dating days.

Not even during the forced engagement.

Yet Minji’s voice kept ringing in Jungkook’s ears.

Yoongi’s tone softened slightly. “Kook. Think carefully. Taehyung isn’t the type to manipulate. He’s the type to cry alone so no one worries.”

Jungkook’s heart twisted painfully. The image of Taehyung crying in the storeroom flickered in his mind—but he pushed it away.

Still, Hoseok leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Honestly? It sounds like you’re misunderstanding him. And worse… it sounds like you’re not giving him even one chance to explain.”

Jungkook stiffened.

Yoongi asked suddenly, “When was the last time you took him on a date?”

Jungkook blinked. “A… date?”

Hoseok added, “Or brought flowers?”

Yoongi: “Or hugged him?”

Hoseok: “Or even sat with him for coffee?”

Silence.

A long, heavy silence.

Yoongi tilted his head. “Well?”

Jungkook’s jaw tightened again, but this time not in anger—more in shame.

“…Eight months,” he muttered finally.

Both Yoongi and Hoseok stared at him in disbelief.

“Eight months??” Hoseok practically yelled. “Jungkook! That’s your husband!”

Yoongi scoffed. “And you’re surprised he’s upset? You haven’t even treated him like a spouse. Not even like a friend.”

Jungkook’s throat tightened. “I’ve been busy—”

“Bullshit,” Yoongi snapped quietly. “We’re all busy. The difference is we don’t abandon people we love.”

Hoseok softened again. “Jungkook… you’re angry. Hurt. Confused. That’s normal. But punishing Taehyung for things you aren’t even sure he did? That’s unfair.”

Jungkook looked down at his hands.

The anger he carried into the office slowly lost its heat, replaced by something heavier.

Doubt.

Regret.

Fear.

Yoongi added, calmer this time, “Talk to him calmly. Don’t shout. Don’t accuse. Just talk.”

Hoseok smiled gently. “Or bring him something nice. Flowers. His favorite cake. Take him out somewhere. Show him you still care. Taehyung is soft… he needs reassurance.”

Jungkook closed his eyes for a moment.

He remembered Taehyung’s shaking voice.

His trembling hands.

The tears burning in his eyes.

The way he held Jungkook’s sleeve like it was the last thing keeping him from drowning.

Hoseok stood and patted Jungkook’s shoulder. “Fix this before it breaks completely.”

Yoongi muttered, “And stop being an uncaring husband before we hit you.”

Jungkook didn’t even argue.

Because for the first time since morning

His anger was no longer louder than his guilt.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***