The grand ballroom of Mumbai’s most luxurious hotel was buzzing with life. Chandeliers sparkled like a thousand fallen stars, and the scent of expensive wine mixed with the soft melody of a violin playing in the background. It was a night where the elite of the city gathered, a world far away from the ordinary life Y/N Rajput knew.

Dressed in a simple yet elegant saree, Y/N stood near the refreshments table, feeling out of place among the wealthy socialites. She was only here because of her best friend, who had somehow convinced her to attend this high-profile charity event. Her long dark hair cascaded down her back, her deep brown eyes scanning the crowd with curiosity and then, she felt it.

A piercing gaze burned into her from across the hall. The moment she turned, her breath caught in her throat. A man stood at the far end of the ballroom, his tall frame clad in an all-black tailored suit.

He exuded power, danger, and an aura that sent chills down her spine. His sharp jawline, dark eyes, and perfectly styled hair made him look like a fallen angel—too beautiful to be real, yet too terrifying to ignore.

kIM TAEHYUNG

The name was whispered in hushed tones throughout the room. The man feared by many, the ruthless Korean mafia boss who had recently expanded his empire to India. No one dared to meet his gaze, yet he stood there, watching her with an intensity that made her feel like she was his next conquest.

Y/N swallowed hard and quickly looked away, trying to shake off the strange feeling crawling up her spine. But the weight of his stare never left her. She forced herself to focus on the surrounding conversation, but her heartbeat refused to calm.

MOMENTS LATER

she felt a presence beside her. A deep voice, laced with amusement yet possessive, whispered near her ear, "You’re quite bold, little one. Looking away from me? No one does that."

Y/N stiffened. The rich, deep timbre of his voice sent a shiver through her. She turned slightly, her eyes meeting his for the first time up close. He was even more breathtaking from this angle, but there was something dangerously mesmerizing about him. Something that screamed run.

“I don’t know who you are,” Y/N said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.

Taehyung smirked, tilting his head slightly. "You will soon."

Before she could respond, he took a step closer, the scent of his expensive cologne invading her senses. “What’s your name?”

Y/N took a step back, maintaining her distance. “I don’t think that’s any of your business."

A low chuckle left his lips, dark and amused. "Feisty." His fingers lightly grazed a strand of her hair, making her flinch. "I like that."

Y/N jerked away from his touch, glaring up at him. "Don't touch me."

Taehyung’s amusement didn’t fade. Instead, his eyes darkened with a dangerous glint. "You have no idea what you've just done, sweetheart."

The air around them grew heavy as if the whole world had faded, leaving only the two of them in a silent battle of wills and then, in that very moment, Y/N knew one terrifying truth—

She had caught the attention of the most dangerous man in the room and he wasn’t going to let her go.

The weight of Kim Taehyung’s gaze followed Y/N even as she tried to lose herself in the crowded ballroom. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for a glass of water, but she forced herself to stay calm. She had done nothing wrong—so why did she feel like she had just made a mistake?

Her best friend, unaware of the silent battle Y/N had just endured, pulled her towards the dance floor. "Come on, just one dance!" she urged, trying to lighten the mood.

Y/N hesitated, but before she could reply, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist. The warmth sent a jolt through her system, and she turned to meet the same dark, unreadable eyes.

Taehyung.

“I believe this dance is mine,” he said, his voice smooth but laced with authority. It wasn’t a request—it was a command.

Y/N’s breath hitched as she looked up at him. His grip wasn’t forceful, yet it was firm enough to tell her there was no escaping him. Around them, people subtly moved out of their way, as if instinctively knowing not to interfere.

She clenched her jaw. "I don’t recall agreeing to that."

A small smirk ghosted his lips. "That’s because I didn’t give you a choice."

Before she could protest, he pulled her onto the dance floor. The music slowed, and he placed one hand on her waist, the other holding her hand in a firm grip. Y/N’s heart pounded against her ribcage as she felt the possessiveness in his touch.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he murmured, his lips just inches from her ear.

Y/N swallowed hard. “Why do you care?”

Taehyung’s fingers tightened slightly on her waist, sending a shiver up her spine. "Because from the moment you walked into this ballroom, you became mine."

Her eyes widened at his words. "Excuse me?!" she snapped, trying to pull away, but he didn’t let her.

"I don’t repeat myself, sweetheart," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "Stay away from men like me. You won’t survive."

Y/N glared at him. "Then let me go."

Taehyung’s jaw tightened as his grip momentarily loosened, just enough for her to step back. His dark eyes held something intense—something she couldn’t quite understand.

Then, just as quickly, his smirk returned. "Run while you still can, little one. But know this... I always catch what’s mine."

Y/N turned on her heel and walked away, but she could still feel his gaze burning into her back.

And deep down, she knew—this was only the beginning.

Y/N’s heart pounded as she stepped out of the ballroom, the air outside feeling much colder against her heated skin. She needed to get away—from the suffocating presence of Kim Taehyung, from the dangerous pull of his words, from the way his touch had made her body betray her mind. She clutched her saree tightly and walked briskly towards the parking lot, ignoring the way her heels clicked against the pavement. Her friend had already left, leaving Y/N to call for a cab herself. But just as she pulled out her phone, a familiar voice sent a chill down her spine.

"Running away already?"

She whirled around to find Taehyung leaning casually against a sleek black car, his arms crossed, eyes holding a glint of amusement and something darker. The streetlights cast shadows over his face, making him look even more menacing.

Y/N straightened her shoulders, refusing to let him intimidate her. "It’s not running away. I just don’t see a reason to stay."

Taehyung’s smirk deepened. "Is that so?" He took slow, deliberate steps toward her. "Then tell me… why are you trembling?"

She hadn’t even noticed her own shaking hands until now. She clenched them into fists. "Stay away from me."

He stopped just inches from her, tilting his head slightly as he studied her. "I gave you a warning, sweetheart. But it seems you don’t take me seriously."

Y/N swallowed hard, stepping back, but he reached out, grabbing her wrist before she could escape. His grip was firm yet careful, as if testing her reaction.

"Let. Me. Go," she gritted out, eyes blazing with defiance.

Taehyung chuckled darkly. "Brave little thing. But you should know by now… I don’t like being disobeyed."

Y/N yanked her arm free with all her strength and turned on her heel, breaking into a sprint. She didn’t look back, didn’t care that she was running in heels, or that her saree made it difficult. She just needed to get away.

Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps as she turned into a quieter alley, hoping to lose him. But deep down, she knew it was futile and she was right.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a firm chest.

A gasp escaped her lips as she struggled, but Taehyung’s hold was unyielding.

"You shouldn’t have done that," he whispered near her ear, his voice sending a shiver down her spine. "Now, you've really caught my interest."

Y/N’s heart pounded wildly as she realized the terrifying truth—

She was trapped,, and Kim Taehyung wasn’t letting her go.

Y/N's breath hitched as she struggled in Taehyung’s iron grip. His arm was locked around her waist, his body pressed against her back, radiating heat and dominance. No matter how much she pushed or twisted, he didn’t budge an inch.

“Let me go!” she cried out, her voice laced with both anger and fear.

Taehyung’s lips ghosted near her ear. “And if I don’t?”

Y/N stiffened. His voice was dangerously low, each word dripping with dark amusement. He wasn’t just playing with her—he was testing her. Seeing how far she would go before she broke.

Summoning every ounce of courage, she stomped hard on his foot and elbowed him in the ribs. He barely flinched, but it was enough for her to wriggle free. She took a step back, chest rising and falling rapidly as she glared at him.

“I don’t know who you think you are, but you can’t just—”

“Kim Taehyung.”

His voice cut through the night air like a blade. His dark eyes locked onto hers, daring her to challenge him.

Y/N swallowed. She had heard whispers about him even before tonight—about his power, his cruelty, his empire built on blood and fear. Yet standing here, facing him, she realized that no rumor could truly capture the terrifying presence of the man before her.

“You should have listened to me, sweetheart.” He took a step forward, forcing her to back away until her spine hit the cold wall of the alley. “Now, we do things my way.”

Y/N clenched her fists. “I don’t belong to you.”

A smirk tugged at Taehyung’s lips. “Not yet.”

The way he said it