Chapter One: Whispers in the Spotlight

The hum of Seoul at night was a symphony of light and sound, but high above the bustling streets, Kim Taehyung sat alone in his car. The tinted windows shielded him from the curious gazes of fans and photographers lingering outside the venue. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the towering building before him.

To the world, he was V, the enigmatic face of BTS. But in moments like this—when he wasn’t on stage or in front of a camera—he was simply Taehyung, a man burdened by memories he couldn’t escape. The faintest flicker of a smile touched his lips, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

Somewhere inside that building was a truth he’d been chasing for years. A truth buried beneath layers of deception, guarded by people who thought they were untouchable. Tonight, he was one step closer.

He adjusted his cufflinks, slipped on his mask of charm, and stepped out into the night.

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Lisa adjusted her earring, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at her seemed composed, confident, even dazzling in her stage outfit. But beneath the surface, Lisa was a storm—a whirlwind of determination and carefully concealed pain.

The backstage dressing room buzzed with activity, makeup artists and stylists flitting around like hummingbirds. Lisa, however, was still.

This wasn’t just another performance.

For years, she’d perfected the art of smiling through the pain, of projecting joy while quietly building walls around herself. But tonight, those walls felt fragile. She reached into her bag, pulling out a slip of paper.

“You’re closer than you think. Trust no one.”

Her fingers tightened around the note, her mind racing. It had appeared out of nowhere, left anonymously in her dressing room. A part of her wanted to dismiss it as a prank, but the words felt too deliberate, too personal.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. One of the crew members poked their head in. “Lisa, you’re needed on stage in five.”

She nodded, slipping the note into her pocket. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the storm inside her aside, letting her practiced composure settle in its place.

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The stage was a kaleidoscope of lights and sound, the energy of the crowd pulsing like a living thing. Lisa walked onto the platform, her movements fluid, confident. The cheers were deafening, but her focus was razor-sharp.

And then she saw him.

Kim Taehyung stood at the opposite end of the stage, his silhouette framed by the glow of the lights. Even from a distance, he commanded attention. There was something about the way he carried himself—calm, unbothered, yet undeniably intense.

Their eyes met for a fleeting second, and Lisa felt the air shift. It wasn’t the first time they’d performed together, but tonight felt different. Charged.

The music started, and they moved in perfect synchrony. Every step, every glance was deliberate, but there was an undercurrent of something unscripted between them. When Taehyung’s hand brushed hers during the choreography, she felt a spark—not of shock, but of recognition.

As the final note faded and the lights dimmed, Lisa turned to leave the stage. But before she could, Taehyung caught her wrist.

“Leaving already?” he said, his voice low and smooth, just loud enough for her to hear.

Lisa met his gaze, her expression guarded. “The performance is over.”

“For them,” Taehyung replied, tilting his head toward the audience, “but not for us.”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. There was something in his tone—an edge of curiosity, maybe even suspicion. She pulled her wrist free, but her movements were slow, deliberate.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice steady.

His lips curved into a faint smirk. “Sure you don’t.”

With that, he turned and walked offstage, leaving Lisa rooted to the spot. Her pulse was racing, and it wasn’t just from the adrenaline of the performance.

Who was Kim Taehyung behind that polished exterior? And why did she feel like he knew more about her than he was letting on?

As the crowd’s cheers echoed in the background, Lisa realized something unsettling. She wasn’t just drawn to Taehyung—she was tangled in his orbit.

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to escape.

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