Ch: 3 His Family •••

## Chapter 3: The Unseen Crack

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The soft, rhythmic strokes of Taehyung applying lotion were a nightly ritual, a quiet prelude to sleep. Tonight, however, his gaze lingered on Jungkook’s reflection in the vanity mirror, a knot of apprehension tightening in his chest. The easy camaraderie of dinner had dissipated, replaced by a simmering unease.

“Kook?” he called out softly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Jungkook, who had been loosening his tie, looked up, his dark eyes meeting Taehyung’s in the mirror.

“Did you talk to Mr. and Mrs. Song today?” Taehyung asked, his voice carefully neutral as he maintained eye contact.

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Jungkook’s face. “Why? Did Mrs. Song call you?”

“Yes. What did you talk about?” Taehyung pressed, his intuition screaming that this conversation held a significance he wasn’t yet privy to.

Jungkook finally turned fully, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his broad chest. “You know they are our business partners. And they have a… nice omega son whom I have selected as our Jeonsan’s wife.”

The words hit Taehyung like a physical blow, stealing the air from his lungs. He froze, the bottle of lotion clutched tightly in his hand. The casual pronouncement, the complete lack of consultation, sent a wave of shock and disbelief crashing over him. He finally found his voice, though it trembled slightly.

“How can you decide on your own, Kook? You should have asked me! Or at least… Jeonsan!”

Jungkook raised a dark eyebrow, his expression a mixture of surprise and mild irritation. “I know you like Song’s son. You’ve always spoken highly of him. So what is the problem?”

“I *do* like him,” Taehyung conceded, his voice rising slightly. “He’s a sweet boy. But what about Jeonsan? He might have… different thoughts. Different feelings.”

Jungkook’s jaw tightened imperceptibly. “Tae, you know how things work for me. Jeonsan has to get married, and he will marry him! Why should I ask him? He will understand his responsibilities.” His tone brooked no argument, his conviction absolute.

“Our generation was different, Jungkook,” Taehyung argued, his heart beginning to pound with a growing sense of dread. “But now a days, kids… they get into relationships before marriage. They fall in love.”

“You know I don’t like that,” Jungkook stated flatly, his voice firm. “There is no rule that one *should* have a relationship before marriage. Even so, I don’t approve of it. It often leads to unnecessary complications.”

“I’m not talking about that, Kook!” Taehyung exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. “What I mean is that Jeonsan might already *have* someone in his heart. We should at least ask him, right?” He hated the lie that slipped past his lips, but the instinct to protect San, to buy him time, was overwhelming.

Jungkook’s eyes narrowed, his gaze suddenly sharp and intense. “Does he have someone?” he asked sternly, the playful edge from earlier completely gone.

“No…” Taehyung hesitated, the lie tasting like ash in his mouth. “But… it can be a possibility. He’s a young alpha. He’s bound to have… interests.”

“Tae,” Jungkook said, his voice losing some of its sternness but retaining a note of finality, “our Jeonsan will always do what I ask him. He respects our traditions, our family. Moreover, I have given my word to Mr. Song. Now there is no way out. A deal is a deal.”

“Does your word matter more than our Jeonsan’s happiness, Kook?” Taehyung’s voice cracked, the weight of his son’s earlier joy and the impending heartbreak pressing down on him.

Jungkook sighed, a rare sound of exasperation. “We were arranged married, Tae. Aren’t we happy? Isn’t Somi happy? I don’t understand why you are behaving this way. This is the way things are done. It ensures stability, a good match.”

Taehyung fought to keep the knowledge of San’s girlfriend from spilling out, the promise he had made to his son warring with his growing panic. “He’s not even at a proper marriage age yet, Jungkook. He’s only twenty-three. Let him live his life a little. Let him experience things.”

Jungkook ran a hand through his dark hair, his frustration evident. “We were about to have Somi when I was his age. We were married shortly after my father handed me the position of CEO of the company. It’s practically a legal procedure, Tae, a step Jeonsan has to take to gain the full responsibilities, to show his maturity and commitment!”

“He can work under you for some time,” Taehyung pleaded, his voice laced with desperation. “He can learn the ropes, prove himself. And then, when he’s ready, when he *wants* to, he can get married. Can’t it be this way?”

“Tae, I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” Jungkook said, his tone leaving no room for further debate. “I will talk to Jeonsan. I know he won’t deny me.” His blind faith in his son’s obedience was a sharp knife twisting in Taehyung’s heart.

Jungkook turned and laid down on the bed, his back to Taehyung, signaling the end of the discussion. Taehyung slowly followed, settling on his side, his back also facing his husband. A tear escaped his eye, tracing a lonely path down his cheek as he thought of San. He knew his son’s inherent goodness, his ingrained respect for his father. Jeonsan would never openly defy Jungkook’s wishes.

The image of San’s radiant smile from earlier that evening flashed through his mind, and a fresh wave of sadness washed over him. He knew that smile would likely be extinguished when he learned of his father’s decision.

Just as he was about to succumb to exhaustion, he felt Jungkook’s hand find his waist, pulling him closer until their backs were pressed together.

“Don’t be tensed, Tae,” Jungkook murmured, his breath warm against Taehyung’s neck. “Everything will be fine.” He pressed a soft kiss to the nape of Taehyung’s neck before his breathing deepened, the even rhythm of sleep claiming him.

Taehyung didn’t reply. He simply closed his eyes, the silent tears continuing to flow, each one a testament to his love for his son and the agonizing helplessness he felt in the face of his husband’s unwavering will. The unseen crack in their carefully constructed family life had just begun to widen.

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[A/n: Do tell me, who's right here between Jungkook and Taehyung? What should Jeonsan do?]

💓🥀💓🥀💓🥀💓🥀💓🥀💓🥀💓🥀💓🥀💓

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