Chapter 3: The First Lie

The sun didn’t shine inside the walls of this estate — not truly. It tried, bleeding through stained glass and grand windows, but everything about this place turned light into shadow. Jungkook felt it in his skin. The deeper he stayed, the darker he became.

And yet… he hadn’t left.

Even when he could.

Jungkook’s Room — Noon

He sat by the mirror, shirtless, tracing over the bruise on his cheek. Faint. Fading. But not forgotten.

Taehyung’s slap still echoed in his bones.

He remembered how he used to crave Taehyung’s touch — warm hands cupping his jaw, gentle thumbs brushing his tears away during college nights when deadlines felt like death. Now, his touch came wrapped in cruelty, dominance, and silent rage.

I made him this way, Jungkook thought bitterly. I broke something that was too fragile to survive.

But he had his reasons. They weren’t excuses. They were truths he couldn't tell.

He opened the drawer beneath his bed and pulled out a folded note. Its corners were frayed, stained with age, but the writing inside hadn’t faded.

> "If you ever tell him, they’ll kill us both. – H."

He crumpled the paper, swallowing back bile.

Flashback — Three Years Ago

The Night of the First Lie

Jungkook had been standing in a rain-soaked alley behind the Fine Arts building, his phone clutched tight. The man he’d been forced to meet was wearing a suit, gloves, and no expression.

> “Your friend’s father has debts,” the man had said. “Gambling. Drugs. The cartel doesn’t like unpaid balances.”

> “What does that have to do with me?” Jungkook had whispered, shivering.

> “Because you’re the one who can save him.”

A photo had been placed in Jungkook’s hands.

Taehyung. Bloodied. Unconscious. Chained in a basement.

> “You give us the faculty data you’ve stolen access to, and he walks free. You say a word to him? You both die. Do we have an understanding?”

Jungkook had nodded.

And from that moment forward, he started living a lie that unraveled everything.

Present — Estate Library

Taehyung stood in the vast private library, watching an old surveillance feed replay on loop. It was blurry — two figures exchanging something in the dark — but the silhouette was unmistakable.

Jungkook. Handing off a USB.

A week before their fallout.

Taehyung's fist clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.

> “You gave them everything, didn’t you?” he muttered.

He didn’t know who “they” were yet. But he would. And when he did, he’d drag the truth out of Jungkook’s throat — even if it broke him.

Yoongi’s Apartment — Downtown

Jimin hadn’t meant to show up. Not really.

He had been drinking — alone — and found himself outside Yoongi’s private city flat. The building reeked of quiet wealth. The kind that smelled like betrayal.

He knocked once.

Yoongi opened the door, surprised.

> “Jimin?”

> “Don’t say my name like that.”

> “Like what?”

> “Like it still means something to you.”

Yoongi stepped aside, letting him in. “You’re drunk.”

> “Not enough,” Jimin muttered, brushing past him.

The place was immaculate. Like Yoongi always kept things tidy so no one would see how messy he was inside.

> “Why did you do it?” Jimin asked suddenly, dropping onto the couch.

> “You know why.”

> “I don’t.” His voice cracked. “You left. You disappeared. You let me take the fall for something I didn’t even understand.”

Yoongi walked to the minibar and poured two drinks.

> “Because your name was already on the list, Jimin. They were going to use you whether I helped or not.”

> “So you saved me by ruining me?”

Yoongi turned to him, eyes glinting. “I saved your life.”

> “I wish you hadn’t.”

Back at the Estate — Dusk

Jungkook had cleaned himself, changed, and stood by the courtyard fountain. The water sparkled faintly in the dying light.

Taehyung approached slowly, wearing black on black. Always elegant. Always lethal.

> “Come.”

Jungkook followed without protest.

They walked to a smaller chamber — cold, stone-walled, dimly lit. It was Taehyung’s punishment room. No chains tonight. Just silence. And distance.

Taehyung pointed to the floor. Jungkook knelt.

> “Tell me what you did.”

> “I… don’t understand.”

> “Don’t lie to me.”

Jungkook looked up. For a moment, he saw the boy he loved standing in front of him again. Then it was gone.

> “I never meant to hurt you.”

> “But you did.”

Taehyung’s voice was low. Calm. Dangerous.

He walked around Jungkook like a predator, circling him slowly.

> “I gave you everything. I would’ve set the world on fire for you.”

> “You did.” Jungkook’s voice cracked. “And you let me burn in it.”

Taehyung stopped walking.

> “You betrayed me.”

Jungkook’s lip trembled. “If I told you the truth… you would’ve died.”

Taehyung grabbed him by the collar and yanked him up, mouth inches from his.

> “Then maybe I should’ve.”

Silence.

Breathless, charged, deadly.

Then Taehyung shoved him to the floor and turned away.

> “Go,” he said.

> “Taehyung—”

> “Leave.”

Later That Night — Secret Wing

Jungkook met Hoseok in the hall near the west wing, both careful not to be seen.

> “Did you get it?” Jungkook whispered.

Hoseok handed him a small envelope.

> “This is the last time, Kook. You’re dancing on a blade.”

> “I know.”

> “Taehyung finds out, he won’t punish you. He’ll destroy you.”

> “He already has.”

Hoseok hesitated, then said softly, “He’s not as blind as you think. He’s watching everyone now.”

> “Then let him watch.”

Jungkook walked away, envelope tucked inside his robe.

The first page inside?

A photo of the cartel leader who tortured Taehyung three years ago.

The second?

A blood contract with Yoongi’s name on it.

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