Chapter:2

The tension in the room was palpable as Y/n prepared dinner. Jungkook sat in the corner, his brooding silence filling the space.

The weight of unspoken words hung heavy between them, a barrier that neither had yet dared to cross.

"Jungkook," Y/n began tentatively, glancing over her shoulder at him, "I’ve noticed you’ve been quiet. Is something on your mind?"

Jungkook looked up, his dark eyes meeting hers. For a moment, he was silent, his expression unreadable. Then he sighed, a sound filled with years of pent-up pain and regret.

"Y/n, there’s something you need to know about me."

Y/n turned off the stove and faced him fully, her heart pounding in her chest. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jungkook leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together tightly. 

"My past... it's not something I'm proud of. I'm a mafia lord, Y/n. They call me ‘The Devil’ for a reason."

Elena’s breath caught in her throat. She took a step back, her eyes wide with shock. "M-Mafia lord?" she repeated, her voice trembling.

Jungkook nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. 

"I’ve done terrible things. I've killed people. Thousands, brutally. It's not something I can ever atone for. It’s a part of who I am."

Y/n’s legs felt weak, and she sank into a chair. 

"How... how did you become this way?"

Jungkook’s face hardened, the memories playing out in his mind like a terrible film.

 "It started with my father. He was the head of our family, and he raised me to be ruthless. I was just a boy when I saw my first execution. By the time I was a teenager, I was already carrying out orders, eliminating threats, and consolidating power."

Y/n’s hands were shaking, and she clasped them together to steady herself.

"And you... you killed people?"

"Yes," Jungkook said, his voice flat.

 "I did whatever was necessary to protect my family and our empire. Men, women, sometimes even children... if they were a threat, they were eliminated. No questions, no mercy."

Y/n felt a cold sweat break out on her skin. She could barely comprehend the level of brutality he described. "How... How did you live with yourself?"

Jungkook’s eyes darkened.

"You don’t. You just keep going. You bury the guilt and the horror deep inside and keep moving forward. Because if you stop, if you allow yourself to feel, it will destroy you."

Tears welled up in Y/n’s eyes.

 "But you were just a boy..."

"It doesn’t matter," Jungkook said harshly. "In that world, you grow up fast, or you don’t grow up at all."

Y/n’s voice was barely audible. "And now?"

Jungkook sighed again, rubbing his face with his hands. "Now... Now I’m trying to find a way out. To change. But it’s not easy. The things I’ve done... they haunt me."

A heavy silence settled over the room. Y/n struggled to reconcile the man before her with the monster he described.

 "Jungkook," she said softly, "you’ve never been married?"

"No," Jungkook replied, shaking his head. "There was never room for anything like that in my life. Trusting someone, letting them in... it was too dangerous."

Y/n shivered, her fear evident.

 "I'm... I'm scared, Jungkook."

Jungkook’s gaze softened, and he stood, walking slowly towards her. He stopped a few feet away, his posture non-threatening.

"I understand," he said gently. "And I’m sorry for frightening you. But I swear to you, Y/n, I will never harm you. You’re too kind, too brave. You’ve shown me a different way, and I will protect you with my life."

Y/n looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. "How can I believe that?"

Jungkook kneeled before her, his eyes sincere. 

"Because, despite everything I’ve done, you make me want to be a better man. You’ve shown me kindness and courage, and I respect that. You’re safe with me, Y/n. I promise."

Y/n’s fear slowly began to ebb, replaced by a tentative trust. She saw the pain and regret in Jungkook’s eyes and knew that he was telling the truth.

 "Okay," she whispered. "I believe you."

Jungkook nodded, relief washing over him.

"Thank you, Y/n. I know it’s not easy, but together, maybe we can find a way out of this darkness."

They sat in silence for a moment, the bond between them growing stronger. 

Jungkook had opened a door to his past, and despite the horrors, Y/n had chosen to stay. It was a small step towards redemption, but it was a step nonetheless.