Chapter Seventy-four "Phoenix in His Arms"
The Confrontation
Jungkook’s heart pounded in his chest as
Taehyung walked toward him, his usually stern face unreadable. The weight of
the rumors crushed him from all sides, leaving him trembling with frustration
and helplessness. His hands clenched into tight fists, his breathing uneven as
tears welled up in his eyes.
“I did nothing, hyung. I promise,” Jungkook
whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Taehyung didn’t hesitate. In one swift motion,
he pulled Jungkook into a warm embrace, his strong arms wrapping securely
around the younger’s shaking frame. His hand gently ran through Jungkook’s
hair, offering silent reassurance.
“I know,” Taehyung murmured, his voice calm
and certain.
Jungkook let out a shaky breath, his body
relaxing slightly in the safety of his hyung’s hold. His friends stood by,
their expressions dark with anger over the injustice Jungkook was facing.
“Hyung, this is all a setup,” Jimin spoke up,
his voice laced with frustration. “We found the girl and cleared everything up
this morning. Jungkook apologized for the misunderstanding, and she said she
understood! Someone spread this rumor intentionally.”
Niki nodded. “They’re trying to ruin
Jungkook’s reputation. This is no accident.”
Before Taehyung could respond, the
university’s announcement system buzzed to life, and a stern voice echoed
through the halls.
“Kim Jungkook, report to the principal’s
office immediately.”
A tense silence fell over the group. Jungkook
swallowed hard, his fingers twitching at his sides. His friends exchanged
worried glances, and without a word, they silently agreed—they weren’t letting
Jungkook go alone.
“We’re going with you,” Soobin said firmly.
Taehyung nodded, his protective nature kicking
in. “Let’s go.”
The walk to the principal’s office felt longer
than ever. Each step echoed heavily in Jungkook’s mind, dread creeping into his
veins. As they entered, they were met with a sight that made the atmosphere
even heavier.
A girl sat on the couch, crying hysterically.
Beside her stood an elegantly dressed woman in her forties, her posture
radiating power and anger. Her eyes blazed with fury as she pointed an accusing
finger at Jungkook.
“How dare you touch my daughter against
her will?!” she screamed, her voice shaking the walls.
Jungkook’s eyes widened in pure horror.
“What…?”
Before he could process the accusation, the
woman raised her hand as if to slap him. But before the impact could land,
Taehyung stepped in front of Jungkook, his cold gaze locking onto the woman’s
furious expression. She hesitated, lowering her hand slightly.
“How dare you—” she began, but was interrupted
by her own daughter grabbing her wrist.
“Mom, stop! He’s a professor and… Jungkook’s
older brother.”
The woman’s eyes darted between Taehyung and
Jungkook, as if reassessing the situation. A slow smirk curled on her lips.
“You two brothers do look good together. No wonder my daughter took a liking to
that kid.”
She crossed her arms, tilting her head. “I’ve
made my decision. Your brother harassed my daughter. If I report this to the
police and use my status, your brother will spend his life in prison.” Her
voice dripped with confidence. “I am also a shareholder of this university. I
can have you fired in an instant.”
The entire room tensed, the weight of her
words pressing down like an iron grip.
“But,” she continued, her gaze shifting to
Taehyung, “I find you interesting. If you agree to do whatever I ask, I can
make you rich beyond measure. And if you marry your brother to my daughter, I
will not press charges against him.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Jungkook’s eyes blazed with fury as he stepped
forward, shielding Taehyung behind his smaller frame. “Hey, old lady, how dare
you look at my hyung like that? Do you want to die or what?!”
Taehyung placed a firm hand on Jungkook’s
shoulder, silently asking him to calm down. His gaze sharpened as he addressed
the woman. “Let’s talk facts. Do you have any proof that Jungkook
harassed your daughter?”
The woman smirked. “The CCTV footage was
mysteriously destroyed. But I know my daughter isn’t lying.”
Jungkook’s friends gasped in disbelief, while
Taehyung’s jaw clenched.
Taehyung let out a slow, mocking chuckle.
“Convenient, isn’t it?” His sharp eyes met hers. “You’re trying to use power
and money to manipulate this situation, but let me make one thing clear—you
won’t win against me.”
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