Isabel🎀

As I pushed open the door to the café, the familiar chime of the bell above the entrance greeted me, but my heart wasn’t in it today. The weight of the conversation with Mr. Kim still pressed heavy on my chest. Less than 24 hours. Less than 24 hours to decide if I was going to marry a stranger or lose everything I’d fought so hard for. My stomach churned with anxiety, but before I could even dwell on it, I felt a sharp tug on my arm, pulling me to the side.

Before I could even get my bearings, Maya grabbed me by the arm, her eyes wide with a mix of amusement and nervousness.

"Girl, you need to deal with your big boi. He’s been in the worst mood today."

I blinked, snapping out of my daze. "What did he do now?"

"More like, what hasn't he done?" She snorted, pulling me behind the counter.

"He’s been sitting there, brooding like he owns the place, scaring off customers. He’s been glaring at everyone, demanding to know where you are. I’m telling you, he’s got this dark, dangerous vibe today. It’s like he’s ready to bite someone’s head off."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Sounds like him."

"Yeah, but it’s worse today. Like, worse." Maya raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking up in a smirk. "Maybe it’s because he hasn’t seen you in a while. Think you’re the only one who can handle him when he gets like this."

"Great, my big boi has been terrorizing the place because he misses me. How sweet," I teased, rolling my eyes as I tied on my apron.

Maya chuckled, giving me a pat on the back. "Good luck. I’m going to hide in the back."

As I stepped out from behind the counter, I immediately spotted him, sitting at his usual spot in the corner. He was hunched over the table, his broad shoulders tense, his dark hair falling messily over his forehead. His fingers drummed against the surface, his jaw tight, the muscles in his neck straining like he was holding back a storm.

He looked like a man on the edge, and I could feel that familiar pull in my chest. The one that always drew me to him, no matter how dangerous he seemed. I walked over, my eyes never leaving his figure.

"Daddy," I called out, my voice light and teasing, the nickname slipping from my lips effortlessly. I watched as his head snapped up, his sharp eyes locking onto me. For a moment, the tension in his body seemed to ease, his lips twitching into a small, almost reluctant smile.

"Cub," he murmured, his voice low and gravelly, like he hadn’t spoken in hours. His eyes roamed over me, taking in my appearance like he was drinking me in. And just like that, the storm in his gaze seemed to calm.

I slipped into the seat across from him, resting my arms on the table as I leaned forward. "Heard you’ve been causing trouble," I said, raising an eyebrow at him. "Scaring away our customers, huh?"

Taehyung leaned back in his chair, his gaze intense as he studied me, his lips quirking up into a half-smirk. "They were in my way."

I snorted, shaking my head. "In your way? Really? What were they doing, ordering coffee?"

"Breathing too close to my table," he grumbled, his eyes narrowing slightly. But there was something softer in his tone now, something less angry and more… dangerous.

The man who could send shivers down my spine with just a look, was clearly in one of his moods. The energy around him felt electric, like a storm barely contained beneath his skin. But as I approached, he seemed to relax ever so slightly, his eyes softening just a bit.

“Maya said you’ve been glaring at all the customers like someone pissed in your coffee.”

His eyes locked onto mine, a flicker of amusement flashing across his face, but he didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping restlessly on the edge of the table.

“ I was waiting for you,” he said simply, his voice gruff but full of intent.

I raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. “Well, here I am. So what’s the problem,?”

"I just wanted to see you." There's more, I raised my eyebrows to tell me. He clenched his jaw, his eyes flickering with something dark and unreadable.

“It’s nothing that concerns you,” he said, but there was a tension in his voice, like he was holding something back.

I frowned, not liking the way he was dodging my question. I wasn’t going to let him brush me off that easily. “You know I hate it when someone do that,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “If something’s bothering you, just tell me. What’s going on?”

He exhaled sharply, as if debating whether or not to let me in. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “It’s just business, Cub. Things didn’t go as planned, and I had to deal with some… complications.”

“Complications?” I echoed, folding my arms over my chest. “Sounds serious. You sure it’s just business?”

He smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You don’t need to worry about it. I’ve got it under control.”

“Under control, huh?” I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table between us. “Well, whatever it is, it’s got you wound up like a spring.”

He glanced away, his jaw tightening again, but before he could respond, I spoke again, my tone softening. “Look, I know you’re not one to talk about your ‘business,’ but you can’t keep carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Let someone help, even if it’s just for a minute.”

His eyes flickered back to mine, and for a brief second, I saw something vulnerable in his gaze, something that made my heart ache. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by the cold, calculated mask he wore so well.

“I appreciate the offer, Cub,” he said quietly, his voice low, “but this is something I have to handle on my own.”

I nodded slowly, knowing when to back off, even though it left a sour taste in my mouth. “Alright,” I said softly, “but don’t forget, I’m here if you need me.”

He held my gaze for a long moment, and I could see the war he was waging inside himself. Finally, he let out a breath and nodded. “I won’t forget.”

There was a long silence between us, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. Finally, I broke the tension with a smirk.

“You know, you’re scaring all my customers away with that face of yours.”

His lips twitched into a smirk of his own. “Maybe I just want you all to myself.”

I laughed, the tension easing. “Careful, Daddy, I might just start charging you rent for all this space you’re taking up in my café.”

Sitting across from him, I let my gaze linger on him, my heart pounding a little too fast. It was strange how just being in his presence made me forget everything — the looming decision, the weight of what would happen tomorrow, the deal with Mr. Kim. For now, all I wanted to do was savor the moment, to focus on the man sitting in front of me, who always made everything seem a little less terrifying, a little less real.

I knew he was off-limits, though. There was no denying that. He was dangerous in ways I couldn’t fully comprehend yet, but something about him called to me. It was as though I had known all along that he wasn’t just a man doing some some business. There was more, so much more. But I was too afraid to peel back the layers, too scared of what I might find if I dug too deep.

As I sat there, lost in thought, He suddenly asked, “What would you say if I asked you to marry me?”

My breath hitched, and I blinked at him, my mouth hanging open. Did I hear that right? For a moment, I thought maybe he was teasing, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that made my pulse race. He couldn’t possibly be asking me that. Could he?

I swallowed hard, trying to gather my thoughts. What was I supposed to say? My heart betrayed me for a second, foolishly imagining that maybe  just maybe  he felt something for me. But that thought was dangerous.It could never happen. He was off-limits in more ways than one.

I couldn’t give him false hope, no matter how much my heart screamed otherwise. So, with a smirk, I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest, masking my panic with a teasing smile.

“Sorry, big boy, you’re not really my type,” I said, trying to sound playful.

The surprise in his eyes was fleeting, quickly replaced by amusement, his lips twitching up into a smirk.

“Not your type?” His voice was low, almost mocking, as if he couldn’t believe what I’d just said.

I nodded, trying to keep my tone light, playful, even though my heart was racing.

“Nope. My type is someone… bigger. Oh, don’t get me wrong, you’re big—” I couldn’t help but let my eyes trail over his broad shoulders and muscular arms before I continued. “—but you’re… how do I put this? You’re too innocent, big boii. Just a simple, hardworking man running a business. I need someone darker, someone who’s a force to be reckoned with.”

"Too simple?" He questioned.

I nodded, grinning as I continued. “Yeah, you’re… too simple. You’ve got that whole innocent, business-owner vibe going on.”

His expression didn’t change, but I could see the corners of his mouth twitch, like he was holding back a smirk. I pressed on, determined to keep up the banter.

“My type? Well, he’s gotta be big. I mean, really big. He’s got to have this dangerous energy, you know?  Like the men in my books. Dark, brooding, the kind of man who brings others to their knees with just a look. But for me, for me, he’d fall to his knees and love me unconditionally. Completely. That’s my type.”

I watched as his jaw tensed, his eyes never leaving mine. I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or amused by what I was saying, but I didn’t stop.

“And let’s be real, Daddy,” I added with a smirk, “You’re too practical for all that nonsense."

I

tilted my head, studying him, my voice dropping to a soft whisper. “And you… you don’t even like the word ‘love,’ do you?” I chuckled, shaking my head.

“You’re not capable of it. But the man I want? Even if he doesn’t know how to love yet either. I’ll teach him. I’ll stay by his side, forever. No matter how broken he is, no matter how damaged, I’ll be the one to fix him. To make him feel something again. Someone who would devote everything to me once they learn.”

His eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. “So you want a man who’s cold, ruthless to everyone… except you?”

I nodded, the words coming out more smoothly than I expected.

“Exactly. I want someone who would burn the world down for me. A man who could break others without a second thought, but who would be gentle with me. Someone who’s dark and dangerous, but who would put me on a pedestal. You don’t have that in you. You’re… too safe.”

The room felt still, the air thick with tension. His stare pierced through me, and I could feel the weight of his silence, the intensity of his gaze making my pulse race. My teasing words felt heavier now, as if I’d crossed some invisible line.

“Is that really what you think of me?” His voice was low, almost a growl, the calm in it sending shivers down my spine.

I bit my lip, suddenly feeling like maybe I’d pushed too far. But I couldn’t back down now. “Well, you’ve never exactly been the romantic type, have you?”

His eyes darkened, something flickering in them that I couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t anger, but it was something close. He leaned forward, his voice dangerously soft. “You think I’m too innocent for you, huh? Too small?"

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest as I met his gaze. There was something lurking behind his eyes, something dark, something I wasn’t sure I was ready to face.

But before I could respond, he leaned in closer, his breath warm against my skin as he whispered

“Careful what you wish for, Cub. You might just get it.” he always said those words whenever I wish or told him something like this.

But I kept going, unable to stop myself. “You, … you don’t want that kind of love. You want control, power, maybe even a little bit of destruction. And that’s fine. But that’s not for me. I want the kind of love that consumes, that burns so bright it can’t be extinguished.” I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms as I looked at him, my heart pounding in my chest. “And I don’t think you’re that guy."

"You think you know me, Cub?” His voice was low, rough, as if he was barely holding himself back. “You think I’m innocent? Simple?” He chuckled darkly, shaking his head as he leaned forward, closing the distance between us.

I swallowed hard, my breath catching in my throat at the intensity of his words. His eyes burned into mine, and for a split second, I believed him.

"I could ruin you, and you wouldn’t even see it coming.” His words sent a shiver down my spine always, my pulse quickening as his intense gaze locked onto mine. I could feel the heat between us, the unspoken tension that had been building for months. And for a moment, I wondered if maybe I was wrong about him.

But then I remembered who I was — just a girl trapped in a world I didn’t belong in, soon to be forced into a marriage I didn’t want. And he was the one thing I couldn’t afford to get tangled up in.

So, with a forced smile, I leaned back in my chair and shrugged. “Guess we’ll never know,” I said lightly, trying to ignore the way my heart was pounding in my chest. “But thanks for the offer, Daddy.”

His lips twitched into a small smile, but his eyes stayed dark, watching me like a predator watching its prey. And in that moment, I realized just how dangerous he really was.

Taehyung 🦁

As I sat there, listening to Isabel talk about her “type,” about the man she wanted — the brooding, dangerous type who would bring the world to its knees but love her unconditionally — a storm brewed inside me.She was describing me — exactly me, I can give her the world but not that one thing- Love. I'm not capable of giving it to her.

Every word she spoke described the man I really was, the one hidden behind this carefully constructed mask of indifference and charm. The ruthless Mafia boss who didn’t flinch when he made people disappear, the monster everyone whispered about in fear.

But she didn’t know the truth, not really. If she knew who I was, what I was, she wouldn’t be sitting there smiling at me, teasing me like I was some harmless guy running a small business.

No, she wouldn’t smile. She’d run. She’d hide. Because I wasn’t the man she was talking about. I was worse.

I watched her closely, the way she laughed, teased, completely unaware of how close she was to the darkness she claimed to want. How close she was to the very thing she thought she needed. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions — something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in a long time. Something dangerous.

I’ve been through hell, created my own in the process, and she’s too pure, too good to be dragged into that chaos. It’s why I could never have her, why I would never let her be with me, even though, deep down, I knew she was already under my skin. And damn it, that’s what scared me the most.

My cub doesn’t know what she’s asking for. She doesn’t know that the man she dreams about from her fantasy books is standing right in front of her, watching her with an intensity he can barely hide. She has no idea that her innocent words are tearing me apart inside.

"Cub,” I had whispered earlier. But now, as I sat back, pretending like her words didn’t affect me, I was thinking about tomorrow. I had a marriage contract waiting for me — some girl my father had chosen for me to marry within the next 24 hours. I didn’t even care who she was. I didn’t need to meet her. I already knew her type — some girl who agreed because of the money, the power. That’s all they ever want from me.

Who in their right mind would willingly choose to be with someone like me? Who would marry a man like me? The one who leaves a trail of bodies and broken lives in his wake. The one who lives with bloodstained hands and demons that never sleep. The one everyone calls a monster.

My cub wasn’t the girl my father was marrying me off to. No, that girl was someone else — probably a gold digger. Someone who wanted me for the status, the power, the money. No sane woman would want me otherwise.

And I knew one thing for sure, I wasn’t about to let some random girl claim me. I wasn’t going to sit by and let anyone — even my father — force me into a life I didn’t choose.

But that’s the thing — Isabel wasn’t like those women. She didn’t chase status or money. She didn’t even know who I really was, and yet here she was, sitting across from me, saying she wanted someone “dangerous.” Saying she’d teach him to love. As if love were something I could ever afford to give.

I didn’t know what hurt more — the fact that she thought I was just some simple guy running a small business, or that she could never imagine that, I was exactly what she wanted.

Hell, she was driving me crazy. Every word, every smile, every damn thing about her. The way her eyes sparkled when she teased me, the way she said “Daddy” like it was nothing, not realizing the fire she was playing with. It took everything in me not to reach across the table and pull her into my world, to show her just how dark it could get. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

Tomorrow, I’d meet the girl who agreed to marry me, I didn’t want a wife. I didn’t need anyone by my side, and especially not someone looking to use me for status or security. I was going to put an end to this nonsense, walk away after giving her a peace of mind, and get back to the business I needed to handle — the business that was falling apart because of the traitors around me.

But Isabel… She’d keep haunting me.

“heyy big boii?” Her soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see her staring at me, a curious smile on her lips.

I forced a small smile, something to hide the mess of emotions swirling inside me. “Yeah, Cub?”

“You look lost in thought,” she said, tilting her head. “Everything okay?”

No. Nothing was okay. Not with her sitting there, so close yet so far from the truth. Not with the weight of tomorrow hanging over my head. Not with the knowledge that I wanted her more than anything, and I couldn’t — wouldn’t — have her.

“Just… thinking about some things,” I replied, my voice low, trying to keep the darkness from seeping into my words.

Isabel leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief again. “Well, don’t think too hard. I need you to keep that innocent smile, big boy.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. Innocent? If only she knew.

And then she said something that nearly broke me. “You know, if you ever find someone who makes you feel things… don’t let them go. Even if you think you’re not the right person for them. Sometimes, it’s not about what you think you are. It’s about what they see in you.”

I stiffened, her words hitting too close to home. Did she know? Could she see through me?

But no, she was just being her — teasing, lighthearted, with no idea of the beast she was speaking to. She had no idea she was speaking about the very thing I’d been fighting since the moment I met her.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, my voice betraying nothing. But inside, I was a mess.

I’d show who am I really to the girl who agreed to marry me. And I’d keep pretending that the only woman who could ever get under my skin wasn’t sitting right in front of me, blissfully unaware.

Isabel doesn’t know it yet, but she’s the one I can never have. And that truth will tear me apart, even if I never show it.

Tomorrow, I’d have to deal with this arranged marriage crap. But tonight? Tonight, I’d enjoy the last few moments of peace, sitting across from the one girl who made me feel something real — something I didn’t deserve.

I looked at her, the smile that had always made my heart skip a beat still lingering on her lips. But I knew better than to let myself hope.

She was never meant to be mine. And after tomorrow, she never would be.

I stood up to leave, needing to get out before I said something I couldn’t take back. My mind was already a mess, torn between wanting her and knowing I couldn’t have her. But just aBut just as I turned, my breath hitched.

Isabel had crossed the table in a matter of seconds and was standing in front of me, her soft, innocent eyes locking onto mine. I froze, not knowing what she was about to do, and then… she moved.

On her tiptoes, her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me into her warmth, and everything  inside me stilled. For a second, I couldn’t even breathe. The scent of her, the softness of her body pressed against mine — it was too much. Too much for the control I was desperately clinging to.

She whispered softly, her breath warm against my skin, "You looked sad… I thought maybe this would help."

Sad. She had no idea. No idea about the storm raging inside me, the darkness I was trying to keep from her. No idea how much that simple, innocent gesture was pushing me to the edge of something dangerous.

For a moment, I stood there, stiff, unsure of how to respond. But then, the beast inside me stirred.

My hands moved on their own, wrapping around her small frame, pulling her closer, tighter. I could feel her heart beating against my chest, hear her soft breaths. She fit against me so perfectly, so effortlessly, and the part of me I tried to bury — the part that wanted her, that craved her snapped.

I hugged her back, my grip tightening as if letting her go would mean losing the one piece of light I had left in this godforsaken life. Her small body felt fragile against mine, like I could crush her if I wasn’t careful. But I wasn’t careful. Not anymore.

She had woken something in me, something primal, something possessive. I could feel it rising, taking over, and I didn’t know how to stop it. I didn’t want to stop it.

I buried my face in her hair, inhaling deeply, my jaw clenching with the effort to keep myself in check. Her warmth, her softness, it was too much. Too much for a man like me. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way. I couldn’t feel this way.

But I did.

“Cub…” My voice came out rougher than I intended, like a growl, my control hanging by a thread. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”

She pulled back slightly, her eyes wide and innocent, her lips parting as if she was about to say something, but I couldn’t let her. Not now.

I tightened my grip on her waist, not enough to hurt but enough to make her understand that this wasn’t a game. That I wasn’t the man she thought I was.

“I’m not the guy you think I am,” I whispered, my voice low, filled with the kind of warning I should have given her long ago. “You’re playing with fire.”

But even as I said it, even as I tried to push her away, my body betrayed me. I couldn’t let her go. Not yet.

She had awakened something dark inside me, something I had kept hidden for too long. And now that it was awake, now that it had tasted her, it wasn’t going to let her go.

I pulled her closer, my mouth inches from her ear, my breath hot against her skin. “You’re too good for me, Isabel,” I whispered, my voice rough with the weight of everything I wasn’t saying. “But I’m  going to let you go.” For now.

Not tonight.Not when she was the only thing keeping the darkness at bay.And for the first time, I wondered if I’d be able to let her go at all.

As soon as I stepped out of the café, the cold air hit my face, but it did nothing to cool the fire burning inside me. My jaw clenched, muscles tensing as I dialed a number, the rage I’d been holding back now threatening to spill over.

The phone rang once before a familiar voice answered. I didn’t bother with pleasantries. “I want that café.Now.”

There was a pause on the other end, as if my man was processing what I just said. "The café, boss? You mean—"

“I don’t care what you have to do. Buy it. Threaten someone. I don’t give a damn. I want it under my name by the Morning,” I barked, my voice sharp, leaving no room for argument.

The café. The place where she worked, where she smiled, where she unknowingly tortured me day after day. If I couldn’t have her, I’d own every part of her world. Starting with that damn café.

“But boss, it’s a small—"

“I didn’t ask for your opinion. Do it,” I snapped, the darkness I’d been suppressing now taking full control.

I hung up before he could respond, shoving the phone into my pocket. My chest still heaved with the adrenaline from earlier. From her touch, her warmth, her innocence. And now, this gnawing need to control every aspect of her life.

She had no idea who I really was, what I was capable of. But soon, she'd learn. First, the café. Then, everything else.

If I couldn’t have her, no one else would. And this café? It would be the first step in making sure she never slipped out of my reach.