"Nice shot. You deserved it." Mi-Cha patted her back with a beam.
Naeun's grip tightened around the end of her blouse. She looked up with widened eyes at Taehyun to find him already smiling in her direction. His eyes reflected...
Trust,
Love,
And most importantly warmth. Naeun felt a shiver down her spine and goosebumps up her arms. There was silence for a while but then everybody started shouting at once. It was obvious from their expressions they didn't approve of Taehyun's decision.
"Taehyun, what does this mean!?" An uncle shouted, his voice filled with wrath.
"She isn't a member of our blood!"
"You!" A woman in her late 60s pointed her finger at Naeun with burning eyes, "How did you manage to lure my nephew with your filthy tricks?"
Naeun got up and smiled. It wasn't a pleasing one but an intimidating one.
"Even if I did seduce him, I at least managed to. Neither one of you could do so."
"You-You-Witch! Don't you have any manners?"
"When talking to a witch myself, I don't need manners," Naeun said, smirking.
Taehyun stifled in a smile and turned to face everyone with his devilish one instead.
"I think you all know what position I hold within this family. It's my decision and none of you have any authority to object. I hope you respect my new underboss."
An Elder got up making everyone shut their mouths. Naeun presumed he held a high position within the Kim's or was one of the elders.
"We respect your decision Taehyun and none of us wish to refuse. I hope that's everyone's intention." He eyed the woman from before who lowered her eyes, fuming. "May I speak to Naeun for a while?"
Naeun glanced at Taehyun and he nodded. She got up and walked along with the man dodging a leg in the process. The man led her into a car outside and they both settled inside.
"I'm personally satisfied with Taehyun's decision. You are in my good books Naeun and I hope you remain that way."
Naeun bowed with a smile in response and the man proceeded to talk.
"Isn't your surname Park?" He asked.
"Yes, sir." Naeun was supposed to have Mr. Han's surname being his adopted daughter but thankfully Park had remained her real name after her continued refusal and hate towards her stepfather.
"Where are your parents?"
"They are dead, sir."
"I'm sorry."
Naeun wondered why he asked about her parents and advanced to ask.
"Did you know my parents, sir?"
"No. But Park was my son's close friend's name. You resembled him as well. So I thought you could be related to him."
Naeun figured out he was Taehyun's grandfather due to his face similarity with Taehyun's. But there was no way Taehyun's father knew hers. She looked just like her father but how could Mr. Kim and he be related? It was impossible...
"Anyway, I hoped to congratulate you in private. I need to leave now to celebrate my 82nd Birthday party." The man exclaimed with a smile. "After all, I'm still young and handsome. It runs in the family as you must have noticed."
"Yes, I did. I hope you enjoy it fully. An advanced Happy Birthday from me." Naeun added with a laugh.
"Thank you! I'll invite you to my next one surely."
"I will be honored."
Mr. Kim nodded and Naeun took this as a sign to leave. She opened the car door and prepared to step out but Mr. Kim stopped her.
"Do take care of my grandson, dear. He's been through a lot lately."
Naeun smiled and nodded. The car drove off past her but she took notice of it. Take care of Taehyun? How could she when she was going to be the cause of his pain? How could she add more pain to his already troubled life?
"Life is unfair..." She thought and smiled along with it. A painful one that nobody could see.
Naeun spotted Taehyun's limousine not far away from the building and went and opened the door. Taehyun was already sitting in there looking like he was waiting for her. Naeun sat down beside him.
"Are you crazy? Why did you make me the Underboss?" Naeun burst out, making him pat her head like a little kid.
"You handled it pretty well. You never fail to impress me, do you?"
"Well, my numbers of enemies just increased by 10%."
"What am I for then?" Taehyun asked. "It's my job to protect you. And I swear if anyone tries to hurt a single hair on your body, I'll rip him to pieces myself."
"Do you seriously think I can handle that big of a responsibility?"
"I know you are capable enough. Remember the last time I took you to see my family? What did you ask me?"
Flashback,
"You made me your fiancée for your position, right?" She asked as soon as the driver started the car.
Taehyun didn't reply so Naeun considered it as a yes.
End Of Flashback.
"I asked you if you were with me just because of your position." Naeun spoke after remembering.
"I needed a woman to keep my position but that day I announced you as my fiancée to declare you as underboss today."
"But why?"
"Because I needed someone who I can trust and right now," He smiled. "I trust you the most."
"But you shouldn't trust me." Naeun thought and felt her heartbreaking. He was her enemy yet he trusted her the most out of all the people. One thing was clear after this, Taehyun didn't know about her identity. He would never hand over the gang to an Agent.
Naeun unexpectedly wrapped her arms around Taehyun and hugged him tightly.
"You should've told me that before. I thought I had become a stepping stone for you."
Taehyun hugged her back and kissed her forehead.
"I could never think of you as something like that."
Naeun felt a sting in her chest and found herself sobbing on his shoulder while Taehyun kept on strong her hair tenderly.
"Ah, my strong girl, why all the tears?"
"I was okay with you using me as a stepping stone." Naeun thought. "That way, we would've been even. But now I'm the only one who is lying to you, hurting you, misusing you. Yet you're the one who's taking care of me and loving me.
"I am the one who is supposed to destroy you yet you are the one giving me a shoulder to cry on."
The thoughts kept on increasing in her head and the tears didn't stop coming out thinking of the guy she was going to betray someday. Some day soon...