The Wrong Bride

46| Jisoo

"It's been a while since Grandma called us all together like that so urgently," Lisa says as we walk toward the main house together. "The last time she did that it was to announce your upcoming wedding."

"Do you have any idea what it might be about?"
Lisa shakes her head. "No clue. I asked my brothers as well, and they have no idea."

My phone starts to ring and groan as I stare at my caller ID. I have no doubt my mother is calling about something related to Irene, and I don't want to hear it.

"Who is that?" Lisa asks, glancing at my phone. She rolls her eyes when she sees my mother's name and declines the call for me, but my mother calls me straight back. She's so relentless. If I don't pick up, she'll just keep calling, until she wears me down.

"Mom?"

"Jisoo, sweetheart. I've been trying to reach you for hours." Normally I'd have made excuses, but I don't have it in me today.

"What is it, Mom?" It doesn't sit well with me that she's calling me sweetheart when every conversation we've had since I got married was hostile.

She hesitates for a moment. "I heard Irene and you had an argument? She's been incredibly upset and told me that you and Taehyung... that you're together?"

I grit my teeth for a moment and take a calming breath. "Is that so? I assume you told her to accept the fact that she chose to walk away from him? Did you remind her that I'm married to Taehyung? What exactly is so surprising about be being with my own husband? Surely she isn't thinking anything immoral. You raised her better than that, didn't you?"

Lisa's lips fall open, and then she grins wickedly, nodding to herself. I roll my eyes at her and continue to walk. Mom falls silent for a moment before clearing her throat.

"Taehyung and you are coming home for your father's 60th birthday, aren't you? Will you be spending the weekend with us?"

I hesitate. When Taehyung and I agreed to go to my father's birthday together, we'd only just gotten married. Things weren't so complicated yet, so messy. I'm not sure either of us should be around Irene for an entire weekend. I don't want to put a downer on Dad's birthday, and we're bound to get into an argument.

"Yes," I tell her, resigned. I can't keep running away from my family. At some point, we'll have to learn to co-exist.

"Please be on your best behavior. Try not to aggravate your sister, okay? She's been having a hard time lately, and it's taken a toll on her health. I'm worried."

Anger takes root deep within me, and I tighten my grip on my phone. "Sure," I promise.

"I hope you told her the same thing, Mom. I won't provoke her, but don't expect me to tolerate her toxic behavior for even a single second, because I won't."

"Toxic?" Mom repeats, outraged.

"Don't even bother denying it," I warn her. "I neither have the time nor the patience to deal with any of the excuses you'll make for her. I'll be there this weekend, and I'll bring my husband."

"Jisoo!"

"I need to go, Mom. I'll speak to you later."
I end the call and put my phone away, ignoring Lisa's gleeful stares.

"Damn, girl," she says, grinning. "It's about damn time."

I shrug. "I've tried being sweet, Lisa. I've been kind and patient, taking into account everyone's feelings but my own. Enough is enough."

She grabs my hand and entwines our fingers, a proud smile on her face. "You're made of steel, yet you were always so malleable around your family. They got too used to you bending backwards to keep the peace, but it's time you put yourself first. You're not alone anymore, Jisoo. You never were, but you're officially a Kim now. We're your family now."

I smile at her. "I hear you, babe."

She grins. "I know you do, but I'll repeat myself until you take it to heart."

I squeeze her hand in thanks as we round the corner and walk into Grandma's living room, where the rest is already waiting for us.

Taehyung 's gaze drops to our joined hands, and he narrows his eyes. "Let go of my wife," he warns, his tone unyielding.

Lisa stares him down. "She was mine before she was ever yours. You wanna fight me, bro? Who do you think she'll back?"

I pull my hand out of hers and shake my head as I walk over to Taehyung , who instantly grabs both of my hands, holding them in his as he smirks at his sister.

"You're both so childish," I mutter as I glance around the room. We're still missing Jimin, and, of course, Namjoon, who's in London.

Taehyung wraps his hand around my waist and leans in. "You know it's your fault, right? You turn me into a childish, petty fool."

I look up into his eyes and grin. "And it's my greatest accomplishment."

"Ugh, you two are so disgustingly cute together," Yoongi says, groaning.

Hoseok grins when Jimin walks in with Rosé, his secretary, and waves them over as we head into the dining room. Rosé smiles at me and rushes toward me. "Jisoo!"

I hug her tightly and then step back to assess her outfit. "I love this dress on you."

She smirks at me. "I only wear the best of the best, and this designer? She tops them all."
I chuckle as she twirls around in the dress I designed for her, a deep sense of pride settling in my chest.

"Kids," Grandma calls, her eyes moving over all of us. "As you may have guessed, I have an announcement to make."

We all tense, knowing that whatever it is, it'll affect all of us. Grandma smiles, her gaze pausing on Rosé and Jimin for a moment.

"Jimin," she says. His spine straightens, and he nods. "Your engagement has been decided."

Both Rosé and Jimin tense, and I watch them curiously. Their relationship has always intrigued me. She was assigned to him by Grandma, and he's always hated her for it, yet she's the only one he relies on. For years, I was certain love would bloom between them, but it never did.

"Who is it?" he asks, resigned.

"Sana Minatozaki, daughter of Kosaku Minatozaki and heiress to an oil empire. Oil is an industry we have yet to enter, and this will be our in."

"Sana Minatozaki?" he repeats. "The socialite? She's a spoiled materialistic airhead."

Grandma narrows her eyes at him. "She's your soon-to-be fiancee. She's a sweet girl, Jimin. You'll see."

He grits his teeth and turns around without another word, his steps loud on the marble floor as he walks away, slamming the door behind him.

Rosé stares at his retreating back, hesitating for a single moment before she goes after him. Grandma watches them and smiles to herself. Something about that smile doesn't sit well with me. Is she... is she playing some kind of game? Surely not?