The Inherited Slave/ Kim Taehyung Fanfiction.

9. The Puppet's Reward.

Taehyung’s gaze swept over her, sharp and calculating, as if he were peeling away layers to uncover her every thought. Y/N felt a chill run down her spine, her trembling fingers betraying the fear she tried so hard to hide. She clenched her fists slightly, desperate to steady herself, but his piercing eyes made it impossible to mask her unease.

Taehyung's voice cut through the tension, calm but unnervingly stoic. “What’s with the maids?” he asked, his eyes never leaving her face, watching for the slightest reaction.

She flinched at his words, and Taehyung rolled his eyes at her fragile demeanor. Her hesitant voice barely broke the silence as she stammered, “W-w-what d-d-do you m-mean?” Her gaze remained fixed on the ground, avoiding his piercing eyes.

Taehyung’s expression hardened. He could see through her mask, the subtle trembling of her fingers, the way her voice faltered. She knew something, something important, but she was trying to hide it.

He stepped closer, his towering presence making her feel even smaller. His voice was low but commanding, each word sharp. “You know exactly what I mean. Now, tell me everything about those two. I know they’re not just the so-called maids they pretend to be.”

Y/N swallowed hard, the weight of his stare making it impossible to deny him.

Y/N’s voice was barely a whisper, trembling as she spoke without daring to meet his gaze. “E-Eun-ji… s-she and u-unc-uncle Jin-ho… a-are t-together.”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. He had already suspected the affair, but the way she hesitated told him there was more she knew, something he didn’t. “As in an affair?” he pressed, his tone sharp yet calm.

She nodded quickly, her hands clenching the sides of her dress nervously.

“And his wife? Does she know?” he asked, his voice laced with curiosity and intrigue.

Y/N stammered, her words faltering. “A-aunty… s-she n-n-never s-said a-anything.”

Taehyung’s brows lifted slightly, intrigued. If Hye-rin was aware but chose silence, it meant there was more at stake, power plays and secrets running deeper than he had imagined.

Taehyung’s eyes darkened with interest as he leaned in slightly. “Do you know anything else?” he asked, his voice steady but probing, as if he were unraveling her piece by piece.

Y/N hesitated, swallowing hard before nodding. “U-uncle… he g-gives her money. E-every month. F-for doing n-nothing.”

Taehyung tilted his head, his sharp gaze narrowing. “Nothing?” he repeated, his tone laced with disbelief, urging her to continue.

“S-she… s-she s-spies on a-aunty,” Y/N stuttered, her words tumbling out under the weight of his stare. “A-and t-tells him e-everything.”

Taehyung smirked faintly, his suspicions solidifying into something far more elaborate. This wasn’t just an affair, it was manipulation, control, and deceit woven into the very fabric of this dysfunctional household. "Interesting," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to her.

Taehyung’s gaze sharpened, his voice calm but insistent. “And what about the other one?”

Y/N hesitated, glancing down as if her words carried the weight of betrayal. She nodded slowly before whispering, “M-Mi-young… s-she’s n-not r-really a m-maid.”