heart of ice 「 KimTaehyung * Y/N 」

Chapter 23: A Promise Sealed

The morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a golden glow over the spacious bedroom. Y/N stirred, her body enveloped in warmth, her mind still foggy from the events of the night before. As her eyes fluttered open, she found herself pressed against Taehyung's bare chest, his steady heartbeat a comforting rhythm beneath her palm.

He was already awake, his dark eyes watching her with a look she couldn't quite decipher. There was something softer in his gaze—something that made her chest tighten.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

Y/N swallowed, suddenly feeling shy under his intense stare. "Morning."

Taehyung traced slow circles on her back, his fingers gentle but possessive. "I meant what I said last night."

She looked up at him, her lips parting slightly. "About what?"

"About wanting you to be mine," he said, his voice unwavering. He shifted, propping himself up on one elbow as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "Marry me, Y/N."

Her breath hitched. It wasn't a question this time. It was a statement. A declaration.

She searched his face for any sign of hesitation, any sign that this was just another fleeting moment between them. But all she saw was certainty.

And this time, she didn't want to fight it.

"Okay," she whispered, the word barely escaping her lips before Taehyung crushed them with his own.

The kiss was deep, slow, filled with something unspoken yet powerful. His hands slid up her waist, pulling her closer as if he feared she would disappear. Y/N felt herself melt into him, her body responding to his touch in a way that left her breathless.

When they finally pulled apart, Taehyung rested his forehead against hers, his lips curving into a smirk. "You won't regret this."

A small smile tugged at Y/N's lips. "You sound too sure."

"I am." He kissed her forehead before pulling her fully into his embrace. "Now, get ready. There's something important we need to do."

Y/N furrowed her brows. "What?"

Taehyung leaned back, watching her with an intensity that made her stomach flip. "You don't have parents. That means my family is going to be your family now."

Her heart clenched at the mention of her lack of family, but before she could dwell on the ache, Taehyung gently tilted her chin up. "I'm taking you to meet them."

The drive to his family's estate was quiet but comfortable. Y/N's nerves were in overdrive, her fingers fidgeting in her lap as she stared out the window.

"Relax," Taehyung murmured, placing a reassuring hand over hers. "They'll love you."

Y/N exhaled deeply but nodded.

As they pulled up to the grand estate, the sight of the imposing yet elegant house made her stomach tighten. Taehyung helped her out of the car, his hand resting on the small of her back as he guided her inside.

The moment they stepped through the doors, a refined-looking woman in a soft pastel dress approached them. Taehyung's mother.

"Taehyung," she greeted with a warm yet poised smile before her gaze shifted to Y/N. Her eyes held curiosity but no hostility. "And you must be Y/N."

Y/N bowed slightly in greeting. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Kim."

His mother took Y/N's hands in hers, squeezing them gently. "I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you," she said, her voice kind yet firm. "That tells me everything I need to know."

Y/N blinked in surprise, warmth spreading through her chest.

Just then, a deeper voice interrupted. "So, this is the woman who tamed my son?"

Taehyung's father stood at the top of the staircase, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Y/N. Unlike his wife, he was harder to read—his expression unreadable as he descended the steps.

Taehyung remained still, his grip on Y/N tightening slightly. "She's the woman I love."

Silence stretched between them before his father finally spoke again. "If you make each other happy, that's all that matters."

Relief flooded through Y/N's body as she let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

His mother clapped her hands together. "Well, then! I assume you two aren't here just for introductions."

Taehyung nodded. "We're planning to get engaged next week."

His mother gasped in delight, immediately launching into discussions about the engagement party—decorations, guest lists, traditions. His father simply nodded in quiet approval before excusing himself, while his mother pulled Y/N aside to ask about everything from dress choices to wedding preferences.

As the evening went on, Taehyung watched Y/N with an unreadable expression, his eyes never straying from her as she interacted with his mother.

By the time they left, Y/N was exhausted but strangely content.

As they sat in the car, Taehyung reached for her hand, threading their fingers together. "One step closer to making you mine forever," he murmured, his voice laced with promise.

And for the first time, Y/N didn't feel the need to run.