heart of ice 「 KimTaehyung * Y/N 」

Chapter 31: An Unwelcome Guest

Chapter 31: An Unwelcome Guest

The afternoon sun bathed the house in a golden glow as Y/N adjusted the fresh flowers in the vase near the entrance. She had been waiting for Taehyung to return from work, their usual routine since they moved into their new home. However, today felt different—an unsettling feeling lingered in the air, though she couldn't quite place why.

Just as she was about to head upstairs, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the house. Y/N frowned, wondering who it could be at this hour. She wasn't expecting any visitors.

She brushed her hands against her dress and walked to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open.

A woman stood outside, a suitcase beside her, dressed in an elegant yet casual outfit. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes held a glimmer of curiosity and mild exhaustion. Y/N tilted her head slightly, assessing the stranger.

The woman, however, didn't even bother to properly look at her. Instead, she stepped forward with an air of entitlement, dragging her suitcase inside.

"You're the maid, right?" the woman asked, her tone light yet condescending. "Can you take my bags to the guest room?"

Y/N blinked. Maid?

Her fingers curled at her sides, her mind racing to understand what was happening. Before she could even respond, the woman—who had now made herself comfortable in the foyer—sighed and continued speaking.

"Is Mr. Kim home? I need to talk to him," she said, glancing around as if searching for Taehyung.

Y/N's patience thinned. She took a deep breath before speaking, her voice calm but laced with sharpness. "And who might you be?"

This time, the woman finally looked at her, as if realizing Y/N wasn't moving to take her luggage. She arched a brow. "You don't know me? I'm Luna. Taehyung's childhood friend."

Y/N's eyes darkened slightly, though she kept her expression neutral. So this was Luna—the woman who had apparently requested to stay for a month. Taehyung had mentioned his childhood friend would be returning to Korea, but he hadn't gone into much detail.

Luna, oblivious to Y/N's growing irritation, smiled sweetly. "It's been years since I last saw him, and when I told him I'd be in Korea for a month, he was kind enough to let me stay here. I'm sure you understand—old friends and all."

Y/N crossed her arms, tilting her head. "And you assumed I was the maid?"

Luna blinked at the sudden shift in Y/N's tone. "Well... yes?" She let out a small chuckle. "I mean, who else would open the door?"

Y/N let out a humorless laugh. "His wife."

The color drained from Luna's face.

There was a heavy silence as realization settled in. Luna's lips parted slightly, her confident demeanor faltering. "W-wife?"

Y/N nodded, stepping forward slightly. "Yes. Kim Taehyung's wife. The man whose house you're planning to stay in."

Luna looked genuinely shocked, taking a small step back. "But... he didn't mention—"

"He didn't tell you?" Y/N interrupted, narrowing her eyes. "That's interesting."

Luna swallowed, now visibly flustered. "I-I just assumed—"

"That he was single?" Y/N finished for her.

Luna didn't answer.

Y/N sighed, rubbing her temple. She had dealt with enough people looking down on her, but this? A guest walking in and mistaking her for a maid? She didn't care who Luna was or what she had assumed—this was her home.

Before she could say anything else, the sound of the front door unlocking filled the air.

Both women turned toward the entrance as Taehyung stepped in, dressed in his usual sleek suit. His gaze flickered between Y/N and Luna, immediately sensing the tension.

He raised a brow. "What's going on?"

Luna immediately brightened at the sight of him. "Taehyung!" she said, her voice filled with relief as if he was here to save her. She stepped forward, completely ignoring Y/N's presence. "I just arrived! I didn't know you got married! Why didn't you tell me?"

Taehyung sighed, setting his briefcase down. "I didn't think I had to spell it out." He turned to Y/N, noticing the sharp look in her eyes. "What happened?"

Y/N let out a small, sarcastic laugh. "Your childhood friend assumed I was the maid."

Taehyung's jaw clenched. He turned to Luna, his expression now unreadable. "You said what?"

Luna hesitated. "I—I didn't mean it like that! I just assumed—"

"You assumed wrong," Taehyung said firmly, his voice dropping a notch. "Y/N is my wife, and she deserves respect."

Luna bit her lip, embarrassment flickering in her eyes. "I'm really sorry, I just—"

Y/N held up a hand. "Forget it." She turned to Taehyung. "Your guest has arrived. I'll be in our room."

With that, she walked past them, not bothering to look back.

Taehyung watched her go before turning back to Luna, his expression tight. "Luna, I allowed you to stay because we were friends, but that doesn't give you the right to disrespect my wife."

Luna shifted uncomfortably. "I really didn't mean to offend her, Tae."

"You did," he said bluntly. "And I suggest you watch what you say next time."

Luna lowered her head, guilt washing over her. "I understand."

Taehyung sighed before rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll show you to your room."

As he led Luna upstairs, his mind was elsewhere—on Y/N, on the hurt in her eyes.

He knew one thing for certain.

This month was going to be anything but peaceful.

Author's Note:

And here we go! Luna has entered the picture, and things are already tense! What do you think about her? Do you think she really made an honest mistake, or is there something more? Let me know your thoughts! Next chapter is going to be VERY interesting. Stay tuned! 😉