Stigma Love's Algorithm [ A BTS x Reader Poly ]

Chapter 48: A Reckoning in Motion ⚠️

His expression softens. "It won't be easy."

Taehyung swallows.

I watch as his eyes dart between Jin, Yoongi, and me-like he's searching for something.

For reassurance.
For courage.
For permission to want this.

Yoongi exhales, rubbing his thumb against Taehyung's knee. "Tae, if this is too much, we'll figure out another way. You don't have to do anything you're not ready for."

Taehyung looks at him.
And then-
He hesitates.

His breath shudders as he inhales-deep, steadying, pulling the air deep into his lungs like he's trying to draw strength from it.

His gaze flickers-to Yoongi, to me.

He searches our faces again until the weight of it settles.

The gravity of this choice-the fight ahead, the pain he'll have to relive-presses into his ribs, heavy and suffocating.

His fingers tighten around mine.

And then-finally-his lips part.

Uncertain at first. But then-
His voice steadies.
"No."

Yoongi stills.
I feel my own breath hitch.

Taehyung swallows hard. "I want to do this."

Jin nods, approving. "Good."

Yoongi lets out a slow exhale, his grip firm but warm. "Okay. Then we do this."

Jin pulls out a sleek black notebook, flipping it open. "First things first, we'll start with the legal claims. Fraud and inheritance theft are the easiest to prove, but we need to establish the abuse separately."

I furrow my brows. "How?"

Jin taps his pen against the desk. "Medical records. Witness statements. Any documentation that proves they mistreated him. Taehyung-"

He looks up. "Did anyone ever report them?"

Taehyung shakes his head. "No."

Jin hums. "I expected that. Then we need firsthand testimonies. You said the cook helped you escape. Would she be willing to testify?"

Taehyung blinks. "I-I don't know."

Jin nods. "We'll find her. If she worked in the household, she probably saw things. That'll help."

He jots something down, then glances up again. "What about the orphanage? Anyone there who might remember signs of early abuse?"

Taehyung hesitates.

Then-he nods.
"The old director. She was kind to me. She asked questions when I came back to visit, but I never told her the truth."

Jin's expression is unreadable. "We'll see if she's still there."

Yoongi exhales sharply. "We want them to rot in hell."

Jin's gaze flickers toward him, and for the first time since we walked into this office-
His mask cracks.

His fingers tighten around his pen. His jaw clenches.

And then-
His voice drops, quiet.
Deadly.
"Oh, don't worry," he murmurs.
"They won't get away with this."

The air goes still.

For a long second, no one speaks.

Then-Jin leans back in his chair, his expression returning to that smooth, unreadable calm.