Chapter 92: Every Version of Us

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Now, he sat taller. Looked you in the eye. Spoke like the air belonged in his lungs.

He was fighting. And God, he was winning.

We were gathered in the large conference room again-Jin oppa at the head of the table, poised and polished as always, his legal mind already running simulations behind calm eyes

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We were gathered in the large conference room again-Jin oppa at the head of the table, poised and polished as always, his legal mind already running simulations behind calm eyes.

Beside him, Jisoo organized her notes, paper-clipped and color-coded.

Yoongi and I flanked Tae like a shield, and across the table, Joon sat with quiet focus, pen in hand, the corner of his notebook already filled with observations.

Namjoon's presence was grounding.

Always.

He didn't need to say much-he was the stillness.

The balance.

The warm steadiness that reminded you not to run from the storm.

Earlier, he'd passed Tae a fresh bottle of water, fingers brushing gently, like reassurance could be given skin to skin.

"You don't owe them your pain, Tae," he'd said quietly.

"You only owe yourself the truth."

And Taehy had nodded.
Not broken. Not afraid. Just... steady.

"Let's begin," Jisoo said, stepping into her role as mock defense attorney, her voice clipped and cool.

She transformed effortlessly into the kind of adversary we'd be facing soon-sharp-tongued and cutting, just like his uncle's real lawyer.

"You claim you were abused, Mr. Kim," she started, tone even but cold.

"But where's the proof? Your uncle and aunt have affidavits from their colleagues and friends-people who say they never saw a sign of abuse. Why should we believe you over them?"

Taehyung didn't blink.
Didn't stutter.

"Because abusers don't leave evidence where the world can see it."

My heart swelled in my chest.
Namjoon and Yoongi exhaled deeply.
Jin oppa raised an eyebrow, impressed.

Jisoo leaned in slightly, unrelenting.

"So we're just supposed to take your word for it?"

Tae's reply was cool and clear.

"No. You can take the medical records. The hospital reports. The testimony from the neighbor who saw me dragged back into the basement. The financial statements showing my inheritance was stolen. The scars on my body and the ones no one saw."

She hesitated-but didn't drop the role.

"If it was so bad, why didn't you leave sooner?"

That question always made me flinch.
But not Tae. Not anymore.

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