Taehyung sat in the car, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. He couldn't ignore the surge of disgust bubbling inside him as he watched Jimin selling Mirae like a mere commodity. His sharp eyes never left the girl, observing how she desperately pleaded not to be touched.
"Calm down, Taehyung," he reminded himself.
He couldn't act recklessly. He needed to ensure that Mirae wouldn’t be harmed further, but the way he approached the situation had to be strategic. When the Chinese man offered Mirae to his customers, the nightclub erupted into chaos as the men fought over her.
At that moment, Taehyung rose from his seat and stepped forward.
"I pay, one million," his voice was flat yet powerful enough to silence the bickering voices. "I want her for a week."
The club instantly fell silent. All eyes were on him.
The Chinese man grinned smugly. "Okay, anyone wants to raise the bid?"
No one spoke.
"That lucky man gets this pretty one for seven days."
Taehyung grabbed Mirae's arm, pulling her toward the exit without allowing anyone to stop him.
"Finally, I get you," he muttered under his breath.
Mirae looked at him, stunned. "Sir, please let me go..."
Taehyung merely clenched his jaw, refusing to respond. His gaze flicked toward Jimin, who was already too drunk in the corner of the room. He wouldn't even realize her disappearance until the next morning.
"Shut up," he said coldly. "Now, follow me."
Mirae shook her head frantically.
"Don't make me sell you back to those men."
Reluctantly, Mirae obeyed. They walked toward the parking lot. Taehyung took a deep breath before removing the mask that concealed his face.
Mirae froze. "Taehyung?"
He smirked. "Yes, it’s me, Mirae. Sorry I had to kill your child... and that I was late in saving you from Jimin."
Mirae shook her head slowly. "I don’t blame you for my child's death anymore."
"Good."
They got into the car. Taehyung drove away from the nightclub in silence.
"But why did you pay for a whole week?" Mirae's voice was soft but filled with questions. "Why didn’t you just buy me from him? Did you really intend to let me serve all those men?"
Taehyung scoffed. "No, Mirae. Even if I bought you, Jimin wouldn’t let you go. He’d hunt you down to the ends of the earth."
Mirae fell silent for a moment before asking, "Then, what’s your real reason for keeping me for a week?"
"You’ll find out soon enough."
Upon arriving at a modest yet spacious house, Taehyung opened the door, and a woman with a cane stepped toward him.
"Taehyung?" her voice was filled with longing. "You’re back? I missed you!"
Mirae was startled to see the woman blindly searching for Taehyung before embracing him tightly.
"Yes, I’m back, love."
Taehyung pulled Mirae inside.
"Ahem, love. This is Mirae, my foster sister," he said, winking at Mirae.
Mirae nodded slowly.
"Mirae? Your foster sister?" Emylia looked confused.
"Err… Hi, I’m Lee Mirae."
Mirae extended her hand, but Emylia remained still.
"Mirae, she can’t see," Taehyung said calmly.
Mirae looked shocked.
Emylia gave a faint smile. "Sorry, I’m blind."
Mirae swallowed. "Err... it’s okay, Emylia. I understand."
"I know what it’s like to be a woman who doesn’t want to be a victim of men. You can stay here with me and Taehyung," Emylia said gently.
Mirae was stunned. She grasped Emylia’s hand, touched by her kindness.
"Won’t I be a burden to you?"
Emylia shook her head. "I’m happy to finally have a friend. Can’t count on Taehyung… he’s always busy."
Taehyung chuckled. "I’m busy working for you too, love."
Mirae gave a small smile, trying to suppress her emotions as she watched their affection.
"It’s late, Mirae. Your room is on the first floor. I’ll have Taehyung show you the way."
Taehyung motioned for Mirae to follow him.
They arrived at a neatly arranged and elegant room. Mirae was speechless.
"Emylia decorated this room herself…" Taehyung said.
Mirae nodded slowly.
"You can wear Emylia’s clothes for now. Tomorrow, we’ll buy you new ones."
He handed her a few outfits.
"Taehyung?"
"Yeah?"
"Why did you save me? What’s your real motive for bringing me here with Emylia?"
Taehyung let out a long sigh. "I wanted to save you from Jimin, Mirae."
Mirae gave a small, bitter smile. "Do you want to marry me?"
Taehyung swallowed. "I’m sorry, Mirae. But we can’t get married. I’ve already made my choice… I’m going to marry Emylia."
Mirae sat down on the bed. "Why won’t you marry me? Is it because I’ve been with too many men? Because I’m tainted?"
Taehyung weakly shook his head. "You’re perfect, love. But fate won’t allow us to be together."
Mirae stared at him, seeking an answer.
"You’ll understand someday."
Taehyung opened the wardrobe, revealing Emylia’s neatly arranged clothes.
"Sorry if I’m asking too much, but how did Emylia become blind? What happened to her?"
Taehyung took a deep breath. "Jungkook. He tricked Emylia into believing that I was in an accident and needed an eye and kidney transplant. She willingly donated both just for me. I’m repaying her… by always staying by her side. Until death do us part."
Mirae nodded, understanding the extent of Emylia’s sacrifice.
"Do you love her?"
Taehyung looked at the floor, exhaling softly. "I… don’t know how I feel."
Mirae was silent for a moment before speaking, "Taehyung, can you take me to Jungkook? I want to live with him."
Taehyung shook his head quickly. "No, Mirae. I won’t let you go near that man again. From now on, you’ll learn how to defend yourself from becoming a victim of men."
"What do you mean?"
Taehyung smirked. "I, Kim Taehyung, the most powerful mafia leader in Korea, will teach you to be strong and never weak before men again."
Mirae looked at him in disbelief.
"So, from now… your name is not Lee Mirae anymore," Taehyung declared firmly. "Your name is Mary. Not a weak girl with a miserable life."
He smirked.
"Because now, you’re a spicy killer. A girl who is evil and savage."
Mirae swallowed hard, her heart beginning to race.
---
Taehyung’s POV
I stepped toward the punching bag with a blank expression, my hands still wrapped in tape. Every punch I threw felt heavy—not from exhaustion, but because there was a weight in my chest I needed to release.
In front of me, a man barely clinging to life was tied to the punching bag, his body covered in bruises, fresh blood still dripping onto the concrete floor. His eyes were half-closed, his breathing ragged, but I didn’t care. He made a mistake, and in my world, mistakes like this don’t go unpunished.
"Errr, Taehyung…"Mirae’s voice shattered the silence. She stood in the corner of the room, her face pale.
"Don’t you feel sorry for this guy? Don’t you feel guilty for beating him like this?"
I turned to her slowly, my eyes devoid of emotion. She looked afraid—and I liked it when people feared me.
"Why? Are you scared?" I wiped the sweat off my forehead. "No need to be scared. This guy made a big mistake, and I’m just giving him a punishment."
I walked toward her, my left hand still stained with the man's blood. Without warning, I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to the punching bag.
"Now it’s your turn."
Mirae's eyes widened. "What?"
I placed her fist directly in front of the man’s exhausted face.
"Punch him."
She shook her head quickly. "No."
I held back the growing frustration inside me. "Punch him. Let out the pain you've been holding in all this time. Think about Jimin. Think about Mark. The two men who ruined your life."
Mirae was frozen, but I could see her hand trembling slightly. I knew that feeling—the mix of fear and long-suppressed vengeance.
"Do it now!" I pressed her hand, and without realizing it, her fist landed on the man's cheek.
Thud!
Mirae gasped, her body trembling. I knew it wasn’t because she couldn’t do it, but because she was still trapped in her old mindset—the mindset of a girl who was always trampled on and used.
Thud!
Her eyes started to change. I could see the glimmer of vengeance igniting in her gaze.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
This time, her punches were harder. Her breathing was rough, her lips pressed together. The tears welling up in her eyes finally fell, but she wiped them away harshly.
I smirked. "Good, Mirae. You did it."
Mirae took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, and for the first time, I saw a real change in her.
I stepped closer, looking at her with a half-smile. "Now, I want to ask you again."
I leaned in, lowering my voice deliberately. "Who are you, pretty?"
She lifted her face, her eyes meeting mine. Her right hand slowly touched my cheek, her fingers playing with my damp hair.
And then, she smiled.
"I’m Mary. A spicy killer, savage and evil..."
I let out a small laugh. The Mirae I once knew was dead. The girl standing in front of me now was no longer weak, no longer someone who could be stepped on. I had shaped her into something crueler, braver.
And the world would know—Mary was no ordinary girl.
She would be my weapon.
---
Taehyung's POV
I looked at Mirae, who was still gripping the hairpin in her hand. Her hands were shaking, her eyes filled with doubt. I stepped closer and tucked the hairpin into her hair myself.
"I didn't expect you to still be this weak. Are you Mary or Lee Mirae?"
She bit her lip, searching for an answer. I could see the redness on her wrist, a mark from the fight earlier. My heart was conflicted. I wanted her to be strong, but seeing her like this… I couldn’t deny that part of me didn’t want her to suffer.
"I—I’m not sure if I can be Mary like you want."
I clenched my jaw. This woman. Didn’t she say she wanted to change?
"So you’re saying all your words before were meaningless? You don’t want to try to become Mary?"
She fell silent, her eyes wandering to the floor. I held back my frustration. This wasn’t the time for her to be weak. I needed her to endure. I needed her to become Mary.
"I want to be Mary—someone who doesn’t fear men. Someone strong, someone who isn’t weak."
I crossed my arms, watching her.
"Then prove it. Don’t worry, I will turn you into Mary. Do you believe me?"
She nodded slowly. I smirked.
"Good. Now, follow me. I’m going to teach you how to fight."
I grabbed her hand and led her to the basement, where weapons and training equipment were neatly arranged. I heard her sharp intake of breath.
"Okay, now I want you to try stabbing me with this knife."
I handed her a knife. She took it with trembling hands. I deliberately stood still, letting her attack. But the moment the blade neared my chest, I kicked her wrist.
"Arghh…"
I watched as she rubbed her aching wrist.
"This is just training. You can’t be weak—strengthen your resolve."
I approached her, waiting for her to be ready before attacking again. Every time she failed, I corrected her movements. I was patient, but at the same time, I knew we were running out of time.
When she finally managed to kick my wrist correctly, I nodded in satisfaction.
"Good job. Now I’m going to attack you. You know what to do, right?"
I pulled off my sweat-soaked shirt and threw it onto the floor. The cold air hit my skin, but I didn’t care. My focus was entirely on Mirae.
She looked nervous, her eyes darting away from mine. I held back a smile.
"A-all right…"
I tilted my head.
"Okay, this is the last test. If you pass, you’ve mastered this skill."
I lunged at her. I saw her trying to react, but she lost her balance.
Thud!
I was caught off guard when something pressed against my body. I opened my eyes—and Mirae’s face was just inches away from mine. Her warm breath fanned my skin, her eyes wide in shock.
My heart pounded.
Mirae tried to get up, but I grabbed her wrist, stopping her. I didn’t want her to leave.
"Taehyung…"
I stared at her for a long time. Every feeling I had been suppressing… all of it resurfaced. I missed her. I missed her more than I ever thought possible.
"Mirae, I missed you."
Without thinking, I pulled her into my arms. For a moment, I let myself drown in the warmth of her body.
"If you missed me, why did you leave me?"
That question pierced through me. I slowly let her go and stood up. My hands clenched into fists.
I couldn’t do this.
I slammed my fist against the wall with full force.
"Taehyung!"
Mirae’s voice was filled with concern. I didn’t care.
"Argh, I should’ve gotten rid of these feelings!"
I ran my hands over my face, trying to suppress the storm raging inside me. I knew I couldn’t be with her. I knew the truth she had yet to discover.
"Mirae, please… let go of your feelings for me. I’m begging you. We can never be together, even if we love each other."
Her eyes welled up with tears. I couldn’t bear to see her like this. But it was better for her to be hurt now than to suffer when she learned the truth.
"Tell me why, Taehyung. Don’t you love me?"
Love? I loved her too much. That was the problem.
I shut my eyes.
"You’ll understand one day."
Without looking back, I walked away. This was better for her. This was better for both of us.
"Training is over for today. We’ll continue tomorrow. See you then."
I left the training room, leaving Mirae behind.
But deep inside, I knew…
I was only running away from something I wasn’t ready to face.