♡Author's Pov
The warmth of the blanket tucked gently under your chin. The slight sting in your ankle from the massage he gave you. The bitter aftertaste of medicine he made you swallow.
You didn't even realize when you fell asleep.
But he didn't.
Taehyun lay beside you now, one arm folded under his head, the other resting inches away from yours not touching, just watching.
He stared at your face like you were made of glass and stardust. His eyes soaked in your features like he hadn't seen you in years. As if looking away might break something sacred.
"I'm sorry," he murmured into the stillness of the room. His voice was raw, broken in a way you hadn't heard before.
"You were right to hate me."
His hand hovered over your hair but didn't touch. Maybe he was scared he'd wake you, or maybe he was scared he'd crumble.
"You thought I was heartless…that I didn't care," he whispered, eyes glassy. "But I didn't know how to breathe anymore, baby. I couldn't look at you without thinking of them."
His lips trembled.
"Leo's still fighting. Every second, every breath in that NICU…" He exhaled shakily. "And our little tiger...he's gone."
A pause. Pain twisted his face.
"I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't know how to hold you when I couldn't even hold myself together."
The silence stretched. Your breathing was slow, even but he wasn't sure if you were asleep or not. He didn't care anymore.
"I thought pushing you away would protect you from the worst of me. But I only hurt you more."
He finally let his fingers brush a stray strand of hair from your cheek, voice softer than a breath.
"You're not sick. You're not broken. You're the only thing that kept me standing."
The storm outside had stopped. But inside the room, inside his heart it still raged.
He closed his eyes and turned slightly toward you, tears silently slipping into the pillow as his forehead rested near yours.
"Please don't leave me," he whispered into the dark. "Even if I deserve it."
☆Flashback
"Hyung, are you sure about this?" one of his guards asked, eyeing the peaceful cubs bounding ahead Leo and Tiger, tails flicking playfully in the moonlight.
Taehyun stood silently with his arms crossed, watching them from a distance, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
"Let them enjoy. They're not just animals to her… They're her babies," he murmured. "We're training them to protect her. They'll be her shadows soon."
It was a night routine. A controlled walk within his private estate's forest path, guarded at every corner. Until that night.
CRACK.
A sharp sound tore through the still night.
Taehyun's heart stopped.
CRACK. CRACK.
Shouts erupted from the guards. A bloodcurdling roar from Tiger echoed as chaos followed. Taehyung's eyes widened as he turned
And saw Tiger collapse mid-run.
Blood splattered across the leaves.
Leo, trembling, tried to stand over his brother, shielding him. But another shot rang piercing Leo's side.
"NO!!" Taehyun screamed, sprinting toward them.
The guards were already forming a wall, dragging him back as he struggled, furious and frantic.
"Let me go! Let me get to them!" he shouted, rage and pain in his voice.
He dropped to his knees as Tiger went still his striped body unmoving. Leo whimpered, barely conscious, blood soaking into the dirt.
"Who the hell did this?" he choked, tears blurring his vision. "Who the f*ck"
His men said nothing. The shooter was gone.
It was a clean hit. Professional. Intentional.
Someone had sent a message. Through the cubs.
And Taehyun knew you were the target.
Later that night inside his study
The room was dark, except for the dim light from the whiskey in his glass. His fists were shaking, blood on his sleeves, dirt still clinging to his knees.
Your voice played in his head "Promise me you'll protect them, Taehyun … They're my heart."
He wanted to tell you. He almost ran to you.
But how could he?
How could he face your eyes after losing one of your babies… after Leo was fighting for life in silence?
So instead…
He did the only thing he could.
He lied.
"Hyung…" one of his men hesitated at the door. "What should we do with Tiger's body?"
Taehyun's throat closed. He gripped the glass until it shattered in his hand. Blood trickled down, but he didn't even flinch.
"Bury him in the east garden," he said hoarsely. "No one touches him but me."
The guard bowed his head and left.
Taehyun sank back into his chair, head falling into his hands.
"Forgive me," he whispered to no one. "I couldn't protect them… I couldn't protect you."
Morning after – Your bedroom door
He stood quietly, watching you sleep. Your arm curled under your cheek. The softest snore from your lips. Innocent, unaware.
His chest ached. He wanted to crawl into bed, bury his face in your neck, and cry like a child. But instead, he turned and left.
When you woke up, he was cold. Distant.
"Where are Leo and Tiger?" you asked, rubbing your eyes, expecting them to jump on the bed like always.
He froze. Just for a second. But then he forced his face blank.
"I took them to the zoo. I don't want them here anymore."
Your head snapped up, eyes wide. "You what? Without telling me?"
His jaw tightened. "I'm not obligated to ask you anything."
Your lips parted, disbelief etched across your face. "They're not just yours, Taehyun. They're ours. They're my babies too."
His eyes flickered with pain, but he shoved it down, his voice sharp. "They were a distraction. You're safer without them."
You shook your head, hurt spilling through your voice. "No. No, that's not it. You don't just wake up one morning and throw them away like toys. Tell me the truth."
His throat worked, but nothing came. Finally, he looked away. "The truth is… I don't want them anymore."
Your chest tightened, breaking. "You're lying."
"Believe what you want," he muttered, turning his back before you could see the tears burning his eyes.
You stood there, trembling, your heart splitting in two.
And he walked away, shoulders heavy with the weight of every word he wished he could take back.
Because if you knew the truth that Tiger was dead, and Leo might not make it
it would destroy you.
Just like it destroyed him.