After Taeyeon left, Tiffany can't help but feel uneasy and worried. Something in her gut or instincts or whatever others might want to call it, tells her that something is not right, that something is bound to happen. But, Tiffany shrugs it off, thinking to herself that maybe she's just overthinking things.

Tiffany busied herself with cleaning up their home and doing other chores-- straightened things in their living room, cleaned the kitchen, listed down things they need to buy, arranged and cleaned up the mess in their little office. 

After cleaning up, she decided to work on the reports that Sooyoung emailed to her. She settled herself at their little office room, which Taeyeon rearranged a bit and added another desk for Tiffany. Tiffany likes the way the office is arranged now. With her desk across Taeyeon's, she can always see and look at Taeyeon whenever they are both using the room. She likes it that even when doing their own work, they could be as close as such, that they are in the same room, breathing the same air and Taeyeon always in her sight.

Tiffany didn't notice the time as she worked but felt satisfied that she was able to finish it up. She decided to give Sooyoung a call to let the latter know about it and also about something she's been thinking about.

"Hello?" Sooyoung answered on the other line.

"Hi. Sooyoung, it's Tiffany." 

"Ah. Yes. Sorry, as you know my work phone as it doesn't have a caller ID." 

Tiffany giggled. "It's okay. I just want to let you know that I am done looking through the reports you sent me earlier. I didn't have much to do with it anyway since it was done the way it should be. Your team is really great."

"You are very efficient and such a fast learner. And, it's good to hear. I bet the shareholders and employees as well as your team, it is your team not mine, would be happy to hear about this."

"Thank you. About that, I am wondering if it would be the right time to meet the team? I mean, you know, the people that I'll be working with from now on."

"Of course. I'll set up a meeting with them and I will let you know. And don't worry about a thing, they're really good with their jobs as well as they are good people too."

"I know. I just hope that I can live up to their thoughts and expectations of me."

"You will, no doubt about that."

"I hope. Well, it is late already. I don't want to hold you up any longer. Thanks again, Sooyoung."

"Anytime, Tiffany. And, I know if your mom is here she would say this to you... That she's proud of you."

Tiffany felt a lump in , and felt tears surging up in her eyes. "Th-thanks. Good night."

"You'll do great, Tiffany. Good night."

Tiffany stared at her phone after hanging up the call with Sooyoung. "I miss you, mom. I miss you everyday. Please watch over me... And Taeyeon, too. One day, I'll bring her to you. You'll love her too, I promise. She makes me feel safe and happy... And complete. I love you mom." Tiffany muttered as she leaned back on the chair and looked up the ceiling trying to stop the b tears from falling as she thinks about her mother.

After a while, Tiffany fixed all of her clutter on the desk before heading to their bedroom. She quickly took a shower before heading to bed. She tried going to sleep but it's just not working. There's that nagging feeling inside of her again.

She sat up, her back against the headboard, and sent a text to Taeyeon. Later on, after not getting any reply, she dialed Taeyeon's number while pacing back and forth the room. It went straight to voicemail.

"Tae? Baby, where are you? It's almost midnight. Please call or text me when you get this. I love you." Tiffany's voicemail to Taeyeon said.

Afterwards, Tiffany headed downstairs, wanting to wait for Taeyeon to come home, to make sure that the latter is safe and okay. She sat at the couch, turned the TV on as she tried to keep herself from falling asleep.

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Taeyeon sat behind the wheel as she replayed in her mind all of what just happened to her earlier. She can feel her cheek throbbing in pain, her lower lip swelling as well. It's not like she wasn't used to it or anything because as far as she can remember this wasn't the first time something like that happened to her.

9 year-old Taeyeon was playing at the park where her brother always brings her to. She is playing along though because her brother was sent somewhere by their father for some kind of a trip. Taeyeon wanted to come but she was told that she can't come with. 

Taeyeon just kept on playing, not caring a bit for that fact that she just escaped and left the house to play without asking for permission. That is until one of the bodyguards saw her and ran after her, carrying her back to the house. She was welcomed by her waiting parents, a grim, stern look on her father's face. The coldness of his eyes made her small body shiver in fear. She knows what will come next. She knows what that look means.

Her mother was just standing there, not wanting to interfere at all. Or maybe simply because she does not care at all.

Taeyeon was summoned to her father's office, she looked back to her mother with her pleading eyes asking for help but all she got was her mother turning her back on her.

Once they were inside the office, Taeyeon stood with her head hanging low, her whole body shaking in fear.

"You know what to do." Those were the only words her father said, and she knew what that means.

Without wasting any second, Taeyeon fumbled her way to the couch that is in the office and laid on her stomach. She was clutching tightly-- with as much as she could-- the couch. Slowly, she closed her eyes, praying for it to be over soon before it even started.

A minute later, screams of pain and sobbing were the only sound one can hear behind the door of the office, aside from the sound of the belt hitting Taeyeon's petite body. The back of her legs and her back took all the hit. 

She tried to count how many hits she will take this time, but she lost count after fifteen, as she cried in pain. It seemed like it took forever but it only lasted what? Five minutes? Maybe. 

"You should know better than to go against me and my rules. You cannot leave your room unless I say so." Taeyeon was left in the office after her father was done with her, with those as his only words.

Taeyeon winced and gripped on the steering wheel tightly as she remembered those times. The only memories she had of what her relationship was like with her parents. 

Taeyeon got out of her car and walked towards that one person she used to look up to, her hero as she sees him. 

Kneeling beside the grave, she finally let those tears out. "Oppa, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I hope you'll understand why I have to do this, why I would have to do what I am about to soon. I wish you were here because you'll know what to do. Because, I know you will help me out and protect me like before."

Taeyeon then left and drove home. She suddenly remembered her phone which she turned off earlier. While driving, she checked on her messages to see a couple of texts and a few missed calls from Tiffany. She mentally face palmed herself as she listened to her voicemails, all from Tiffany.

Hearing Tiffany's worried and scared voice through the voicemails, Taeyeon kept muttering to herself, scolding herself that she should have just gone home straight instead of wandering around by herself.

———————————————

It was already around two in the morning when Taeyeon got home. It was dark, but as soon as she opened the door she could hear the muffled voices from the televi