Jungkook

"Mommy, did you arrive safely?" Ji Ae spoke to Y/N through the video call that she and the twins were doing.

Y/N and Taehyung had left for New York before sunrise today. The twins were going to stay with me until they returned a week later.

We had to get up at 4am to get to the airport so the kids could send them off. I was glad when I arrived at the airport and saw Chan with two other employees with their luggages. I had assumed that it was only going to be Y/N and Taehyung going to New York alone. It was a part of the plan that Taehyung had expertly hidden from me.

Y/N had given me a long list of things that the twins could and could not do as well as emergency contacts and all that if anything happened while she was gone.

I could see the stress in her eyes because I have never taken care of the twins alone before. It wasn't like the time when we had gone on the company trip to Japan where her mother had watched the kids for us.

Mrs. Kim will be spending most of her time at the hospital taking care of her husband after he had surgery a couple of days ago, she couldn't look after the kids and her husband at the same time.

Y/N had considered Ina and Hansol, but they already had Eunbi to take care of so she didn't want to impose. Avery would've been an option if Chan was also there to watch over the three of them, but sadly he was going on the trip as well and she could not be trusted to take care of the twins for a week.

The twins made it very clear out of spite that Y/N had even considered their neighbor and that I wasn't even her last resort.

"Yup, can you see Uncle Taehyung in the back?" I could image Y/N angling her phone to show Taehyung waiting at the luggage claim for his bags. "We've been waiting for nearly 45 minutes for his luggages to come out.

Taehyung was not a light packer. For each company trip we've ever had together, he could bring at least four bags for himself. I can't count the number of times we've been stuck at luggage check just because he had overpacked or brought someone that wasn't supposed to be in a carry on.

The twins were grinning and waving at the screen. "Hi, Uncle Taehyung."

I could faintly hear Taehyung's voice from the other side of the couch where I sat. "Oh there's the last one, I see it."

"Hurry up and grab it so we can leave! I'm sure that the others could have reached the hotel by now." Y/N responds.

I slightly leaned towards the twins -but kept our long distance- so I could see the screen. Taehyung pushed the luggage cart piled with bags and they started walking to the arrival gates.

"It's almost 9:30 in Korea right? It should be your bedtime soon." Y/N narrows her eyes at our kids. "Did you guys brush your teeth yet and shower?"

"Yup!" They nodded.

"And no sweets after dinner as well?"

"Yup!" Wait a minute-

I looked at my kids and they felt no remorse for telling me that Y/N would've allowed them to eat the cake that Mrs. Choi baked earlier this afternoon as a late night snack.

My daughter only sneaks me a cheeky grin then turns her attention back to the call.

"Jungkook." Y/N's voice snapped me out of my glower.Jihyun had turned the phone so the front camera and screen was facing me.

I cleared my throat. "Yes? What was that?"

"I was asking if anything happened to them today."

"Nothing eventful." I told her. "Mrs. Choi picked them up after school and they've been here since doing homework or watching Netflix."

Y/N had a skeptical look on her face before it passed. "Alright then. We see our driver, so I'll call you later tonight, or morning for you guys. If something ever happens then just call. I can take the earliest flight home."

"Don't worry too much about the twins." I told her. "Just focus on the runway, this is a great opportunity for you."

"We'll behave. Bye mommy." Jihyun waved and Ji Ae kissed the screen.

Y/N had a bright smile on her face that she has only given to the twins lately. She blew them a kiss then hung up the phone.

Jihyun and Ji Ae hopped off the couch and ignored me as they headed to their shared room.

I didn't know what I was expecting when we arrived at my house after sending off Y/N and Taehyung at the airport. Neither of my kids seemed totally thrilled to be staying with me.

In the morning they were too tired from waking up too early to even have a reaction, but when I returned home from work they barely spoke a word to me.

Jihyun just paused in the living room when he saw me walk in and continued walking to their room that I had permanently set up for them a couple months back. Ji Ae was kind enough to spare a smile and greeting before following her brother.

"What did the two of you do today?" I stopped them from leaving. They weren't the only ones who had lied to Y/N on that video call.

They looked at each other and telepathically communicated with themselves. A few looks were shared between them and Ji Ae turned to me.

"Nothing."

Lies.

Mrs. Choi had watched over them while I was at the company. She had informed me that Jihyun had gotten into a fight with another kid at school today. I had also received a call from the principal after everything was sorted out. I wish that I was informed while everything was being sorted and not after.

"So the fight with Jungwoo was nothing?" I gave the two of them a stern look.

Ji Ae shifts in her seat uncomfortably and Jihyun rolls his eyes.

"It was nothing you need to worry about." Jihyun crossed his arms. "We can handle ourselves. We don't need a dad to save us."

"And why did you fight with Jungwoo?"

"Why are you so concerned with us when you're going to leave us anyways?" Jihyun snapped at me.

That was a stab in the back. Jihyun's grudge against me was only getting worse and worse as time passed.

"Hyun!" Ae called out and I turned to my daughter. She looks at me uncomfortably, obviously hiding what happened.

"Ae, you can tell me anything." I reassure her. "You don't have to be afraid. I can solve everything for you."

"Everyone promised to keep it hush hush." She shrugs then runs out of the room quicker than I've ever seen her run before.

I was getting nowhere with these two. I thought that this would be a perfect time to bond with the kids and restore our relationship so I offered to look after the kids. Well I was going to offer anyway, but the kids won't budge.

I prepared for bed and changed into my pajamas when I got a call from the company's lawyer. I walked to my office then picked up the phone.

"Jungkook, we've got a date for court. The earliest date is exactly next month." My lawyer, Namjoon, informs me.

"Next month?" I checked my calendar and it was only a couple of days before Jimin's and Rose's engagement party. Great, there will be a lot of gossip at that party. "And what about witnesses and evidence?"

"We currently have Hansol, Doyoung, and Boa to testify." Namjoon says. "I'm currently in the process of doing background checks of more potential witnesses. It's not a lot since they're interns. They don't have connections in the company."

After an interview with Doyoung and Boa, Taehyung and I learned that they made calculations based on the numbers that the interns have given them.

From investigations it seems as if they were telling the truth and the interns had confessed to their actions. It didn't help that we had video evidence of them sitting at their cubicles changing the numbers and handing the altered versions to Doyoung and Boa.

"But something doesn't seem right with the interns though." I sat in my chair and leaned back.

"True." Namjoon says slowly. "They are only interns. How could they be connected to the previous embezzling? I believe that there is someone who is using them as scapegoats. Are you sure that you fully investigated everything?"

"Our team did the best they could, but this is the best they got." After relentless searching for clues and evidence, this was all they got. I didn't know if I should get a better investigation team or if the culprits are just that good at hiding their tracks. "Inform me if something else pops up."

Namjoon and I said our goodbyes and I hung up. I went to check on the twins and they were still up in their room whispering to each other while sitting on their beds.

"Why aren't the two of you in bed?" I glanced at the clock on the nightstand between their beds. It was 9:45. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"Our bedtime is 10pm!" Ji Ae counters.

"Then why did your mom say that your bedtime was at 9:30?"

"Great job, Ae." Jihyun sighs and climbs under the covers knowing that he had lost the battle the moment his sister opened her mouth.

I waited for Ji Ae to do the same before I closed the light. I turned to leave, but my daughter's voice stopped me.

"Wait." She said quietly and I turned back around. There was a small night light in the room that faintly illuminated their silhouettes. "Mommy and grandma always give us a goodnight kiss when they think that we're sleeping." I could see her fidget with her hands that were not covered with the duvet. "It makes us sleep better."

I hesitated. That was something that I have never experienced before and was certainly out of my comfort zone.

I slowly walked over to the beds and Ji Ae was biting her bottom lip looking up at me. It reminded me that despite seeming mature, they were only seven years old.

I caressed her head as I leaned down and kissed her forehead. My daughter smiles at me and happily closes her eyes.

"Goodnight, daddy."

That was the first time that I have heard her call me 'daddy' in weeks. It was nice to finally hear them call me something other than my name.

"Night, Ae." I straightened up and looked at my son.

Jihyun was turned on his side with his back facing me. He had his eyes closed when I approached his bed, but I knew that he was still awake. I squeezed his hand and gave him a quick peck because I knew that he would hate a long kiss.

"Night, Hyun."

I bounced my leg underneath the table and checked my watch for the nth time since the end of the month meeting with each department had started half an hour ago.

All the team leaders were anxiously looking at me like I was displeased with their reports and ideas.

"And so-"

Clashing of metals sounded from the other end of the table where Avery was presenting the marketing team's latest ideas to promote our newest sunglasses line. Avery bumped into the metal tray cart carrying refreshments and I raised an eyebrow at her.

"I'm ok, boss man." She assured me with a wink and I contained the roll of my eyes. "As I was saying, I believe we should focus on marketing our products with social media and the online market. We have celebrities promote our product and-"

I abruptly stood up and everyone's attention turned to me.

"Go with that idea." I checked my watch again. "Let's end the meeting here, I have an appointment that I need to get to. Any departments that haven't presented their proposals can talk with Secretary Moon to reschedule."

I exited the room with purpose and adjusted my blazer along the way.

"Mr. Jeon, should I reschedule the meetings to be on the same day?" Jaesuk chased after me to the elevator.

"Do not schedule anything later than tomorrow and Sunday afternoon." I stepped into the elevator once it opened then paused. "Actually, clear my whole Saturday afternoon and Sunday."

"Sir?!" Jaesuk looked surprised by my sudden actions. I rarely cleared my schedule last minute. "What are you going to do?"

I put my hands in my pockets and smiled. "Spend time with my kids."

From last night, I realized that I needed to be there for Jihyun and Ji Ae. I need them to know that I will never let them go and that I will always be there for them.

I drove to the kids' elementary school just as the bells rang, freeing all the students to enjoy the rest of their day. Mrs. Choi was assigned to take the kids to school and pick them up, but today I told her to stay at the mansion. I parked my car at the end of the street and walked towards the gates.

I looked around for Jihyun and Ji Ae. A few parents, especially mothers, had recognized me and pointed at me while whispering.

"That's Jeon Jungkook. The president of the Silver Group."

"I did hear that his children attended this school. Apparently the son got into a fight with Sohee's son, Jungwoo."

I was tempted to ask what the fight was about, but I wanted to respect the twin's decision to not tell me and because I wanted to hear it from them.

Ji Ae walks out the front entrance and her head swivels around to see if her brother has followed behind her.

Jihyun walks out with a teacher walking beside him. I watched as she scolded my son, Jihyun's face taut with anger. With a simple nod from Jihyun, the teacher lets him go and Jihyun and Ji Ae walk towards the gates.

Ji Ae's eyes were wandering, searching for Mrs. Choi, but instead her eyes landed on someone else and her lips curved down.

A boy around their age approached my children. He had a smirk on his face and he said something to the twins which made them flare up in anger.

"Shut up!" Ji Ae shouts and shoves the boy. "Mommy says that people like you are just dumb!"

The boy grabs Ji Ae and Jihyun punches the boy in the face. "Don't touch my sister!"

"There they go again." The mothers -who gossiped earlier- sighed. "Those two are so violent and are hurting Jungwoo. Did their parents not educate them?"

I curled my hands into a fist. Were those ladies blind? That Jungwoo boy was the one who initiated the fight first by taunting them.

"You mean, parent singular?" Another woman chuckled. "Maybe it's better that their mother didn't teach them anything. Who knows what sort of things she would've taught them if she got pregnant with an engaged man."

What kind of women-

"Hyun!" Ji Ae cries out and I turn my attention back to the kids.

Jihyun got punched in the face and fell onto the floor. He had a snarl on his face then lunged at Jungwoo, straddling him and sending blows to the other boy's face.

I approached them to stop the fight. Jihyun was starting to take things too far but his next words made me stop.

"You don't know anything! Do you even know what whore means?! Stop spouting lies you've heard about my mom!" Jihyun's voice was full of hate and fury that I have never seen in him before. "She didn't leave us! She didn't! She's coming back! And we have our dad, he won't abandon us either!"

I watched as my son pounded the boy's face and despite the circumstances I've never felt more proud that he was my son.

In the corner of my eyes, I saw the same teacher who was lecturing Jihyun about the fight and I made my move.

"Kim Jihyun!" The teacher pulls Jihyun off of Jungwoo who was now crying and bleeding. Jihyun was breathing heavily, his hands slightly covered in blood. "I told you that if you get into another fight then I will have to speak with one of your parents and suspend you!"

"Ms. Cha it's not fair!" Ji Ae protested. "Jungwoo was the one who started it first!"

"And who was the first one to be physical?" She snapped at my daughter who bit her lip guiltily. How could a teacher treat her students this way? "Considering all the fights you've been in this year, you're lucky to not have been expelled. You should thank your father's reputation."

"Is that something a teacher should be saying to her students?" I said with a clipped tone and they looked at me.

"Daddy." Ji Ae was relieved that I was here, but Jihyun looked as if he would rather be suspended than saved by me.

I held my hand out to Ji Ae and she ran into my arms. I picked her up and she wrapped her arms around me tightly.

"You're instilling fear on my kids."

The teacher looked slightly nervous now that she was aware she was in my presence. "Mr. Jeon, our school does not tolerate violence. Jihyun and Ji Ae have been given many warnings and an unfair amount of chances, but they have not fixed their behavior."

"Maybe it's not them who needs to fix their behavior." I slowly eyed Jungwoo and his mother who was crouched next to him. "My children do not act without reason. I was here, watching that boy say spiteful words to my children which instigated the fight." I looked at my son who was glaring at the ground. "What did he say?"

"Nothing." Jihyun grumbles.

"I thought Y/N taught you better than to stay silent." Jihyun wasn't going to budge without some taunting. "Unless those mother's are right when they said that you are uneducated-"

"He said that mommy isn't coming back and that she left for America to abandon us!" Jihyun yelled with his fists curled. There was a slight crack in his voice near the end. "He told me that his mommy was a whore for fleeing the country with Uncle Taehyung. Mommy isn't a whore! They're lying!"

Reluctant tears fell from my son's eyes and I brought him close then put my hand on his back. Jihyun hides his face with my leg so no one would see him cry.

"You don't need to suspend my kids." I told Ms. Cha without looking at her. I looked at my son and rubbed his back. "I'm transferring them to a different school. Certainly, your staff aren't doing their jobs and are not educating children properly here."

"Mr. Jeon, I misunderstood the situation." Ms. Cha bit her lip nervously and her eyes flickered back and forth as she tried to find a way to appease the situation. "I'll make sure that the rumors do not spread and suspend Jungwoo."

"And I'm suing you for defamation." I ignored her and turned to Jungwoo and his mother. "Defamation of my children and the models signed under my company." I slightly peeled Jihyun's face back to see a bruise on his face and his knuckles slightly wounded. "And I will also be expecting you to compensate us with ten thousand dollars for the damage that you have done to my child's face."

"Ten thousand dollars?!" Sohee, Jungwoo's mother, shrieked. "His injuries are nothing compared to what he has done to my son!"

"Jihyun's face and skin are damaged. He has an important contract signing in three days and will not be able to recover in time costing him his contract and opportunity. How will you compensate for our losses?" I set Ji Ae down for a minute and pulled a business card from my wallet. "Here is my card. You can call me if you have any further questions." I picked Ji Ae back up and put a hand on Jihyun's back. "Let's go home."

The crowd part for us. People were recording everything with their phones or stood there stunned.

I put Ji Ae in the car and Jihyun climbed in after her. I got into the driver's seat of my car and when I looked back to see if they were comfortable, I found them both staring at me.

"You were amazing, daddy." Ji Ae says breathlessly. "You looked so cool."

"I looked cool too, Ae. " Jihyun grumbled and his eyes flickered to mine. "But I got it from my daddy."

"I got it from my daddy~ I got it from my daddy~" Ji Ae starts singing Psy's song.

It was a reluctant and slow start, but we were making progress and at least I figured out what went on at school. I started the car and gripped the steering wheel.

I have to put