The crabapple tree outside the window was losing its blossoms. Pink petals drifted onto the manicured lawn like discarded party favors.

"Christ, Tae, must you wear that thing at breakfast?" Dohyun sighed, peering over his tablet. He gestured vaguely at her with his coffee cup. His reading glasses slid down his nose.

Tae stretched languidly, the thin silk of her robe gaping open. One strap slid off her shoulder. "Don't be such a bore, honey. It's practically a housecoat." She took a slow sip of orange juice, her pink lips leaving a faint smudge on the glass rim. "Besides, you bought it for me."

Dohyun grunted, returning to his financial reports. Across the table, Jungkook stared fixedly at his untouched eggs. His knuckles were tight around his fork. Tae’s robe had fallen open completely over her thigh now, revealing a flash of smooth skin disappearing into pink lace. He swallowed hard.

"Pass the salt, Kookie?" Tae’s voice was syrup-sweet. Her toes brushed his ankle under the table. Jungkook flinched, knocking over his water glass. Ice cubes skittered across the polished wood.

"Clumsy," Tae murmured, a slow smile playing on her lips. She leaned forward deliberately to mop the spill with her napkin, giving Jungkook an unimpeded view down the front of her robe. Her breasts were barely contained by the flimsy pink fabric. Dohyun didn’t look up.

"Sorry," Jungkook mumbled, grabbing towels from a maid who appeared silently. His face burned. He kept his eyes on the mess.

Dohyun finally glanced up. "Everything ok?” Kook nodded.

“Good. Jungkook, the scholarship committee meets Thursday. Don’t forget your suit." He tapped his tablet. "Tae, darling, the Cartier event tonight. Wear the diamonds i bought last week ."

Tae traced a finger along Dohyun’s arm. "Only if you help me put them on... after." Her laugh was low and throaty. Jungkook stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly. "Heading to class," he muttered, already striding towards the door. He didn't dare look back.

Tae watched him go, her smile widening. She popped a strawberry into her mouth, licking the juice slowly from her thumb. "He’s so jumpy lately," she observed idly, shifting so the robe fell open again. Dohyun just nodded, engrossed in a stock portfolio.

—

In the echoing university library study room, Jungkook slammed his textbook shut. The sound startled Namjoon, who peered over his laptop screen. "Dude. You’ve been grinding your teeth since you got here. What crawled up your ass?"

Yoongi glanced up from mixing his protein shake, raising an eyebrow. Both knew Jungkook’s usual chill was replaced by a jittery tension.

"It’s... her," Jungkook muttered, running a hand through his hair. "My stepmom." He hesitated, then blurted, "She’s fucking impossible. Walks around the house like it’s her personal p*rn set. This morning? Robe wide open at breakfast. ‘Accidentally’ kicked my ankle. Leaned right over the table—" He stopped, flushing crimson.

Yoongi snorted. "The hot one? Tae?" He nudged Namjoon. Namjoon leaned forward, intrigued. "Seriously? Your dad’s wife? Show us."

Jungkook hesitated, guilt warring with a dark thrill. He unlocked his phone, thumbing to Tae’s Instagram. The first picture was recent: Tae poolside at the mansion, wearing a microscopic neon green thong bikini, arching her back so her ass dominated the frame. The caption read: Sun’s out, buns out! Jungkook scrolled: Tae bending over a sports car in a sheer bodysuit, nipples visible; Tae on all fours by the fireplace in lingerie, grinning over her shoulder; Tae in a wet white t-shirt, nothing underneath.

"Fuck me," Yoongi breathed, grabbing the phone. "She’s built like a triple jumper."

Namjoon whistled low. "Your dad actually lives with that? How does he function?" Jungkook snatched the phone back, his voice tight.

"He’s oblivious. Buys her whatever she wants. She talks dirty to him right in front of me—asks him to put her diamonds on after... you know." He scrolled to a picture Tae took secretly: a mirror selfie in the gym, lifting her tiny shorts to show the pink lace thong riding high. "And she knows I see it. Catches me looking and just... smirks."

Yoongi chuckled darkly. "Bet she wants you to see. Probably gets off on it."

Namjoon’s eyes were glued to the screen Jungkook reluctantly held up again. "Man," he murmured, "if she flashed me like that at breakfast? I’d have knocked over the whole damn table." Jungkook stared at the image—Tae’s knowing, challenging eyes staring back from the phone—and felt a familiar, furious heat coil low in his gut.