By Zephyria 
Swoosh—
Entering the shower booth, Seo Yi-kyung turned on the water. Looking at his face reflected in the mirror, he rubbed his forehead with his hand. The blue stains were washed away.
Seo Yi-kyung looked at his own hand. While mixing bodies roughly on the work table with Han Seung-jae, Seo Yi-kyung’s entire body had been haphazardly poked and prodded. Whenever he smelled the pheromones of an extreme dominant Alpha, Seo Yi-kyung felt his knees buckle and his mind grow distant, as if he were lying in water.
It was calm and peaceful. Intoxicated by a comfort that felt like warm sunlight pouring down, he felt a desire to simply surrender his body and savor the feeling a bit more.
Being drawn to a strong person was an Omega’s instinct. Especially here in the ‘Omega’s World,’ Omegas held such a position. Those who were few in number but possessed superior traits had their marriage partners decided early on. Omegas had no room or means to choose anything else.
That must be why ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ had tried so hard to protect his married life with Han Seung-jae, dedicating his entire body and soul.
Recalling that image, Seo Yi-kyung rubbed his hands together to wash off the paint. He scrubbed meticulously between his fingers, letting out an unconscious sigh.
There was paint on his dress shirt as well. As he took off his pants, Seo Yi-kyung looked down at the brush strokes that had grazed his chest and scratched down his abs with an even more perplexed expression.
Turning his body slightly, he saw paint on his buttocks as well. Han Seung-jae’s large handprints were so vivid it felt as if he were still gripping him.
Swoosh—
Seo Yi-kyung caught the steadily pouring water with both hands. After splashing it on his face a few times, he stepped further into the stream, letting the water pour over his entire body. At this rate, it felt like things wouldn’t be much different from the original story.
However, while the docile ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ in the original story had adjusted everything to Han Seung-jae, he was closer to not doing so. Although Han Seung-jae seemed to think his abysmal painting skills were just a joke. Anyway, he was currently grating on Han Seung-jae’s nerves and defying him in every way, so why on earth was the man showing him so much interest?
He thought that if he maintained a constant distance, the man would move away from him. After all, he was a man who lacked for nothing. Moreover, the engagement had been arranged regardless of Han Seung-jae’s will, not just ‘Seo Yi-kyung’s.
It was a marriage pushed by his father when ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ manifested as an extreme dominant Omega.
At that time, Seo Young-hwan was merely running a small construction company. The number of employees could be counted on one’s fingers, and the office was tiny. Seo Young-hwan’s life began to unfold in a completely different direction after he met President Han Yechan of the Myeongjun Financial Group.
Since Woorim Construction was so lacking in prestige, President Han Yechan provided unstinting support to ensure it wouldn’t diminish Han Seung-jae’s dignity in the future.
Because of this, Woorim Construction easily succeeded in construction bids. Whenever a problem arose, the Myeongjun Financial Group behind him resolved it quickly, regardless of what it was. As if to keep pace with this, Seo Young-hwan even had ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ learn painting.
Publicly, ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ was a flower grown in a greenhouse. He was raised to be elegant, refined, and obedient. Seo Young-hwan made him that way, and his son, Seo Dong-hu, bragged about it personally.
However, as Seo Young-hwan began to change his tune regarding ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ once he turned twenty, Han Yechan’s intentions also shifted. He felt the need to cut ties with Woorim Construction, which was still significantly lacking in class.
Those around them were quicker to notice Han Yechan’s change in attitude. They no longer trusted Woorim Construction as they once had.
Every time he hit a wall, Seo Young-hwan sought out ‘Seo Yi-kyung,’ and he pleaded with Han Seung-jae.
Throughout reading the original work, he had wondered when the arrogant Han Seung-jae’s true nature would be revealed. Yet, what was truly strange was that he listened to everything ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ said.
* * *
Secretary Park, who had been sitting in the drawing room, stood up. Han Seung-jae, having changed his clothes, was walking toward them. He approached the head seat of the sofa, raising his arm to fasten the buttons of his shirt sleeve.
“Drink your tea. It’ll get cold.”
Secretary Park slowly bent his knees and sat back down. The tea placed before him had long since gone cold.
“Where did we leave off?”
About an hour had already passed since he entered the painting studio. Perhaps because he had simply changed his clothes after taking off the paint-stained suit, a heat that hadn’t been there before radiated intensely from Han Seung-jae’s body. No matter how you looked at it, it was obvious he had just come from sex. The body scent faintly wafting from Han Seung-jae whenever he moved was definitely Seo Yi-kyung’s pheromones. He didn’t seem to feel any need to hide it.
An assistant placed a teacup in front of Han Seung-jae.
“I don’t need tea; just bring me a glass of water. And let me know when he comes down.”
“Yes.”
The subject was omitted, but there was only one person Han Seung-jae looked for in this house. She was well aware of that fact.
Han Seung-jae’s gaze shifted to the side. Secretary Park turned on the tablet PC he was holding, opened a report, and turned his head.
“It is reported that CEO Seo Young-hwan has submitted a letter of intent to bid for the Hyoeun City Tower.”
Hearing this, Han Seung-jae’s eyes sank into thought, and a light sneer flickered across his face.
Until now, Woorim Construction had led in residential and commercial spaces such as apartments, officetels, and industrial centers. That was only possible because the Myeongjun Financial Group was backing them.
Despite Han Seung-jae’s words, he was expressing an intent to bid for the Hyoeun City Tower—a super-high-rise of 120 floors that he couldn’t even swallow, let alone digest.
Step, step. An assistant carrying a tray with both hands approached. She looked at Han Seung-jae and spoke.
“He hasn’t come down yet.”
“I see.”
Answering without even giving her a glance, Han Seung-jae kept his eyes fixed on Secretary Park. He picked up the tall glass the assistant had set down. Cold dew touched his fingertips. The glass filled with ice touched Han Seung-jae’s lips and tilted.
“What should we do?”
Secretary Park looked at Han Seung-jae, who had emptied the water.
Previously, whenever Woorim Construction entered a bid, they had provided full support to ensure they became the preferred negotiator by emphasizing the bid amount and technical evaluation.
“Why are you asking me? He’ll handle it himself. Whether his mouth rips while eating or his throat bursts while swallowing.”
However, not long ago, Han Seung-jae had visited the hospital where Seo Dong-hu was admitted and met Seo Young-hwan. He had made it clear that there would be no more courtesy.
He had spent four years, until Seo Yi-kyung graduated from university, granting Seo Young-hwan’s requests. In his view, he had already shown more than enough consideration. Did the man not understand his words? Or perhaps he had some hidden trump card.
“Come to think of it.”
Han Seung-jae swirled the empty glass and set it down on the table with a clack.
“This is great.”
Secretary Park looked at Han Seung-jae and waited for him to continue. Was it an illusion, or were his eyes glistening with a boiling heat unlike ever before?
Han Seung-jae scraped the roof of his mouth with a tongue that felt a lingering ache. The sensation of pushing his tongue into Seo Yi-kyung’s mouth, rubbing, and sucking was still vividly present. Even the moment he had been bitten hard.
The image of that face, stubbornly persisting even as his entire body melted and his mind collapsed under the weight of his pheromones, was clear in his mind.
So, what would that face look like when begging?
Han Seung-jae slowly swallowed the thick blood he felt in his mouth.
* * *
After finishing his shower, Seo Yi-kyung appeared on the first floor. At that, Butler Do, who had been talking with the chef, approached him in one breath.
Seo Yi-kyung scanned the surroundings slowly, as if looking for someone. He felt a sense of déjà vu, as if this behavior resembled Han Seung-jae when he returned home from work.
“Director Han is in the drawing room with Secretary Park.”
“Ah…”
Seo Yi-kyung’s cheeks stiffened as if his inner thoughts had been caught. He followed Butler Do into the kitchen.
“Young Master. I’ve tidied up the painting studio, but some tools were broken.”
As the painting studio where he had bickered with Han Seung-jae came to mind, Seo Yi-kyung felt his throat burn. Butler Do’s words sounded distant in his ears.
“I’ve wiped everything clean for now, but would you like to check it yourself later?”
The brush slipping from Han Seung-jae’s fingertips flickered before Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes. He recalled the moment the brush, held in those long hands, grazed his abs and moved further down to stimulate the inside of his body.
A sudden urge surged within Seo Yi-kyung—he didn’t want to see that brush. Because the image of Han Seung-jae asking, ‘How does it feel to be a canvas?’ unfolded before him.
He sat down slowly, put a glass of water to his lips, and fiddled with the tip of his ear as if reminiscing about something. His throat burned again.
Seo Yi-kyung drank the entire glass of water in one go. In Butler Do’s eyes, it looked as if he were so hungry that he was filling his stomach with water.
However, Han Seung-jae was in the drawing room. Butler Do agonized over whether he should seek permission from him or serve dinner to Seo Yi-kyung first.
Just then, Butler Do was startled by a nearby presence. Before he knew it, Han Seung-jae was standing right behind him. It seemed Seo Yi-kyung, sitting there, had seen the whole thing.
“Why are you so surprised?”
Watching Butler Do stumble back and collide with an assistant, Han Seung-jae clicked his tongue lowly. Butler Do, flustered, hurried forward and pulled out a chair so Han Seung-jae could sit.
“I-I’m sorry. I’ve finished preparing dinner, and I was just about to go tell you…”
Han Seung-jae’s gaze landed on Seo Yi-kyung’s forehead. He must have rubbed it so hard that although the paint was gone, a red mark still remained. Furthermore, a hickey was half-exposed on his nape.
As if feeling Han Seung-jae’s gaze, Seo Yi-kyung reached out to touch his neck. He pulled the collar tight to hide the visible hickey.
Han Seung-jae spoke.
“Your father will be coming to see you.”
Butler Do, who had been moving back and forth with plates, stopped dead in his tracks. Han Seung-jae kept his hands overlapped on the table, staring only at Seo Yi-kyung.
He was perceptive, resolute, and stubborn. However, the sight of a surprised or flustered face should belong to him alone.