By Zephyria 
“Grandfather, recover your strength quickly and get up. That way we can have the formal meeting between families. If we have one more funeral here, the wedding might be postponed to next year. He’s the only grandson left, so you should send him off quickly while there’s a good match. He has the powerhouse background that you and the Fathers love.”
Where else is there a better background than Hwang Seong? Even if he can’t inherit the position of President or Member of Parliament, he can inherit the position of Chairman of Hwang Seong. Moreover, since there’s only one child, there are no brothers to fight over inheriting the hospital director position like the Big One and the Small One.
Of course, that’s how it looks to outsiders; inside, he’s trembling with fear that he might be kicked out. Setting Grandfather aside, I began to worry about how Kwon Yi-kang’s father would react. I should work hard to embezzle—no, save—money until next year.
“Hurry up and recover your strength and get up. If the wedding is delayed, we might end up having the baby first. Still, we should have the wedding before giving birth. It’s a bit embarrassing to have a baby before that. Ah, well, these days, a ‘shotgun’ pregnancy isn’t that shameful.”
“My god, such shamelessness…….”
“Everyone gets married and has babies, so what’s shameless about it? Grandfather had children, and Father had three. Come to think of it, if a baby is born, it’ll be Grandfather’s first grandchild. Wow, Grandfather must be so happy. You’ll be a great-grandfather now.”
I clapped my hands and congratulated him in advance. Of course, it would be better if he passed away before then. I wouldn’t want to give my potential child a grandfather like that. What use are grandfathers and great-grandfathers? Just having decent parents is enough for a child.
“Is…… is this babbling true?”
Grandfather’s face turned toward Father unnaturally, like a machine that hadn’t been oiled enough.
“Father.”
“I asked if it is true!”
Grandfather roared at Father, who was answering with a complicated expression. The old man’s voice was so loud I almost had to cover my ears.
“Lock that thing up immediately. Don’t let him take a single step outside, and take away his phone. Do not open the door except to provide three meals a day.”
“Wow, you’re inciting a crime so casually.”
I didn’t hide my absurdity and chuckled.
The way he gave orders so familiarly was a perfect recreation of how Grandfather must have been thirty-four years ago. He probably locked up my aunt exactly like this.
But what? This isn’t the military era; is it possible to lock up and kill people just with a word? It’s not magic; just because he says lock them up, they get locked up?
“What are you doing, not grabbing him already!”
At Grandfather’s shout, two men who had been waiting a few steps behind stepped forward. They were the men who had accompanied Grandfather and pushed the wheelchair; I wish they had just kept quietly pushing the wheelchair.
“Darling, you call your people too. And didn’t you say you have connections in the police? Let’s report this too.”
I leaned leisurely against Kwon Yi-kang’s arm and spoke with a nasal tone.
The more I see him, the more Grandfather is an anachronism. What era is this that he still locks up his children? If you report that for domestic violence, you get dragged away. I don’t know why someone who is so afraid of rumors only chooses to do such filthy things. Maybe he only does filthy things because he’s afraid of rumors.
“Why aren’t you grabbing him!”
“If you come any closer, I will consider it a threatening act.”
Kwon Yi-kang stepped in front of the men who were closing the distance and made a gesture to stop them.
“Are you good at fighting?”
“A little?”
“If it looks like you’re going to get beaten up, call your people quickly. Otherwise, knock them down and let’s go home.”
I whispered from behind Kwon Yi-kang. It’s two against one; can we win? My faith wavered slightly as I weighed whether to report it to the police or just run away.
Suddenly, the air grew heavy, and a thick sweet scent rushed to the tip of my nose. I saw the Omega Father hastily covering his nose and stepping back, and the Alpha Father frowning and twisting his body.
I stared blankly at the elegant back of Kwon Yi-kang as he strode forward. Before they could even do anything, the men were grabbed and sent rolling on the ground. After easily neutralizing the two men, he approached and caught my swaying body to support me.
“Are you okay?”
“I almost came.”
I gave an unfiltered answer to the low voice asking about my condition. I stood awkwardly, hiding my aroused genitals, but I couldn’t hide my flushed face.
I don’t know why the pheromones that wrap around my body, as if aphrodisiacs were being sprayed wildly into the air, never become familiar no matter how much time passes. Even Kwon Yi-kang’s coolness, flying around like in a movie, acted as a visual stimulant.
No, if I get hard here, it’s a disgrace! No matter how thick-skinned I am or how reckless my life is, I don’t want to be a human who gets a hard-on in an inappropriate situation.
I took several deep breaths in and out, and only after barely suppressing the arousal did I catch my breath. Even so, my lower half was still bulging. As I told Kwon Yi-kang, it was a relief that I didn’t actually come.
“Why are you making things so hostile? Is this some kind of gangster family? I told you, we aren’t in an era where those methods work anymore.”
He was making me break a sweat for no reason. If I were to come here and cause a scene, what would happen to my social standing and reputation? It was Kwon Yi-kang’s fault for pumping out pheromones so aggressively despite knowing exactly how this would play out, but since Grandfather was the one who primarily created this situation, my resentment poured out toward him.
“Sigh, who’s going to push Grandfather’s wheelchair back down now? Father will have to do the heavy lifting.”
“Y-you insolent brat!”
“Why are you insulting my innocent Alpha? You were the one who tried to suppress him with force, Grandfather. Anyway, you’re amazing at blaming others. We’ll be going now. Staying here any longer won’t lead to anything good.”
Perhaps fueled by rage, Grandfather threw the cane he was holding. I wasn’t filial enough to let myself be hit by a blind cane, so I twisted my body to dodge, but Kwon Yi-kang was one step ahead and caught the flying cane with his hand.
So this is why they say Alpha physiques are superior. Admiring it anew, I snatched the cane from Kwon Yi-kang’s hand and threw it with all my might. With a whoosh, the cane went flying and rolled down the slope of the ancestral mountain.
“I wonder who the gangster family is. Throwing hands at the slightest provocation, tossing whatever you grab… this is what they call ‘low class,’ right? I like a good brawl too, but doing that in your old age is just embarrassing.”
His face flushing red, Grandfather banged his fists against the armrests of the wheelchair. The Alpha Father approached and tried to restrain him, telling him to calm down, but to me, it just looked like the two of them were putting on a show.
What could an old man in a wheelchair even do, and what would happen if he didn’t calm down? At most, if he couldn’t control his temper, he’d just tip himself backward. Alpha Father wasn’t really doing anything either; he was just watching, pretending to humor Grandfather while avoiding his gaze.
I didn’t know what kind of farce this was. It felt like a game of ‘King and Subject.’ Someone puffing out their chest and shouting “Hear ye!” while a subject bows their head beside them. No, a eunuch would be more accurate. The bottom line was that it was a sight completely out of touch with the times.
“We’ll head down first. Since you seem to be in high spirits, I’ll formally greet Kwon Yi-kang’s father, and then we can contact you after deciding on a date for the formal family meeting. Well, there’s no need for Grandfather to even come out. I’m just telling you so you’re aware. We’re really leaving now.”
Giggling, I linked arms with Kwon Yi-kang ostentatiously. As we walked away in a display of affection, an elderly roar erupted behind us. I also heard the sound of something being hit—thump, thump—as if he were blaming Father.
“Ah, that feels refreshing.”
“Does it?”
“Yeah. Maybe I have a mean streak, but I feel great whenever Grandfather jumps around in frustration.”
“If it makes you feel good, then that’s fine.”
“I wonder if I should have a bodyguard accompany me whenever I go out from now on. Knowing Grandfather’s personality, he might hire someone to just snatch me away in the middle of the street.”
“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m not the type to just sit quietly if I’m kidnapped, right? You don’t have to worry.”
I had no intention of being dragged away quietly, nor did I intend to stay quietly imprisoned if I were. If worst came to the worst, I’d just set the house on fire.
The thing I never understood whenever I watched dramas was how people were kidnapped and imprisoned so easily. I know it’s because they’re dramas, but it’s just too clumsy. To avoid dying, one must struggle with the determination that they have to kill others first.
“I’m not going anywhere without you.”
I won’t be helpless like your mother. What is there to fear? Rumors? Do those things give me money or feed me? Family? No matter what the dead Cha Soo-kyung says, he’s not my family, so why would it matter?
“So, if something ever happens to me, just make sure you find me until the end. That’s all.”
“You’re stating the obvious. I won’t let you be sent anywhere, but even if we’re separated, I’ll find you.”
“Not like your parents. I’m a real fighter. I’m a guy who survived the back alleys.”
“Did I mention that I really like your tenacious spirit?”
“No, this is the first time I’ve heard that.”
Smiling mischievously, I looked up at Kwon Yi-kang. I’ve never heard that before. I wonder what that’s about. As I looked at him, blinking excessively, Kwon Yi-kang laughed and lightly shook my cheek.
“I just really like you.”
“I think I already knew that.”
“You’re truly lovely.”
He’s stating the obvious. Hiding my flushing face, I quickened my pace.