By Zephyria 
Ashley Miller came across the article late in the afternoon. After finishing the morning meeting and the scheduled lunch, he returned to his office, sank deep into his chair, and let out a sigh he had been holding in.
The routine continued unchanged. No one noticed his secret, and although he occasionally forgot something, his secretary flawlessly filled in the gaps. Of course, no one questioned it. It was just a minor mistake that anyone could make.
Ashley, who had checked the brief summary articles on economics and society that his secretary had posted in the morning, tried to search for the articles along with his secretary’s report to examine the details further. It was then that he opened the internet, and a sports star’s scandal that had already swept the nation dominated the screen.
“Mr. Miller?”
The secretary, who was waiting for instructions, called him, puzzled. But Ashley’s gaze was fixed on the monitor, not moving at all.
“Get out.”
At the muttered words, without even looking up, the secretary quickly replied, “Yes,” and left the office. The secretary, wondering what had caused her boss to react like that, immediately skimmed through the article, but standing behind the monitor, he couldn’t even guess.
After being left alone and staring at the monitor for a while, Ashley picked up his cell phone about thirty minutes later. The article that had broken in the morning had already gone through second and third reports and was continuing to pour out. After quickly skimming through the content, he roughly organized the information in his head and dialed a number. The other party answered after only two rings.
-Ash?
The moment Ashley heard Koi’s voice, he paused his breath for a moment and then slowly exhaled.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
Even as he let out his usual businesslike tone, his gaze remained fixed on the monitor. More precisely, on the photo of Bill and Koi smiling at each other while gently clinking the rims of champagne glasses.
The pounding of his heart painfully struck his ears. Koi took a breath and paid close attention to the cell phone.
He had woken up about two hours ago. He got up later than usual, dragged his tired body to take a shower, and made breakfast and lunch. Ariel had already gone to work, and he was left alone in the house.
The leisurely morning that had come after a long time was not very long. He was about to get up to have another cup of warm herbal tea when the bell suddenly rang. The moment he checked the caller, his face brightened instantly.
“Ash?”
As he called his name happily, a reply came from the other side.
-Yeah, it’s me.
Ashley’s voice didn’t convey any particular emotion as usual and was very businesslike, but Koi didn’t feel anything strange. The fact that he had called was more important than anything else.
“Hi, how have you been? It’s already lunchtime, are you taking a break now?”
-…Yeah.
This time, the answer came with a brief silence in between, but Koi still didn’t notice and chattered excitedly.
“I see. I just woke up and was about to have some tea. Don’t worry, it’s herbal tea.”
He still couldn’t believe that he was pregnant. He still couldn’t believe that he had become an omega, let alone being pregnant. Koi, who unconsciously stroked his stomach, forced himself to calm his trembling heart and carefully opened his mouth.
“Um, did you think about it and call? About our talk.”
-…What?
Koi was immediately disappointed by the reaction, but instead of drooping his shoulders, he continued to speak nonchalantly.
“Well, it’s still too early, isn’t it? It’s okay, you can take more time. But I hope it doesn’t drag on too long. I don’t want to put any pressure on you, but…”
He trailed off, feeling like he was pushing Ashley, but the other party didn’t respond. Koi called his name again, wondering, and only then did Ashley open his mouth.
-I have something to ask.
“Yes, tell me anything. I’ll tell you everything.”
As he readily replied, Ashley asked after a pause.
-Do you know Bill came here?
Koi tilted his head, wondering at the cautious tone, and nodded obediently.
“Yeah. Has it been a few days? Oh, did I not tell you…?”
-You didn’t.
“I see,” Koi muttered without much thought. “Well, I’ve been too busy with our stuff.” He convinced himself and continued nonchalantly.
“I think he came here on business. He contacted me, so I went and met him. Hasn’t he contacted you yet?”
-Business?
Ashley ignored Koi’s question and asked back. Koi was about to speak but stopped. He shouldn’t carelessly blab about their story. Since it’s still a cautious stage, those around them should be more considerate. If he gets too excited, it might lead to bad results.
Koi, who was sincerely cheering for the two, composed himself and mumbled.
“He said he came to meet someone. He contacted me first, so I went and talked to him. He seems to have injured himself while practicing, and the doctor told him to rest for about two weeks.”
This much should be okay, right? It’s been in the news, too.
Ashley didn’t react for a while after Koi conveyed only the facts that had been revealed to the outside world, along with the stories related to himself. Ashley, who had said “I see?” briefly, asked in a still quiet voice.
-Is that all?
“Yeah. Really. We just talked.”
Following that, Koi added with a smile.
“Bill suggested drinking champagne, but I refused because it’s alcohol, and we just toasted. Bill grumbled, but there’s nothing I can do.”
Koi, who had said that far, asked in one breath.
“Um, when are we meeting? Do I have to wait longer?”
He himself still hadn’t thought of anything, but he just wanted to meet. He asked because he wanted to see Ashley, but the reaction from the other side was lukewarm.
-Later.
Ashley replied businesslike. Koi’s shoulders drooped involuntarily at the feeling of talking to a lawyer who wanted to quickly end a call with a client. As if noticing the atmosphere, Ashley added.
-I’m a bit busy right now, so it’s difficult, but I’ll go see you soon. You said you’re at Al’s house, right?
“Yeah, someone kicked down my door and broke it. Can I file a lawsuit and get compensation, lawyer?”
Ashley let out a short laugh as he deliberately imitated a client. Koi was immediately relieved and laughed along.
“I love you, Ash. You’re the only one for me.”
Koi confessed, unable to hold back his overwhelming feelings. Ashley didn’t say anything. Even the laughter had disappeared, so he had no idea what kind of reaction he was showing. He immediately regretted not talking in person, and Ashley opened his mouth to Koi.
-…I know.
The call soon ended. Ashley didn’t doubt Koi’s heart at all. He never had, he doesn’t now, and he never will.
But whether he trusts Koi himself is a separate matter. Koi looked down at his cell phone and sank into thought with a serious face. How can I make Ash trust me?
[Ice Hockey Top Star, Turns Out to Be Gay?]
“No way!”
As soon as Bill saw the newspaper delivered to his room in the morning, his eyes widened. It was a bolt from the blue. Flustered, he opened the internet news, and Bill’s face was all over the place. Most of them were photos taken of him and Koi in a hotel room.
That wasn’t all. The articles made Bill go crazy one by one.
Bill Gulliver, Who Went into Hiding Under the Guise of Injury, Actually with His Lover?
Caught by Paparazzi Enjoying a Secret Meeting in a Hotel Room
“No, you sons of bitches!”
Bill screamed and tore at his hair. But the people in the photos were definitely Koi and himself. The paparazzi who had been following him all along had finally done the job. But the building from which the photos were presumed to have been taken was an incredibly long distance away. For this reason, even though he saw the building every day while in the hotel, he never imagined that they would take pictures from there.
Is that paparazzi’s camera a Hubble telescope or something? How can they take pictures from that distance?
Bill immediately contacted his manager to correct the false report. He conveyed the message that ‘Bill came to the East to woo a ‘woman’ he likes, and the person in the photo is just a friend who knows both her and Bill and gave him advice,’ but the next article was even more spectacular.
The Other Party Revealed to Be a High School Classmate
They Say They Were Best Friends Since High School. Is Their Relationship Actually from Then?
Even Lies That He Came to Woo a Nonexistent Woman to Cover Up His Lover…
“Aaaaaah!”
Bill felt like he was going bald, but he couldn’t take his hand off his head. Why, why is this happening?
The only consolation was the conversation with Koi. Koi found out about this incident through Bill’s call, but Ashley, who had seen the article, had called him, and Koi, who didn’t know anything at the time, honestly conveyed the facts, and Ashley also understood. He was relieved about that side thanks to Koi comforting Bill and ending the call, but he still had to resolve this situation.
It was around dusk when Bill, who had not stepped out of his room all day and was running around to fix the situation, received a call. He reluctantly answered the call from the hotel front desk, and the staff conveyed unexpected news.
-There’s a visitor who wants to see you. It’s Ashley Miller.
He added to Bill, who was surprised and stiffened for a moment.
-He says he has something to talk about. Can I guide him up?