By Zephyria 
No matter how outstanding his achievements were, no matter how much he demonstrated my abilities, he was always second priority to Chairman Kwon. Having lived his entire life being compared to Kwon Young-je was already a bitter pill to swallow, but now he was even being pushed down the priority list by a mere secretary. It was enough to make his head spin.
What’s so great about having a child? It’s something any dog or cow can do if they just mate.
Kwon Young-ho glared fiercely at Hui-won’s lower abdomen with eyes boiling with jealousy. How much love would that thing monopolize once it was born? Imagining the future made his blood pressure skyrocket. His eyeballs turned crimson, and it wasn’t enough—his temples throbbed painfully. He didn’t know where to vent this rage.
As he slowly shifted his gaze elsewhere, he met eyes with Kwon Young-je. The chilly look in his eyes seemed ready to tear Kwon Young-ho to shreds at any moment.
Who did he think would be scared? The corners of Kwon Young-ho’s stiff mouth stretched into a long, diagonal line. In the sharp standoff between Alphas, their pheromones also began to subtly exude aggression.
Sensing the cold current, Chairman Kwon raised his voice sharply.
“You bastards! What do you think you’re doing in front of me!”
Kwon Young-je was the first to rein in his pheromones, crossing his legs leisurely. His blade-like gaze remained fixed between Kwon Young-ho’s eyebrows as he quietly replied.
“I apologize.”
“…I apologize.”
Chairman Kwon silently scanned the faces of his two grandsons. Compared to the perfectly composed Kwon Young-je, Kwon Young-ho’s face was still flushed red and purple. That’s just how he was—his feelings were always on full display.
Chairman Kwon, with his keen perception, clicked his tongue in disapproval as he grasped the situation.
“You pathetic fool. There’s a limit to jealousy.”
“…Didn’t you once say jealousy is also a driving force for success? And why are you only scolding me?”
Kwon Young-ho muttered with his head lowered. Unvented anger had turned the back of his neck completely red. His voice, forced out, sounded as if he were spewing resentment.
“It’s a despicable thing to do to your own family, you bastard! Where on earth is there someone who envies and is jealous of a nephew who hasn’t even been born yet!”
“You were the one who discriminated first, Chairman! Even if I got married and had a child, would you dote on them like this?”
In the face of Chairman Kwon’s outburst, Kwon Young-ho didn’t back down either. As if completely losing his restraint, he began pouring out the grievances he had kept bottled up inside.
“It’s been like that since the old days. You always tried to take care of Young-je’s side just a little more, didn’t you! Have you ever once considered how I felt watching that?”
“Discrimination? If I had discriminated, I wouldn’t have even called you back.”
“I feel differently. Even among Alphas, you always treated us differently. What’s the point of me struggling desperately! Does it mean anything? You’ll hand over the company to that bastard anyway.”
“……”
Chairman Kwon silently stroked his stiff lips. His sharp gaze, unbefitting his age, swept over his grandson’s face, now tinged with a sense of defeat. After thinking for a while, Chairman Kwon spoke in a clear tone.
“I’m a meritocrat. Giving opportunities only to those who perform well has long been my principle. Young-je, don’t get arrogant just because you became Vice President first. Depending on how Young-ho performs, he can overtake you at any time. Let me make it clear—no successor has been decided yet. I will decide without any personal bias.”
At those words, Kwon Young-ho slightly raised his eyes. Unlike himself, who was elated and dejected by Chairman Kwon’s every word, Kwon Young-je’s smooth face was utterly unreadable. He was a natural at hiding his expressions anyway. Once again, the feeling that he had revealed all his cards made his mood plummet. Kwon Young-ho covered his forehead with both hands.
“Young-ho, you should also properly welcome the new family member.”
“……”
“Sigh, no answer?”
Kwon Young-ho reluctantly nodded his head. In response, Chairman Kwon let out a long, troubled sigh.
He had called them to have a pleasant cup of tea, but seeing this mess, his insides were burning black. This won’t do. With the generation leading the Kwon family about to change, family harmony was more crucial than ever at this point. Chairman Kwon ran his wrinkled fingers over the sofa armrest before speaking gravely.
“We can’t just let it slide now that a new family member has joined.”
“……”
“I’ll gather all the family members this weekend. If you have other plans, sort them out yourselves.”
After delivering the unilateral notice, Chairman Kwon sent the two out first, leaving only Kwon Young-ho behind. As the chairman’s office door closed firmly, Hui-won quietly rubbed his sweaty, sticky palms together.
He didn’t know how he had endured that hour. He had just sat there doing nothing, yet he already felt completely drained.
The moment he slowly took a step, as if the strength had left his legs, the toe of his dress shoe caught on the red carpet. As he staggered forward, Kwon Young-je caught him in one swift motion.
The grip clutching his upper arm was firmer than ever. Hui-won steadied his startled heart and slowly raised his head. Kwon Young-je’s expression was just as rigid.
“Are you okay?”
“…Yes.”
Deep, sunken eyes meticulously examined Hui-won’s complexion. Seeming to decide it was no good, Kwon Young-je immediately changed direction.
“Let’s go get some pheromone exposure for a moment. Secretary Jeong, we’ll borrow the reception room for a bit.”
Without even waiting for an answer, everything proceeded swiftly. Secretary Jeong readily opened the reception room door. Inside, a long sofa was placed, long enough to stretch out and lie down on.
Hui-won reluctantly lay down, using Kwon Young-je’s thigh as a pillow. He had already taken off his shoes and loosened the stifling tie knot halfway. Even while lying comfortably, out of habit, he checked the watch on his wrist.
“We have an R&D team briefing scheduled for three o’clock.”
A long sigh came from beside his head. Kwon Young-je frowned as he brushed Hui-won’s bangs aside.
“Even in this situation, you’re thinking about work?”
“You should still know about it…”
“I’ll keep track of time, so don’t think about anything.”
A large hand covered Hui-won’s eyes. As his vision darkened, the scent of bergamot washed over him, enveloping his body. His limbs went limp under the familiar, comforting pheromones.
The hand that had covered his eyes pushed Hui-won’s bangs up and gently massaged his forehead and brow bone. It was a level of care that would surprise anyone else. Under the soft touch, the tension ingrained in his body melted away like snow.
Isn’t it too luxurious to be lying down like this in the Chairman’s reception room?
The thought briefly crossed his mind, but he set aside the kind of worry that would only give him a headache. Just as he was comfortably basking in Kwon Young-je’s pheromones, the man suddenly spoke in a low voice.
“How about taking a break from work?”
“Why?”
“I can see you’re stressed.”
At that, Hui-won opened his closed eyes. What’s with this man who’s usually so sparing with words? He must be that worried about my condition.
“If I don’t see you working with my own eyes, Vice President, that would be more stressful for me.”
“Am I that unreliable?”
“That’s not it. It’s my own greed.”
Hui-won sighed and stretched his legs out long. His clasped hands habitually covered his stomach. A faint stirring movement could be felt from the slightly protruding belly. Perhaps happy with its father’s pheromones, the baby was unusually active too.
“At least for another month or two… It’s a stable period now, so it’s fine. If it really gets too hard, I’ll tell you then.”
“Don’t I know you? You’re the type who’d come to work right up until surgery.”
“Yeoro also plays well when I’m at the company, right? He’s excited even now.”
Kwon Young-je’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Neither of you listens to a word I say.”
Hui-won couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He simply surrendered his body to the hand carefully cradling his forehead and refrained from further words. Perhaps Kwon Young-je had given up, as he let out a heavy sigh. Hui-won raised his arm and patted the back of his hand.
\*
Time passed, and the Kwon family gathering arrived. It was a night when a drizzling rain had fallen all day, leaving even the air damp and heavy.
Despite the foul weather, the residential area in Pyeongchang-dong was bustling. Black sedans lined up one after another beneath the long, fortress-like wall. In front of them, security personnel in black suits were busy holding up umbrellas to greet the arriving guests. The family gathering of a chaebol family was different from the start.
As per the Chairman’s order, the entire Kwon family was gathering. Not only the immediate family but even relatives who had been out of touch were being summoned, making it reminiscent of an unofficial dinner for political and business figures. They were all people holding a piece of power and interests in their respective positions.
The two arrived on time. As they entered the main gate, Madam Im approached as if she had been waiting.
Hui-won’s waist automatically bent. As he greeted her, he noticed Madam Im’s attire was unusual. Today, her hair had extra volume, and her eyeliner boasted sharp angles. With a black fur shawl draped over her shoulders, she looked to anyone like she was in full battle readiness.
“You know today is an important day, right?”
Instead of a greeting, Madam Im fired off a warning first. And for good reason—today was the occasion to formally introduce Hui-won to the extended family. The Kwon family gatherings appeared dignified on the surface but were closer to a jungle in reality. If you showed weakness, you were likely to have your flesh torn off by the beasts.
Cold, pale eyes thoroughly scanned her son and daughter-in-law. Her own son would know how to handle himself, but the problem was Kim Hui-won. Since they had only had a simple family meal instead of a wedding ceremony, this was the first time he was meeting the family elders. Whether he could make a proper impression was a source of concern in many ways.
“Yes, I’ll be careful not to make any mistakes.”
Hui-won replied calmly. His composed voice eased Madam Im’s anxiety.
My eye for people is indeed sharp. In the face of Hui-won’s crisp demeanor, the corners of Madam Im’s mouth pointed skyward. It looked like a fierce smile, but it was filled with satisfaction.
“Don’t be intimidated, and don’t bow your head recklessly to others either. Hold your head high and look straight ahead. Don’t worry about anything else. If anyone treats you rudely, we’ll pay them back several times over.”
As Madam Im gave a few instructions, she used her index finger to firmly smooth Hui-won’s tie knot. It felt like an even greater burden, but Hui-won hid his true feelings and silently nodded.
When he clenched his hand, Kwon Young-je’s palm pressed against his. Sensing his hidden tension, Kwon Young-je wordlessly rubbed his hand against Hui-won’s. As if to say, I’m here, so don’t worry.
“Shall we go then?”
Madam Im turned around, her sharp eyes gleaming. With each step she took leading the way, her lion’s mane-like hair swayed.
Everyone followed the vanguard in silence, their lips tightly sealed. Just then, a white flash of lightning streaked across, tearing through the black sky.
The omen was ominous.