By Zephyria 
“How can you be so sure?”
In response to the teasing tone, Koi answered with a rare confidence.
“Dominant Omegas can recognize their own trait. If that weren’t the case, how could I have identified the trait first when I can’t even smell Bliss’s pheromones?”
What Koi said was true. Dominant Omegas can recognize one another, even when pheromones are completely concealed.
Dominant Omegas possess pheromones several times more potent than those of a typical Omega.
Due to this trait, they are generally able to hide their pheromones themselves, and they often appear as Betas even during trait tests. Consequently, they are difficult to find; most people either never encounter one in their lifetime or fail to notice even if they do. Occupying the top of the trait pyramid, Dominant Omegas can easily bring even Dominant Alphas to their knees. In short, they flood the air with pheromones to trigger a rut, inducing memory impairment.
Furthermore, they can leak small amounts of pheromones to gain the favor of others, but Koi did not use this method. This was because Ashley had strictly forbidden Koi from leaking pheromones to anyone other than himself.
Koi was truly the ‘love of Ashley Miller’s life.’ Together, they had given birth to six children, but the damn tragedy was that every single one of them took after Ashley Miller. Not only in appearance, but their traits were also Dominant Alphas, just like him. Every time Ashley looked at his children’s purple eyes, he seriously wondered why God was putting him through such an ordeal.
However.
Ashley looked down at Bliss, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, and felt a glimmer of hope. The youngest is different. He looks like Koi, and perhaps his trait is the same. His personality is a bit aggressive, but isn’t that far better than being completely naive and pushed around like Koi?
“I should go to the center and get a test.”
Ashley spoke cautiously, but he couldn’t hide the anticipation in his voice. Seeing Ashley’s purple eyes shining brighter than usual and his inability to take his gaze off Bliss, Koi couldn’t help but laugh.
“He’ll come out as a Beta anyway, Ash.”
“Exactly.”
Ashley replied to the light observation as if he already knew.
“That’s why if he comes out as a Beta, it proves he has the same trait as you. Right, Bliss? You’d like having the same trait as Daddy, wouldn’t you? Hmm?”
With a smile, Ashley pressed his forehead against Bliss’s and gently rocked him. Koi watched with a mix of curiosity and a bitter smile at the cautious movements, as if Ashley were handling a fragile piece of jewelry.
Is he really that happy?
They had six children, but this was the first time Koi had seen him this overjoyed. Koi also knew how much Ashley loathed his own trait. Unfortunately, he knew all too well that Ashley didn’t particularly welcome children who shared that same trait…
Bliss’s trait might bring many changes to our family.
The thought made him feel incredibly good. Moreover, the idea of someone with the same trait as himself—and a child at that—made Koi’s heart flutter for the first time, a feeling he couldn’t deny.
However, there was still something to verify.
“Ash, are you okay? Don’t you feel like you’re about to have a seizure?”
Since Ashley’s body invariably had a rejection reaction whenever he smelled an Omega’s pheromones other than Koi’s, Koi couldn’t help but be worried.
Since Bliss is our child, maybe it’ll be okay…
He held onto a small hope, but it was a futile expectation. Seeing sweat breaking out on Ashley’s temples, Koi let out a short sigh and took the child away.
“Don’t push yourself.”
“I’m fine, really.”
Ashley reached out both arms as if asking for the child back.
“Look, if I were about to have a seizure, I wouldn’t be standing here perfectly fine. You know that.”
“You might just be forcing yourself to endure it…”
“I told you, I’m not.”
To the repeatedly denying Ashley, Koi said,
“But you still feel unwell, don’t you? Don’t lie, you’re pale.”
Ashley couldn’t answer that. Seeing him avert his gaze, Koi thought, ‘As expected,’ but he pretended not to notice and changed the subject.
“The scent seems to have diminished a lot, so the manifestation will probably end soon. Poor thing, how hard it must have been. He’s still so young.”
“I should prepare everything edible for when he wakes up.”
As Ashley spoke while tickling Bliss’s cheek with his finger, Koi nodded.
“Bliss loves sweet snacks.”
Usually, snacks were strictly limited, but this occasion was special. Just imagining the child’s face covered in crumbs while eating happily brought a natural smile to Koi’s lips. Just as he gave a quick kiss to Bliss’s forehead—
A light knock sounded, and the secretary who opened the door reported.
“Mr. Miller, the preparations are complete. Shall we depart immediately?”
Ashley nodded readily.
“Fine, let’s go now. Koi.”
“Ah, okay.”
Naturally taking Bliss back from Koi’s arms, Ashley held the child and strode forward first. Koi followed behind, and the secretary closed the door. Soon, no one remained in the room. Only the faint scent of pheromones left by Bliss lingered in the air.
“…”
“…”
Faint voices seemed to be drifting in. Bliss frowned and tossed and turned.
“Ngh… mmm.”
His body felt like cotton candy. Or perhaps a wet clump of cotton. It was heavy yet light. It was a strange feeling he had never experienced before, but it felt good.
“Bliss, are you awake?”
In response to the child’s small moans and squirming in Ashley’s arms, Koi, who was sitting beside them, spoke. Bliss, who had stopped moving for a moment and was merely breathing softly, slowly opened his eyes. Though it was only a matter of lifting his eyelids just a tiny bit.
“It’s okay, Bliss. You don’t have to force your eyes open.”
Koi continued tenderly.
“We’re going home now. You can sleep more.”
…Daddy.
Bliss recognized him a beat late. It was only after that he realized the person holding him was Papa. Having woken up in the car heading toward the airport, he soon closed his eyes again. In his hazy consciousness, memories surfaced sporadically.
‘Snot-nosed Yankee brat.’
The moment the cold voice revived, a deep frown formed between Bliss’s brows. Seeing the child scowling while diligently sucking his thumb, Koi tilted his head.
“What’s wrong? Is he having a bad dream?”
At those words, Ashley, looking down at Bliss in his arms, silently patted the child’s back. As if telling him it was okay to go back to sleep. However, another voice flashed through Bliss’s fading mind.
‘Dealing with one stupid snot-nosed brat is nothing.’
Suddenly, a corner of his heart throbbed with pain. Still frowning, Bliss continued to remember.
‘One twin is a crazy idiot and the other is a pervert. The one who wants to be an actor is nicknamed the mad dog…’
Bad bastard.
Even in his drowsy state, a vague anger surged. How much had he trusted them? To pretend to be so kind in front of him while talking behind his back like that.
‘He’s a child of the Miller family, so it can’t be helped. I just have to put up with it.’
It was all because I was a Miller.
“Uuung, uu-uung.”
Out of resentment, whimpering sounds kept escaping him. Though puzzled, Koi and Ashley simply watched, thinking he was just dreaming during his manifestation.
Bad guy, you’re going to go bald. I’m going to hit your dick too.
Bliss continued to recall. He cheated on me. How could he do such a thing. Bad guy, bad bastard. You shouldn’t do that if you’re married. You said you’d marry me. I’ll punish you, I’ll definitely punish you.
I can just leave it to Stacy. Stacy likes hitting people until they cry.
I’ll beat him thoroughly to fix his habits. I’ll make him beg for mercy. How dare he tell such a lie? Shameless fellow. Fraud. Liar.
…How could he tell me such a lie.
“…Sniff.”