By Zephyria 
A moment of silence hung in the air.
Joo Tae-hyun unconsciously held his breath for a moment. An indescribable, uncomfortable, and cold energy swirled within the bedroom. He even had absurd thoughts like, Did my parents turn into shifters? Is this Mom and Dad’s pheromone?
“Is that so? He’s come a long way. Tell him to come in.”
He almost wished his parents had lost their reason. That they would rage, asking how a guy who made their pregnant son talk about divorce had the nerve to show his face. Then he, too, could have said something.
“Doctor Woo, what did you say was the cause of Tae-hyun’s condition? A pheromone imbalance, right?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”
Their tone was utterly calm. They showed no anger, not even annoyance, and their expressions were as indifferent as before. Joo Tae-hyun realized from their reaction that his parents were truly angry. The only times they made such expressions and spoke in such voices were when people from the association or the press made unreasonable demands.
“And Seo Baek-han being around is definitely helping Tae-hyun’s body?”
“That… is correct, for now.”
“We’ll have to keep a close eye on it.”
“So, in simple terms, Seo Baek-han is like a charger for our son, is that right?”
Doctor Woo flinched at the sharp hostility directed at someone who wasn’t even there.
“Th-that’s a similar concept. I’ve arranged to record Young Master’s numerical changes when Director Seo is present.”
“Doctor Woo, stay by his side and watch closely to see if Tae-hyun’s condition improves.”
“Th… Yes, I understand.”
Joo Tae-hyun started to say something, then stopped himself. He understood how his parents felt, but he didn’t want to add unnecessary words like, “I’m fine,” or “Don’t worry about me,” and drive a stake through their hearts.
“We’ll be seeing his face endlessly as we wrap up various matters anyway, so I don’t think we need to face Director Seo just yet.”
Chairman Joo rose from his seat, and CEO Yoo also stood up.
“Mom… Dad.”
“No, honey. Just relax.”
Joo Tae-hyun couldn’t just lie there, so he tried to sit up, leaning against the headboard, but Chairman Joo gently stopped him.
“But…”
“Tae-hyun, Mom and Dad…”
CEO Yoo, seemingly heartbroken by her youngest son, who couldn’t even call them properly, turned back and stroked Joo Tae-hyun’s cheek. The coldness she had been exuding vanished completely, replaced by the warm expression Joo Tae-hyun was so familiar with.
“You are our top priority, no matter what.”
“But…”
“If he’s good for your health, why would we chase him away? Don’t worry about what the family thinks, Tae-hyun. Just focus on recovering. You’re not alone anymore.”
“…”
“You don’t have to force yourself to give up your feelings. If you still like Director Seo, feel free to like him as much as you want. Mom and Dad want you to do whatever you want without worrying about anyone else.”
“…Yes, I will.”
“Why should our baby have to consider Director Seo’s intentions? Right?”
Charger.
Director Seo’s intentions.
Joo Tae-hyun could feel the undisguised anger of CEO Yoo and Chairman Joo in their tone, which referred to Seo Baek-han as if he were an object. It was as if the days when they called him “son-in-law” and greeted him warmly were a distant memory. From now on, they would treat him as nothing more than a tool necessary for their child.
Joo Tae-hyun was able to steel himself at his parents’ businesslike attitude. His stomach still churned at the mere mention of Seo Baek-han’s name, but he would no longer be swayed by him out of habit.
He hadn’t whined about getting a divorce just to be petulant. He had firmly resolved himself on the way to Seoul, determined to take responsibility for his words.
However, contrary to Joo Tae-hyun’s will, his oblivious body was writhing with pleasure at the pheromone of Seo Baek-han, which could be felt from afar.
The silence in the massive mansion was broken by the noise of an outsider.
The rustling of fabric, Nanny’s voice giving instructions, and the familiar footsteps climbing the stairs. A sweet scent that made his brain melt…
The peach scent was approaching so rapidly that it felt as if it were racing toward him. I’m going to run into Hyung before my parents even leave, he thought, feeling a slight sense of unease.
“It’s been a while.”
Leaning against the familiar doorframe, an unfamiliar figure unexpectedly appeared.
“Mother, are you feeling any better?”
Seo Baek-han asked with concern, openly revealing that he had people watching this place.
Despite his gentle voice, his complexion was not good. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept, and the glint in his eyes as he glanced at Joo Tae-hyun was fierce.
He was as neat and composed as usual, but somehow, he seemed strangely anxious. Am I just interpreting things as I want them to be?
In any case, he couldn’t greet a guest in such an awkward position, so he tried to lift his heavy body again, but CEO Yoo gently pressed down on Joo Tae-hyun’s shoulder, forcing him back onto the bed. Her affectionate touch, which seemed to have no strength at all, actually prevented Joo Tae-hyun from moving.
“Doctor Woo will tell you what you need to know. Tae-hyun’s pheromone system is a more important issue than the baby in his belly, so pay close attention.”
“…Ah, I see. I understand. I actually had something I wanted to say to you both…”
“Be grateful to Director Seo.”
“I’m the one who’s grateful. I’ll work things out with Tae-hyun through conversation, so don’t worry too much. They say marital spats are like cutting water with a knife.”
“Hmm? I don’t know what you’re talking about all of a sudden. Why would two people resolve a divorce through conversation? They should leave it to the lawyers.”
“Mother.”
“We haven’t heard Tae-hyun say he wants to continue this marriage yet.”
“I see. You don’t have to worry. That will change now.”
“Well, if that’s what Tae-hyun wants, we’ll have to respect his wishes. But I won’t stand by and watch anyone upset Tae-hyun. How dare they.”
Joo Tae-hyun could only see his parents’ backs. Seo Baek-han, standing tall between them, wore a faint smile, but he occasionally twitched the corner of his eyebrow, as if he wasn’t entirely pleased with the adults’ blatant disregard. It was a habit only Joo Tae-hyun knew.
“You took a knife for our Tae-hyun. As parents, we should be grateful.”
“Ah, that…”
“Of course, we plan to compensate you handsomely. Well, we can talk about that again when we review the divorce agreement… Doctor Woo, please take good care of our Tae-hyun’s condition. And make sure to check if Director Seo’s pheromone is really helping Tae-hyun.”
Even as his words were being completely shut down, Seo Baek-han was still smiling brightly. Seeing that he wasn’t even twitching his eyebrows or clenching his fists subtly anymore, it seemed as if he, too, was making his own resolution, which made Joo Tae-hyun feel uneasy. He hadn’t seen Seo Baek-han like this often, but whenever he did, something big always happened.
“Doctor, it’s been a while.”
Leaving his parents, who were moving toward the door, keeping a distance as if they didn’t want to touch him, Seo Baek-han casually spoke to Doctor Woo.
“…Yes, how are you feeling?”
“I’m healthy. No one would believe I had surgery recently. It must be the effect of the imprinting.”
The footsteps of his parents, who were about to leave the bedroom, faltered. It was just for a moment, but it was clear they had heard Seo Baek-han mention imprinting as if he wanted them to hear it.
Joo Tae-hyun, too, couldn’t stand to watch any longer, so he took a step toward him. His legs felt like lead, as if all his energy had been drained, but he didn’t want to hide behind his parents this time either.
“…I guess a mutual imprinting is convenient.”
At Joo Tae-hyun’s calm reply, his parents’ eyes widened.
So, it really is a mutual imprinting? But when did our son learn to speak in such a voice?
Joo Tae-hyun could clearly see the turmoil in his parents’ minds, and he couldn’t help but chuckle slightly. He was grateful that he was able to relax thanks to it.
“There are plenty of ways to break a mutual imprinting, though.”
The faint crack that appeared on Seo Baek-han’s face, which had remained unfazed by his parents’ coldness, was now visible. It was only for a fleeting moment, but seeing it made him feel somewhat gratified.
Seo Baek-han, who hadn’t even flinched no matter how much he had raged, was now reacting sensitively to his every word.
He knew that the fact that he was still so aware of Seo Baek-han’s actions and assigning meaning to them was proof that he still had lingering feelings. He also knew that it was just an abnormal phenomenon caused by the imprinting. But the fact that he was the only person who could somehow affect Seo Baek-han made Joo Tae-hyun feel strangely excited.
And… before he could wallow in that base satisfaction, a massive wave of self-loathing washed over Joo Tae-hyun.
“Maybe the imprinting will naturally break after I give birth.”
I really liked him a lot.
He had spent more than half of his life looking only at Seo Baek-han, even though it hadn’t been that long. He had given him his heart without permission, and now he was busy hating him without permission.
How did we end up like this? Joo Tae-hyun clumsily tried to salvage his consciousness, which kept sinking to the bottom.
…Why am I even asking? It’s all my fault. You need to deserve to be depressed.
If he hadn’t lied about touching the dirty switch, if he hadn’t been greedy enough to ask Hyung to marry him, they wouldn’t have ended up like this.
“What I’m sure of now is that Hyung’s pheromone no longer affects me.”
Joo Tae-hyun wiped his dry lips, hiding the corners of his mouth, which kept trying to crumple.
“It seems Hyung’s pheromone is all flowing to the baby in my belly, so after I give birth, the imprinting will also…”
“Oh, you were thinking of having the baby?”
Seo Baek-han smiled, pulling up only the corners of his mouth, and tightly gripped Joo Tae-hyun’s hand, which had been covering his mouth. As if telling him not to hide anything from him.
“In that case, we definitely can’t get a divorce. Why would we break up when we have a child?”
“Baek-han Hyung.”
He hadn’t even believed he was pregnant. He had mocked and ridiculed him instead. And now he was bringing up the child? Saying he wouldn’t let him get a divorce because of the child?
“Okay, you two calm down. The pheromone levels are…”
“Are you not allowed to get a divorce if you have a child? It’s ridiculous to hear you say that, of all people…”
“Tae-hyun. Do I not know you?”
Joo Tae-hyun wanted to shake off Seo Baek-han’s hand, but he was too quick. Unlike before, when they were just touching, Seo Baek-han intertwined each of his fingers with Joo Tae-hyun’s, meticulously restraining him from moving.
“Do you really want to do something that will harm the child?”
If he said something stupid like worrying about the emotional well-being of a child growing up in a single-parent family, he wouldn’t hold back any longer. Joo Tae-hyun was certain that he was the most loved person in the Daehan Empire. He hadn’t decided what to do with the child yet, but if he had it, he was confident that he could shower it with all the love he had received.
It would be better for the child to live with real family, bustling with activity, than to watch a father who couldn’t give an ounce of affection and another father withering away by his side.
“Hyung is talking about a child who isn’t even human yet…”
“If you start divorce proceedings, I’ll do whatever it takes to get custody of the baby in your belly.”
Joo Tae-hyun’s head snapped up. He couldn’t believe that this person, spouting crazy things in a gentle voice, was the Seo Baek-han he knew.
“It’s a child born from a Shifter abnormality. Wouldn’t I be a more suitable guardian than you, naturally?”
The face of Seo Baek-han, looking down at him, was also unfamiliar. An indescribable desperation, like that of an animal that had lost its young, lingered in his dark eyes before disappearing.
“…Hyung.”
“The court won’t care about the wishes of a newborn. So, legal interpretation will be much more important…”
“Seo Baek-han!”
Seo Baek-han caressed Joo Tae-hyun’s palm, as if he regretted having to say such things.
“Wouldn’t they consider me a more suitable guardian than someone who held a press conference about dirty wwitches and drugs?”
“What nonsense are you spouting now!”
Chairman Joo, who had been trying to give them space, couldn’t hold back any longer and struck Seo Baek-han’s back.
However, Seo Baek-han stood his ground, even as Chairman Joo grabbed his collar and tried to pull him down. As if he would die if he let go of Joo Tae-hyun’s hand, he only stared at him and continued to say what he wanted to say, showing a hint of madness.
“I don’t want to make things that big either. So, Tae-hyun…”
You can’t divorce me.