“If I thought that would happen, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place.”
Juliet smiled, feigning boldness. He was a Gamma. He didn’t react to any Pheromone. Because of that, Dominic couldn’t control him as he pleased, unless he used physical methods. That was one of the reasons Juliet could come this far.
The possibility of Dominic using physical methods on him now was also slim. More than anything, what benefit would he gain from doing so? They were just sex partners, after all.
Although he had taken advantage of him.
Juliet thought with a renewed sense of guilt. Supreme Alphas hardly felt any emotions. Juliet saying he loved him wasn’t part of the plan. He had simply been swept up in the atmosphere and blurted it out on impulse.
Wouldn’t this man get excited if I said I loved him now?
Juliet had been very excited at the thought that it was the end since he had signed the contract. He was thrilled by the beautiful scenery and simply said it without even considering the thought that had suddenly popped into his head. What incredible luck that Dominic reacted to it and finally signed the contract that had been dragging on!
I really am lucky.
Dominic’s reaction when Juliet told him the truth was unexpected, but he achieved what he wanted anyway. Juliet, though not as much as Dominic, hadn’t experienced much hardship in his life. The occasional difficulties he encountered weren’t that significant, and even then, unexpected luck always came his way, absurdly resolving everything. When he slept with the professor, he almost got caught and expelled, but an absurd sexual harassment case broke out, and he was able to feign being a victim himself, narrowly escaping the crisis.
It was always like that. Juliet always got out of things with luck. This time was the same. He had finally accomplished what could be considered the biggest crisis so far. Just like he always had.
There was no reason to be afraid or to be wary. Juliet’s life would continue to be smooth sailing.
Living the perfect life his parents wished for.
After the meal, they started a game. Dominic drank wine, but Juliet only drank water. He hadn’t touched alcohol at all since coming here. No matter how late it got, Juliet intended to drive back himself. Besides, if he drank and happened to get drunk, he wouldn’t be able to prepare for unexpected situations. While doing his best to part ways with Dominic, Juliet didn’t want to let his guard down. Feeling sorry for him and preparing for the unexpected were separate issues.
Contrary to his intense wariness, time passed comfortably. From the outside, nothing seemed different from before. They sat across from each other with a chessboard between them, continuing their trivial and mundane chatter. When Juliet attacked, Dominic countered with an attack, and when Juliet retreated to defense, Dominic also slowed his attack.
I’m enjoying this.
The corners of his lips loosened on their own at the comfort he felt after a long time. He knew he shouldn’t, but his mouth wouldn’t stop.
“Are you going to change the rules again if I win? And say this game is invalid.”
Juliet made a joke, and Dominic also smiled.
“Accepting defeat is also a rule of the game. I was just careless last time.”
Juliet felt a pang of guilt at the unnecessary addition, but Dominic’s expression didn’t change. He couldn’t tell if he was talking about deceiving him and making a fool of him, or if he was really talking about chess, but he knew what kind of reaction to have in this situation. To play dumb and match the other person’s tune.
“Is that accepting defeat? Saying you lost because you were careless, not because of skill?”
“For me, it is.”
Dominic gave a faint smile at the bold sarcasm.
“Don’t be disappointed, I’m also impressed that you’ve done this much against me.”
He brought the wine to his lips and added.
“But there won’t be a second chance.”
Juliet chuckled and corrected him.
“I don’t need a second one either, I got what I wanted.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
He readily replied to the words that held no malice, but soon his expression became serious. With each word they exchanged, the precious time was dwindling. This would become a memory now. Would he feel bitter if he relived today sometimes, or would he be sentimental, thinking it was a good memory?
Come to think of it, Juliet’s time with him wasn’t bad. He was the only person he could be honest with, and the sex was incomparably better than with anyone else he had been with. If his trait wasn’t Gamma, and if he was a woman, Juliet might have chosen Dominic.
But what ifs were meaningless. Juliet was Gamma, and more than anything, he was a man. His parents would have vehemently opposed Juliet’s choice. Because of that, there was only one conclusion.
Juliet would not choose Dominic. Absolutely not.
“I’m sorry.”
Juliet blurted out suddenly. Dominic, who had been looking at the chessboard, raised his head. As if asking what he was talking about. Juliet continued his confession, still looking down.
“I regret deceiving you. But H&J is a good company, so you’ll be satisfied.”
The last part was close to self-justification. A man like Dominic would receive exceptional treatment anywhere in the world, in any field. Yet, saying such sweet nothings was ultimately just a consolation for Juliet himself.
Dominic didn’t react at all. He was just silently staring at Juliet, who couldn’t bring himself to make eye contact. After a brief silence, he opened his mouth.
“You regret it, but you don’t feel guilty?”
Juliet stubbornly looked down and answered.
“Yes, I don’t.”
He would think he was shameless. It might have been better to say nothing at all. But Juliet didn’t regret this either. If he didn’t apologize now, he would definitely regret not saying it later.
“That’s good.”
Juliet paused at the sudden words. He couldn’t immediately understand what he had heard. Confused, he raised his head, and Dominic, sitting across from him, was looking at him with a smile.
“How was the meal? You liked it very much, didn’t you?”
“Huh?”
Juliet could only utter a foolish exclamation again. Dominic raised the corners of his lips and let out a low chuckle. Juliet’s mind, which had been still, began to turn little by little. The meal? What meal? He didn’t drink alcohol. Then was it the food? That salad from earlier? The steak? Could it be the fish, or maybe the pudding he ate last? Or maybe.
All of it.
“What… did you do?”
Juliet, who had been muttering blankly, belatedly jumped to his feet. A moment later, dizziness covered his vision, and the ceiling spun wildly.
“…Ugh.”
He barely managed to avoid hitting the floor face first. Dominic said to him as he gasped for breath in surprise.
“Be careful, it’s about time the drug took effect.”
At the rather affectionate tone, he barely managed to regain his balance by grabbing the back of the chair and turned his gaze to Dominic with difficulty. His face still showed an expression of disbelief.
“You, drugged me.”
He stammered, his face pale.
“This… this is absurd, you ate it too? You ate the same thing as me…”
“Yes, I did.”
Dominic admitted with a joyful laugh, as if singing a song.
“But my trait is different from yours, isn’t it?”
Ha, a sound that was hard to tell whether it was an exclamation of disbelief or a groan escaped Juliet’s lips. He had to get out of here. He had to run away from this man quickly. Quickly, right now.
“Ah, uh, uh.”
Juliet moved urgently, letting out a suppressed groan that sounded like a scream. He thought he had to run to the door, but that was just a thought. His body fell to the floor pathetically, like dry firewood.
Haa, haa…
Juliet’s breathing echoed wildly in his ears. He trembled, imagining all sorts of things that would happen from now on.
This was it.
He should have kept suspecting why it was so peaceful, Dominic must have been waiting for him to let his guard down.
Dangerous.
Warning bells kept ringing in his head. He didn’t even know what kind of drug he had taken. But one thing was certain. Dominic had no intention of letting him go back safely.
Dominic slowly got up behind him as he struggled to reach the door.
“Gammas have a strange confidence.”
Dominic said, taking a step towards Juliet. The purple eyes he saw in the corner of Juliet’s vision were chilling. The Dominic who had been laughing and joking with Juliet just now no longer existed.
“They can’t smell or be affected by Pheromones, so they think Supreme Alphas aren’t a threat to them.”
“Uh, uh…”
Dominic looked down at him, his legs wide apart, straddling Juliet’s body as he groaned in pain.
“Why is that? There are plenty of other ways to do it without using Pheromones, so why do they think they only need to be careful of Pheromones? They’ve never even experienced what Pheromones are.”
He tilted his head to one side as if he really didn’t understand. Like a child watching a butterfly with its wings torn off, Dominic just stood there watching Juliet writhing at his feet. Without giving any help.
“Do, minic.”
Juliet gasped and asked him for help.
“Please, I’m begging you. An ambulance… take me to the hospital. I was, wrong, I was wrong…”
He couldn’t even finish his sentences properly. Dominic chuckled as he saw him cowering and groaning in agony.
“Here’s to my love. O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.”
It was a line from Romeo and Juliet. His voice, repeating the lines Juliet had recited before drinking the poison, seemed to be tinged with a faint smile.
“Don’t worry, Juliet. Juliet doesn’t die from poison. Neither do you.”
He continued casually.
“I told you? I don’t commit murder.”
It sounded like Dominic was laughing loudly, but it was a hallucination. He was just watching Juliet with a strange smile. Juliet struggled, feeling terrified by the suffocating pain and the gaze watching him. His panicked brain could no longer come up with rational thoughts.
Lies, all lies. You’re trying to kill me now.
The gaze towards Juliet didn’t move at all. He was just watching. Until his breath was cut off before his eyes. That made him even more desperate.
See, you’ve definitely killed someone before.
Juliet looked up at Dominic, panting. The man’s figure was faintly visible in his blurred vision, but soon lost its shape and distorted.
Someone, like me, now…
Dominic murmured, looking down at Juliet, who was gradually losing consciousness.
“Nemo me impune lacessit.”
No one provokes me with impunity.
With that old phrase as his last words, Juliet completely lost consciousness.
Congratulations, Juliet!
Congratulations, you’re a really good match.
Have a good life, I heard you’re going to Europe for your honeymoon? Wow, I’m jealous. To be with such a beautiful wife.
Amid the pouring blessings, the Representative of the law firm came over and hugged him.
I’m so proud of you. Don’t worry about the work here, I’ll set up a meeting with the executives as soon as you get back, so be prepared.
Juliet laughed out loud at him, who was making a fuss while raising his thumb. When he turned around after shaking hands vigorously, his parents were standing there.
Oh, my child.
His mother hugged Juliet first and said with a bright face.
You really are a special child. It was worth raising you all this time.
Following that, his father grasped Juliet’s hand with one hand and firmly patted his arm with the other.
“I always believed you would bring honor to the Dawson family. You finally did it.”
Then, he subtly whispered in his ear.
“Now, all that’s left is the Representative position at H&J.”
Breaking away, Juliet returned his smiling face with a smile of his own.
“Yes, of course, Father.”
He returned a bright smile and said,
“I’ll make it happen this time too.”
Beside the satisfied father, his mother also smiled brightly. Juliet continued to smile and smile. His face started to ache, but he had to endure it. He had to smile as if he were happy. He had to pretend he wasn’t tired, that he still had plenty of energy, that he could keep running endlessly.
Like that.
For his entire life.
“Hah…”
Suddenly, he snapped awake. Juliet’s eyes widened as he frantically looked around. The noise that had filled his ears was gone, and the surroundings were eerily silent. All he could hear was his own ragged breathing. His mother, his father, the Representative of the law firm, the woman who had just become his wife, the wedding attendants, and all those guests.
No one was there. There was nothing. Not the lavish flowers decorating every corner, nor the ten-tiered wedding cake, nor the orchestra playing music.
The place where Juliet was lying was a far cry from the luxurious wedding hall, utterly desolate. The narrow space, barely the size of a single room, was only dimly lit by a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling.
He quickly turned his head, but the roughly plastered cement walls had no windows at all. It was a completely sealed space, except for a single door hidden like a part of the wall in one corner.
Juliet’s eyes darted around as he gasped for breath. He tried to quickly sit up, but something immediately stopped him.
“Ugh!”
His whole body lurched from the force as his hand, which he had unconsciously tried to lift, was grabbed tightly. His armpit ached as if it were about to fall off. Something was tightly binding his wrist.
Haa, haa.
After catching his breath with difficulty, he hesitated and raised his head. Surely, surely not. It couldn’t be. It absolutely, absolutely couldn’t be. It could never, ever be…
“Eek…!”
Juliet was horrified by what he saw. His widely spread wrists were handcuffed and attached to the bedposts. He frantically shook his arms, but only the unpleasant clanging sound echoed, and nothing moved.
It wasn’t just his arms that were immobilized. His legs were the same. He was tied to the bed with his limbs spread wide. And what was even more shocking was that he was naked, without a single piece of clothing on. To wake up naked and tied to a bed was the worst situation imaginable.
“N-no way… T-this, this can’t be happening…”
Juliet panicked and screamed. He shook his whole body and thrashed around, but nothing changed. Only the irritating clanging of metal echoed loudly.
“Aaaah, aaaaah…!”
He screamed until his throat was raw, but there was no response. Juliet and the cheap bed he was lying on were the only things left in the empty space.
Just as his screams mixed with the sound of metal, a sound came from outside. It was the sound of someone’s footsteps approaching. Juliet tensed up and stared at the door.
A heavy metallic sound followed. After an unpleasant clanging sound, as if unlocking a lock, the door finally opened. Someone’s figure came into view, filling his widened field of vision.
The dim light first illuminated his feet as he stepped inside, then his legs, his waist, his chest, and finally his face. The slow footsteps stopped with him. Juliet stared at the man’s shadowed face, looking down at him, with a terrified expression.
Dominic.
Juliet spoke his name, but no sound came out. Even the name that had been circling in his mouth disappeared, and the two stared at each other in silence.