By Zephyria 
Inside the fast-moving car.
“Jin Seon-yu. Dominant Omega. 24 years old. As for their connection, it is presumed they attended the same school in middle school. However, the period was very short as Jin Seon-yu transferred to another school.”
Han Seung-jae looked at the profile on the tablet PC. Chaeon Food Manufacturing Company. He had two older brothers who were Alphas, and Jin Seon-yu was the youngest. As he swiped the screen, a photo of another person appeared.
“His fiancé is a Dominant Alpha, Ham Gyu-ho, the head of the Songyeon Motors Group. It is said that the two are preparing for marriage.”
“Enough.”
As soon as Han Seung-jae saw the Alpha’s face, he slid his finger to dismiss it. There was no need to hear more. He was someone he already knew. Besides, it was common for marriage partners to be decided early on once manifestation began.
At the same time, the car, which had been slowing down, came to a stop. Secretary Park, who stepped out quickly from the passenger seat, opened the rear door. As Han Seung-jae exited the car, he handed the tablet PC over to him. Simultaneously, the screen flickered black.
Han Seung-jae crossed the garden and entered the house. A helper passing by bowed and greeted him.
Secretary Park, walking behind him, took a phone out of his inner pocket. It was a call from the driver in charge of Seo Yi-kyung. Secretary Park turned slightly and finished the call briefly.
“He says he is departing now.”
Han Seung-jae took his place in the center of the living room. He took off his suit jacket, draped it over the back of the sofa, and sat with one leg crossed. A masterpiece hanging on the wall caught his eye. Originally, it had been hung merely for interior decoration, but recently, Han Seung-jae had begun to take a keen interest in paintings.
This house was his property. From the design phase, it had been constructed for Han Seung-jae’s convenience. However, there were also glimpses of consideration for the person who would live in this house. The meticulously crafted painting studio was one example, as were the paintings hanging on the walls. As if tailored to Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze, landscapes were hung throughout the house.
A helper approached cautiously and placed a teacup in front of Han Seung-jae. Han Seung-jae moved his left hand. That alone caused the startled helper to step back as if retreating. Han Seung-jae checked the time on his wristwatch and then murmured as he lifted the teacup.
“He’s late.”
“It seems the traffic is heavy since it’s rush hour.”
While calmly speculating on the situation, Secretary Park pulled out his phone. Normally, Han Seung-jae would not leave work at this hour. He had pushed back his schedule to leave earlier than usual. Just as he was about to call the driver, the outside became bustling, and the door opened.
Butler Do, who entered first, looked surprised. Following behind, Seo Yi-kyung hesitated in his step.
As Secretary Park silently stepped aside, Han Seung-jae, who had been hidden by him, was revealed. His sharp features bore no discernible expression. Holding the teacup, he looked at Seo Yi-kyung.
“Welcome back, Director Han. I will prepare dinner immediately.”
Butler Do quickly approached Han Seung-jae. He hadn’t expected him to return this early. He was a man who usually returned late at night, making it difficult to even see his face. Seeing him arrive early—and sitting there waiting in the house—caused Butler Do to fluster in confusion.
Han Seung-jae, his gaze fixed on one spot, spoke.
“Did you go on a picnic or something?”
However, his words were not directed at Butler Do.
At Han Seung-jae’s words, Butler Do reached out with both hands and snatched the picnic basket from Seo Yi-kyung’s hand. It wasn’t heavy, containing only water and snacks. He bowed to Han Seung-jae and walked into the kitchen.
Seo Yi-kyung took a step forward. Following him, the driver, who entered carrying a canvas, bowed to Han Seung-jae and moved toward the painting studio.
Clink. Han Seung-jae set down the teacup he was holding.
“Surely, you aren’t thinking of giving that painting to me?”
I was going to…
Seo Yi-kyung’s pupils trembled slightly. But since the other had preempted him like that, he momentarily lost his bearings on how to respond.
Seo Yi-kyung stared at the retreating back of the driver. He knew that every time he moved by car, a report was sent to Han Seung-jae. Also, that every time he stepped outside, someone took a photo and reported it to Han Seung-jae.
These were all things he had seen in the original novel. The ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ of the story had never dreamed of such facts. Han Seung-jae was more meticulous than expected. Moreover, he was the type who couldn’t trust people, and ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ was included on that list of untrustworthy people. However, even knowing reports were made, he had never dreamed that the man would be right here in front of him.
Suddenly, the image of himself at the park flickered in his mind. And Seon-yu, who had been by his side. Had that been reported already too?
He had thought it would be fine since Seon-yu wasn’t such a leisurely person. He had figured that even if he received the report after handing over the painting, it couldn’t be helped.
Seo Yi-kyung slowly approached the sofa where Han Seung-jae was sitting. A small amount of Omega pheromones could be felt from Han Seung-jae’s body. Seo Yi-kyung slowly parted his lips.
“The painting.”
Han Seung-jae did not interrupt him.
“I wanted to finish it quickly and give it to you…”
If he had painted it alone today without Seon-yu’s help, it would have taken a week. No, he wouldn’t have finished it even after six months.
“Is what I said that difficult?”
Seo Yi-kyung looked down at Han Seung-jae with a questioning gaze. Secretary Park stepped back. He signaled to the approaching helpers. The helpers moving through the living room scattered. Now, only the two of them remained in the center of the living room. Han Seung-jae’s low voice resonated.
“I told you to paint it in my house.”
“That’s… I just couldn’t paint it. Since I stopped painting after the marriage…”
Seo Yi-kyung tried to vaguely express that he had hit a slump. At that, Han Seung-jae uncrossed his legs and stood up.
Seo Yi-kyung forced strength into his legs, which instinctively wanted to retreat. He struggled to keep his back straight and did not avoid Han Seung-jae’s eyes. He sharpened all his senses to avoid irritating him at all costs.
“Paint it again. I’ll wait, no matter how long it takes.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips, tight with tension, parted slowly. Han Seung-jae turned around. Secretary Park seemed to walk beside him, and after finishing a few reports, he turned back. He gave a slight nod to Seo Yi-kyung standing in the living room and brushed past him.
As Seo Yi-kyung belatedly regained his senses and turned his head, Han Seung-jae’s steps were heading toward the dressing room.
‘Did he wait for me here just to say this?’
Seo Yi-kyung shook his head slightly. There was no way. He probably just left work earlier than usual.
A helper approached and took the jacket hanging on the back of the sofa. Soon, the sight of Butler Do moving busily caught his eye.
Standing alone in the center of it all, Seo Yi-kyung flopped down onto the sofa. It seemed Han Seung-jae intended to get the painting he drew, no matter what it took. Seo Yi-kyung let out a long sigh, recalling the canvas he had scribbled on with a pencil.
In the spot where Han Seung-jae had been, his white sandalwood scent and the scent of another Omega still remained. It wasn’t because he hadn’t suppressed them, but because Seo Yi-kyung’s body was that of an extreme dominant Omega, he could sense them.
* * *
Click. Han Seung-jae, having changed his clothes in the dressing room, came out. He stepped forward while fastening the buttons of his dress shirt sleeves. The eyes of Seo Yi-kyung, sitting on the sofa, were unfocused.
As Han Seung-jae approached, Seo Yi-kyung bolted upright. His shoulders were stiff, and it was evident that his entire body was tense.
“…….”
A subtle silence flowed between the two. Then, Butler Do, who walked hurriedly from the kitchen, spoke.
“Dinner is ready.”
Han Seung-jae turned around. Behind him, Seo Yi-kyung’s long sighs were heard repeatedly. Butler Do pulled out a chair. As Han Seung-jae sat, Butler Do moved to the other side and pulled out a chair for Seo Yi-kyung.
Seo Yi-kyung, walking slowly, took his seat. Han Seung-jae’s gaze, fixed on him, was indifferent.
“That’s enough, you may leave.”
Butler Do’s hands, heading toward the table, faltered. He greeted Han Seung-jae and left the kitchen. Seo Yi-kyung scanned the food placed in front of him. It wasn’t because he was hungry. It was closer to trying to ignore and avoid Han Seung-jae’s gaze.
Seo Yi-kyung picked up his chopsticks, but he couldn’t bring himself to touch the food. His mind was filled entirely with the painting he had drawn, which was close to a mess.
How could he possibly give that to Han Seung-jae? It was only a matter of time before he noticed that he was a different person.
Above all, Han Seung-jae was a man with great intuition. His position at such a young age wasn’t solely due to the influence of his father, President Han.
The genes of an extreme dominant Alpha were on a different level from the majority of Betas and the significantly fewer Omegas. They showed an overwhelming difference in brain and physical conditions. They boasted a presence just by standing still. Unlike Betas and Omegas, it could not be hidden, nor could it be concealed. In the moment their eyes met, he felt overwhelmed.
“Do you have no appetite? Or did you eat outside before coming?”
Seo Yi-kyung looked forward as if snapping out of it. Han Seung-jae’s eyes had turned even colder than before.
“I was just about to eat.”
Seo Yi-kyung hurriedly reached out with his other hand and picked up the water glass. His throat was parched.
As he moistened his throat and set the glass down, Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze landed on his sleeve. Despite being careful, green paint was smeared all over the shirt, creating stains.
I wonder if it’ll come off.
Seo Yi-kyung put down his chopsticks and rubbed the sleeve with his fingertips. Rather, the more his fingertips brushed it, the more the stain spread. Then, he suddenly came to his senses. This was no time for this.
Seo Yi-kyung picked up his chopsticks with his stained fingers and put rice into his mouth.