By Zephyria Ashley stood there without a word. He had to take a deep breath to resist the urge to tear off the eye mask immediately. Losing his temper would only hurt him. Dominic would never lose his composure, and would only laugh at Ashley for it.
Dominic didn’t speak for a while, facing his son, who was just clenching his mouth shut as the greatest resistance he could muster. After a brief pause, the scent of cigars grew even stronger, and Ashley realized that he had taken a puff and exhaled.
“You’ve been up to some rather cute things.”
Dominic opened his mouth in a slow, relaxed tone. Ashley didn’t react this time either. As if he didn’t care, Dominic continued.
“I don’t know what you liked so much about that mongrel that you lost your mind and caused an accident like that.”
There was a clear sneer in his voice.
“A piece of trash who can’t even Manifest.”
Ashley clenched his fists and barely managed to stop himself from shouting. He didn’t know anything about the situation after he was arrested.
He had to maintain his composure and assess the situation as much as possible. In order to seize the next opportunity.
He vowed that he would repay that man for insulting Koi someday.
Dominic watched his son, who wasn’t reacting at all, for a moment before bringing the cigar to his mouth again.
After taking a deep puff and exhaling, he glanced at Ashley’s tightly clenched fist and then shifted his gaze back to his face.
His masterpiece, which resembled his Omega but also retained his own traces, was the second most precious thing in the world to Dominic, and made him smile loosely with satisfaction every time he saw it.
Of course, that didn’t mean he would overlook any defiance of his will. Dominic knew very well that the more precious something was, the more harshly it sometimes needed to be treated.
Just like constantly rubbing and scraping the surface of wood with rough sandpaper to create the most beautiful and excellent furniture.
“I’ll forgive you this time. You must have reflected a lot.”
Dominic continued to speak as he pleased.
“Now go back to your room and rest, we’ll be returning to the East Coast early tomorrow. Of course, you’ll be coming with us.”
Ashley paused for a moment. Seeing him unable to hide his agitation, Dominic added.
“I’ve picked out a few women who would be suitable for you. It wouldn’t be bad to meet them slowly while you’re in college. They’re all Omegas, so they’ll be suitable for releasing Pheromones.”
Ashley just listened blankly to the unexpected words. What on earth was he talking about? *Wait, is he telling me…?*
“…To meet other people?”
Dominic continued casually at the question he barely managed to ask.
“If you don’t want to release Pheromones at parties, it wouldn’t be bad to pick a suitable partner and get married. You can release Pheromones periodically, and they’ll suit your mysophobia.”
He chuckled and looked at the frozen Ashley, asking.
“You’re not going to tell me you can’t do it because of a useless defective, are you?”
Ashley was flustered and tried to say something, but he couldn’t think of anything to say. Dominic, leaving the frozen Ashley in front of him, leisurely pressed a button on the desk he had been leaning against. Soon, the door opened and the secretary entered.
“You called?”
At Dominic’s instruction, the secretary immediately moved. Ashley paused as she gently grabbed his arm and pulled him.
“I’m staying here.”
He belatedly stated his intention, but Dominic just chuckled. The secretary also grabbed his arm without a word. Ashley shook off her hand and spat out roughly again.
“I’m not going to the East Coast. I’m staying here, don’t control my life as you please!”
“Ashley Miller.”
The secretary quickly stopped him.
“Isn’t it better to go back to your room than to be locked in the basement again?”
Ashley stopped moving again at the calm but clear point. She was right. There was nothing he could do.
If he caused any more trouble here, he would be thrown back into the darkness again. Dominic could easily do that to him with a single word.
“…Let go!”
In the end, all Ashley could do was shake off the secretary’s hand roughly. The secretary quickly stepped back and opened her mouth in a businesslike voice as expected.
“Turn around, take one step to the right, and then walk twelve steps forward.”
There was no choice. Dominic narrowed his eyes as he watched Ashley stagger away as instructed. The secretary bowed lightly to Dominic and followed Ashley out of the study.
After the door closed, Dominic was left alone. The cigar smoke that had filled his mouth slowly flowed out.I never imagined I would face the worries of parents raising a rebellious teenager. But this, too, wouldn’t last long.
Even if Ashley was somewhat rebellious, taking after his Omega, he would eventually kneel. Just like the ‘Ashley’ who gave birth to him.
“Ah…”
The thought of ‘him’ made his insides burn hotly once more. Dominique narrowed his eyes and offered a faint smile.
“It would have been nice if ‘Ashley’ were here.”
He muttered to himself with a hint of regret, then exhaled deeply with the smoke. The thought of his own Omega, so pitiful and lovely, whose only recourse was to curse and scream at him, made him want to hold him and churn his insides right away.
If he could.
Heh heh heh, his low laughter echoed eerily in the silent study. ‘Ashley’ would never escape him. Neither he, nor their son.
Because Dominique Miller never let go of what he wanted.
*
“…Damn it!”
Left alone in the room, Ashley threw off his eye patch with a rough curse. His eyes stung even in the dim light of the room, but he kept his eyelids closed, waiting for them to adjust.
It was still dark outside. That was probably why they had dragged Ashley up from the basement. If eyes accustomed to the dark were exposed to the bright Western sunlight, he might go blind.
His eyes had become somewhat accustomed to the light that had been seeping in through the gaps in the eye patch, and they slowly recovered over time. Ashley opened and quickly closed his eyes several times before finally regaining some of his vision.
“…Haa.”
After a belated sigh, he quickly began pacing the room. If he went to the East Coast like this, he would never see Koi again.
And marriage, of all things.
His mind was not only jolted awake, but it was also completely blank. He hadn’t thought Dominique would go that far. He was clearly willing to do anything to separate Koi and Ashley.
That could never happen.
He rubbed his face roughly with both hands, then stopped walking and took a deep breath. Think, he had to think.
Calmly.
The same trick as last time wouldn’t work. This time, he had to escape from right under Dominique Miller’s nose. Together with Koi.
…In that case.
He paced the room again, stopping, sitting on the bed, getting up, and tearing at his hair. As time passed, and dawn approached, Ashley finally sorted out his thoughts.
*
When the secretary knocked and opened the door, Ashley was lying in bed, asleep. Not a single ray of sunlight entered the room, which was darkened by thick curtains, making it seem like night.
The secretary clicked her tongue briefly and walked to the bed.
“Ashley Miller, wake up.”
She said, shaking his shoulder lightly.
“It’s already past ten. You need to eat and start getting ready. Everyone is busy right now. Ashley Miller!”
The secretary urged him again, but he didn’t respond. The secretary frowned as she watched, and Ashley groaned softly.
“…I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
The secretary paused at the sound of his listless voice. Ashley continued, making a pained expression.
“Bring me some water and medicine. Quickly.”
“Medicine…?”
For the first time, the secretary hesitated. She was someone who always carried out orders perfectly and quickly, but this was not easy.
Due to their far superior immune systems compared to ordinary people, Alpha rarely got sick and therefore didn’t respond well to medication. Ordinary drugs would clearly not work.
It wouldn’t be easy to get medicine for Alpha right away, but she couldn’t say she couldn’t do it either. She was the most capable secretary of all.
“…I’ll look into it.”
The secretary said in a stiff tone and hurried out of the room.