-“You have a younger sister, don’t you?”
He did. Park Jaeyoung. She was so physically frail that she was currently recuperating in Canada… one of his mother’s sickly, tender spots, someone he saw maybe once or twice a year at most. But why was she suddenly bringing up his sister?
“Yes.”
-“Did you know that your younger sister manifested as an Alpha?”
Jaekyung was stunned. An Alpha…? As far as Jaekyung knew, she had been a Beta. But she was much younger than Jaekyung. She had only just reached adulthood, and she had manifested as an Alpha? No, it wasn’t impossible. Jaekyung himself had manifested from a Beta into an Omega.
-“Judging by your expression, I take it you didn’t know.”
“No…!”
-“She manifested as an Alpha, not even a recessive one. Unfortunately, though, her body is very weak. That’s why Chairman Park came to our hospital and pharmaceutical company himself and pleaded with us. He asked us to save his daughter.”
Father? That couldn’t be.
As far as Jaekyung knew, his father had never paid much attention to Jaeyoung because she was a Beta and physically weak. Sending her to Canada hadn’t been about getting her better treatment with advanced medical technology. He had simply gotten rid of her because having her around was bothersome and seeing her only made him feel obligated to pay attention.
He was a man who had never once called Jaeyoung, not even once a year, nor had he ever asked how she was doing.
And yet that man had personally walked into NI Company and begged them to save Jaeyoung?
Could it be… because she had manifested as an Alpha?
Because the family had finally gained an heir?
And because, with that happening, there was no longer any need for an Omega like him…?
-“Fortunately, our researchers had just discovered the cause of her illness, and we had developed a drug after completing its clinical trials. So naturally, Chairman Park must have been even more desperate. However, the drug was extremely rare and difficult to manufacture, which meant we could charge virtually any price we wanted. And since we had no intention of releasing it to the public just yet… while we were considering what to do, Chairman Park made us a proposal. He said he would give us Jaekyung, and he also promised to collaborate with NI Company. When you look at it that way, it’s a very small condition. Don’t you think? We accepted the offer for what was, frankly, a ridiculously low price. After all, Director Han needs to have at least a little leverage right now.”
So that was why.
Was this why the uncle had tried to stop him, and why no one had been able to tell him about it…?
He had thought that an Alpha daughter and an Omega son had simply been exchanged as equals, that he had been used as part of some business transaction. But he had never imagined that this was the reason behind it.
-“This isn’t necessarily a bad deal for you, either, Jaekyung. Recessive Omegas aren’t treated well in this industry. At best, you’d become the mistress of some old man who had retired from running a company, or the partner of some mediocre Alpha or Beta from some middling business family. But what you’ve been given is the position of partner to NI Company’s heir. You’ll enjoy a life of luxury for the rest of your life. If anything, I think you should be grateful to Chairman Park…”
That was probably true.
If he had been born into an ordinary family, what would it matter whether he was a recessive Omega, an Alpha, or a Beta?
He would have lived his life doing what he wanted, sometimes going through difficult times along the way.
But this world was different.
Just as the director said, at best he would have ended up as the mistress of some retired businessman… or simply been sold off to some mediocre family.
When he thought about it that way, this marriage was, by anyone’s standards, a deal in which NI Company was the one taking the loss.
“Even if the Jaewang Group is behind me… someone like Director Han could have met someone from a much better family. Someone much better than me.”
-“Of course. Even after announcing your marriage, offers keep coming in without a pause. Some have even said they wouldn’t mind if you became Taeseok’s mistress. But… we don’t deal with families that are too powerful. It gets complicated. They have to be of a certain level—manageable enough for us to keep in our hands and control. The fact that you’re a recessive Omega is a drawback, but I chose you because I hear you’re intelligent. You don’t seem like the type to do anything foolish. Isn’t that right? You understand what kind of harm your actions could bring to your family, don’t you?”
You’re a puppet that’s easy to move.
Why did he have to take so many words to say something so simple?
He had thought that once he learned the reason, there might be a way for him to escape. But after hearing the truth, he realized there had never been any way out from the beginning. Having a choice had been a luxury—an indulgence he had never been entitled to.
His only sibling…
He had been unable to properly look after her because she was so far away. He had even struggled to call and ask how she was doing, always using his busy schedule as an excuse.
And yet, whenever they occasionally spoke on the phone, she would still call him Oppa and laugh warmly. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Thinking of his little sister, Jaekyung closed his eyes.
Even so, how could he trade a person’s life for anything else?
If his actions caused his sister to lose her chance at treatment, how could he carry that burden for the rest of his life?
And how could he ever face his mother’s tears, when she was already struggling enough as it was?
Jaekyung clenched his fists tightly.
“Thank you… for telling me.”
-“I’m glad your questions seem to have been answered. But just so you know, we can’t call off the marriage at this point. We have our reputation to consider.”
“…I won’t call it off. The marriage… Please go ahead with it. I’ll do my best.”
-“That’s a relief to hear. All you have to do is get married, take good care of Director Han, and support him properly. And then have a child to carry on the family line. That’s what you’re here to do.”
A child…
A child between that man and me.
“Can Jaeyoung get better?”
-“She’s responded well to the first dose of the medication. She’ll need to go through all five doses, but… the future of our research is at stake as well. We’ll make sure it succeeds no matter what, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
“Yes… I’ll take my leave now.”
Jaekyung rose from his seat, told Director Ji that he would go check on the gallery, and left his study.
He tried to walk out as though nothing had happened, but his legs kept giving out beneath him, causing him to stagger. After barely managing to open the door and step outside, Jaekyung patted his suffocating chest and made his way to the restroom.
He locked the door, sank to the floor, and struggled to catch his breath.
He couldn’t even cry.
It was time to give up on everything and accept it all.
That night, Jaekyung texted Han Taeseok. When he asked if they could meet sometime, Han Taeseok didn’t ask for Jaekyung’s input. He simply chose the date, time, and place himself.
The two of them met again the night before the press conference announcing their marriage. The place was his office.
It was eleven at night. Even though almost everyone else had already gone home, he was still sitting in his office, working.
Like mother, like son.
Even after hearing Jaekyung enter, he continued reading the documents in front of him.
Jaekyung stood silently in front of the desk for about ten minutes. Then, suddenly, he found his own appearance almost ridiculous.
I suppose I’ll have to get used to this.
This will be my life from now on.
“You seem busy, so I’ll be going.”
Only then did Han Taeseok stop turning the pages and look at Jaekyung.
He closed the documents he had been reading, stood up, and indicated a seat for Jaekyung on the sofa.
The sight gave Jaekyung a strange sense of déjà vu. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
-“I heard you went to see my mother and asked why she chose you.”
The fact that he knew about what had happened that day didn’t surprise Jaekyung much. Director Ji had probably told her son about it while laughing at him to her heart’s content.
“Yes. I was curious. I wanted to know why I had been chosen.”
-“Did you get an answer that satisfied you?”
“Yes.”
-“Then I suppose there’s nothing you’re curious about regarding me.”
“No.”
-“…Then why did you ask to see me?”
“I have one request. And I’d like to add one more request before tomorrow’s press conference.”
At Jaekyung’s words, he leaned back against the sofa and crossed his legs. His expression seemed to say, Go ahead. Let’s hear it.
“I’d like there to be a clause stating that we won’t interfere in each other’s private lives.”
-“Private lives?”
Yes.”
-“That sounds rather strange. As though there’s another… private life you have?”
He looked at Jaekyung with a subtle, probing gaze. Jaekyung could sense that he was trying to figure out what lay behind his words, so he shook his head.
“You’ve probably already investigated everything about me and know this, but I’m not seeing anyone. I don’t have anyone hidden away as a lover on the side, either, and I have no intention of starting such a relationship after we’re married. You don’t need to worry about that. If you want, you can keep people following me. I don’t mind. And I’ll do my best to fulfill the position I’ve been given. Everything I’m supposed to do as Director Han’s partner.
“But… I think there may be times when I need some free time for myself, too. To be honest, if I don’t have that kind of time, I think there will be at least one moment when I’ll want to give up and run away.”
-“In other words, you need some time to be Park Jaekyung, rather than simply Han Taeseok’s partner.”
“Yes.”
He had thought about it carefully for several days.
After hearing what Director Ji had told him, he had considered going home and pouring out even a fraction of his resentment toward his father. But what good would that do?
No matter what he said, his father would never change his mind. And even if he did… what would happen to Jaeyoung?
Thinking about it made everything seem pointless. Even so, Jaekyung decided he needed to establish at least one thing that would protect his sense of self.
Otherwise, if he truly found himself alone in the world, he would collapse.
-“All right. Let’s do that. However, I’d also like something explicitly stated regarding extramarital affairs. You asked me to trust you, but you never know what might happen between people.”
“If that’s what you want, I’m fine with adding that clause. Ah, but naturally, it applies to you as well, right? I hate messy situations myself. I don’t want some dramatic confrontation between three people like you see in a TV drama.”
At Jaekyung’s words, Han Taeseok’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Then I assume we’re finished here. I’ll be going now. I’ll see you at the press conference tomorrow.”
Everything he had come here for was settled.
Jaekyung rose from his chair, bowed to Han Taeseok, and left his office without a second thought.
When he checked the time, he realized he had spent more time standing there foolishly, waiting for Han Taeseok to say something, than they had actually spent talking.
It’ll probably be like this from now on, too.