I immediately dug into the steak.
Delicious.
It was just as I liked it.
I instinctively glanced at Karl only to see him staring at Sébastien.
He lowered his head.
His gaze lingered on the steak for a moment before returning to his plate.
I felt a little guilty.
Staring at the steak before me, my fingers paused.
Why did I suddenly ask for it?
This was unlike me.
But the steak looked really good.
The moment I saw it before Sébastien, my mouth had growled, demanding the exact steak.
I didn’t want another.
My lips pursed.
I shouldn’t have asked.
“You should eat this.” I pushed my plate toward him.
Sébastien dragged it closer and replied with a smile.
He didn’t seem to mind at all.
I breathed in relief.
At least, he didn’t see me as weird.
But I obviously saw myself as that.
Who else would demand others’ food in the restaurant?
It could only be me, Elian.
Fortunately, the steak was sweet enough to please my heart and erase the uneasy feeling.
I happily munched on the meal.
“Is it to your taste?”
I heard Sébastien ask.
“Hm.
I like it.”
“That’s good.” He also dug into the grilled chicken before him.
“I’m glad you like it.
I wanted to choose a place you would like…” He paused.
“It’s good that you like it here.”
I chewed on the meat.
“No.
I only like the food.” Who would like this place?
No music.
No noise.
It felt like the end of the world.
Sébastien’s eyes flickered.
Amused?
“Oh.
It’s good you like the food then.”
“Hm.” I continued eating.
Karl was quiet.
He silently ate his meal without raising his head.
For some reason, I felt a little uncomfortable.
I dropped my cutlery and sat back.
“Done?” Sébastien asked.
I raised a brow.
He seemed to be paying more attention to me than necessary.
What was going on?
I instinctively glanced at Karl again.
He didn’t raise his head.
Eating.
Silently.
Was I the only one feeling weird and uncomfortable?
Oh…
it was my belly.
I rubbed gently, trying my best to stop the grumbling sound coming from it.
My nose scrunched up.
“Yes, I’m done.” Eating more than this might cause nausea again.
That wouldn’t be nice.
“You barely ate.”
“Do you want to order something else, or should we go somewhere else?”
He glanced at Karl.
“We could go wherever you want.”
Karl raised his head.
He smiled softly.
“Yeah, Mr Elian.
This dinner is for you.
It’s Sébastien’s appreciation for you.
It wouldn’t look nice if we didn’t satisfy you.”
Oh.
That was the reason he gave his steak without a word…
Fair enough.
It would have been weird otherwise.
“It’s okay.” It wasn’t about the steak.
Honestly, I could barely hold myself back from eating all the steak on the plate.
However, I couldn’t.
“I ate too much before coming here.” Lies.
The best I could give.
“That’s alright then,” Karl replied and resumed eating.
Sébastien’s gaze lingered on me.
I lowered my eyes, rubbing my belly even more aggressively.
The feeling…
I stood up.
“I think I should leave.” Sweat was starting to form on my forehead.
Similar.
It was too similar.
Sébastien and Karl exchanged glances.
The two stood up, seemingly surprised at my words.
I waved a hand, forcing a smile.
“There’s something I have…” I covered my mouth and gagged.
My stomach twisted.
Eyes shimmering with tears and shock.
I quickly rushed toward the direction I thought could be the bathroom.
Hand pressed against my chest, I ran through the long corridor, hastily searching for the bathroom.
Liquid dripped down the hand, covering my mouth.
Omega bathroom.
There.
The door.
I ran in.
Bending over, I threw up everything on the bathroom floor, unable to hold it in any longer.
My body trembled as I coughed, trying to release everything in my throat.
Tears rolled down my eyes.
It was so painful.
My stomach churned.
The smell of steak wafted into my nose, making me feel even more nauseous.
I grabbed my hair, pulling hard on it as I forced out even more things from my belly.
A hand touched my back.
Warm.
Large.
It patted gently.
Refined aged whiskey wafted into my nose, forcefully suppressing the steak scent in the air.
My body involuntarily relaxed.
“Careful.”
His strong arm wrapped around my waist, keeping me in place.
I breathed heavily.
Eyes a little blurry from the reflexive tears.
I tried to stand.
Sébastien held my arm, helping me to my feet.
“Thank you,” I murmured, searching for the faucet.
“Over there.”
He pointed and led me over.
I washed my mouth and my face.
Only then did I feel a little better.
Sébastien stood behind me.
Even without looking at him, I could feel his piercing gaze on me.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment.
I’d tried my best to avoid this situation…
I closed my eyes and sighed wearily.
I couldn’t stare at my reflection in the mirror.
Scattered around the ground was the mess I made.
In a restaurant.
A public bathroom.
Things couldn’t be worse than this.
Was this really the pregnancy, or could something else be wrong with me?
Damn it.
I hate this.
“Are you okay?”
Sébastien’s deep voice entered my ears.
My body inexplicably turned cold.
Why wasn’t he leaving yet?
“I am.” Leave.
The mess needed to be cleaned, and so was my pride.
How was I supposed to do anything with him staring at me so deeply?
“It’s the omega bathroom.” I pointed out.
How did he even get in at all?
“No.
It’s the alpha bathroom.”
My brows twitched.
Didn’t I see the omega tag on it earlier?
Then, things just got worse.
Not only did I enter an alpha’s bathroom as an omega, but I even littered the ground with my mess again.
Perhaps my dad would have to bail me from the station in the morning…
My mood fell.
“Hello?”
Sébastien?
“Please, send cleaners into the alpha’s bathroom.”
“Yes, I’m waiting.”
My eyes snapped open.
Send cleaners?
“You called the restaurant’s manager?”
“Yes.
The restaurant is mine.”
Wow.
Still…
“Is this okay?”
I looked at the ground, feeling disgusted with everything.
Sébastien took my hand.
“Let’s get out of here.
It might mess up your stomach again.”
“No.
I think I should wait.” I refused to budge.
“I should help the cleaner with the cleaning.” Leaving my mess for others to clean all the time wasn’t a good thing.
Sébastien paused.
His cold grey eyes settled on my face.
“It could upset your stomach.”
“It won’t.”
His fingers tightened around mine.
My lips pursed.
He led me out of the bathroom.
“Don’t worry.
The cleaner will be fully compensated.”
“I’ll do that then.”
He smiled.
“It’s okay.
I’ve got this.”
“What happened to you?
You’ve looked pale all day.”
I was taken aback.
“All day?”
“Yeah, you looked pale in the hotel earlier, too.”
I didn’t notice that.
“A little sick.” Not like I could tell the truth.
Sébastien closed the door and rested on it.
His eyes lowered, settling on me.
“Seen a doctor?”
“Yeah.
It’s minor.”
He frowned lightly.
“Doesn’t look like it.”
I turned my head away.
Silence.
“You should see a doctor.”
“I’ll be fine in a while…” I paused.
Head raised, my eyes met his.
My thoughts stilled.
“Can you…
release your pheromone?”
Sébastien’s eyes flashed.
I gasped.
Took a step back and frowned.
What was that?
Why would I say that to him??
“Um, sorry.
Never mind.” I replied, turning to look away again.
That must have sounded really weird…
Oh God.
What is happening to me?
“Okay.”
Deep.
Cool.
Sébastien.
I raised a questioning brow.
“Alright.” He repeated.
My fingers involuntarily curled.
His pheromone thickened in the air, coiling around me.
Gentle.
Soothing.
It was like the finest wine Kay had ever mixed—except I didn’t need a single sip.
One breath was enough to leave me intoxicated.
The irritation in my belly subsided.
Even the tightness in my chest loosened.
The rims of my eyes slowly reddened.
This felt so good.
Sébastien’s eyes deepened.
His cold grey eyes darkened.
My heart skipped a beat.
Without a word, he stepped closer.
Closer, until our breaths were mixed.
His gaze pierced into mine, probing.
“Okay, now?”
I swallowed.
“Um.” I was.
Any more than this, I might really lose my self-control.
Sébastien’s jaw tightened.
For the first time, Sébastien looked almost as unsettled as I felt, yet he didn’t look away.
“Alright.” He replied.
Low and hoarse.
My fingers clenched tightly, nails almost digging into my flesh.
I took a step backward.
“Thank you.” I forced my eyes away from him.
He was taken.
He was no longer free.
Things had to be measured.
I took another step back.
Sébastien frowned slightly.
His thin lips parted like he wanted to say something.
He pressed them back together and nodded.
He also took a step back.
Sounds of footsteps reached our ears.
I steadied my breathing and turned to see.
I stiffened.
Karl.
He rested on the wall, arms crossed and eyes fixed on Sébastien.
Behind him was a lady, approaching with cleaning tools.
Fuck.
This is bad.