“......”

I blinked slowly in disbelief. No matter how high his position, I wasn’t someone who should be addressed with “hey.” I closed my mouth, unable to grasp what he was trying to say, and Kwon Ijeong twisted the corner of his lips subtly.

“So it’s true—you’re the one Kwon Yido’s engaged to, right?”

“......”

It was an utterly absurd expression. I understood what he meant, but for someone supposedly well-educated, it was far too rude. Kwon Yido could be blunt, but he’d never made me feel like this.

“Wow, never thought I’d run into you here.”

Kwon Ijeong squinted his eyes and smiled, as if genuinely surprised. His soft features resembled his father, but it was the first time I realized how unpleasant he could look. I began to understand why the media subtly disparaged him while calling him the archetype of a chaebol.

“Hey, why so quiet? Don’t recognize me?”

“...No, I do.”

I barely managed to move my lips, which had stiffened with unease. The inexplicable repulsion remained, but pretending to be unfazed wasn’t difficult. I forced a pleasant expression and softened my voice.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Kwon Ijeong. I’m Jung Sejin, formerly of the Strategic Planning Division at Haesin Financial Group.”

Initiating a handshake wasn’t my role. So I simply offered a polite greeting, but Kwon Ijeong narrowed his eyes as if he’d just heard something amusing.

“Ah... were we supposed to pretend we didn’t know each other today?”

“......”

“Well, then. I’m Kwon Ijeong, CEO of Myeongseong Hotel. Regretful to run into you in such a shabby place.”

As if he’d never used informal speech, he immediately switched to a refined tone. The peculiar accent was similar to Kwon Yido’s, but unlike his, it was deeply grating. With both hands in his pockets and a smirk on his face, he continued.

“But... is it okay for an omega to be in the men’s restroom?”

A chill ran down my spine at the way his gaze swept over me. He looked me up and down like he was appraising me, then casually shrugged. He even clicked his tongue.

“I mean, technically speaking, right? An omega would be with a man, so what if someone’s peeing next to you and it gets awkward? Pulling your pants down here seems... inappropriate for this location.”

A filthy pheromone crept toward me. There were more than a few things worth calling out, but I couldn’t say a word. I simply clenched my fist. Not because of the insults—because it felt like that pheromone had wrapped itself around my throat.

“......”

To be clear, it wasn’t strong enough to have any actual effect. I was a dominant omega, and he was the only recessive among the three siblings. No matter how much pheromone he emitted, I wouldn’t even blink. And yet, I couldn’t explain why I felt so tense, like I couldn’t breathe.

“Ah... or were you hoping for something like that? To run into an alpha by chance? Is that it, Mr. Jung Sejin?”

Kwon Ijeong’s voice buzzed in my ears. Why he kept smirking like that, why he was trying to provoke me—it didn’t matter. I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred, my head felt light.

“You’re not mute. Why aren’t you answering? Hey, Mr. Jung Sejin. Am I talking to myself here?”

“......”

It felt like I might break into a cold sweat any second. If I let my guard down even slightly, I might lose consciousness before I realized it. The unease only intensified as Kwon Ijeong’s pheromones thickened and he stepped closer.

“Director.”

“......”

I snapped my head up. It wasn’t Kwon Ijeong’s voice. Someone else had cut through the space between us. My eyes slowly shifted to the restroom entrance—Lee Taeseong was standing there.

“Pardon the interruption, but we need to hurry.”

“...Ah.”

It felt like I could finally breathe again. It didn’t matter who it was—just the fact that I wasn’t alone anymore made my blood flow again.

“What, do omegas bring bodyguards into the bathroom now?”

Kwon Ijeong’s grumbling didn’t matter. I hid the way I was gasping for air behind a practiced smile. I softened my gaze, and Kwon Ijeong raised a brow.

“My apologies, sir. I’ll offer a proper greeting another time. I must have made you uncomfortable. Please take your time.”

I gave a shallow bow and left the restroom before Lee Taeseong. He also bowed slightly to Kwon Ijeong before quickly following after me. I kept my mouth tightly shut as we walked, but the moment we reached the empty elevator, my body swayed heavily.

“...!” 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Lee Taeseong quickly grabbed my arm in surprise. Normally, I would’ve brushed him off and said I was fine, but this time, I couldn’t. My fingers were trembling so badly that, without him, I would’ve crumpled to the floor.

“Are you alright?”

“...Yeah, I’m fine.”

Really, there was no reason not to be. He only said a few things. Nothing worth getting angry about. I just... for some reason, I was on edge.

“I’m fine... Let’s just stay like this for a moment. My legs feel a little weak.”

“......”

Without much effort, he supported me from behind. When the elevator reached the lobby floor, he carefully helped me inside. It was the separate elevator reserved for guests—no one else was inside.

“...Hoo.”

I let out a thin sigh and brushed my cold forehead. As I leaned back a little more comfortably, Lee Taeseong flinched and spoke.

“I’m sorry. I hesitated to come in right away—it might’ve looked strange.”

“...There’s nothing for you to apologize for.”

It wasn’t like I’d been attacked. And what kind of bodyguard follows someone into a restroom anyway? Besides, if Lee Taeseong recognized Kwon Ijeong, then it would've been even harder for him to intervene immediately.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I avoided a difficult situation.”

I forced strength back into my legs and straightened up. He was still holding both my arms tightly. Just as I was about to tell him he could let go, he spoke in a quieter voice.

“Please don’t let what you heard in there get to you.”

“You heard it?”

“......”

“You did, huh.”

I let out a dry laugh. I suppose Lee Taeseong thinks I’m someone so fragile I’d stagger over a few words. That must be why he was watching me so closely, offering that half-excuse.

“I wasn’t eavesdropping.”

“Well... it doesn’t matter. It wasn’t anything important.”

“...Does this kind of thing happen often?”

“More than you’d think.”

It wasn’t just Kwon Ijeong who hurled degrading words because I’m an omega. There were plenty of others. Maybe they didn’t say it to my face because of my position, but I knew about the rumors they shared behind my back. Even Father and Minjae often said things that would make ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) anyone grimace if overheard.

“I mean... a man being an omega is kind of weird, right?”

Ding—the elevator doors opened. Only then did Lee Taeseong release his grip on my arms. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but before he could take a step, someone called out to me.

“...Jung Sejin?”

A familiar perfume lingered in the air. A faint blend of floral aroma and hairspray. Not exactly unpleasant, but the mix of artificial scents was irritating to breathe in.

“Jung Sejin, you...”

It was Minjae.

***

There were three halls at Myeongseong Hotel, each named after a zodiac sign. The banquet hall was the Libra Hall, and as the name suggested, its ceiling was adorned with lighting that resembled a sky full of stars. I took in the beautiful sight and did my best to ignore the stares that followed my every move.

“......”

Minjae, whom I had just run into by the elevator, glared at me all the way to the hall. His expression was filled with obvious displeasure, but I couldn’t understand why. The last time we met, didn’t we part somewhat peacefully?

Lee Taeseong followed us at a distance. From the moment we were first spotted together, Minjae had even scrutinized him with a sharp gaze. It wasn’t the kind of look you gave to just a bodyguard, and honestly, I was a little taken aback.

“Mr. Jung Sejin, Mr. Jung Minjae. Please follow me to your table.”

Lee Taeseong remained at the entrance while we followed a hotel staff member to a round table in the center. I thought the rest of the family would already be there, but only empty chairs awaited us. Perhaps they had stepped out briefly. I chose a suitable seat and sat down. Minjae dropped into the chair beside me.

“......”

“......”

Another stretch of awkward silence. I eventually looked at him, and Minjae flinched and turned his eyes away. Dressed up from head to toe, he looked just like Mother.

“...The outfit suits you. The black hair definitely looks better.”

I spoke first, gently, before he could start complaining. It would be inconvenient if he threw a fit here. Minjae raised an eyebrow and responded with his usual defiant tone.

“That outfit on you is fu—hella ugly.”

At least he had some awareness of the occasion. The way he stopped himself from swearing mid-sentence showed that much. Though saying the outfit was ugly felt a little too petty.

“More importantly, why were you wandering around alone, Minjae? Where’s the rest of the family?”

“......”

The moment I said “family,” his eyes flared and he shut his mouth. Then he spoke in a voice suddenly laced with seriousness.

“What the hell have you been doing all this time?”

“What do you mean...?”

It was such a random question. I’d been staying at Kwon Yido’s house this whole time. Of all people, Minjae should’ve known that.

“Living the high life, huh? Wearing a disgustingly expensive watch. Must be nice, eating and living well on your own.”

His abrupt barrage of complaints sounded more like a tantrum than actual anger. I’d watched him grow up—I could tell. It wasn’t that he hated me for living well. He resented that I didn’t understand how he felt.

“Did something happen?”

I asked casually, but Minjae didn’t answer. He just bit down on his lip and looked down. Then, staring at my fingers, he muttered under his breath, barely audible.

“...What kind of engagement is this...”

He must’ve noticed the faint ring mark on my fourth finger. Just a guess, but someone probably warned him not to mention the engagement. What method they used, only the rest of the family would know.

“If you want answers, ask Father yourself. That bastard sealed everyone’s mouths shut.”

“......”

I instinctively looked around. “That bastard” was a bit much. Minjae spat the words like venom, then turned his head sharply, signaling the end of the conversation.

Should I try to comfort him? Tell him I didn’t get engaged for personal gain? That it wasn’t my decision? Should I play the good older brother, try to explain and apologize?

“......”

But I couldn’t bring myself to speak. That brief hesitation was just a split second, but it was enough for a flood of questions to overtake me.

That bastard—he must’ve meant Kwon Yido. But what did he mean by sealing mouths shut?

The way Minjae said it, it sounded like there was something more than just the engagement. But if someone as loose-lipped as Minjae couldn’t say it, then asking Father would be pointless. Minjae was the type to at least hint at the truth. Father, on the other hand, wouldn’t say a word.

The rest of the family showed up just as the ceremony was about to begin. The hall was starting to fill, and Mother and Seoyoung returned to the table—Father was still absent. I stood up when I saw them, but Mother waved me down.

“Sit. People’ll stare.”

Not that anyone was really paying attention to us. Still, it wasn’t exactly wrong, so I nodded. Mother sat across from me and quietly said,

“Your face... looks much better.”

The bright red lipstick seemed a bit much today. Her makeup felt heavy, but her complexion still looked off. I glanced at Seoyoung and Minjae, then replied calmly.

“Yes, well... I’ve been treated well.”

“...Good. That’s a relief.”

“Have you been doing well, Mother?”

“Me? I’m always the same.”

There was something off about the atmosphere. We were never a warm family, but today felt especially strange. They avoided eye contact, dodged my gaze like it was painful. It wasn’t just discomfort—it was like I had become difficult to face.

Almost like... yes, like the hired staff at Kwon Yido’s house.

“...Where’s Father?”

It was the thing I was most curious about. But instead of answering, Mother furrowed her brows. Even near fifty, her face was wrinkle-free—a testament to the effort she’d put into maintaining it. After a moment of silence, she slowly opened her lips.

“Your father is—”

That was when it happened. A soft mechanical chime rang out, and someone took the mic at the podium. The announcement said the ceremony was about to begin, and asked all guests to be seated.

I glanced toward the alternate entrance near the podium. Not just the emcee, but everyone seated near the stage had turned to look. In that wave of shifting attention, familiar faces entered one by one.

“......”

It was the Seonho Group family. Vice President Kwon Sangmi, her children Kwon Ikyung and Kwon Ijeong, and finally, Kwon Yido.

Sometimes, when I saw the Kwon family, I’d think—life really is relentlessly unfair. They already had wealth and fame, yet they were graced with physical beauty as well.

“Can’t believe how good-looking they all are...”

Someone whispered, sounding spellbound. I slowly blinked, burning their movements into memory. More precisely, burning his—my fiancé, Kwon Yido.

Has anyone ever looked this good in a plain black suit? There was nothing remarkable about it, aside from the unusually colored vest buttons. But just by being the one wearing it, Kwon Yido made it look extraordinary. His straight shoulders, the way he walked confidently—it made him feel like someone from another world.

I couldn’t believe I’d left the house with him this morning. It made me wonder if everything that had happened between us was just a dream. Every step he took was more elegant than a scene from a classic painting.

He really is someone I could only be tied to by contract, I thought, just as I began to look away.

“......”

“......”

Our eyes met. Or... it felt like they did. Even though we weren’t close, his gaze locked onto mine.

I stared at him, frozen, not even breathing. The murmuring around us faded away. His dark eyes stayed fixed on me, unmoving—as if time had stopped.

And then, something unbelievable happened.

Kwon Yido, who was said to never smile. Kwon Yido, who always smiled only in front of me. Slowly lifted the corners of his mouth.

It was a gentle, affectionate smile—one he had never shown to the public, not even once.