How much does a single act of sex affect a relationship? What I felt after that act—something too crude to even call sex, more like excretion—was emptiness. What felt empty was the fact that my heat cycle could be ended so easily.

Well, if you asked me whether it was really easy—I wouldn’t know what to say.

“Ahhk, hhup, more, ahh...”

“...Hah, fuck.”

Even with no real point of comparison, I knew this wasn’t normal. It hurt and exhausted me, yet at the same time the pleasure was so strong I couldn’t stop. My insides were stretched painfully to their limit, but each time he pushed in deep, an indescribable satisfaction filled me.

'Maybe it means he’s good at sex', I thought. Otherwise, how could it feel good when he was pounding into me so roughly? He wasn’t exactly considerate, but then again, maybe there was no need for him to be.

“Ugh...”

By morning, Kwon Yido wasn’t lying beside me. My whole body ached with muscle pain as I crawled out of bed and staggered toward the bathroom. Good thing the weekend started today—otherwise I might have ended up taking sick leave with the ridiculous excuse of “post-sex aftereffects.”

During the shower, it took forever just to wash out the semen. Typical of an alpha—the sheer amount was overwhelming. By the end my lower belly had actually protruded, and if he had knotted me, I would no doubt have been pregnant.

If you asked whether I felt embarrassed—not particularly. I was aware I’d shown him an undignified sight, but even if time were rewound, I would have done the same. Yido had relieved his lust, I had survived my heat cycle—perhaps you could call that mutual benefit.

Of course, that didn’t mean I wanted to deal with the awkwardness afterward.

“...Ah.”

I’d come down fairly late, yet Yido was sitting at the dining table—already dressed from head to toe. It wasn’t like he was skipping work, so there was no reason for him to still be here.

“Sit. Don’t just stand there making a nuisance.”

“...Excuse me, then.”

Did he oversleep too?

That thought crossed my mind as I awkwardly sat down across from him. I wanted to act natural, but it was impossible with so many parts of me still sore from the night before. 'Is the next day always like this?' It felt like it interfered too much with daily life.

Food was set before me, and the only sounds were the quiet clinks of utensils. The silence was heavy, but meals with Yido were always like this. With nothing to talk about, and since he clearly didn’t want me being warm or chatty, there was no reason to speak first.

I watched him discreetly as I moved my chopsticks. The way he ate felt like watching a meticulously staged play. Not artificial—simply flawless. The way he held his chopsticks, the movement of his jaw—sometimes I found myself strangely captivated.

“If you want something, say it.”

“...Pardon?”

The words came out of nowhere, and I reflexively asked back—made worse by the fact that I’d been staring at him. He didn’t look at me when he continued.

“Money or whatever. I’ll grant you one thing.”

“...”

What the hell... what was that supposed to mean?

I blinked at him. Offering me something I wanted—this wasn’t a topic that belonged between us. Especially not worded like some kind of compensation...

“Ah.”

A sound escaped me. I realized belatedly what he might have meant. And at the same time, I let out a hollow laugh.

“...You make it sound like payment for services.”

He told me to go to some worthless man who would buy my body—yet here he was, handing me the price himself. Didn’t that make him the worthless man? Did he really think, while I was out of my mind with heat and moaning into the mattress, that I was calculating the profit?

“I appreciate the offer, but I didn’t do it expecting anything. I was simply out of it, and I wasn’t thinking of any gain. So there’s no need to give me anything.”

I tried to phrase it as politely as possible, so as not to offend him. It wasn’t pride—I truly had no need. There were things I might have wanted from him, but they weren’t words I could ever speak aloud.

“If I had to wish for something... I’d like to soak in a bathtub.”

“...A bathtub?”

He frowned faintly, as if to say, If you want to, then just do it.

I shrugged, replying casually.

“There’s no bathtub in my room.”

“...”

His expression shifted in a way that made it obvious he realized something. The change was subtle, but enough for me to guess his thoughts. Maybe it was simply that I’d lived my whole life reading others too carefully, too sensitively.

“I’d like it if the bathtub opened to the sky.”

I tacked the words on with a light, joking tone. Not as a true request, just a passing wish—like people saying out of habit, I want to travel.

“I’ll tell the staff.”

Surprisingly, Yido agreed readily. When I stared, he even gave a small nod.

“Though you won’t see the sky.”

Maybe he just wanted to use this as a way to erase last night, to treat it as if it had never happened. If he regretted sleeping with me, he’d naturally want to pay me off to keep my mouth shut.

“...In that case, thank you.”

At least things were easier now than they had been at first. I lowered my eyes and smiled faintly. In any case, it wasn’t a bad deal for me.

The meal went quiet again. Food that should have matched my taste felt rough, like grains of sand. Forcing down each bite, I finally heard him ask:

“How did you catch that cold?”

“Ah... I got caught in the rain.”

“Where?”

“...Just, you know.”

Did I really need to describe the situation? Admitting I’d been brooding around alone felt too pathetic. So I tried to close the conversation neatly.

“If it worried you—”

“Worried?”

His cold voice cut me off. He clicked his tongue, frowning.

“I just don’t like someone dragging themselves around my house looking like they can’t even feed themselves.”

With that, he set his chopsticks down. Clearly he’d lost his appetite. It was too awkward to even apologize. He rose from the table and left me sitting alone.

After he left for work, a staff member drew me a bath as promised. I hadn’t expected such luxury, but they’d even added fragrant bath salts. Well, good is good. I soaked until my skin turned red before finally getting out.

Back in my room, all traces of last night had been erased. The sheets were fresh, clothes folded away. Only the faintest lingering trace of his pheromones remained.

God really was unfair—giving someone who already had everything superior genes on top of it all. His bad personality was hardly enough to offset it.

I breathed in his pheromones little by little, spending the afternoon that way. They were far more effective than the sleeping pills I usually relied on. In that warm atmosphere, I must have dozed off without realizing.

***

Even after spending the heat cycle together, nothing changed between us. Neither of us spoke of that night. Nor did it repeat. By coincidence we ate breakfast together often, but the mood was never warm.

“Have a safe day.”

That was the only change—I always offered that farewell. Not because I wanted to impress him, but simply because he was leaving right in front of me. At first he gave me strange looks, but over time he accepted it without comment.

And still, Father didn’t seek me out. The sudden, complete silence made ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) me realize many things. For one, that I’d been truly foolish. And for another, that it was already too late to undo.

It felt like being a raft adrift on a calm sea, knowing a storm was sure to come, yet having no means of preparation. All I could do was huddle and tremble.

“...Yeah.”

It was when I came home from work as usual. As I approached the elevator from the garage, I saw someone on the phone. I didn’t need to come closer to recognize Kwon Yido.

“I know. It won’t be long now.”

His hand was in his pocket, head lowered. In his dark suit, he looked as though he’d stepped straight from a catalogue. But instead of his usual composed aura, there was an oddly mournful air about him.

“I’ll endure as long as I can. Once Grandfather passes, my sister will—”

Abruptly, he turned his head. In that instant, our eyes met. He cut his call short with a single line.

“...I’ll contact you later.”

Ding—the elevator doors slid open. But instead of stepping inside, he let out a small sigh. Seeing me still standing there, he asked:

“Aren’t you getting in?”

The atmosphere was suffocating all the way up. I should have said I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but by the time I thought of it, the moment had passed. Why was it that with someone I should want to impress, I kept showing only my worst sides? Or maybe now it didn’t matter how I looked to him.

“Are you planning to tell Chairman Jung?”

When we reached the first floor, he asked. I bowed my head a beat too late, then slowly answered.

“...No.”

“...”

“I wouldn’t spread such family matters carelessly.”

His grandfather meant Kwon Byung-wook, the current Chairman of Seonho Group. For his impending death to be mentioned—it likely meant he truly was on his last days. The rumors half-whispered in the wind had been close to the truth.

“So you heard.”

His reply was casual. Well, of course I had. From that distance even whispers would have carried, especially in the echoing garage.

“I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t ask for an apology.”

He replied stiffly and stepped out first. For some reason, his back looked unbearably weary. Maybe it was because I was worn down myself, but letting him walk away like that filled me with unease.

“...Mr. Kwon.”

The name left my mouth on impulse. It was the first time I’d spoken his name since we met. When he turned slowly toward me, my lips moved on their own.

“Would you like to take a drive along the Han River?”

I knew how absurd it was. We weren’t close, and I had no right to ask. But my conscience stung, insisting I not let him go like that.

“There’s a place along the boulevard where you can pull over for a break.”

“...”

“The view of the river at night is beautiful. I think you might not dislike it.”

For him, the scene would surely be unimpressive. This man wasn’t someone who cared for river reflections. I braced for rejection—for him to scoff. But instead, he loosened his tie and asked:

“Are you good at driving?”

“...Pardon?”

He checked his watch with a leisurely gesture. A wedding ring—the one he wore for me—gleamed on his finger. With a flick of his wrist, he glanced at me and gave a slight nod.

“If you drive, I’ll consider it.”

***

The road to the Han River was quiet, with hardly a car in sight. Past commuting hours, on a weekday, there was no reason for anyone to be out. Following the line of streetlamps, I tried to strike up a natural topic.

“...This car is really nice.”

As he’d said, Yido let me drive. It was a Seonho sedan, a newly released model. I wasn’t much for cars, but the ride quality was impressive. Worth owning, maybe.

“If you want it, take it.”

His voice was flat, without interest. I started to say I didn’t mean it like that, but he continued.

“I don’t use things handled by others.”

“....”

Then you shouldn’t have lent it in the first place. I felt self-conscious just holding the wheel. I kept my voice as calm as possible as I declined.

“Thank you, but I’ll just accept the sentiment.”

I could feel his gaze on me. It clung to my profile, unwavering. Even without meeting his eyes, I was observed like an animal behind glass.

“Usually... I’m a good judge of people.”

He spoke just as I was parking near the riverside. It was a shabby spot, hardly worthy of him. Tilting his head, he continued evenly:

“But with you, I have no idea what you’re thinking.”

“....”

Strange to feel relief—that even eyes like his couldn’t pierce me. I tried to brush it off with a smile, but then he asked directly:

“What do you want from me?”

My throat tightened. Turning slowly, my eyes met his. Even his pheromones thickened the tension in the car.

“...If you mean want...”

“Knowing your nature, you wouldn’t have dragged me here without a reason.”

So he did understand me—at least partly. I swallowed dryly. He gave a short laugh. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

“You didn’t invite me out just for a date, did you?”

If I had, what would he have said? It was unthinkable. He’d probably have responded with a cold sneer—'Do you think you’re really my spouse?'

“Did Chairman Jung put you up to negotiating?”

“...”

I turned back toward the windshield, silent. My heart pounded irregularly. The guilt I’d suppressed weighed on me like a stone in my gut.

'You’ve got nowhere to return but here, Sejin.'

“I...”

“....”

“I really don’t want anything.”

Truly, I wanted nothing. No position at the company, no ambition to profit by clinging to Yido. Just recognition as a son. Just a stable shelter to stay within. That was all I’d ever sought.

“I’m sorry.”

“....”

He gave no reply. Perhaps he thought I was apologizing for having no desires. He had no idea of the confession buried in the words.

“...Truly, I’m sorry.”

The words slipped out again. It was all I could say. I shouldn’t have brought him here. This was not how I had imagined seeing the night view of the river since college. My head sank lower and lower, when Yido finally spoke.

“Usually... sons resemble their fathers.”

His voice carried an unusual resonance, softer than usual. In the enclosed car, it felt like he whispered right against my ear.

“You really aren’t his biological son.”

Anyone who knew Haesin knew I was adopted. So his words meant more than just lack of blood. Maybe he’d recognized some fundamental difference between my father and me.

“Let’s go back.”

As if to say there was nothing more to discuss. I turned the car around at once. We left the river in barely five minutes. The night view reflected in the water was less beautiful than I had imagined.