Love Born of Pity Chapter 24

Do Yeonjae’s gaze followed Jiho’s, and as he pulled Jiho closer by the neck, Jiho’s swollen lips parted. Jiho thought he was going to be kissed, but instead, Yeonjae’s tongue licked the cut at the corner of his mouth. He licked it repeatedly, and a trickle of blood began to ooze out.

“Ah…”

Jiho moaned softly at the stinging, strangely arousing sensation. Yeonjae placed a light kiss on his lips and then rested his forehead against his.

“Go to sleep.”

“…What about you?”

“I still have work to do.”

Yeonjae answered playfully, using formal speech, as he helped Jiho up. Jiho was definitely aroused, and his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Yeonjae’s groin.

“Why? Want to suck me off?”

“…If you tell me to…”

“With your hole all torn up like that? Inside or out, it’s a mess.”

Yeonjae chuckled, then took Jiho’s wrist and pulled him along. He led him to the bedroom and tucked him into bed.

“You’re cute, but I said I have work to do.”

“…”

“Sleep.”

Yeonjae patted Jiho’s cheek, dimmed the bedroom lights, and turned to leave without a second glance. Jiho clutched the edge of the pillowcase, his body trembling even under the covers. He was anxious because their encounters had never ended without sex.

Was Yeonjae really busy with work? Or was he tired of him? He seemed different. He had said nothing would change.

Anxiety spread through him like ink, and Jiho stayed awake until the early hours of the morning, imagining the worst possible scenarios.

He imagined Yeonjae’s favor ending, and him being abandoned.

♬⋆.˚

Lately, Do Yeonjae had been meeting with Kang Gyumin frequently. They had lunch with Gyumin’s parents, and Gyumin had visited Yeonjae’s family home for tea. Both families were excited about the upcoming wedding.

“This is getting tiring.”

Today, once again, Yeonjae had to have lunch with Gyumin. The reason given was that they needed to take some pictures together. Yeonjae’s already lacking appetite diminished further.

Jiho hadn’t woken up that morning, perhaps because he hadn’t slept well, so Yeonjae hadn’t even seen him eat breakfast. He was particularly bothered by how anxious Jiho had seemed the night before. He had wanted to spend a relaxing morning with him, comforting him, but Gyumin hadn’t been willing to reschedule. He was particularly annoyed with Gyumin today for disrupting his plans.

“Please eat a little more.”

At the gentle chime of Gyumin’s voice, Yeonjae’s gaze shifted to him. Gyumin was wearing a picture-perfect smile.

Their marriage was a firm bond forged by money, arranged even before they were born. The interests of their families were so intertwined that neither of them could refuse, even if they wanted to. Having heard about it constantly while growing up, neither Yeonjae nor Gyumin had ever considered breaking off the engagement.

Gyumin, in particular, desired this marriage. He had harbored feelings for Yeonjae since childhood, fostered through their regular meetings. He had subtly hinted at wanting to hold the ceremony sooner, but Yeonjae had refused. Although his pride was hurt, he had accepted the date set for the following spring.

Even though Yeonjae wasn’t Gyumin’s first, he was his first love. His heart had always beat for Yeonjae. That’s why he desperately wanted a harmonious marriage. Regardless of how it began, he dreamed of a newlywed life that others would envy.

But that dream was shattered even before the ceremony. Yeonjae wanted a marriage in name only.

Around the time Gyumin was agonizing over the reason, he learned about the beta Yeonjae was keeping. His pride was wounded, but he had sought out the beta and told him to end the relationship, believing he had received a somewhat agreeable response.

However, the relationship hadn’t ended. As Yeonjae grew increasingly cold towards him, Gyumin felt a growing anxiety that their bond was actually strengthening.

Lost in these unproductive thoughts, Gyumin noticed Yeonjae’s bored expression during their obligatory lunch. The atmosphere suddenly cooled, as if the midsummer heat didn’t exist, and Gyumin spoke hurriedly.

“About the house. What size do you think would be good?”

“I don’t know. You’ll be living there alone anyway, so decide for yourself.”

“Do you have a favorite color? I’m thinking about the interior.”

“Black.”

Who decorates their newlywed home in black? Gyumin sighed softly. Yeonjae wasn’t being cooperative at all.

“I’m just asking. I’m curious.”

“Then don’t ask.”

“Do you keep that beta because you like him?”

Yeonjae’s gaze finally focused on Gyumin. Despite the presumptuous question, Gyumin’s posture remained straight. Yeonjae’s cold eyes scanned him. His picture-perfect features, his smooth, almost glowing skin, the sweet pheromones typical of a dominant omega, his slender build, and his matching haughty demeanor.

Objectively, Gyumin possessed the looks, wealth, and intellect that any alpha would covet, but his lower body was far too loose. A slut. Yeonjae assessed him indifferently, then smirked.

“I was wondering the same thing. Why do you see betas, Kang Gyumin? Are you satisfied with the sex they provide? Wouldn’t it be better to be with an alpha, even a recessive one?”

“I see them because they don’t knot. Alphas instinctively knot. It’s not easy to get out of once they’ve forced it on you, and taking contraceptives is a burden. Does that answer your question? So, why do you see a beta?”

Gyumin answered the vulgar question calmly, in a soft voice. Yeonjae laughed languidly and answered without hesitation.

“He’s pretty to look at, and he doesn’t get pregnant. I hate kids. And I certainly don’t intend to have any bastards.”

“If it’s about looks, wouldn’t I be better? I’m an omega, a dominant one at that. Besides, we’re supposed to have children.”

“You’re a slut, Kang Gyumin. No matter how pretty a slut is, they’re still just good for wiping the floor.”

Yeonjae’s smile vanished as he continued in a low voice, “So keep your dirty games to a minimum. You have to think about your parents’ reputation. There’s no one you haven’t slept with.”

“…”

“Shall we leave? The food is starting to smell disgusting.”

Gyumin’s face flushed crimson at the insulting words. He clenched his trembling hands, barely managing to control his emotions, and slowly stood up.

“People are talking.”

“Just like your lower half.”

Yeonjae shrugged and left the room without waiting for Gyumin.

At the same time, Kwon Jiho arrived at the academy in a daze. Cleaning and organizing the interior was a daily task, so his body moved on autopilot, even with his mind half-absent. He vacuumed the floor and meticulously mopped with a microfiber cloth. He carefully wiped down the tables, display cases, and piano, and before he knew it, lunchtime had long passed.

He had no appetite. Perhaps because he had woken up alone. He sent a message to Yeonjae, reporting that he had bought a new phone, but the phone on the table remained silent, as if Yeonjae hadn’t checked it. He tapped the screen and shook the rectangular device several times, but it remained quiet.

“…Is he busy?”

Jiho sighed deeply and walked towards the grand piano in the hall as if drawn to it. He hesitated, then sat down and began pressing the keys one by one, from the lowest notes to the highest. He hadn’t even thought about playing the piano for a while, as his fingers, broken in the accident, weren’t flexible enough for a natural performance.

His fingers began to move slowly. He hummed a familiar melody and began to play, careful not to strain his fingers. Lost in the music, he was startled by the sound of a wind chime behind him and abruptly stopped playing.

“Our Jiho sure has it easy, doesn’t he? Playing the piano to his heart’s content. You’re the only one who’s fine in our family.”

“…Uncle.”

“That guy the other day, he was an alpha, right? I’m bonded with my partner, so I can’t smell other alphas’ pheromones. That’s why I wasn’t sure… He was an alpha, wasn’t he? And are you sleeping with him? No, no. The question is wrong, isn’t it? You sold your body to that alpha for money, didn’t you?”

“What… No, that’s not it.”

As Jiho denied it, Kwon Yoontaek strode in. He tossed a handful of photos in front of Jiho. They were all pictures of him and Yeonjae. Why would he have these…?

“I thought I smelled money. It seems like you’re living with him? And Heeyeon woke up, too?”

Kwon Yoontaek’s eyes gleamed as he smiled maliciously. He had found a way to escape his suffocating situation.

“So the money wasn’t coming from somewhere else, it was stuck to our Jiho. Uncle didn’t know, did he? Huh? Who knew that someone so quiet-looking would do such sly things behind our backs, right?”

“Why are you saying these things? Suddenly…”

“Our Heeyeon has been lying in bed for three years because of the accident and just woke up. How shocked would she be to find out her brother sold his body to pay the hospital bills? Tsk, poor thing. She’s so stubborn, too, right? If you tell her you spread your legs for an alpha, got bitten all over, to pay her bills, don’t you think she’d wish she’d been left to die?”