Love Born of Pity Chapter 45

While listening to Kang Gyumin’s voice, each syllable precisely delivered without a single change in expression, Kwon Jiho scratched his right ear. He thought it was a remarkably clear voice, despite the muffled sensation.

“I apologize. You said that if I didn’t break things off with Mr. Yeonjae, you would go to my brother and tell him… how I earned the money to pay for his hospital bills.”

“Yes. Go on.”

“My brother already knows everything. Did you… by any chance, meet my brother?”

At the time, he hadn’t thought about how Kwon Heeyeon had come to such a conclusion. He had been too shocked by her words to think deeply about it.

But while preparing what he would say to Kang Gyumin, the thought suddenly struck him. Could someone have told Kwon Heeyeon about his situation? Could someone have subtly informed her about how he was paying the hospital bills?

“What?”

“…….”

“Me? Meet whom?”

“My brother. I was just thinking about… what you said about visiting him. Because there’s no one else who would tell him something like that…”

Kang Gyumin let out a disbelieving scoff, his eyes contorting with displeasure. For some reason, Kwon Jiho thought of his uncle, seeing Kang Gyumin’s reaction, neither vehemently denying the accusation nor actively explaining himself.

“Keep going. Let’s see how far you’ll go. Why did you stop?”

“……I, misunderstood… I apologize if I misunderstood.”

“You shouldn’t say you’re sorry ‘if’ you misunderstood, you should say you’re sorry ‘because’ you misunderstood. Because I’ve never visited your brother. Do I seem like a man of leisure because I keep visiting you, Mr. Kwon Jiho? It’s quite insulting. So, you asked to meet to confirm that?”

“No, that’s not it… I wanted to tell you that I won’t accept the help you offered.”

Kang Gyumin ran a hand through his hair in frustration, listening to Kwon Jiho’s dwindling voice. He felt a sense of self-disgust, wondering if he had postponed a meeting to listen to such rambling nonsense.

“Mr. Kwon Jiho.”

“……Yes.”

“If it were me, I would rather take your money and leave than live as someone’s whore. Is that so difficult? Is it something to agonize over so much? I really don’t understand. Why would you cling to him even while being ridiculed as a mistress?”

Despite the monotone, anger resonated in Kang Gyumin’s voice. He pressed his temples as if he had a headache.

“Do you enjoy sleeping with him? But you’re a Beta, and he’s an Alpha. It must be a one-sidedly painful relationship, so what’s holding you back, Mr. Kwon Jiho? If your brother found out, shouldn’t you say you won’t earn money that way anymore? Instead of saying you can’t quit like now.”

Kwon Jiho sat like a criminal, unsure if those were questions or statements. Kang Gyumin’s point was perfectly logical. Nevertheless, Kwon Jiho couldn’t answer. He simply lowered his head further, prompting a deep sigh from Kang Gyumin.

“Fine, do as you please, Mr. Kwon Jiho. I had some hopes for a clean marriage, but it seems like a foolish wish. I’ll assume you’re not breaking up.”

“…….”

“We won’t be seeing each other again, right? Delete my contact information and throw away my business card.”

“The… money you gave me.”

Kang Gyumin’s face, as he was about to stand up, twisted again. A curse finally slipped past his elegant lips. Unable to hide his displeasure and disgust, he muttered about Kwon Jiho being troublesome.

“What about the money? Speak quickly. I don’t want to waste any more time on you.”

“If you could tell me how much you gave me… I lost the money…”

“Mr. Kwon Jiho, you have a talent for infuriating people. Did you really think I would ask for that money back?”

The refined demeanor he had maintained throughout crumbled instantly. Muttering endless curses, Kang Gyumin glared at Kwon Jiho sitting there feigning innocence. He was so angry he wanted to slap him.

As he gulped down the latte in front of him to calm his boiling anger, someone grabbed his shoulder. The ice clattered, and coffee spilled over the rim, wetting a clean hand.

“Ah!”

“I don’t understand why you two are together.”

At the low, resonant voice and the oppressive pheromones emanating from it, Kwon Jiho also stood up. Kang Gyumin, his eyes wide with surprise, bit his lip and made a troubled expression.

The cold gaze shifted from Kang Gyumin to Kwon Jiho. At the cynical look devoid of any emotion, Kwon Jiho habitually held his breath.

“Mr. Kwon Jiho. What are you doing?”

“…….”

“Who are you to be sitting here?”

At the question laced with disdain, Kang Gyumin snorted. Kwon Jiho’s pale face flushed crimson.

“Just so you don’t misunderstand, he called me to come here. I didn’t call him and make him sit here.”

Kang Gyumin added fuel to the fire. Cursing under his breath, Do Yeonjae pulled Kang Gyumin up. Then, without a word to Kwon Jiho to wait or that he’d contact him, he dragged him out. The smile didn’t leave Kang Gyumin’s face until the moment they left the cafe, Kwon Jiho’s wrist gripped in Do Yeonjae’s hand. It was a petty feeling, but it was exhilarating.

Despite feeling uneasy about leaving Kwon Jiho alone, Do Yeonjae pushed Kang Gyumin into the car. He groaned as he landed roughly in the backseat.

“Didn’t I tell you not to meet Kwon Jiho?”

“That’s why I told you beforehand. I didn’t ask to meet him today.”

“I didn’t realize Mr. Kang Gyumin was free enough to come when summoned.”

“It’s not just anyone, it’s the whore the man I’m about to marry is keeping, of course I have to come.”

Do Yeonjae glared at Kang Gyumin, who didn’t back down, and let out a long breath.

“A whore? Watch your mouth. You’re blabbering quite freely. Try meeting Kwon Jiho one more time. It will be our marriage that breaks, not our relationship.”

“Mr. Do Yeonjae!”

“I don’t care whether we get married or not. I’m not the one who’ll regret it. So, if you think you can’t handle this, tell me now. I have no intention of letting go of Kwon Jiho. I’ll just find someone else who will accept him too.”

Kang Gyumin’s breathing grew ragged. He panted and opened the window, feeling a headache from the aggressive pheromones emanating from Do Yeonjae. He ignored Do Yeonjae’s urging for a response and thought. Was he really the one who would regret it if they didn’t get married?

Even if it was a long-arranged political marriage, if they both didn’t want it, there was no reason they couldn’t break it off. Whether it was a promise between families or a financial bond, their parents weren’t the type to force a marriage if their only child refused. Kang Gyumin could easily find another suitable match.

Do Yeonjae was just… the lingering regret of a twisted affection that hadn’t even begun. Even if his pride was shattered, he wanted to be legally bound to Do Yeonjae.

“……I won’t meet him. I won’t care what you do with Mr. Kwon Jiho. He’s a Beta, right? Then, as you said, he won’t be bringing home any children from outside. That’s enough for me. I’ll understand everything.”

“And you said something unnecessary to Jiho.”

Do Yeonjae’s sharp eyes slowly closed and opened. His dark, unreadable eyes slowly turned towards Kang Gyumin.

“Why do you think I didn’t pay off Mr. Kwon Jiho’s debt? Why do you think I became his creditor? What’s pocket change to you isn’t a large sum to me.”

“Mr. Kwon Jiho is so naive… He doesn’t even realize he’s at a disadvantage, so foolishly…!”

“That’s right. He’s naive. Because he’s naive, he’ll think he has to stay by my side if he still has debt.”

“……What?”

Kang Gyumin, panting, blinked with a confused expression. Wasn’t clearing debts one of the virtues of a sponsor? All the people he had sponsored so far had their debts cleared before he started sponsoring them.

“If he doesn’t have any debt, my marriage will become his burden of guilt, and he’ll try to break up with me just like now, just by listening to Mr. Kang Gyumin. That’s why I left it. Because there’s nothing else to bind Kwon Jiho to me besides debt.”

“I understand, I understand what you mean. I won’t touch him. I won’t pay off his debts either. I won’t meddle. So please, that pheromone… Ha… Just…!”

Even covering his nose couldn’t stop his body’s reaction. Rubbing his arms, which were covered in goosebumps from a physiological fear response, Kang Gyumin asked to be let out somewhere suitable.

“There’s a car following us, right? I’ll take my car, so please let me out here.”

Do Yeonjae, feeling no need to distinguish whether he was serious or not, instructed the driver to stop. The car pulled over with flashing hazard lights, and the following car slowed to a stop as well.

“I’ll be going.”

It was a parting devoid of any lingering feelings, unlike a couple about to get married.