From Divorce to Dusk Chapter 7.2

「Ah.」

Jaekyung, who was explaining a painting to the Chairman of RZ Soft and his wife, winced slightly as he felt a stinging pain in his stomach.

「Hmm? What’s wrong?」

The Chairman and his wife, who had been listening to Jaekyung’s explanation with satisfaction, looked at Jaekyung and asked as if puzzled.

「Oh, it’s nothing.」

Quickly straightening his slightly hunched waist, Jaekyung waved his hand and began explaining the painting again. His stomach had been hurting like this occasionally for a while now. At first, he ignored it, but as the frequency increased, he thought he might need to go to the hospital.

Looking at the time, it was 3 PM… if he didn’t go now, it would be difficult to get treated. Besides, today was Friday, so if he missed this chance, it wouldn’t be possible until next Monday… Jaekyung shook his head while calculating the time. No. It had only been two days since he returned to the gallery. If he left early now because he was sick, it was obvious what Director Ji would say without even looking.

「Sigh….」

Thinking about it that way, he felt like he knew why it hurt. It was probably just nerves. Stress. It was surprising that his stomach was only hurting now. By now, he should have collapsed from gastritis several times… He could definitely tell that his body had become much weaker since that drug was administered. But then again, he couldn’t show it. Jaekyung returned to the office and opened his desk drawer. Fortunately, there was gastritis medicine among the stocked medicine, so he took it and went back out to the gallery.

「Jaekyung.」

He happened to run into Director Ji, who was coming out of her office.

「Yes.」

Like a dog that runs when called, Jaekyung quickly stood before her.

「You know that tomorrow is the ML Foundation Anniversary party, right?」

「Yes. I know.」

「Taesuk said he will be moving with you, so pay attention to your attire. And, um….」

Director Ji scanned Jaekyung from head to toe. Knowing the meaning of that gaze, Jaekyung tried his best to straighten his posture.

「Perhaps because you were sick for a few months, you don’t look well. Your skin is parched too; get some skincare tomorrow, and I’ll contact Mr. Ian, so get your hair trimmed as well.」

「I understand.」

「Is your body okay?」

「Yes.」

「I heard from the doctor that your body has become very healthy, enough for a heat cycle to occur. Pay more attention to your physical maintenance.」

「Yes.」

Having heard Jaekyung’s reply, she said no more and walked away with the sharp clicking sound of her heels. The main point wasn’t to take care of his health, but the “heat cycle” was the core of what she wanted to say. Now that the imprinting was done, it meant he should strive to have a child when the heat cycle came.

Seeing how much she must have hounded the doctor, Jaekyung could see his attending physician was constantly watching him lately and working hard so that the heat cycle would come. He had been a bit uncomfortable because of that lately anyway…. He hoped the heat cycle would come quickly.

And if he slept with that man and at least had a child… could something change? Since a child would have been born, those people would naturally be good to the child at least. The problem was Jaekyung. Perhaps a breakthrough to escape…

No. I shouldn’t use a child, a life, like that.

Jaekyung shook his head.

「Ah.」

His stomach stung and ached again. Was the medicine insufficient? Jaekyung went back into the office, took one more stomach pill, and leaned back in his chair. It seemed Director Ji was going out, so he closed his eyes, thinking he could rest here for at least 5 minutes.

◆

ML.

It was a very young company with only about 10 years of history, but it was a place that had instantly swallowed up the largest IT companies in Korea, and Han Taesuk was one of the figures who had contributed greatly to the company’s growth.

When Chairman Han hesitated over investing in ML, Han Taesuk kept persuading him. That judgment was made when Han Taesuk had just reached adulthood, and Chairman Han provided 10 billion won to test whether his son’s judgment was right or wrong; with that support, it had now become a company worth over hundreds of billions.

Thanks to that, Han Taesuk’s position became solid, and the executives of ML reached a point where they would do anything for him. Perhaps that was why. Despite it being the ML Foundation Anniversary, all the main spotlights, including the commemorative speech, were focused on Han Taesuk, and Jaekyung naturally had to stand beside him in the spotlight.

「It is all finished.」

I had been moving busily since morning. I received a full-body massage, underwent skincare treatment, and finally arrived at the hair shop, my final destination, where I changed my clothes and had my hair styled. The look born from the hands of a professional was neat and clean, a stark contrast to how I looked while lying in bed sick for several months.

「How is it?」

Ian, the head hair designer and owner of this shop, asked Jaekyung.

「It’s good. I like it very much.」

「Right? I didn’t trim much. Just a bit off the ends? Since Mr. Jaekyung has such good hair texture and a slim, handsome face, there wasn’t much need to touch it. Just styling the front like a comma-hair look and giving it a good cut brings out the atmosphere immediately.」

Jaekyung felt a bit absurd looking at his unfamiliar reflection. It was surprising how easily a person’s aura could change. Just by getting a little sunlight, wearing nice clothes, and borrowing the hands of others to groom his hair and skin a bit, it was enough to…

「I think this jacket will suit you well.」

The people Han Taesuk sent had hung a row of clothes on a rack and were holding them up to Jaekyung one by one. Whether he disliked the first choice or not, Ian shook his head and picked out a different jacket. Once he was dressed in an outfit that felt casual yet dignified, Ian nodded in satisfaction.

「Straighten your shoulders slightly like this.」

When he followed Ian’s instructions with an awkward smile, his reflection in the mirror looked quite confident.

「Great! Wow, I’ll be taking charge of Mr. Jaekyung from now on. I love how the transformation is so clear the more I work on you.」

Ian said, dusting off Jaekyung’s shoulder.

「Don’t use such vulgar expressions for someone else’s partner.」

The door to the next room opened and Han Taesuk walked in. Dressed in a sleek suit with his hair slicked back, his tall stature and the natural light hitting him made it feel—though it was a childish thought—like he was a model or a protagonist making an entrance. He was an Alpha so handsome it made one lose their soul. Everyone would likely think so. Ian quickly took his hand off Jaekyung’s shoulder and greeted Han Taesuk.

「You have arrived, Your Majesty.」

At Ian’s playful behavior, Han Taesuk clicked his tongue as if he didn’t like it. Come to think of it, did they say the two were friends?

「Doesn’t Mr. Jaekyung look amazing?」

Ian quickly showed off Jaekyung’s appearance to Han Taesuk. He spoke as if asking for praise for the effort put into polishing him from head to toe. Han Taesuk looked at Jaekyung. Facing a gaze that looked directly at him like this was uncomfortable and awkward. When Jaekyung turned his head slightly, Han Taesuk also turned his head.

「Let’s depart. We’ll be late if we delay any further.」

「Ah. Yes.」

As Han Taesuk left first and Jaekyung hurriedly followed behind him, Ian caught Jaekyung.

「You don’t need to head out like that. Be relaxed.」

「Pardon?」

「I mean, there’s no need to be intimidated. Mr. Park Jaekyung, you are that guy’s partner. You are on the same level. So walk slowly. Shoulders back.」

「Yes….」

Jaekyung nodded and walked out slowly and leisurely, just as Ian had instructed. Han Taesuk was already sitting in the car, and Jaekyung sat next to him. Inside the smoothly starting car, Jaekyung looked at Han Taesuk’s large, long hands resting on his lap. And the neat sleeves and the 100-million-won watch between them. Everything suited him well.

「Did Ian make you feel uncomfortable?」

「Oh, no. He was very kind.」

What a surprise. To strike up a conversation suddenly.

「I heard him saying some strange things earlier; if you’re uncomfortable, we can change shops.」

「He was kind to me. And he didn’t say anything strange.」

「…I see.」

He didn’t know why he brought this up suddenly, but it was a subtle feeling. Somehow, Han Taesuk seemed more displeased than he was. Why?

「Is there anything I should do?」

At Jaekyung’s question, Han Taesuk’s gaze shifted from checking his congratulatory speech to Jaekyung.

「Ah… since it’s an important occasion, I wondered if there were any points to be careful about.」

「There are none. Just stay by my side.」

「I understand.」

Soon, Jaekyung’s body stiffened as Han Taesuk’s pheromones spread subtly. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been exposed to his pheromones for the past few days. It was because Jaekyung’s body had improved, and perhaps because he had left work early for over a month, his work had piled up, causing him to spend many nights at the company. That’s right—they had returned to the same ordinary daily life as before.

Their married life without him was simply starting again; he didn’t feel disappointed or heartbroken. He didn’t really need to do this. Since they were now an imprinted pair, there was no way others could feel each other’s pheromones. Jaekyung’s physical condition was also fine. Perhaps thanks to taking the medicine yesterday, the stomach pain had disappeared today. However, he couldn’t refuse the favor of him doing this, so Jaekyung stayed still.

Soon the car stopped in front of the hotel and the door opened. Han Taesuk withdrew his pheromones, and Jaekyung, breathing a sigh of relief as he got out of the car, was startled. It was because many cameras and reporters were directed at Han Taesuk, and the focus of those cameras was also concentrated on Jaekyung.

Han Taesuk naturally reached out his hand to Jaekyung, and Jaekyung also took his hand as they walked side by side into the hotel and entered the banquet hall. The banquet hall, which they entered after avoiding the reporters, was another battlefield. As expected, using the weapons of eyes and mouths, everyone was buzzing, approaching Han Taesuk to get on his good side, or whispering.

Jaekyung smiled calmly as if nothing were wrong and stole a glance at them. Famous figures he had only heard of by name were all gathered. Even the third-generation heirs made an appearance. Their gazes still seemed to be ranking Jaekyung. He might be an Omega, but he was still the eldest son of the Jaewang Group. Then again, the fact that the Jaewang Group wasn’t even invited to such an event made it clear how far the company’s prestige had fallen.

「Executive Director Han!」