Heavy Rain Chapter 18

Watching the door of the hospital room slide shut, Haejin sank deeper and deeper into himself.

Though he had argued over every single clause, the contract had never protected him, as per usual. The three-month duration was also nothing more than a temporary measure. Lyle possessed the power to change his word whenever that time came and detain Haejin as he pleased.

Unless Lyle desired it first, he would not be able to escape this situation.

It had been proven that clumsy actions like this time were of no use. And for some reason, it did not seem like Lyle would let him go anytime soon. So, he thought calmly.

To get out of this mansion, he would have to find a more certain method next time.

And Haejin already knew that method.

“Prepare the contract. For the terms, include everything I last proposed to Haejin. The duration is 3 months.”

Since the duration was set so short, there was no need to keep all the proposed terms. Furthermore, to be honest, Haejin had no interest in any of the material aspects he offered. He had only shown an obsession with the end of the contract. This made Lyle feel all the more spiteful, so he decided to provide compensation beyond what was necessary.

He might be acting so detached right now because the things being given do not feel real to him. So, once he realizes what he holds in his hands, it will become difficult for him to give them up.

“Do you still include the ownership of the city building and the penthouse in Rain Tower?”

“Yes.”

“…Understood.”

The secretary, who was silently taking notes on the conditions Lyle dictated, paused for a moment. Considering the duration was shortened to three months, it was an excessively lavish treatment. The city area of the metropolis Heavy Rain was so valuable that one could not buy land or buildings even with money.

Therefore, the secretary felt the need to offer advice when Lyle told him to draft the clauses so that Haejin could quit at any time.

“Let us limit those conditions to cases where the three-month contract term is fulfilled. The promised financial compensation should be paid out without change in that case as well.”

“…Do that.”

Realizing only then that he had responded somewhat emotionally, Lyle frowned and nodded. In front of the secretary who was busily taking notes, he recalled Haejin’s gaze as he scanned the empty hospital room. Both his pheromones and his gaze were as dry as desert air.

“And draft a clause requiring him to notify us of his destination whenever he goes out. …If a situation arises where a GPS tracker is needed, report it to me separately.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Lyle had spoken indirectly, but the secretary understood immediately and continued his notes. He was also well aware of what had happened while chasing Haejin this time.

“But why was there no clause for personal living expenses in the previous contract?”

“Firstly, the hospital bills for Mr. Bright’s parents were a significant amount. Furthermore, you stated that you would provide for his life inside the mansion without any deficiency.”

“That’s true.”

“Despite that, I believe you intentionally did not mention the living expense issue so that, if it ever became a problem, you could use it as a pretext to bring a new contract to your advantage.”

“…I see.”

Suddenly, the memory of the small hand signing the contract without a single lawyer present comes to mind. He does not remember with what feelings he was watching that slightly trembling white hand.

“Shall I include a living expense clause? Since the primary goal this time is not the payment of hospital bills, it seems unnecessary.”

“Right. It’s different from back then, so there’s no need to worry about it.”

Life in the mansion would be without discomfort anyway. Lyle fell into thought while staring blankly down at the black, polished desk. From where on earth was this annoying irritation originating?

At that moment, the secretary, having finished his notes, opened his mouth after some deliberation. This was because he felt the need to make several reports he had postponed, as he never imagined Lyle would actually end up renewing the contract with Haejin.

“By the way, did you not want an Omega with a healthy body?”

The first thing that crossed the secretary’s mind was the content of Haejin’s blood test from not long ago. The Chairman wanted an Omega with faint pheromones and good health. This was because he extremely disliked having his schedule disrupted due to the partner developing health problems.

In that sense, Haejin was now, in many ways, no longer a suitable partner for the conditions Lyle had maintained until now.

Whatever his intentions might be, Haejin’s physical condition had become a relevant matter. The time had come to report it in advance before a problem occurred later.

“And?”

“Firstly, the results of the last blood test showed a diagnosis that malnutrition is at a dangerous level. It was similar when he was hospitalized this time.”

“…Malnutrition?”

“Yes. The hospital where he is currently admitted also informed us of several issues. Therefore, it is judged that Mr. Bright’s physical condition is currently not suitable for carrying out the contract. If you are fine with it, I will continue to look for other healthy Omegas.”

Bringing this up at length, the secretary carefully observed Lyle’s reaction. He was someone who faithfully executed his employer’s words and was not someone who made value judgments. Thus, if the Chairman’s values changed, he simply had to rearrange his priorities. He felt he would be able to gain a new understanding of Lyle’s intentions—which had seemed strangely misaligned since a while ago—based on the matters decided this time.

Meanwhile, listening to what the secretary was saying, Lyle felt utterly appalled. The period Haejin had been away from his mansion was barely less than a month. How on earth had he treated his body during that time for it to be called malnutrition?

“Did he perhaps touch drugs?”

Looking at that completely empty expression or his staggering body, it was suspicious. Irritation surged as he wondered if he should suddenly track Haejin’s past movements. How was he to know what kind of bastard he might have met and become entangled with during that time? Beyond simple discomfort, an unpleasant feeling enveloped Lyle.

However, as if dispelling his misunderstanding, the secretary handed over other materials and added calmly.

“That is likely not the case.”

“This is…?”

“I have summarized and collected Mr. Bright’s hospital records. If you look, it is presumed that there have been chronic problems since he lived at the mansion. They said it is not on the side of an eating disorder.”

Haejin did not know, but his medical examination records were being faithfully reported to Lyle’s secretarial office. Because Lyle’s schedule must not be disrupted by health issues, the secretary had managed it on his own. He had always received examinations at a hospital under the Vermouth umbrella. This was because he visited frequently anyway to see his parents.

“I had been collecting them to report to you if the issue persisted.”

Since the medical records at the time were not grave enough to interfere with the fulfillment of the contract immediately, the secretary simply waited for the right time. If he had reported such minor matters to Lyle, they would have all been categorized as “useful” information.

“…”

Upon seeing Haejin’s tracks provided by the secretary, Lyle ended up contorting his face in a grimace. The Beta secretary wouldn’t have felt it, but Lyle was so flabbergasted that the pheromones he had been controlling nearly came pouring out.

He wondered why that thin body bothered him every time, and this was the result. Turning the documents irritably, Lyle scowled. Watching that reaction closely, the secretary offered an objective opinion.

“At any rate, I am mentioning this because he does not seem to be a person suitable for a long-term contract.”

Ignoring those words, Lyle continued to examine the contents of the documents. Moving past the summary prepared by the secretary, he looked even at the detailed records of when and for what reason Haejin had received examinations at the hospital.

According to the records, Haejin went to the hospital diligently even if his health was only slightly poor. Perhaps it was thanks to the good accessibility since he went for visits periodically.

Looking at those meticulous footprints, Lyle felt that something was misaligned once again. If he knew how to go to the hospital so regularly, why had he neglected his body until it became that thin?

Frowning at his incomprehensible behavior, his eyes suddenly fell on a document the secretary was setting aside.

“What is that again?”

“Ah, that is the diagnostic record from this hospital admission.”

Lyle, as if possessed, took the document the secretary had set aside and soon bit his teeth together. Contrary to his suspicions, Haejin’s drug tests and such were clean. He was just endlessly in a mess physically.

Furthermore, an unexpected fact catches his eye.

“…Was there a problem with Jin’s leg?”