Heavy Rain Chapter 22

While speaking, the secretary carefully observed Lyle’s expression. For some time now, the Chairman had been walking rapidly with a face that looked somehow parched and craving. It felt as if he were running away, and the secretary suddenly felt a sense of strangeness.

“…I know.”

The secretary frowned at the ambiguous affirmation. It was unclear whether Lyle had known all along or had only just realized it. However, either way, it didn’t really matter. His boss was not the kind of person to feel guilty over something like this.

So, the secretary calmly pointed out points that might have been missed. His role, after all, ended exactly here. Depending on how Lyle accepted his words, the secretary’s future attitude would become a bit clearer.

“I think it would be better to give him some time to adjust. There are still health issues as well.”

But at that moment, Lyle suddenly came to a dead stop in his hurried steps. It was so sudden that the secretary nearly tripped over his own feet.

“…Is Jin’s body still not well?”

“The doctor’s opinion is that nutritional intake is important for the time being and that he should refrain from violent movement.”

Lyle abruptly raised his hand and covered his mouth. As if he were agonizing over something serious.

Judging that this was the usual headache he often had, the secretary took out his phone. If Lyle intended to give Haejin time, he would likely need the help of medication.

“Are you alright? Shall I prepare the medicine immediately?”

It was medicine used to forcibly suppress pheromones. As one could tell from its function, it wasn’t very good for the body. If it weren’t for the side effects, he wouldn’t have struggled this much to attempt a bond with an Omega.

However, at the secretary’s words, Lyle flinched noticeably. Raising his head sharply, he failed to skillfully hide his fluster at this moment.

It was because he realized that, at some point, he was no longer suffering from a headache.

“…Ah.”

Waking up suddenly, Haejin realized he had fallen asleep without knowing it. Lately, his daily routine consisted of drifting off into a deep sleep and then waking up with a start. That was how little he had to do.

Already several days had passed, but Lyle did not seek him out. He had pushed the contract so persistently that Haejin thought he would be dragged to that room the moment he signed it, so it was a strange thing.

Thanks to that, he had no choice but to just lie down and kill time. If he had a bit more energy left, he might have tried various things, but he had no will.

Staring blankly at the needlessly high ceiling, Haejin vacantly counted the elaborate patterns there. It would have been better if the persuasion had worked and he could have stayed outside. Naturally, Haejin understood the conditions Lyle had laid down as threats.

If he had at least been assigned the room he used to use, it would have been comfortable. Perhaps because the room was so vast, Haejin couldn’t shake the feeling that he was shrinking and withering away even more.

Moreover, the original room was better because it was closer to the path leading to the exterior of the mansion. A new room was nothing but a nuisance. Even if he had no intention of trying anything right now, it was troublesome to be in the innermost part of the mansion like this.

Lying there, Haejin moved only his hand to dig deep into the mattress of the bed. When he pulled out the wallet tucked away there and checked the inside, it contained a photo of his family and a small amount of cash.

“…”

Hiding it back in its place as if nothing had happened, Haejin fell into thought. He didn’t have a credit card anyway, but even if he did, he wouldn’t be able to use it. The reason he was discovered this time was likely because he had used a cash machine.

So this cash would be his last chance. Naturally, he didn’t even expect the material parts Lyle said he would provide.

The best thing would be for Lyle to kick him out on his own after he endured for just three months. If that happened, he would be able to walk out safely without having to expend much energy.

But if this plan were to fall apart.

Imagining that situation, Haejin slowly shook his head. There was no need to worry about that just yet.

“Whew…”

Inadvertently thinking of Lyle’s strange behavior, he just sighed and lay back down in his spot. In a situation that was no different from being imprisoned, doing his best not to crumble was the most he could do. Anything more than that was still overwhelming.

If he is needed, he’ll be called.

Scanning the ceiling until he could trace the patterns again with his eyes, the sound of a knock reached his ears. Haejin, who had tensed reflexively, lay powerlessly and decided to just ignore it. If it were Lyle’s summons, the door would be opened forcibly even if he didn’t answer.

As expected, the one who opened the door and entered at will was the butler. For some reason, he was personally pushing a tray with food on it.

“Mr. Bright. Here is your meal.”

“…”

Haejin inadvertently frowned. It was because everything was unpleasant—the fact that the butler had come to personally take care of his meal, and the fact that he opened the door without even waiting for an answer.

Every moment spent facing the butler in this mansion was a series of unpleasantries. And seeing him walking into the room now with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes was even more uncomfortable.

“I heard that your food intake is low. Just in case, I prepared some food from your hometown; how do you like it?”

‘A vulgar Omega sure has a lot to say. It is the Master’s command to strip you well and keep you tied up.’

“…”

Steam rose from the food he brought in with a full smile on his face. And even though Haejin had black hair, having been born and raised here, it was naturally food he couldn’t even identify.

“If there is any other food you would like…”

“Mister Butler.”

No matter how unpleasant it was, Haejin always had to endure. When sorrow surged up, he swallowed it by moving his Adam’s apple heavily. When cries burst out despite himself, he muffled the sound by covering his mouth with the quilt. In doing so, what he killed along with the sound was his heart and his self-esteem.

But now, there was no reason to go that far. Above all, he didn’t have the strength to endure that sorrow again. If he didn’t, he would want to run out of this mansion this very instant.

Even if he had to use whatever means necessary.

“Yes, Mr. Bright.”

“Please leave.”

“Well, previously…”

“Please leave.”

Haejin simply repeated the words like a parrot with a calmly sunken face. He knew exactly what the butler wanted. He was likely asking him not to tell Lyle about the mistake he had made previously.

It wasn’t that the butler was worried Lyle would listen to Haejin and punish him. It was simply because that situation was entangled with the contract. There was no need for Haejin to be understanding of the circumstances of someone who was merely busy covering up their own fault.

Because there was no one in this mansion who understood his circumstances.

“…Understood.”

The butler withdrew, his face flushed with a sense of humiliation. The sound of the room door closing somewhat forcefully could be heard. To Haejin, it was a mystery. He hadn’t cursed at him, nor had he tried to strip his clothes, yet the man felt such great insult.

An offensive smell drifted from the food he had left behind. Even that food seemed unrelated to Haejin’s roots, which his foster parents had looked for. Moreover, he had no intention of eating unidentified food while smelling the unpleasant pheromones the butler had left lingering thickly behind.

Approaching quietly and closing the lid on the food, Haejin pushed the tray out just as it was. Then, regardless of the rain blowing in, he opened the window. A quiet sound of wind flowed into the room.

It wasn’t bad to watch the scene of the rain invading the room from the bed.

Leaving the room, the butler grit his teeth as he walked down the elegant hallway. To think that arrogant whore-bastard would act so high and mighty in front of him.

When Haejin had just become an adult, he used to be very obedient with just a little intimidation. Considering the rampages other Omegas who had contracted with Lyle had carried out in the mansion, he was a very easy guest. Honestly, he could even secretly enjoy the fun of stripping a high-class whore that only the master laid hands on.

Of course, there was a feeling that he had been neglected a bit severely. This was because, even if other servants didn’t know, the butler knew that Haejin had come to this mansion to pay the hospital bills for his foster parents who were in a coma.

So he thought about having a little bit of sympathy, but to think he would act so arrogantly.