Heavy Rain Chapter 30

The secretary’s judgment was correct. His reason was screaming at him. If he wanted to properly maintain his physical condition, he should push aside his reluctance immediately and find a new contract partner.

“Will you be all right?”

But he was not all right. Nothing at all was all right. Considering this incomprehensible physical state, Lyle quietly closed his eyes.

Somehow, he felt as if many things had changed after Haejin returned to this mansion on his own feet.

“What about Jin?”

“… He is still in his room.”

Just before falling asleep, Lyle hesitated before calling the butler to ask about Haejin’s situation.

It had already been two days since the boy had suffered that seizure. Originally, Lyle had intended to go see his face as soon as Haejin woke up. However, Lyle realized that a strange hesitation was holding his ankles.

He, who had never been caught by such uncertainty before, chose to stop in his tracks for now. The path to just go and see a face once was becoming increasingly cautious.

There was also a good excuse. As long as he knew that Haejin was suffering so much from trauma, Lyle had to take responsibility for it. Separate from the contract, the secretary was drawing up a new treatment plan and compensation package for Haejin’s future. Therefore, he intended to wait until that was completed and take it to him personally.

However, in truth, a strange premonition weighed on his steps more than all these excuses. For some reason, it felt as if many things would change the moment he saw Haejin’s face.

“…”

Now, Lyle could no longer trust his own intuition. Because when it came to Haejin, his judgment had always been amiss. Was this truly a matter that required so much agonizing?

But if he were to face Haejin’s face, what should he say then?

“Make sure to take good care of Jin’s meals. Ensure there is no deficiency.”

“… Yes, Master.”

In the end, he chose to defer his judgment once more. Busy trying to fathom the emotions swirling inside him, Lyle failed to notice that the butler’s expression was peculiar.

“He didn’t eat again?”

“Yes. Mister Butler.”

The tray that came out after being brought into Haejin’s room had barely decreased in quantity. Seeing that, the butler irritably swallowed a curse.

The butler took Lyle’s request to take good care of the meals as an order to force the food down his throat. Accordingly, this time, instead of having the subordinate servants just place the tray in front of him, he made them take it inside personally. Then, he made them watch over him until he finished the meal. To ensure Haejin didn’t try any other tricks.

The Omega acted insolently, just as he had when he kicked the butler out, but Lyle’s command was the priority. There was no reason to accept those useless tantrums anymore, was there?

Since then, the Omega also stopped resisting and ate his meals. Even if it was a dissatisfyingly small amount.

“Damn it.”

A subtle rumor about Haejin’s collapse spread through the mansion. By the time the butler had received the call and rushed over, Lyle had already come out to the exterior of the building while holding Haejin.

After that, it seemed they were going to the hospital, but they returned abruptly. Then, without even getting an IV, he hadn’t come out of bed for several days.

Lyle personally called only the butler and explained that it was due to trauma, but he could not accept it. If such trauma existed, then why on earth did he return to this mansion?

The butler, who did not know that Haejin had returned as if kidnapped, thought that if he were going to have trauma from his parents’ death, he wouldn’t even have been able to return here. Thanks to that, it had been a long time since he rationalized any sliver of guilt he might have felt.

Once again, under the butler’s tacit approval, the rumors began to grow in various ways. As if Haejin were faking illness to pressure Lyle. Since the Omegas who had come to this mansion in the past had tried to pressure Lyle in so many different ways, it was a natural assumption. Far from stopping such talk, the butler did not hide his displeased expression nearby, further fanning the flames of the rumors.

It was the same on the very first day Haejin became a subject of gossip in this mansion. The butler did not much like an Omega who received excessive treatment despite being a fellow underdog. He thought he would soon be unable to endure and disappear anyway. Just like other high-and-mighty Omegas.

Therefore, even if the butler did not intend it, there was logic to the rumors drifting through the mansion. Thinking that way, the butler increasingly found it disagreeable that Haejin was faking illness like that.

No matter how many times he tapped his chest, the stifling feeling inside would not subside. Haejin forced down a sip of water and sat up straight. Trying to force down food that wouldn’t go down was a true ordeal.

Why hasn’t Lyle said anything?

Several days had passed, but he hadn’t shown so much as a glimpse of his shadow. He had thought for sure the man would be angry that the contract wasn’t being properly fulfilled.

Thinking back to the situation that day caused a cold sweat to break out on his back. Haejin, barely swallowing another sip of water, reflexively pressed his trembling hands down hard onto the blanket.

It was actually better when he hadn’t realized it. But once he found out that fear was lurking there, it was already too late. He had no confidence in approaching that room without being overwhelmed by terror.

He knew it was all too late anyway, but a fear that could not be solved by mere thought or will paralyzed Haejin’s brain. Finally, now even the hospital had become an object of fear, had it not?

Perhaps Lyle might let him go like this. Since he saw him so thoroughly broken.

However, the hope that had fluttered up vanished into the air in vain. And a familiar ominousness glares at Haejin from the void. Just like the gazes of the servants who watch over him as if monitoring whether he eats his food properly.

Why are they suddenly forcing his meals upon him to this extent?

The headache that had assailed Lyle since morning would not subside even after taking medicine. Finally, the limit had arrived.

Lyle had no choice but to postpone all his afternoon schedules and return to the mansion. When things were urgent, even this kind of rest helped a little.

“Sigh…”

Recently, poor physical condition has been frequent. He is barely holding on, but if he shows an opening, bothersome things inevitably happen. It becomes an environment where someone like his uncle, who loves to interfere in every little thing, can latch on.

After showering and flopping onto the sofa in his room, Lyle unconsciously thought of Haejin’s face. The afterimage of Haejin that had begun to surface occasionally now swirled in his head as if it were a habit.

It was obvious what his body wanted. It wanted to pour out pheromones right this second.

It was a truly bothersome body. Exhaling a thin sigh again, he relaxed his body. Just then, he heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

“Master.”

The butler tactfully brought the necessary items. And seeing his master, who had returned earlier than scheduled with a poor complexion, he spoke of the Omega who would be most needed right now.

“I will have Mr. Bright prepared immediately.”

“What?”

Suddenly, the image of the butler prioritizing Lyle even though Haejin’s parents had died comes to mind. It was the same now. What on earth did he expect him to do with someone who has a fit just by entering that room?

No matter how much he acknowledges the butler’s loyalty, this is a bit much. The butler’s actions, which he had been thinking were strange, were particularly prominent today. Since he was already in a sensitive state due to the piercing pain, Lyle did not hide his anger.

“Butler.”

“Yes, Master.”

Furthermore, Lyle had already issued an order to leave Haejin alone. This was an insolent act that exceeded the butler’s authority. Unless he wanted him to do something unscrupulous by touching a boy who was practically dying, he should not be saying such things right now.

So he rebuked the butler harshly. Those mistakes were more than enough.

“I believe I clearly told you to leave Jin alone. Do you dare to take my orders lightly?”

“However, the Master’s physical condition…”

If he was worried about his physical condition, it would be correct to suggest calling another Omega. Not a heartless remark about calling Haejin, who can’t even think of coming out of his room.

Come to think of it, the butler’s Alpha pheromones were also exceptionally bothersome today. It was unpleasant to the point that he hoped the butler would never let Haejin’s name cross his lips again.