Flower Fiancé Chapter 63

“Or they might have known everything and deliberately married them off.”

“Why?”

Choi Minhyeok raised his voice as if he couldn’t understand.

“If it’s true that the remarried omega has a hidden lover, then both sides have a flaw each, so they could have just turned a blind eye and brokered a deal considering the benefits both families would gain.”

“…A deal?”

“With flaws like this, neither of them would be able to enter a proper arranged political marriage, wouldn’t you say?”

“Hmm…”

“Assemblyman Seo’s side connects them to the political world, and JT provides enormous political funds—that would paint a pretty good picture.”

“Ah! That could be it.”

Choi Minhyeok let out an exclamation as if he finally understood. Choi Moohyuk let out a laugh of disbelief at the end of his words. So there was a family even more of a mess than ours. How many proper people could there be among chaebol families, but this was the first time in his life seeing a household so blatantly tangled.

“Haa, this is tempting.”

Choi Minhyeok rubbed his lower lip with his finger as if amused.

“Shall I dig deeper?”

“This much is enough.”

Whatever the case, looking at the results, it was nothing short of an advantage to his side. An opponent with many weaknesses was that much easier to deal with.

‘It seems the remarried omega has a history of flitting between alphas—shall I prod that side? Or should I just smash Lee Hyunjoon from the start?’

If his position within the household was that crumbled, it didn’t seem like there would be much difficulty in handling him accordingly. Basing his thoughts on the information Choi Minhyeok had uncovered, Choi Moohyuk sank into pleasant contemplation, rubbing the inside of his cheek deeply with the tip of his tongue.

“And hyung, there’s one more thing I need to convey…”

Choi Moohyuk’s gaze turned back to Choi Minhyeok. Choi Minhyeok, whose gaze had been directed outside the study door, tilted his head and looked back at Choi Moohyuk.

“Next Monday evening at 6 o’clock, 00 Hotel, Basement Level 1 restaurant… Father asked me to tell you.”

A sense of déjà vu struck from the time and place. It wasn’t hard to realize what that meant. Sick of it. Muttering, Choi Moohyuk shook his head and exhaled.

“No, seriously, can’t the two of you resolve this kind of thing on your own? Being in the middle is killing me.”

Choi Minhyeok, who had been reading Choi Moohyuk’s mood, ruffled the back of his own hair as if he too felt uncomfortable.

“Father feels the same way. Isn’t it about time he stopped? What lingering attachment could there possibly be to keep…”

“That’s why I said watch your mouth and grow up.”

Choi Minhyeok, who had been about to retort with something, couldn’t hide his hurt expression.

“Ah, hyung, why do you have to say it like that again. You hurt my feelings.”

This time he must have genuinely felt wronged, as Choi Minhyeok grumbled. Choi Moohyuk, who had his arms crossed, swept his gaze over Choi Minhyeok.

“No other messages?”

“…Huh?”

At the question that slipped out as if in passing, Choi Minhyeok froze. The way he hastily avoided eye contact the moment their eyes met and couldn’t easily meet them afterward signaled that something was up.

“No, well…”

Choi Minhyeok, who had been stammering as if hesitating, spoke with difficulty.

“It’s just a feeling, but if you blow it up again this time, Father might move in a different direction. The way he’s talking…”

From Choi Minhyeok’s rare serious demeanor, he roughly guessed the situation.

“It’s about Mr. Ji Yeonwoo. Father seemed to be aware.”

He didn’t not know. From the day he’d been summoned last time, when he had been openly sounded out about whether he was seeing an omega, he had been catching on. Father’s side might actually be a more troublesome opponent than Lee Hyunjoon’s. At the very least, Lee Hyunjoon could be beaten down with brute force, but against his father, the methods he could use were limited.

“He didn’t seem to know completely, but still… Are you going to be okay?”

In this situation, Choi Minhyeok, who had become aware of Ji Yeonwoo’s existence, looked troubled.

“If Father asks me, I have no choice but to report what I’ve seen, hyung.”

“I’m not forcing you to hide it.”

Choi Minhyeok, who had been about to say something, hastily shut his mouth. Choi Moohyuk was seeing right through Choi Minhyeok’s hesitation.

“You just report the facts as they are. That will do.”

Choi Moohyuk’s answer was resolute. This was an extremely personal matter, and it was something he had to handle on his own.

“Then what about him.”

Hearing the voice that suddenly burst out, Choi Moohyuk’s expression instantly twisted.

“You know Father’s personality. He’s not going to leave him alone.”

Choi Moohyuk rose and approached Choi Minhyeok, who was leaning against the bookshelf. Seeing the tightly hardened face, Choi Minhyeok, who realized he had made another slip of the tongue, stood pressed against the bookshelf with a tense expression.

“Minhyeok.”

Choi Moohyuk, with his larger build, looked down at him with a chilling, sharp glare.

“Let’s not cross the line. I may receive information from you, but I protect my own person.”

His voice, lowered a level further, was charged with strength as if issuing a warning. Overwhelmed by the pressure, Choi Minhyeok swallowed dryly.

“And use proper titles. Don’t be insolent.”

“…Ah, fine. I said I was wrong, okay.”

Choi Moohyuk averted his eyes, straightened the crooked collar of Choi Minhyeok’s shirt, and raised his eyes sharply.

“When you go out, apologize properly to Mr. Ji Yeonwoo.”

“I was going to even without you saying so.”

Completely cowed, Choi Minhyeok answered obediently. As Choi Moohyuk, who had been blocking the way, cleared the path, Choi Minhyeok opened the door and exited the study.

The sound of rhythmic chopping came from the kitchen. A delicious smell filled the living room. It was the smell of doenjang-jjigae. His gaze naturally turned toward the kitchen. Ji Yeonwoo walked out from within.

Choi Moohyuk’s eyes widened upon seeing Ji Yeonwoo.

He was dressed in short sleeves and shorts, but something was odd. Because he was wearing Choi Moohyuk’s clothes, the t-shirt hung down to barely cover his elbows, and the shorts, even with the waist string pulled all the way and tied, were precariously slipping straight down. He had known the size difference was considerable, but he hadn’t realized it was to this extent.

Seen this way, the white forearm visible below the t-shirt was so slender that it seemed it would snap if held with just a little force.

“Are you finished with your discussion?”

As he was taking in the sight that seemed to have lost even more weight in the meantime, Ji Yeonwoo approached.

“Yes. I see you’re making something.”

“I thought it would be before breakfast anyway. Together…”

Ji Yeonwoo seemed about to suggest they eat together. Sensing that, Choi Moohyuk cut him off sharply before Ji Yeonwoo could finish speaking.

“No. This one will be leaving soon. But before that, I hear he has something to say to you, Mr. Ji Yeonwoo.”

With a sidelong glance at Choi Minhyeok, Choi Moohyuk struck his arm with his fist. Thud. Yelping, Choi Minhyeok staggered as if his knees might buckle, clutching the arm Choi Moohyuk had touched in pain. It had only looked like a light thump, but in truth, he had precisely struck his forearm with his knuckles, forcing Choi Minhyeok to grit his molars and endure the pain.

“Ah, I was rude earlier. I’m sorry. I apologize.”

Even while groaning in pain, Choi Minhyeok apologized as if firing off a rapid-fire rap. The one flustered by this sight was rather Ji Yeonwoo. Maybe it was his imagination, but after going into the study and coming back out, he had become a completely different person. Could it be, had he been beaten in there? Without that, a person couldn’t possibly become this subdued in an instant.

“It’s, it’s alright. You just have to not do it next time.”

Ji Yeonwoo glanced sideways at Choi Moohyuk, who stood with his arms crossed. As the words ended, Choi Moohyuk gestured with his chin at Choi Minhyeok as if telling him to leave now. Still rubbing his sore arm, Choi Minhyeok obediently headed to the entrance. Choi Moohyuk, standing with his arms crossed, spoke toward Choi Minhyeok, who was putting on his shoes.

“I’m changing the passcode.”

Choi Minhyeok grumbled as if feeling wronged.

“I said I won’t come in as I please anymore.”

“One, two…”

Watching this, Choi Moohyuk, without so much as blinking an eye, quietly recited numbers.

“…Ah, seriously!”

Knowing exactly what that meant, Choi Minhyeok hurriedly adjusted his shoes and went outside.

“That accident of a bastard, honestly.”

Muttering as he watched the closing door, Choi Moohyuk let out a sigh. That guy would only grow up if he met a strong-willed omega who could rein him in—was there no such omega anywhere.

Above all, since Choi Minhyeok had seen him, it was only a matter of time before Chairman Choi learned about Ji Yeonwoo. Things are getting tangled. Choi Moohyuk clenched his teeth so tightly that his jaw muscles bulged.

As he loosened his stiff neck by rotating it left and right and turned around, he saw Ji Yeonwoo, still standing in the same spot.