The World of Contrasts Vol. 5 Chapter 3

Looking at the article photos on the tablet PC Daeyoung handed her, Choi Jisun gathered her still-damp hair to one side. Perhaps due to thorough preparation, her expression while getting hit with eggs showed only surprise and shock, without any distortion or anger.

“Mr. Jang is really good at playing dirty.”

“This doesn’t even qualify as dirty.”

When the mastermind of the provocation answered nonchalantly, Choi Jisun smiled with her brows furrowed.

“It’s not nice to say that in front of someone who’s gone through a lot.”

“If it had been a gun or nitric acid attack, I would have comforted you.”

Was he joking by saying that with a smirk? As she sighed in exasperation, Daeyoung gave her a short nod.

“Rest. I’ll be going.”

“Is your business done? I was excited when I came here as you instructed, expecting something.”

It was Daeyoung who had called her after she had been cursing in the car following the egg attack, specifying this hotel. When she came out of the shower, there was a heated conversation between Daeyoung and his partner in the living room.

Daeyoung raised an eyebrow and scoffed at her playful tone.

“Is it fun to say things you don’t mean?”

“I was excited thinking I might see you rekindle with your ex.”

“…”

“I even went out without changing my clothes to give you a chance.”

As Daeyoung reached for a cigarette in his jacket but withdrew his hand, Choi Jisun’s voice grew more intrigued.

“You quit smoking, didn’t you? Want to smoke one of mine?”

“No, thank you.”

Seeing him quit smoking even during his separation from his pregnant partner, it was clear he was not just any crazy person. Though, it was thanks to his craziness that she could pull him to her side.

Years ago, when she first met him after he was released from prison, her evaluation of him was low. Until he proved his capabilities with his arrogant claim that he ‘chose’ her because she was an omega. The eyes of the man who said he was doing it for his hidden partner somewhere seemed a bit mad, but one thing was certain: he would do anything for his partner.

“Did you find out something useful, like that Jang Jaemin is pregnant?”

Seeing Jang Jaemin’s face completely drained of color as he rushed to the bathroom, she had a hunch. As she expected, it seemed he was indeed pregnant.

“Congressman.”

Daeyoung looked at her intently before continuing.

“Let’s stop here.”

His calm, undisturbed eyes indicated he already knew this fact. Even if they were separated, maintaining such a cold attitude towards someone carrying his child made Choi Jisun click her tongue inwardly.

“Self-cultivation leads to a peaceful nation, don’t you know?”

“National affairs are for you to handle, Congressman, and I’ll take care of my family matters.”

Choi Jisun exhaled with an unpleasant expression. Even after receiving the report that the boss had arrived at the hotel, he hadn’t come up because he was busy giving strange orders to the room manager.

The reason for closing the perfectly functional gym became clear when Jang Jaemin appeared, his sweat-soaked T-shirt clinging to his chest, revealing his nipples. He indeed exuded a seductive aura that one wouldn’t want to let roam outside. The more poignant image compared to photographs was likely due to the current strain of a single, pregnant omega.

“I just want to make one thing clear.”

“Please speak.”

Choi Jisun had no interest in meddling in Daeyoung’s personal life. Her only concern was that Daeyoung might mess up his work due to his conflict with Jang Jaemin.

“Even knowing he’s Kwon Sangdo’s son, I can still call him Mr. Jang Jaemin because I trust you.”

“So what?”

Realizing she was more excited than she thought, Choi Jisun lowered her voice. At this moment, she absolutely needed Daeyoung’s strength.

“When are you going to deal with Kwon Sangdo?”

After calming her voice, she asked him. Daeyoung’s gaze no longer focused on her. His eyes, looking at the empty chair where Jang Jaemin sat, turned languid.

“Hmm… Well, I’m not in a hurry.”

“…Mr. Jang.”

As she chewed her lip in agitation, Daeyoung finally murmured like talking to himself.

“After he’s served his purpose?”

His throat made a gurgling sound as he chuckled. Choi Jisun thought his demeanor was like that of a pervert who wouldn’t even touch cutlery while waiting for the main course at a well-set table.

Seeing Daeyoung, who hadn’t reacted to her omega pheromones, now standing firm after facing Jang Jaemin, she felt an absurd hunger.

“Want to eat? I’m hungry.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Daeyoung, who seemed to have enjoyed a brief moment of contemplation, stood up, shaking his jacket.

As she watched him walk towards the door, Jisun gave a bitter smile. Seeing him grab the water bottle Jang Jaemin had touched, she thought that Jang Jaemin would have a lot of emotional hardship ahead, given how much Daeyoung was restraining himself.

After returning to his room, Jaemin checked his phone belatedly. There was an audio file from an unknown number. With a hunch that this wasn’t just a simple spam message, he played the file, and the low voice that had just played with his heart echoed in his ears.

“Shall I kill Jang Jaemin for you?”

It felt like mocking him for warning Daeyoung about the danger he might be in. Perhaps this was the emotion Kwon Sangdo wanted to evoke by sending this recording – a mix of self-loathing, shame, anger, and betrayal, creating a murky, dirty feeling. Jaemin let out a long, hot breath, laughing dryly.

“Ha…”

Listening to Daeyoung’s voice again with trembling hands, he could detect no emotion. Jaemin couldn’t be sure what Daeyoung truly felt when he approached Kwon Sangdo while with Choi Jisun. But believing that Daeyoung had actually mentioned his name was hard to accept.

“What are you thinking about when it’s already over?”

Even though he spoke aloud, clutching his teeth, the sorrowful, or rather, dirty feeling inside him wouldn’t shake off easily. Jaemin realized for sure after facing Daeyoung today.

Seol Daeyoung had no feelings left for him.

If there had been hatred or anger, he wouldn’t have felt this miserable. But Daeyoung’s eyes, looking at him like a river flowing without a ripple, froze Jaemin. It made him realize that no matter how many stones he threw, it was him who would sink without a trace.

Because of this, Daeyoung could use him as a tool, or bait. Maybe… he might even think it’s okay to kill him.

As Daeyoung himself had said, he wasn’t a saint but a human, and more precisely, an alpha with an instinct in his blood to destroy what he couldn’t have.

“You would have taken precautions after that shitty incident.”

The emotion that faintly flickered in Daeyoung’s eyes when he said that to Jaemin… was disgust.

“Even if, by some chance, such a thing happened, I would obviously get rid of it.”

It became clear that Daeyoung should never find out that a child resulted from that disgusting act. The moment he imagined Daeyoung dragging him to a hospital like a dog, he felt a sensation like a water droplet bursting inside him.

“……What’s this?”

What the fuck is this…? Jaemin stood frozen, bringing his trembling hand to his abdomen. He had been relieved thinking he was 16 weeks along, but could something have gone wrong? If the baby was affected again by extreme stress, he would never forgive himself.

He wanted to go to the hospital right away, but he didn’t want to move rashly here. Jaemin gnawed at his lip and pulled out his phone to search his symptoms. He stared intently at the search results and then dropped his phone.

“Ha ha…”

Fetal movement…? This is… fetal movement.

The sensation described as bubbles popping or a loach slithering inside was listed under the title ‘early fetal movement’ and discussed among many pregnant women. It was explained that sensitive individuals might feel it sooner.

It was a surprising and confusing situation, like the first alien signal sent by an astronaut. On the very day he met Seol Daeyoung after months, on the day he confirmed the woman by his side.

“Stop it, Jang Jaemin.”

Jaemin closed his eyes tightly again and spoke softly. However, he couldn’t stop emotions he didn’t want to dredge up from spreading like smoke.

“How’s your health?”

Didn’t he know that Daeyoung’s eyes, which always looked at him, could look at someone else? Honestly, he hadn’t thought that far. Jaemin was experiencing how pathetic a human could become when their arrogance shattered.

“Jang Jaemin? I wanted to see you in person, and here we are. Nice to meet you.”

The image of Choi Jisun extending her hand to him came to mind. She was beautiful and confident. The intimacy between her and Daeyoung, sharing a room and shower, was undoubtedly more than what was visible. Sexual issues due to marking were a given, but advances in modern medicine would solve that soon enough.

If he wanted to speed things up, there were quicker ways too.

“Shall I kill Jang Jaemin for you?”

If he hadn’t been pregnant and heard this, if he had witnessed Daeyoung looking at someone else, what choice would he have made? The answer came easily without much thought.

Jaemin would have willingly died for Daeyoung.

“Wow…”

He sighed involuntarily at the clear progression in his mind, devoid of any hesitation.

“I fucking love your father.”

Jaemin grimaced with a heated face and gave a dry laugh. Seeing Daeyoung paired with Choi Jisun, what flared up in his heart was… jealousy, too hard to admit out loud. If Choi Jisun ever made it to the top of power, Daeyoung would make sure she never fell, and if he decided so, that resolve would remain until his death. Meanwhile, he would have to live his life watching them from a place he could never reach.

Now he could no longer deny it. He loved Seol Daeyoung. Even after their breakup, even though Daeyoung had erased him from his life, this feeling persisted.

This is truly what it means to be the ‘lesser’ one.

The melodramatic situation that was hard to believe or understand had befallen him perhaps as a consequence of his life spent mocking others.

Knock. Knock.

At the light knock, Jaemin looked up. Even knowing it was Seonho, he found it funny that he was still tense while opening the door. The situation of reflecting on himself was even more out of place.

“Oh, Hyung.”

“You weren’t answering your phone.”

“Was I?”

Jaemin responded weakly, and Seonho furrowed his brows looking at him.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Come in for a bit. I have something to say.”

Seonho entered, watching Jaemin closely as he sat down. Jaemin looked at him quietly before asking.

“Why haven’t you submitted my divorce papers yet?”

“Ah…”

Seonho’s face showed confusion.

“Tell me. I won’t get mad.”

Everything Seonho had done was for his sake. That’s why Jaemin wanted to know his intentions.

“I, Jaemin…”

“Yeah.”

“I want you to be happy.”

A fact Jaemin knew better than anyone.

“I see, I didn’t know.”

Jaemin gave a weak laugh, but Seonho’s expression was serious.

“I… think you haven’t forgotten the boss yet.”

The expression disappeared from Jaemin’s face. When he didn’t respond, Seonho swallowed dryly before continuing.

“You love him, I think.”

“…So you held back the divorce papers? Thinking I might reconcile with Seol Daeyoung?”

“That was the only thing I could do.”

“Hyung, are you an idiot?”

Seeing Seonho’s nose turn red, Jaemin continued without hiding his frustration.

“Are you kind or just foolish? Which one is it?”

“Jaemin…”

He couldn’t not know the feelings Seonho had for him. Yet, the logic that he hoped for Jaemin and Daeyoung to reconcile seemed utterly foolish to him, making him lower his gaze with a dry laugh.

“Hyung, want to try kissing me?”

“What, what does that mean…”

“I’m telling you to do it, damn it.”

Seeing Seonho pull back as if threatened, Jaemin couldn’t help but laugh even more. He stretched his lips into a long smile, then closed his eyes. Seonho approached him after what felt like an eternity.

His approach was gentle, like his personality. Jaemin took a slow breath while receiving Seonho’s trembling kiss, then slowly pulled away.

“How was it?”

“Ah… that… well…”

Seonho couldn’t answer, just blushing with embarrassment when Jaemin asked for his impression right after the kiss. It was as expected.

“I felt nothing.”

Seonho’s face, which had been confused, hardened a bit. Continuing to speak while looking at that face felt like committing a sin, but letting it go seemed like an even greater sin. Damn, had he become some kind of Saint Mary?

“Seol Daeyoung is the same with me.”

“What does that mean, Jaemin?”

“Like how I feel nothing for you, no matter what feelings you have for me.”

“…”

“Daeyoung feels the same.”

He tried to explain as calmly as possible, but his voice trembled. Jaemin rubbed his sunken eyes, feeling extreme fatigue.

“Before we leave tomorrow, go see the lawyer and handle it.”

“Okay, I understand. I’m sorry.”

As Seonho stood up with an expression mixed with regret and heaviness for doing something unnecessary, Jaemin added.

“And if you have Kwon Yoojin’s phone number, give it to me.”

Concern mixed with curiosity appeared on Seonho’s face as he looked at him.

“Why?”

“She seems like the only one who might understand the situation now.”

“What are you going to say when you call?”

Of course, Jaemin had no intention of reconnecting with his half-sibling now.

“I have to say I want what she wants. Kwon Yoojin has cut ties with her father.”

Seonho’s act of hiding the divorce papers was frustrating, but through him, Jaemin realized something for sure. Jang Jaemin didn’t want Seol Daeyoung to be unhappy, no matter how much Daeyoung despised him.

He wanted to use the enemy of his enemy as an ally, but approaching Choi Jisun, who was an official political rival of Kwon Sangdo, was impossible. Besides the fact that it would be humiliating in front of her, he couldn’t stand seeing Seol Daeyoung hovering around her.

However, with Kwon Yoojin, who had once prosecuted Kwon Sangdo, he thought he could proceed independently of Seol Daeyoung. They shared a common history of being betrayed by their father.

“Jaemin, if you’re afraid Kwon Sangdo will harm you, it might be better to reveal yourself to the media.”

Seonho hit the nail on the head. In some ways, it was the safest option in the current situation. With a child on the way, it was impossible for Jaemin to hide being an omega as before, and frankly, he didn’t feel the need to anymore. But…

“Then I might save myself, but not Seol Daeyoung.”

“…”

“I can’t let Kwon Sangdo, my biological father, that man…”

Jaemin’s voice, though low, was clear as he swallowed dryly.

“Kill Seol Daeyoung.”

“Then what about leaving the country? You’ll soon be heavy with the child.”

“Prepare for that at the same time. We’ll leave as soon as everything is set.”

Wouldn’t this be enough for a grand exit from his life?

Of course, Daeyoung would live on without knowing anything, but Jaemin was okay with that. He felt like he could smile and tell his child, who resembled Daeyoung, that his life wasn’t entirely trash.

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

Seonho realized by looking at the cold, quiet light flickering in Jaemin’s eyes that he had made up his mind, and that decision was irreversible.

Click.

After Seonho left, Jaemin, unable to fight off the overwhelming fatigue, lay down on the bed and fell asleep without even turning off the light. Dreaming of Daeyoung wasn’t unusual; Jaemin had dreamed of him several times since their breakup. There were even times when he woke up from erotic dreams he couldn’t share with anyone, his back wet.

But it was the first time Daeyoung said nothing in the dream. Instead of whispering sweet nothings like when Jaemin had lost his memory, he kissed Jaemin deeply, prying his mouth open with his hand, awakening long-forgotten sensations. It was a rich, intense caress.

Jaemin couldn’t move a finger in the dream not because he was trapped by sleep paralysis, but because he was too afraid to wake up from the dream. Long tears flowed from his closed eyes.

✽ ✽ ✽

“Why is this house so nice?”

As soon as she entered the house, Yoojin confidently crossed the living room and took out her phone. With the backdrop of the sea and the bridge, she snapped selfies, saying, “Click, click.” Jaemin tilted his head, puzzled.

“…What are you doing?”

“Taking selfies. Want to take one for our sibling reunion?”

Yoojin, whom he hadn’t seen in nearly ten years, was still full of spirit and audacity.

“I’ll pass.”

“I was just joking.”

Yoojin plopped down on the sofa, facing Jaemin diagonally. When Seonho brought out tea, she lifted the cup with the fragrant aroma and exclaimed, “Hmm.”

“Nice, right?”

It was unclear if she was talking about the tea or something else, as her eyes were appraising Seonho like a gem appraiser. Jaemin gave a weak, mocking laugh.

“You’ve become quite shameless.”

“Call it being honest.”

“Oh, that’s a compliment.”

Yoojin smiled brightly, not seeming offended at all.

“But why did you fight with Seol Daeyoung?”

Jaemin felt strangely comfortable with her treating him like she always had, or even more casually than before.

“Is Seol Daeyoung your friend?”

Jaemin laughed dryly, and Yoojin frowned, snapping in a hysterical voice.

“Ugh! These old men, really.”

“Then don’t meddle in grown-ups’ affairs.”

“Then why did you call me here? Isn’t it to meddle?”

Yoojin’s quick comeback made Jaemin hesitate.

“…”

Yoojin continued to flirt with Seonho about where he bought the cookies while Jaemin took a sip of his tea without paying attention.

Jaemin immediately retracted his judgment that Yoojin hadn’t changed. The once flawless and bright rich girl had grown up to show more of the unique alpha personality with a slight twist.

“Well, you didn’t call me here to kiss your brother again, did you?”

Jaemin frowned. Setting aside when this story came from, remembering what he did that day made his face hot with embarrassment. That day, Jaemin had used Yoojin to provoke Daeyoung.

“Why does that come up here?”

He said irritably, and Yoojin looked at him with wide eyes.

“Honestly, that’s a dark chapter for me too.”

“Don’t casually drop formalities from earlier.”

“Then should I leave?”

As Yoojin straightened her long legs to stand up, Jaemin calmly asked.

“How’s your mother doing?”

Yoojin stopped in her tracks, frowning, and Jaemin was reminded again that Yoon Jungha was her Achilles’ heel. Even briefly seeing Yoon Jungha and Kwon Yoojin in college, they looked like the perfect family just standing together.

“What’s your scheme?”

She asked in a cold voice. Even after all this time and the turmoil in their family, they still seemed close, which made Jaemin feel both bitter and envious.

“Well, since we’re not on greeting terms, I’ll get to the point. Sit.”

“Tell me first.”

Yoojin still looked displeased. Jaemin swallowed dryly and looked at her face, which felt both familiar and strange.

“I can help you bury your father.”

“Oh, what’s this new scheme?”

Sitting back on the sofa, Yoojin curled her lips, but there was no amusement in her eyes. Jaemin explained in a calm, unexcited voice.

“Kwon Sangdo plans to bury ‘Chairman Jang Daeyoung,’ who has become Choi Jisun’s kingmaker.”

It wasn’t surprising. Yoojin knew well how much her father considered Daeyoung a thorn in his side, especially after Daeyoung had caused a scandal with someone Yoojin was associated with.

“But how? He can’t act recklessly at such a sensitive time.”

“By using me.”

Jaemin’s plan was to reveal to the world that Kwon Sangdo had commissioned Daeyoung’s murder. Of course, Daeyoung wouldn’t die, so it would only be attempted murder, but it would still be a fatal blow to his career as a politician.

“…What’s the evidence?”

A small recorder was placed in front of the skeptical Yoojin. The voice that played from it was unmistakably Mayor Kwon’s. Yoojin furrowed her brows looking at Jaemin.

“How did you record this? He’s not the type to leave such things unchecked.”

Because when meeting Kwon Sangdo one-on-one, the entry of electronic devices was strictly forbidden. After the incident with hidden cameras in entertainment venues, security must have become even tighter. Jaemin twisted his lips at her surprise.

“That’s none of your business.”

The recorder, hidden inside the head of a fish on the table during his meeting with Kwon Sangdo at Ihwawon, had done its job well. As compensation, Ihwawon gained another property under its corporate name.

“So, what’s your plan?”

“I’ll contact Kwon Sangdo and say I’ll comply with his wishes. Then on D-day, send in the police to catch the culprits on the spot.”

Meaning, Jaemin would cooperate in killing Daeyoung.

“You’re planning this with the chairman?”

To Yoojin’s question, Jaemin replied dryly.

“No. Without Seol Daeyoung knowing.”

“Huh?”

Yoojin grimaced with her pretty face.

Jaemin doing something without Seol Daeyoung knowing? In Yoojin’s memory, the two were literally inseparable. Jaemin’s proposal was confusing to her.

“Does that make sense?”

“I can’t even talk to Seol Daeyoung.”

“…Are you really broken up?”

Even though she had received a heads-up from Jaemin over the phone, Yoojin still found it hard to believe. Even on the way here, she thought they were just having a heated fight and would be apart for a while. But the atmosphere around them seemed far from that.

“Completely.”

“Wow… really.”

“You didn’t contact Seol Daeyoung, did you?”

“No, I didn’t. How long has it been since I got dumped?”

Yoojin frowned in denial, but Jaemin ignored her words and continued.

“If Seol Daeyoung tries to probe you, just tell him the truth. Say you met me because I asked for help. Say I asked you to help me escape abroad under Kwon Sangdo’s nose.”

“I told you, I didn’t contact him.”

“Okay. Seeing your surprised face, I guess you didn’t know we broke up.”

Jaemin couldn’t rule out the possibility that Yoojin might have called Daeyoung to check what was going on after receiving his invitation to meet. Of course, he knew Daeyoung wasn’t one to waste time with idle chatter.

“Really, geez. So what do you want me to do? Really deceive him?”

Seonho cautiously added an explanation as Yoojin sighed in disbelief.

“It’s definitely better if the chairman doesn’t know about this plan. If he catches on, he’ll try to turn the situation to his advantage, making it more likely for complications to arise.”

He was right. Yoojin knew that Daeyoung was capable of setting up a trap in his own way.

“But…”

The question was whether Daeyoung would fall into Jaemin’s plan so easily.

“How are you going to lure out the chairman? Are you thinking of using the honey trap?”

“Is that funny to you?”

Jaemin looked at her with sunken eyes, and Yoojin cleared her throat.

“Normally, you’d need someone to set it up, but you know the security at his house is tight, and he has bodyguards following him discreetly outside. Plus, his senses are almost animal-like.”

Honestly, the chances of Daeyoung noticing and resolving the situation before the police arrived seemed higher. As Jaemin faced Yoojin’s displeased expression, he opened his mouth quietly.

“Seol Daeyoung’s rut is coming up soon.”

“…So what?”

“What do you do when you’re in rut?”

“Have sex.”

Seeing Yoojin answer as if it were obvious, Jaemin’s heart felt heavy again.

“Seol Daeyoung can’t. Because he’s marked with me.”

“…Oh.”

Realizing the situation, Yoojin continued.

“Then he can just postpone it with medication.”

Yoojin knew better than anyone how painful it was not to have sex during rut. It would be better to suppress the urges entirely. She shrugged, looking as if to ask what the problem was, when Seonho, who had been silent, spoke up from across her.

“According to the chairman’s medical records, there’s no trace of him receiving a prescription for the last three months. Continuously postponing the cycle puts a strain on the body.”

As Seonho explained, Yoojin bit her lip. Was Daeyoung getting too old for this? Although it didn’t suit him, considering he was spending time with Choi Jisun and his power and various desires might have intensified, it wouldn’t be strange if he was taking care of his body.

“So when is the chairman’s rut?”

“If it follows the expected cycle, it’ll be next week.”

Seonho, who had assisted Daeyoung with his work while Jaemin was missing, had a keen understanding of his cycle. The task itself wasn’t difficult for Seonho, just that the target had changed from an omega to an alpha. Of course, his attitude towards the two was vastly different.

The pity he had felt for Jaemin, who was always anxious and restless during heat, was not something he felt for Daeyoung. Seonho was even secretly envious of how Daeyoung’s concentration and productivity seemed to double as his rut approached.

“I know Daeyoung leaves home during his rut, but the problem is he always moves alone, so it’s hard to pin down where he goes…”

“A temple.”

Jaemin cut her off abruptly, and both Yoojin and Seonho looked at him simultaneously.

“A temple…?”

“After Daeyoung was released from prison, did he by any chance buy any land in the mountains? Not more than half a day from Seoul.”

In high school, Seol Daeyoung would lock himself in a temple where he knew a monk to suppress his urges during his ruts. This was after his first rut when his mother, Seol Junkyung, broke into the restroom he was hiding in.

Remembering the first and last rut they spent together, Jaemin swallowed dryly. The self-control Jaemin had once envied was gone when Daeyoung was driven solely by desire, making him kneel and submit.

“Oh… now that you mention it…”

Seonho narrowed his eyes and blinked.

“He bought a villa, not a temple, along the west coast. There’s a cliff that drops straight into the sea behind the mountain.”

That must be the place.

“Seems like it.”

Yoojin raised her eyebrows as if speaking for Jaemin’s thoughts.

“I… thought that was a place Daeyoung prepared for you, Jaemin…”

Seonho closed his mouth seeing the shadow deepen under Jaemin’s eyes. Yoojin looked between Jaemin and Seonho before clapping her hands lightly to refocus their attention.

“Alright. So the location is set then? There’s no chance he’d be anywhere else during his rut?”

“If he hasn’t taken the medication, the chance is zero.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Jaemin’s voice was low when he answered Yoojin’s question.

“Because otherwise, he’d come to rape me.”

“…”

“He wouldn’t allow himself to do that.”

A brief silence fell over the living room before Yoojin spoke out in frustration.

“With you both knowing each other so well, why did you break up in the first place…”

When Jaemin just looked at her with his eyes, she shut her mouth. She was tired of their relationship being so entangled even after breaking up, but what did it matter to her? All she needed to do was handle what she was responsible for.

“Okay. So you’re going to inform Kwon Sangdo about this in advance and have him send his people to the villa where the chairman will be alone.”

Jaemin nodded with a tired face.

“And you’ll have the police move in at the right time.”

“Isn’t this too dangerous, Jaemin?”

Seonho asked seriously, and Yoojin agreed.

“Even if he’s alone, Kwon Sangdo knows better than anyone that Daeyoung isn’t an easy target. They’ll want to make sure he’s buried.”

“Yeah. That’s why they want to use me to handle things. It’s easier to move thugs, and it’s simple for him to claim ignorance.”

“Are you going there in person?”

Yoojin furrowed her brows as she asked Jaemin, who then exhaled a long breath. If it weren’t for the child in his womb, Jaemin probably would have. For the plan to proceed smoothly, it was better for him to be there.

“I’m planning to bribe some illegal immigrants.”

“If they get caught, your name will come out of their mouths.”

“So you have to cover for me. For ‘brother’.”

“Ah… that’s unpleasant.”

“Impossible?”

Jaemin looked at Yoojin with an expression that said, “Can’t you even do that?” Then Yoojin glared at him with cold eyes before rummaging through her purse.

“Can I smoke?”

“Please refrain. Not inside the house.”

When Seonho stopped her, Yoojin crushed the cigarette pack in her hand and tossed it back into her purse.

“Can’t Jang Jaemin just cleanly bury Kwon Sangdo?”

Jaemin twisted his lips at Yoojin’s question.

“Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of requests to kill someone for me.”

“No, that’s what you do when you’re making a deal.”

“I’d do it if I had no attachment to life, but lately, I’ve developed some attachment to living.”

“I was just joking. You seem really happy.”

Yoojin quickly changed her attitude, shrugging her shoulders. Then she raised her high nose and leaned in like a hunting dog.

“But why does your face look like that? Like someone who’s dying.”

The various physical changes from pregnancy kept surprising Jaemin weekly. It wasn’t just about the loss of strength. When the doctor belatedly mentioned that without an alpha’s pheromones during pregnancy, amniotic fluid could decrease, Jaemin didn’t even have the strength to grab the doctor by the collar.

“I want to live peacefully, but your father won’t leave me alone.”

“Don’t call him father. It pisses me off to the point where I want to kill him.”

“Really? Then you and I share the same goal.”

Jaemin’s eyes narrowed, the pupils lifting upward.

“Except for not wanting to ruin my life by directly killing Kwon Sangdo.”

Feeling the murderous intent emanating from him, Yoojin sensed that he was serious. Indeed, considering Jaemin’s situation, it wasn’t hard to understand.

“If Jang Jaemin’s name comes out of the hitmen’s mouths, you won’t be able to avoid an investigation by the prosecution. Even if I cover for you…”

“I’m prepared for that.”

“Jaemin…”

Seonho tried to dissuade him, but Jaemin didn’t stop.

“If necessary, I don’t mind even if the scandal about an illegitimate child comes out.”

This was a statement that even surprised Yoojin. Saying it was okay to use the illegitimate child issue was like declaring he would expose his past to the whole nation. Those who knew Jaemin from before would certainly be shocked.

“The old case might surface too.”

Yoojin spoke with a serious expression, lowering her voice. So she knew about it too. Jaemin looked at her, twisting his lips into a question.

“Embarrassed?”

“What did you say?”

“I asked if you think it’s embarrassing for siblings from different mothers to have been gang-raped.”

Jaemin’s voice was clear, without any trembling. Yoojin frowned sharply.

“How dare you say such a thing to me?”

“Then it’s settled, isn’t it?”

Yoojin felt for the first time that Jaemin had changed. The sharp, prickly image from the past hadn’t completely disappeared, but there was definitely something different about him. It wasn’t quite composure, but a different kind of feeling. Yoojin finally found the right word for it.

Solidity.

What had made Jaemin so solid, Yoojin couldn’t know.

“I want to kill Kwon Sangdo more than Seol Daeyoung does. At least he wasn’t betrayed by his biological parents.”

Yoojin’s sleek, black eyebrows twitched. The betrayal by the father she had respected was nothing short of shocking. When she first learned of his lifelong affairs with omegas despite not being marked with her mother, and when he told her not to act foolishly when she confronted him, that was the first time she saw his real face.

What about when the tax evasion of his wife, Yoon Jungha, which he himself had orchestrated, was exposed to the entire world? Kwon Sangdo cut off his partner as soon as the scandal broke out, with a ruthlessness that belied their over 25 years together.

Yoojin, who had never understood why her mother, who lacked nothing, seemed so desperate for Kwon Sangdo’s attention, finally understood Yoon Jungha completely and felt compassion for her life.

“From the beginning, Seol Daeyoung probably wanted to bury Kwon Sangdo, likely because of me. But now, there’s no reason for that.”

“Chairman Jang is with Choi Jisun now.”

“True, Seol Daeyoung could trample Kwon Sangdo for Choi Jisun’s sake. But how long will Choi Jisun’s power last? And after her wings are broken, will Seol Daeyoung still be by her side?”

“If nothing else, isn’t he the type to take care of his own? He was incredibly good to his omega mother, even though she wasn’t his biological parent.”

“That was before he knew she wasn’t his real mother.”

Moreover, Daeyoung kept Seonho by his side even after knowing what happened to Seol Junkyung, all to achieve his own goals with ‘Jang Jaemin.’

Jaemin had no intention of delving into the essence of Seol Daeyoung as a person now. The important thing was that, no matter who Daeyoung was, Jaemin had already found it impossible to erase him from his life.

Unlike the person who had completely erased him.

“…”

Jaemin swallowed dryly while looking at Yoojin, who seemed deep in thought. It was time to drive the final nail into her understanding.

“From today, Seol Daeyoung and I are complete strangers.”

“What does that mean?”

Seonho answered her question instead, sensing Jaemin’s voice was choked with emotion against his will.

“The two of them, their divorce has been finalized.”

Yoojin’s lips parted slightly. No way. The man who seemed like he would hold a funeral wedding if Jaemin had died got divorced?

Jaemin smiled faintly with a pale face at her shocked expression.

“Do you still think you know Seol Daeyoung well even with this?”

Jaemin’s eyes shone transparently from within his sharp, sunken gaze.

✽ ✽ ✽

Two cars were parked side by side on the deserted banks of the Han River. Yoojin, who arrived first, checked her surroundings before quickly moving to the other car.

“I thought there’d be no reason to meet again, but here we are.”

“I told you we’d meet soon.”

Yoojin sighed at the indifferent voice from the driver’s seat.

“Ha…”

The last time she met Daeyoung was at the beginning of the year when the line she was trying to join in the prosecution office was demoted, and she was catching her breath.

Daeyoung wanted to bury Kwon Sangdo as soon as possible, but Yoojin couldn’t act rashly. When she suggested waiting a bit to see how things would go, Daeyoung replied that he no longer needed her help, which was as good as saying goodbye to their cooperative relationship.

Then, not long ago, he contacted Yoojin.

“What’s this? Aren’t you busy wiping Choi Jisun’s ass these days?”

To her sharp retort, Daeyoung said bluntly:

“We’ll have business soon, you and I.”

“Suddenly?”

“Jang Jaemin will contact you. Just go along with it. Don’t whine later.”

At first, she thought he was talking nonsense and hung up after cursing him out. But less than two days later, when Jaemin actually contacted her, she was shocked.

“How did you know Jaemin would contact me?”

“Would you understand if I explained?”

Daeyoung glanced at her with a hollow gaze and spoke lowly.

“Try me anyway.”

“I know Jang Jaemin better than he knows himself.”

“Oh, fuck.”

Feeling goosebumps on her arms, Yoojin cursed and added:

“Why didn’t you tell me you were divorced?”

Both the breakup and the divorce news came from Jaemin’s mouth for the first time. Despite Yoojin’s struggle to keep her composure, Daeyoung’s face remained calm.

“There was no need to say it.”

Of course.

“Well, thanks to that, I could naturally pretend I didn’t know. Jaemin hit me with a direct question, asking if I’d contacted you.”

“Yeah?”

Daeyoung’s lips twisted slightly upward. This crazy bastard… is he happy about this? Yoojin felt her dislike for him grow, furrowing her brows. While Jaemin was undoubtedly the top in terms of being a prick, she thought he was at least less sinister than this man.

“Why did you want to meet?”

Yoojin clicked her lighter, eyeing him sideways. Well, the reason Daeyoung wanted to meet her was obvious. He wanted to know what conversation she had with Jaemin. Yoojin didn’t feel the need to uphold any loyalty to Jaemin, but she also didn’t want to hand over the information Daeyoung wanted so easily.

After mulling it over during the long drive, she concluded that Jaemin’s plan wouldn’t harm her, so she had no intention of opening her mouth willingly.

“Since you’re busy, tell me quickly?”

Daeyoung continued to smile while slowly blinking at her. He reached into the glove compartment, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to her.

“…”

Instead of asking what it was, Yoojin took the envelope. Her expression turned serious as she pulled out the documents. Flip. Flip. Her eyes widened as she turned the pages, and Daeyoung gave a low command.

“Put out your cigarette.”

Yoojin immediately extinguished her cigarette and looked at him. Her hand holding the envelope trembled with excitement. With this, she could completely bury Kwon Sangdo. It was the leash Daeyoung had been holding over Kwon Sangdo all this time.

“Sunbae. With this…”

Daeyoung snatched the envelope from her hand and set it on fire with a lighter.

“Fuck, really!”

Yoojin, startled by the smoke filling the enclosed space, coughed and glared at him. The window rolled down, and the charred documents scattered in the rain outside. The paper turned to ash quickly, but the information imprinted in Yoojin’s mind couldn’t be erased.

“This is just a part of it. And I’m going to give you all my information.”

“…What’s the condition?”

“Condition? There isn’t one. You’re the blood of the spouse I love.”

Yoojin took a short breath, watching Daeyoung who spoke words he didn’t mean so well. From the moment Daeyoung handed over the documents, this was a deal that needed no second thought.

Daeyoung listened to Yoojin’s concise explanation without a single response.

“What do you want me to do?”

When Yoojin finally asked, Daeyoung spoke.

“Whatever Jaemin wants.”

“You’re agreeing to… Jang Jaemin’s plan?”

“Yes.”

If you added the fact that he commissioned a murder to the information Daeyoung provided, Kwon Sangdo’s political career was beyond recovery. But Yoojin wasn’t willing to trust Daeyoung’s words so easily. She questioned him with a face still full of doubt.

“Why go to such lengths? It could be really dangerous.”

When she asked for his reason, Daeyoung fell silent for a moment.

“…”

Yoojin was sure he was thinking of Jaemin, seeing him look at her with unfocused eyes. She caught the faint softening of Daeyoung’s expression, a look he had never shown her before. It was fleeting, but she wasn’t one to miss it.

If you’re going to do that, why did you get divorced, then?

“Some people only realize how much they wanted something after they’ve lost it.”

“…You’re not saying you want to die, are you?”

“You look disappointed.”

Daeyoung smiled faintly, and Yoojin clicked her tongue. Honestly, she wished both Kwon Sangdo and this unpleasant man in front of her would die, but since Daeyoung held the evidence, she had to ensure Jaemin got what he wanted.

“Alright. But keep your promise.”

“I’ll give you everything you want.”

As Yoojin was about to get out of the car, she remembered something and added:

“By the way, did you anticipate that Jang Jaemin would do this?”

Looking at the rain pouring down the window, Daeyoung’s lips slowly lifted.

“Who knows.”

Yoojin thought that talking more would only tire her out. She didn’t wait any longer, got out of the car, and slammed the door shut.

Thud!

Even after the other car left with a loud engine sound, Daeyoung didn’t move. He leaned his head back against the headrest, closing his eyes, and thought of Jaemin. The image of him, with all pride gone and his face drained of color, conveying the danger after hearing Kwon Sangdo wanted to kill him, made Daeyoung’s abdomen feel heavy as always.

“…”

The way Jaemin’s face twisted in rage when he ignored his words had excited him so much. The genuine emotion on his face almost made Daeyoung reach out and embrace him.

When Jaemin contacted Yoojin, just as he had anticipated, his heart pounded like it would break through his ribs. It was only natural since Jaemin loved him.

There were no coincidences in Daeyoung’s life. Not taking the medication, contacting people Jaemin might reach out to in advance, all for this inevitable outcome.

He thought Jaemin might come to him during his rut, or might cling to him with his pride broken due to pregnancy hormones. The process might be different, but the result was the same. Every path Jaemin chose would inevitably lead back to him.

Jaemin falling in love with his child, now desperately fighting to protect that child, was incredibly endearing to Daeyoung. Though it might have been unexpected for Jaemin, it was all too natural for Daeyoung. The love he would pour into the child yet to be born was also a given.

That was the result of the marking, no, the love that Jang Jaemin himself had to realize, the inevitability of our narrative.