“Do you think you’ll get away with this?”
Hwalyeon quietly observed Chairman Jin, who was trembling with rage from head to toe.
No, since he would soon step down from the chairman position, using that title was a luxury. Hwalyeon smiled faintly.
“I’ve found a nice villa for you. You can rest without any worries in a place with clean air, Grandfather.”
“You…!”
Jin Gilnyeong’s angry voice echoed throughout the house. It had been over 30 years since he took office as the chairman of Hwamyeong. He hadn’t intended to hold the position for so long. The fact that he maintained his chairmanship well past retirement age was because there was no suitable alpha successor to follow him.
If Hwalyeon hadn’t been a woman, he would have handed over the chairman position long ago and lived a leisurely life. It was the slight hope for his grandson that made him hesitate all this time. Of course, even that small hope had disappeared.
But that didn’t mean he planned to step down like this. So helplessly, without being able to do anything. Jin Gilnyeong gritted his teeth and glared at Hwalyeon.
“How on earth did you persuade the shareholders? How did you manipulate those bastards?”
Hwalyeon looked at Jin Gilnyeong, who was grinding his teeth, with a cold face.
In truth, persuading the shareholders wasn’t that difficult. The decisive moment was when Suhwan personally expressed his intention to give up his succession rights. The shareholders began actively helping Hwalyeon as if they had agreed in advance.
And there was also the fact that shareholders had been wary of Chairman Jin Gilnyeong due to his conservative tendencies. Although they hadn’t expressed it directly, some shareholders held somewhat critical views. And Jin Gilnyeong would probably never know the reason why he was rejected by the shareholders.
“Do you think I’ll step down so quietly? Huh? I’ll expose your misdeeds to the press and I’ll…”
“Go ahead and try.”
Hwalyeon took out a paper from the folder she was holding and waved it in front of Jin Gilnyeong. His eyes widened when he saw it.
“Th-this is…!”
“You’ve been quite busy, haven’t you? I wonder what would happen if the press knew about this extensively.”
“Y-you…!”
Documents revealing Jin Gilnyeong’s corruption fluttered in Hwalyeon’s hand. Having held the chairmanship for so long, his misdeeds were countless. Jin Gilnyeong’s face turned bright red.
“Of course, Hwamyeong would take a hit as well, but it wouldn’t take long to recover. Shall we test it?”
“Kuk.”
If those were made public, it would truly be the end for Jin Gilnyeong. Far from maintaining his position as chairman, he would face public criticism and be driven out. Without even being listed as an honorary chairman.
Jin Gilnyeong gritted his teeth and glared at Hwalyeon before letting out a long sigh.
“Hoo… you’re ruthless.”
“I take after you a lot, Grandfather.”
Hwalyeon answered casually as she put down the documents. Jin Gilnyeong glared at her for a while, then rubbed his tired eyes. And in a small voice, he asked.
“You’re investigating HS’s past, aren’t you?”
“…”
Hwalyeon looked at Jin Gilnyeong without answering his question. Then reluctantly, she nodded slightly. A long sigh escaped from Jin Gilnyeong’s lips.
“Stop that.”
“…?”
“Stop it. I’ll step down quietly if you promise me that much.”
“Why?”
Hwalyeon asked with a frown, but Jin Gilnyeong kept his mouth shut. And with a serious face, he shook his head.
“Just don’t do it when I tell you not to.”
“Grandfather!”
The eyes glaring at each other were quite fierce. Alpha pheromones clashed violently between the two who confronted each other without backing down.
But before long, Jin Gilnyeong’s side lost momentum first. Perhaps due to stress, his health condition wasn’t good, and he couldn’t maintain the emission of pheromones for long. Hwalyeon also quickly contained her energy when she saw the tired look on Jin Gilnyeong’s face.
“…Chairman Ju is a frightening person.”
“Chairman Ju?”
Chairman Ju? Chairman Ju Seonghyuk? Does he mean Hansung?
No way…
A look of shock crossed Hwalyeon’s face.
“Koff, koff.”
“Grandfather!”
Alarmed, Hwalyeon quickly approached Jin Gilnyeong, who had started coughing. Looking down at Jin Gilnyeong with his poor complexion, Hwalyeon called for Dowun.
Soon Hwalyeon watched with dark eyes as Jin Gilnyeong left the room, supported by Dowun.
Chairman Ju, Chairman Ju Seonghyuk of Hansung.
Tension spread across Hwalyeon’s face at the unexpected appearance of this figure.
***
“By the way, Seunghyun, how was your hospital visit?”
“…”
“Hmm?”
After eating steak and returning home, Suhwan suddenly remembered to ask. He should have asked as soon as they met, but he was so happy to see Seunghyun that he forgot. He thought Seunghyun might have forgotten to tell him too, so he asked, but Seunghyun’s expression changed slightly.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen at the hospital?”
His heart sank. Seunghyun during his heat cycle was… definitely not normal. He was worried that something serious might have happened to his body. Receiving Suhwan’s anxious gaze, Seunghyun let out a small sigh.
“Hyung, it’s…”
“Yes, go on, tell me.”
Seunghyun, who had been hesitating for some reason, reluctantly opened his mouth. Suhwan was surprised and widened his eyes after hearing Seunghyun’s story.
“Really?”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault.”
Suhwan shook his head and raised his hand to caress Seunghyun’s rigid cheek. He should have thought this might happen from the beginning. It was disheartening to see the consequences of their unusual behavior coming back to them like this.
At first, he had accepted it because he didn’t want to hurt Seunghyun, but as time went on, he felt an uncontrollable pleasure. He had even begged for it first later on. Recalling his embarrassing acts, Suhwan quietly blushed.
So the abnormalities in their bodies weren’t Seunghyun’s fault. He had clearly agreed to it and thoroughly enjoyed it too. He had no intention of blaming Seunghyun for this. Besides, he hadn’t been tested yet, so who knew what the results would be? It wasn’t something to hastily judge and argue about. Suhwan tried to speak with a bright face.
“It’ll be fine. Nothing will happen.”
“…”
“Let’s go get tested together, okay?”
“Yes.”
But no matter how brightly Suhwan spoke, Seunghyun’s rigid face wouldn’t soften. Suhwan stopped caressing Seunghyun’s cheek and carefully grabbed his face to pull it toward him.
“I don’t regret being with you. No matter what happens.”
“…”
“Don’t you feel the same?”
“I…”
The amber eyes that met his trembled. It hurt to see Seunghyun suffering like this; he hadn’t seen him this troubled since meeting his possessed self. Unlike himself, who had been swayed by others’ words, Seunghyun had been remarkably composed. The fact that he was struggling so much because of none other than himself was both painful and made a corner of his heart strangely flutter.
“I’m sorry. I was scared. Afraid that you might be harmed because of me.”
“Seunghyun.”
“Just imagining it drives me crazy. If something really happened to you, I would…”
Alphas and omegas were sensitive to pheromones. It could be life-threatening if something went wrong. Seunghyun’s face grew increasingly pale. He was clearly having terrible thoughts.
“Seunghyun, look at me.”
“…”
“I told you it’ll be fine, right? Hmm? Why are you only thinking negative thoughts already?”
Seunghyun’s rigid face gradually softened at the gentle, whispering voice. Nevertheless, his expression still looked stiff, but Seunghyun made an effort to lift the corners of his mouth as he looked back at Suhwan.
“Haah. I’m sorry. I’m just worried…”
“Let’s not think negatively before we even get tested.”
“Yes.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
