This outcome had been somewhat expected. Ethan, inherently timid by nature, was ill-suited for defense contracting. After all, it was an industry centered on creating weapons meant to kill.
Alexander, on the other hand, was more like himself. Cold-blooded, composed, and capable of clear, rational judgment with an objective perspective. He knew how to endure discomfort for the sake of a goal, and when necessary, he could make clean, merciless decisions without hesitation.
He never forgot Leroy’s teachings: invest generously in gathering intel, but never rely solely on paperwork—verify things yourself and draw your own conclusions. Leroy had full confidence in Alexander. That’s why he had entrusted him with the Scott family’s main enterprise, Scott Industries.
That decision had proven itself correct. Scott Industries continued to show steady growth, further solidifying the Scott empire.
There had been a moment of concern recently—wondering whether Alexander might be getting lax—but it turned out to be needless worry. Just a short while ago, an Omega model Alexander had been dating tried to blackmail him with a sex tape. The footage had, of course, been recorded without Alexander’s consent. There was no way someone like Alexander would’ve agreed to produce something that risky.
It hadn’t been an easy decision for the Omega either, but it was obvious which of them had more to lose—Alexander.
If the video had been made public, it would’ve caused an immediate dip in the stock price. But that would’ve recovered over time—it wasn’t the real issue. The problem was Alexander himself. An Alpha with a sex video broadcast for all the world to see? That would ruin his prospects of marrying into any family that valued honor. And that would’ve been a serious problem. Clearly, the blonde had aimed for exactly that.
Once it became apparent she wouldn’t be admitted into the Scott family, she’d tried to scheme one last payout. Crafty. But she crossed a line that should never be crossed.
What the blonde hadn’t anticipated was just how ruthless Alexander could be when it came to anyone obstructing him. And he’d handled it brilliantly. Word was that the once-promising model barely managed to pack a bag before being run out of the country on a freighter bound for Ecuador.
Thinking about the Alexander he had shaped, a smile crept onto Leroy’s lips—the smile of an artist admiring a masterpiece of his own making.
As he sat, unmoving, staring out at the landscape beyond the windows, he heard the sound of someone approaching. Leroy didn’t need to turn around to know it was Alexander.
“I hear you’re seeing someone lately.”
“It’s been a while, Father.”
After a pause, Alexander spoke—not in response to Leroy’s comment, but as a greeting. A rather foolish thing to say. After all, they knew better than anyone how long it had been. No need to point it out.
Why even bother with such empty greetings? A waste of time. And Alexander, of all people, surely knew that. Yet he said it anyway. Leroy clicked his tongue in displeasure.
“Spare me the pointless pleasantries. I heard you’re involved with your secretary.”
Alexander knew Leroy wasn’t scolding him. And Leroy continued.
“You’re using protection, I assume. I won’t tolerate irresponsible breeding.”
He hadn’t asked to hear an answer. He already knew. He’d looked into it, and knew Alexander was handling it properly.
The seed of an extreme-dominant Alpha—it’s valuable. Leroy hadn’t raised him to be foolish enough not to know that.
He pressed a button on the chair to rotate it, and the perfectly groomed Alexander came into view.
“You’ve heard of Louis Seymour, I presume.”
Leroy carefully observed Alexander’s reaction. The subtle lift of an eyebrow—he’d caught the name. As expected. Leroy was pleased. There’d be no need for lengthy explanations. They could get straight to the point.
Louis Seymour. From the House of the Duke of Somerset in the UK. Not someone with great political influence in the royal court, but because of that, the marriage offer had reached the Scott family.
Even without influence, a Duke was still a Duke. No amount of money could buy a family name. And a title like Duke was not something just anyone could have.
Leroy believed Alexander would understand this long-held desire of his. In fact, he was sure Alexander wanted it as well. After all, wasn’t Alexander practically another version of himself?
It was a shame Louis wasn’t an extreme-dominant Omega like Elena, Alexander’s birth mother. Instead, he was an dominant Omega. But that was acceptable. If he had been born with a superior trait, someone else would’ve snapped him up long ago. It couldn’t be helped.
Still, Louis would surely understand if Alexander fathered a child with another extreme-dominant beforehand.
“Arrangements have been made. It wouldn’t hurt to meet him before the engagement is finalized.”
Leroy looked at Alexander, who was listening intently. He already had an idea of what answer would come.
“I’m curious how much you really know about that secretary you’re dating.”
***
Yeon Yiseo had spent the whole day alone in Alexander’s home. Though technically “whole day” was a stretch—it was already afternoon by the time he’d woken up.
The aftershocks of their intense lovemaking still lingered in his body. When he’d woken and realized Alexander wasn’t beside him, he’d been confused at first, but quickly remembered what Alexander had said and calmed down.
When he reached for the water bottle on the nightstand Alexander had left for him, the bracelet around his wrist caught his eye. Now that daylight was streaming in, he could examine it more closely. The center stone, which he’d assumed was just a colored gem, was a deep pink—and the more he looked, the more it resembled a diamond.
Pink diamonds were far more expensive than clear ones. That thought made him cautiously unfasten the bracelet. He wasn’t an expert, so it could be another gem—but if he was right, and it was a real diamond, its hardness would protect it from scratches.
Still, it was a matter of mindset. He removed the bracelet gently and placed it back in the original box.
Eating alone wasn’t difficult. There was plenty of food Alexander had prepared for him. Reading the little notes Alexander had left—not only explaining each dish, but even suggesting the best way to enjoy them—filled him with emotion.
The final note read: Feel free to use anything in the house. I’ll be back soon.
His body felt like it had been through a strenuous workout. The soreness in his muscles made moving difficult. He was much better than he had been just after waking up, but fatigue still clung to him. It made him drowsy, and he kept drifting in and out of sleep until evening.
He wondered when Alexander would return. He wanted to reach out, but what if he interrupted something important? He chose instead to wait quietly. Hunger began to gnaw at him, but he wanted to eat dinner together. Maybe Alexander was also skipping dinner so they could eat together. So Yeon Yiseo decided to wait a little longer.
He moved to the sofa in the living room, afraid he’d fall asleep again if he stayed in bed. Still, somewhere along the way, he must have dozed off—because when he opened his eyes, it was to the gentle touch of a hand on his cheek.
He realized then that he’d fallen asleep. And there, right in front of him, was Alexander—the man he’d waited for all day.
“You’re back… I must’ve fallen asleep again.”
“Sorry. I got back much later than expected. Why were you sleeping out here? Aren’t you cold?”
The heat of Alexander’s hand on his shoulder made Yeon Yiseo realize just how chilled his body had gotten.
“I was waiting for you. I thought I’d be fine out here… Are you okay? Not too tired?”
“I’m fine. I got plenty of rest on the plane.”
The word “plane” made Yeon Yiseo’s eyes widen. He’d known Alexander was going to see his father—but he hadn’t known the destination. He’d just assumed it was somewhere nearby. Clearly, it wasn’t.
“Where did you go?”
“I never told you, did I? Beverly Hills.”
“What? That’s… the opposite side of the U.S. You must be exhausted.”
Alexander smiled at Yeon Yiseo’s surprise.
“Did you forget I’m an extreme-dominant?”
“Even if you are, that doesn’t mean you don’t get tired.”
As Yeon Yiseo spoke, Alexander just gazed at him with a gentle smile. Something about the atmosphere felt different. Yeon Yiseo blinked and asked,
“What is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You seem… different somehow.”
“Well, maybe it’s because I’m just happy to see you again.”
Alexander said it so naturally that it made Yeon Yiseo the one who felt embarrassed. Speechless for a moment, he finally replied,
“…I see.”
Now fully awake, Yeon Yiseo suddenly realized how cold he felt. He shivered involuntarily, and Alexander’s expression shifted with concern.
“You’re cold. Come here.”
