#38
Although it was a contract marriage, Song Do-ye had thought that even someone as seemingly cold-blooded as Hyun-oh would grow attached to Eunsol after sharing the same bed in the same house. Just like she had.
However, judging by Hyun-oh’s behavior toward Eunsol today, it seemed unlikely that would happen.
After objectively examining her momentarily confused feelings, Song Do-ye concluded that her closest superior at present was Eunsol.
Even when Kim Myungjun first sent her to Eunsol, he had told her to faithfully fulfill her role as a personal secretary, so she wouldn’t be disobeying his orders either.
“I have something to tell you about Director Han’s suit.”
Eunsol’s gaze had already moved away from Assemblyman Lee’s table and was now fixed on Hyun-oh, who was conversing with others.
Strangely, he couldn’t take his eyes off the sight of a man in a light beige suit approaching Hyun-oh. His trembling gaze slowly examined the suit the man was wearing.
Was it a coincidence?
The man’s suit design was the same as what Hyun-oh was wearing.
He was clearly someone who had been raised in privilege. With a build similar to Eunsol’s and a delicate appearance that subtly revealed he was an omega. His soft, wavy brown hair naturally fell over his rounded forehead as he moved.
His cheeks, flushed like peach blossoms, lifted into a bright smile the moment his eyes met Hyun-oh’s. His flawless, clean smile was the exact opposite of Eunsol’s gloominess.
“…Yes. Please tell me.”
Eunsol tried hard to listen to what Song Do-ye was saying. However, his gaze was fixated on the scene where the omega male lightly touched Hyun-oh’s arm while smiling.
Instead of stopping the man’s contact, Hyun-oh raised his hand and lightly stroked the man’s hair. When he witnessed the faint smile that appeared on Hyun-oh’s lips, Eunsol felt as if his heart had dropped all the way to the pit of his stomach.
“I heard that one of the secretarial staff spilled coffee on his suit. So I was told he hurriedly changed into a different outfit.”
By saying this, Song Do-ye acknowledged that the line she had carefully drawn for Eunsol had partially crumbled.
However, Eunsol’s complexion, which she had expected to brighten at her words, darkened even more. While he still had a smile on his lips, the light in his eyes was gradually fading.
Following Eunsol’s gaze, Song Do-ye swallowed.
“That person is…”
Song Do-ye knew him too. He was one of the people close to Hyun-oh, someone much younger whom Hyun-oh had cared for like a younger brother since childhood. He was also the only son of the president of TH Trading, one of TH Group’s major affiliates.
Although Eunsol might not know, he had been the most likely candidate for Hyun-oh’s arranged marriage. After Hyun-oh had married Eunsol, there had been rumors that this man had secluded himself at home for a while. Since this was a major party within TH Group, he seemed to have attended with his father.
Song Do-ye barely resisted the urge to rub her forehead. It felt like she had just climbed over one mountain only to face an even higher one.
“He’s probably just greeting him. Since he’s the son of the TH Trading president.”
Eunsol said what Song Do-ye couldn’t bring herself to say. Eunsol’s voice sounded calm at first glance, but Song Do-ye noticed that the end of his words trembled slightly.
Concerned that Eunsol might shed tears at the party, Song Do-ye was looking around to divert his attention when she saw a group of people approaching Eunsol.
She discreetly gritted her teeth, realizing it was too late to move Eunsol somewhere else.
“Hello? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“…Hello.”
Eunsol couldn’t ignore those who addressed him first. He tore his gaze away from Hyun-oh with effort and looked at those who had approached.
‘…This doesn’t look good.’
One of the individuals Kang Ye-ryeong had warned him about stood at the front of the group. He was a man about half a span taller than Eunsol. Wearing a purple suit that would be difficult for most to pull off, it suited him well, perhaps due to his fair skin.
“I’m Lee Eunsol.”
Eunsol extended his right hand to the man and greeted him with a polite tone. But instead of shaking Eunsol’s hand, the man just swirled his champagne glass, making the liquid whirl.
His subsequent words were clearly dismissive of Eunsol.
“We’re not really in a position to exchange names. I just wanted to see your face up close and say hello.”
The people standing behind the man gave Eunsol blatant sneers. Since Eunsol was standing at the edge of the party venue, their expressions were clearly visible only to Eunsol and Song Do-ye.
“Seeing you in person, you’re really… not much compared to your photos?”
Eunsol couldn’t even ask how they had obtained his photos. As soon as the words ended, he frantically hid his trembling fingertips in his fist as the pheromones flowed out as if attacking him.
“…Releasing pheromones without mutual consent is illegal.”
Eunsol’s words were futile. The smile on the man’s face only deepened more conspicuously.
The man’s omega pheromones poured over Eunsol’s entire body as if pressing down on him. It was clearly a high-grade pheromone. Recognizing the pheromones of another omega, Eunsol’s back immediately became damp with cold sweat, along with dizziness that made his head feel distant.
Feeling nauseous, Eunsol clenched his fists so hard that they left marks on his palms.
The man was skilled at controlling his pheromones. Because of this, while Eunsol was breathing heavily and on the verge of collapse, others were unaffected.
Despite their uniquely distinctive faces, Eunsol’s vision was so blurred that he experienced the bizarre phenomenon of seeing the faces of those surrounding him as if they were a single person.
“I know that much too. I’m doing this to you knowing full well.”
The man smiled brightly as if he had heard a joke. He even placed his hand on Eunsol’s shoulder and lightly patted it. From a distance, it would appear as if the two were engaging in friendly conversation.
“What a shame. My pheromones are a bit strong.”
Having thoroughly coated Eunsol with his pheromones, the man exaggeratedly pinched his nose and took half a step back from Eunsol.
The cuffs of Eunsol’s suit were crumpled in his grasp. However, his lips remained curved in a smile. A strange glint passed through the man’s eyes, but it was only momentary.
As if he had finished his business, the man raised his champagne glass toward Eunsol as if toasting, then pulled it back and disappeared. The others moved with him as if they were his entourage.
Like a wildflower left abandoned after a storm had swept through, Eunsol’s chest heaved. Song Do-ye moved in front of him to shield him, turning her back to him. Fortunately, she was wearing high heels for the party.
Normally, Eunsol would have looked down at her, but Song Do-ye was also quite tall, and with the added height of the heels, she could shield Eunsol from people’s gazes to some extent today.
“I think I need to… go to the restroom.”
“Yes, I’ll take you right away.”
Eunsol, who had been closing his eyes and breathing heavily for a moment, realized that his physical condition would only worsen like this. His stomach churned as if his internal organs were being crushed. Though no one was touching him, the party venue had simple finger foods laid out.
As it happened, Eunsol had been standing close to the table with food. Most were fruits and desserts, and despite the sweet scent wafting up, Eunsol felt so unwell that even that scent was nauseating to him.
Eunsol followed behind Song Do-ye. He desperately kept his gaze on her back, resisting the reflexive urge to check if Hyun-oh was still with that person.
Despite having visited a salon for makeup, cold sweat soaked his temples and streamed down. He didn’t want Hyun-oh to see his complexion, which was surely pale.
…To be more honest, he didn’t want to see Hyun-oh casually turning away as if it were nothing after seeing him.
“Please endure… just a little longer.”
Song Do-ye led Eunsol to a lounge area where there would likely be few people.
She had just witnessed from close proximity how Eunsol had been mistreated by party attendees. Leaving Eunsol to be mistreated by someone else in this state would be a failure as a secretary. Eunsol was so pale that it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment.
“There’s a resting area that only the owner’s family can access.”
At those words, Eunsol’s shoulders flinched. While he was part of the owner’s family, it also included Han Hyunyong and his spouse, mother, and children.
“It’s a different space from the lounge used by Vice Chairman Han Hyunyong and his family. It’s exclusively for you, Director Han, and Madam.”
Song Do-ye quickly added, as if she had read Eunsol’s thoughts. Only then did Eunsol nod slightly and continue walking after a brief pause.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
