Chapter 32: The Choice of a Brother

“…That insolent brat.”

Chairman Joo Moon-hyuk frowned, his face twisted in displeasure as he muttered.

But Hyun-woo did not back down and stared straight at the chairman.

In the original story, Joo Hyun-woo had turned away from Hyun-jin at this moment, as if it were someone else’s problem.

Just like Na-yeon, who sighed and looked away, saying she hated troublesome matters.

Before the regression, he too had no choice but to stand by and watch Hyun-jin reluctantly accept the arranged meeting forced by Chairman Joo.

Later, he caused a scene on the day of the meeting, but he couldn’t stop it completely, fearing the chairman’s attention would shift toward him.

But today was different.

There was no reason to ignore Hyun-jin just because he didn’t want to attend a meeting.

He would never do something that cowardly again.

“I’ll go to the meeting.”

“…What?”

“You want me to go anyway, don’t you?”

“……”

Hearing such unexpected words, Chairman Joo Moon-hyuk fell silent for a moment.

Hyun-woo calmly sipped his wine in front of the silent chairman.

The sweet yet bitter liquid slid down his throat.

Setting the glass down with a soft clink, Hyun-woo continued.

“But please, leave Hyun-jin alone. He’s still young.”

“Ha.”

Chairman Joo chuckled softly as he looked at the bold Hyun-woo.

He used to think the boy lacked the guts compared to Cha Kwon-oh of L&S, but now, he wasn’t so sure.

Seeing Hyun-woo defy him like this stirred a faint spark of competitiveness — an instinct he thought long buried.

Containing his surging pheromones, Chairman Joo soon smiled in satisfaction.

For a man who rarely smiled, his laughter was loud and hearty as he looked at Hyun-woo.

“Fine. Let’s do that.”

“Thank you.”

Thankfully, the chairman seemed pleased.

Hyun-woo felt a wave of relief and bowed politely.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

“Hyun-woo.”

“…Yes?”

Hyun-woo stopped, surprised that the chairman had called out just as he was about to leave.

Chairman Joo still wore that faint smile as he sipped his wine.

“Don’t create too many things precious to you.”

“……”

“They’ll become your weakness someday.”

“……”

This time, Hyun-woo couldn’t reply easily.

He silently studied the chairman’s face.

He knew better than anyone what those words meant.

This time, the chairman was letting him off because he’d used Hyun-jin to achieve his goal, but Joo Moon-hyuk had never liked how Hyun-woo protected Hyun-jin.

In the original story, Joo Hyun-woo distanced himself from Hyun-jin after learning they weren’t real brothers, so the chairman hadn’t cared.

But now that Hyun-woo cherished and looked after Hyun-jin, the chairman often threw bitter words his way.

To Chairman Joo, the company was everything.

Nothing else mattered.

He saw even his family as tools for the company’s sake.

As his successor, Hyun-woo was expected to do the same — to think only of the company.

So the fact that he cared about a mere Omega, not even related by blood, must have deeply bothered him.

Hyun-woo clicked his tongue inwardly and nodded slightly.

“Thank you for the advice.”

He turned away swiftly, unwilling to hear more, and walked out of the dining room with quick steps.

He had no intention of living by the chairman’s advice.

Yes, the company was important — but so was family.

Even before inhabiting this body, he’d always been closer to his younger siblings than to his busy parents.

He knew he had a blunt personality, but fortunately, in both his past and current lives, he got along well with his younger siblings.

Still, it was ironic — feeling the true value of family not from those connected by blood, but from a brother who shared none.

With a faint, bitter smile, Hyun-woo stepped out into the wide yard.

“Hyun-jin.”

“…Hyung!”

Hyun-jin, who had been petting Tori with a troubled expression, turned his head sharply.

The moment he saw Hyun-woo, he jumped up and ran toward him like an excited puppy.

“Hyung, what happened?”

“It’s nothing.”

“But the chairman… father…”

Perhaps because he rarely spoke with Chairman Joo, the word ‘father’ sounded awkward to Hyun-jin.

Ever since learning he wasn’t the chairman’s real son, that awkwardness had only grown.

If they had been alone, Hyun-woo wouldn’t have cared what Hyun-jin called him.

But this was the main residence.

If a servant overheard, it could cause unnecessary trouble.

Hyun-woo gently shook his head at Hyun-jin, who hurriedly corrected his words.

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

“Hyung…”

If Hyun-jin knew the truth, he would just feel guilty — unnecessarily so.

There was no reason for him to suffer over something like this.

In this life, Hyun-woo planned to obediently marry the Omega the chairman wanted.

That way, the main character of the story — Hyun-jin — could live freely and happily, without worry.

“You must be hungry since you didn’t eat much. Want me to buy you something tasty on the way back?”

“……”

Hyun-jin silently stared at Hyun-woo’s back as he spoke in a cheerful tone.

It was clear he had no intention of telling him what happened inside.

Of course.

Who would confide in a useless Omega like him?

It had always been this way.

He had lived under Hyun-woo’s protection, quietly standing behind him.

The fence his brother built was warm and safe.

Even if others hurt him, it didn’t matter — because Hyun-woo was there.

As long as he had his brother’s affection and care, nothing else mattered.

But… was that really okay?

Could he keep hiding behind Hyun-woo forever like a coward?

Unknowingly, Hyun-jin clenched his fists tightly.

“…!”

At that moment, he felt something crumble beneath his feet.

Startled, Hyun-jin looked around — but the yard was silent and still.

“Hyun-jin, what are you doing? Come on.”

“Ah…”

He flinched and turned toward Hyun-woo, who was watching him curiously.

Hyun-jin quickly ran up to him.

“It’s nothing.”

“Really?”

Hyun-woo gave him a brief, suspicious look but soon dismissed it, feeling content after his confrontation with the chairman.

Hyun-jin followed him with a worried expression.

“What? Hyung is going to a matchmaking meeting?”

Hyun-jin’s voice trembled with disbelief.

After a pause, someone replied reluctantly.

• …Yes, that’s correct.

It was Kang Sung-yoon, the secretary chief of Moonseong Group.

Since Hyun-jin had never contacted him directly before, Sung-yoon was understandably flustered.

But years of secretarial experience had made him skilled at hiding his emotions.

“Why would he…?”

Hyun-jin’s hands trembled.

Though the secretary couldn’t see it, the shock was evident in his broken murmurs.

• …….

That was all.

The reason Sung-yoon spoke so easily about Hyun-woo’s arranged meeting was simple — because he knew Hyun-jin couldn’t do anything about it.

The timid youngest son who always watched people’s reactions — that was who Hyun-jin was.

Besides, Sung-yoon knew Hyun-jin wasn’t the chairman’s biological son.

To him, Hyun-jin wasn’t someone he served out of loyalty — just someone who would eventually leave the Moonseong family.

Nothing more.

“Thank you… for telling me.”

• Yes. Please have a restful evening, young master.

“……”

After the call ended, only the dull beeping sound filled the air.

But Hyun-jin just stared blankly ahead.

Hyun-woo was going to a matchmaking meeting.

He had known this day would come eventually — but not so soon.

He hadn’t even sorted out these tangled emotions in his heart yet.

Hyun-jin’s hands trembled as he gripped his phone.

Just imagining another Omega standing beside Hyun-woo made his head spin.

Overwhelmed by jealousy, Hyun-jin struggled to suppress his pheromones and gasped for breath.

“Haa… ha…”

No. I can’t let this happen.
I can’t let anyone take Hyung away yet.

The feelings he had buried deep inside were about to burst.

Lowering his head, trembling, Hyun-jin’s eyes shifted to the dark screen of his phone.

He had to stop it — somehow, he had to prevent Hyun-woo from attending that meeting.

But he was powerless.
And he knew it painfully well.

“……!”

Suddenly, a face came to mind.

With a determined look, Hyun-jin tapped on his phone screen.