Chapter 11: The Omega Everyone Wanted

“These days, they say you can predict manifestation potential once kids turn just one year old?”

A voice befitting the overly quiet lounge spread through the air. The only sound besides it was the faint piano music playing softly.

Even though the words carried no particular emotion, Lee Ah-seong set his teacup down with a sharp clink. It was an ill-mannered habit, but one that surfaced whenever he was in a bad mood.

“Well, w-what’s the point of knowing that in advance? You’ll find out eventually anyway…”

The omega sitting beside Lee Ah-seong quickly tried to change the subject. He was the youngest-looking among the omegas at the table, the omega who had secured the position of fifth legal spouse to the chairman of USA Securities.

Anxious about when he might have to give up that spot to a sixth, he was always busy expanding his social network. The other omegas at the table were in similar positions.

This gathering wore the guise of an art appreciation club, but in reality it was nothing more than an information-exchange hub for upper-class omegas.

Basically a gossip rag, unverified rumors dressed up in fancier language and passed around.

At least, that’s how Lee Ah-seong saw it. For someone like him, who rarely encountered such low-grade rumors, the meetings were fairly entertaining. That is, unless topics like this came up.

“It’s not even a hundred percent accurate. You won’t know until you raise the kid.”

At Lee Ah-seong’s words, the other omegas laughed lightly and let it pass. He usually spoke confidently, but the rumors were already widespread. Not long ago, Lee Ah-seong had gotten his first grandchild, and the probability of alpha manifestation was said to be a mere 1%.

Even omega manifestation was under 5%. In short, a failed child. For Lee Ah-seong, who had produced a dominant alpha himself, and for the long-established Chae family, it was a disgrace.

Everyone knew the backstory, yet no one pushed him further. There was nothing to gain from upsetting the de facto leader of the group. Leaving a small scratch on his pride was enough.

“Oh! By the way, have you heard?”

That was Lee Ah-seong’s favorite phrase. Whatever followed that question always brought news of a new world. Whether true or false, it was guaranteed to be interesting. These people didn’t get this excited over trivial gossip.

“Apparently Madam Jung has been introducing an omega lately, and they’re not ordinary.”

“An omega…?”

Several people, Lee Ah-seong included, leaned in. They were all parents with alpha sons of marriageable age.

“They lived in the U.S., and I hear they’re real estate tycoons.”

“So what if they’re tycoons?”

Everyone gathered there was one themselves. Their children, too. It wasn’t particularly impressive. Bringing in an omega from a chaebol family as an in-law wasn’t always a good thing either.

“No! Cash. Cash! We’re all mostly tied up in stocks, right? Hardly any liquidity. But that family’s wealth is all land. And on top of that, they only have that one child.”

Lee Ah-seong began calculating. The scale would need to be checked, but if people were calling them tycoons, it wasn’t small money. No siblings to fight over inheritance, that earned extra points. Still, it wasn’t enough on its own.

“They’re Ivy League, too. And apparently very good-looking.”

Lee Ah-seong snorted. Since when was an omega’s face something to brag about? Even if age had taken its toll, everyone at this table had once turned heads in their youth. Looks weren’t a selling point, they were basic qualifications.

“That all?”

“As if.”

The omega spreading the rumor lifted his index finger, adorned with an extravagantly cut diamond ring, and smiled oddly.

“Not just any omega. A dominant one. Extremely so, top one percent.”

A heavy silence fell over the table. Everyone began running calculations in their heads. Lee A-seong finished instantly. Cash-rich, only child, intelligent, attractive, and on top of that, a dominant omega. There was nothing more to consider.

“…I just remembered I have an urgent appointment, so I’ll be leaving first…”

In an instant, more than half the table cleared out, all parents with alpha sons. Lee Ah-seong couldn’t stay put either. If nothing else, Chae Woo-seok’s marriage had to be to the best possible partner. An omega no one in the world could look down on.

****

“I’m quite fond of Sophie Linoy’s music. Haha.”

“Yes… how very cultured of you…”

This was hell.

Making meaningless conversation with a man he had no interest in, with no real purpose.

“When I look at you, Ha-jin, that music comes to mind. Elegant, refined…”

‘You lunatic. Sophie Linoy was a murderer who killed his own child.’

To call that a compliment, it was hard enough just to keep a fake smile on his face. How long was he supposed to keep attending these blind dates? As boredom peaked and he forced another smile, the phone in his hand under the table vibrated.

—Smile. Anyone would think you were sold here, not on a blind date.

Chae Woo-seok. The man who had followed him all the way to the blind date, watching from afar. Suppressing his irritation, Go Ha-jin steadied himself and gave the alpha sitting across from him a bright smile.

“Thank you for the compliment. By the way, how old did you say you were?”

“Thirty. I tend to look a bit mature. Haha.”

…So not forty. He’d been so uninterested that he hadn’t even bothered researching his date. And that friendly-looking alpha smiling at him had been divorced twice. Divorce itself wasn’t the issue, it was common these days.

The real problem was that both of his omegas had left him half-paralyzed.

Whatever had happened between them, it was clear the guy was insane. Still, since he ran the largest pharmaceutical company in Korea, Chae Woo-seok had said it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make him desperate for a child.

—Don’t overdo the smiling. What, are you trying to get married right now?

Another vibration. Go Ha-jin nearly jumped up and ran to him.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“…Ah, yes… I’m not feeling too great today…?”

It certainly looked that way. His face flushed red, breath coming fast through parted lips.

“…Shall I take you home? Or we could rest nearby for a bit…”

The alpha seemed to have misunderstood. Seeing Go Ha-jin’s gentle demeanor, he thought there was interest. Watching him tentatively make a move, Go Ha-jin frowned slightly. Who did this tofu-faced bastard think he was?

In reality, he was just irritated, but outwardly he looked sick. A strange talent of his.

“…Thank you, but I’m okay. May I contact you again later…?”

“Ah, sure. Today isn’t the only day. Please get home safely.”

The man stood first, eyes full of lingering regret. Only after he was completely gone did Go Ha-jin straighten up and glare toward Chae Woo-seok, who calmly met his gaze from afar. Getting the message, he followed a few steps behind.

“I said I’d come alone!”

The anger he’d bottled up all evening exploded in the car. His pale, sickly look was gone.

“Shouldn’t the employer check how the employee works?”

“E-employer…?”

“I give you a house, a car, money. That qualifies, doesn’t it?”

Chae Woo-seok had followed him to every blind date since they made their deal, always with absurd excuses.

“You looked pretty happy.”

“Only because you wanted me to. Why didn’t we just have s*x in front of the hotel?”

“What?”

“What do you mean? I was talking about the article.”

Chae Woo-seok was the same as ever. It was hard to believe he truly intended to marry. Scandals broke every other day. This time, with a famous celebrity.

As always, he hid behind the company and denied it. Anyone who saw the photos would know it was him, how many men in this country had that build?

“What does that have to do with our contract?”

“Isn’t that my line?”

Go Ha-jin snapped back. It was a sham marriage anyway, what did it matter if he smiled at other alphas?

“Ha-jin.”

At the familiar name spoken so softly, Go Ha-jin fell silent. It was the first time he’d ever been called “Ha-jin” in that tone. Chae Woo-seok lifted a hand and gently brushed the hair by his temple.

“Want to go for a drive?”

“A… drive?”

Out of nowhere.

“Want to go back to that mountain? Why are you talking so much?”

‘You crazy bastard, are you trying to kill me?’

Once he realized the implication, the touch made his skin crawl. His mind raced, finding the right words to save his life.

“N-no! I just meant you’re very photogenic, it looked good. And of course, I meant I’d be diligent with the contract as well…?”

“…”

Normally, that would have worked. Chae Woo-seok liked compliments more than expected. But today, there was no reaction.

“…Should I try harder…?”

Only then did Chae Woo-seok let out a soft laugh. He’d only been teasing, but Go Ha-jin never failed to react. It was almost impressive how he could deliver such shameless flattery in such a soulless tone.

“Live a long life, Ha-jin.”

At the joking remark, Go Ha-jin’s pale face turned even whiter. Chae Woo-seok was genuinely curious now, what kind of misunderstanding did Go Ha-jin had about him to be this terrified over a little teasing. Still, the reaction was amusing enough to enjoy for a while longer.

In high spirits, Chae Woo-seok took the wheel. Go Ha-jin, misreading his mood, kept babbling nervously. The truth was the opposite, but his voice wasn’t unpleasant, so he let it be.

“Get ready. We start work tomorrow.”

“…Work?”

“My father. Try seducing him properly.”

“You can’t be serious…”

Watching Go Ha-jin respond lightly, Chae Woo-seok felt a rare flicker of anxiety. Even with the most perfect marriage candidate at his side, it might not be enough. Honestly, no one would survive easily in that house.

No, maybe it was a good thing.

If it was Go Ha-jin, someone with no affection whatsoever, then no matter what happened there, he wouldn’t care.

…Probably.