Chapter 95: Collision

But Hyun-woo couldn’t stay locked in confrontation with Cha Kwon-oh forever.

And not far from here — in that same restaurant room — Hyun-jin was still waiting.

If Seung-hyuk came too, this mess could easily spill over onto him.

That was the last thing Hyun-woo wanted.

So, whatever happened, he had to handle Kwon-oh on his own.

He straightened his back and spoke.

“Well, no matter how I think about it, Director Cha, I can’t see any reason you’d be this angry.”

“Keep pretending you don’t know, and—”

“I’m not pretending.

From the start, we were never what you’d call fair-play business partners, were we?”

Hyun-woo met Kwon-oh’s gaze, calm and unwavering.

At that, Kwon-oh’s face stiffened.

Of course, it wasn’t new — their relationship had always been toxic.

From the beginning, there was never a chance for mutual respect or civility.

So for Kwon-oh to be mad because he’d been outplayed?

Ridiculous.

If he didn’t like being tricked, he could’ve done the same back.

Instead, Hyun-woo decided to act shamelessly right to his face.

“Ha.

Guess you got me good, huh?

Clever move, Director Joo.”

“……”

Kwon-oh ground his teeth, his expression twisting in rage.

Hyun-woo didn’t flinch.

At first, he’d been intimidated by that violent aura of his, but not anymore.

What could the man do — hit him?

If he did, that alone would be grounds for a lawsuit.

Let him dig his own grave.

Hyun-woo almost welcomed the idea.

The only problem was the setting.

If he stalled too long, Hyun-jin or Seung-hyuk might come looking.

That would complicate things.

Hyun-woo’s eyes darted briefly toward the door — and Kwon-oh caught it.

“Waiting for someone?”

“……”

“Now that I think about it… who’d you come here with at this hour, Director Joo?”

“……”

Damn it.

Out of words, Kwon-oh’s attention had turned somewhere worse — suspicion.

Hyun-woo tensed further.

He needed to stay composed, but the alcohol was dulling his focus.

Even his pheromone control was slipping — faint ripples of unease leaked into the air.

“What, hiding a lover?

Got another plaything besides that Alpha brat?”

“Plaything?

Watch your mouth.”

“Who is it, huh?”

“……”

Kwon-oh’s voice suddenly exploded, sharp and angry.

Hyun-woo frowned, caught off guard.

Why the sudden outburst?

He’d always known the man was unhinged, but lately, it was getting worse.

He looked at him with disgust — like watching a jealous Alpha raging at an Omega for imagined infidelity.

“Since when is it your business who spends their Friday nights with who?”

“Ha…”

Kwon-oh sighed harshly, jaw clenching.

Even he seemed faintly aware of how irrational he was being.

But that didn’t make the anger fade.

Just imagining Hyun-woo here with someone made his hands twitch.

If he saw whoever it was — he’d hit them.

He could feel it.

He’d never experienced such uncontrollable emotion before.

And that terrified him.

“Ha… haha…”

“……?”

Suddenly, Kwon-oh started laughing.

Hyun-woo’s face twisted in confusion.

Was he insane?

He’d been yelling one moment and now laughing like a maniac.

Maybe bipolar.

With a grim face, Hyun-woo stared at the man chuckling darkly to himself.

“Hyung, are you in here?”

“……!”

A soft voice broke through the tension.

Footsteps approached — Hyun-jin.

Hyun-woo’s heart jumped.

He turned sharply, seeing the pink cardigan he’d bought for her.

“Hyun-jin!”

“Hyung?”

He should’ve told her to stay back — but it was too late.

Kwon-oh turned his head, eyes narrowing as he spotted her.

“…Omega?”

“Excuse me?”

“……”

The look in Kwon-oh’s eyes shifted, sharp and assessing.

Hyun-woo’s hands clenched into fists.

He’d done everything to keep the two from ever meeting.

And now, all of that effort was gone.

His teeth ground together.

“What’s this?

You were here with an Omega?”

“……?”

“So that’s all this was…”

“……”

Kwon-oh muttered, voice oddly relieved.

Hyun-woo blinked, uncertain what to make of it.

“Pretty one, though.

So… does Director Joo treat you well?”

“Uh—what?”

“Come on, don’t be shy.

He pays you well, right?”

“……”

Hyun-jin’s expression hardened instantly.

He sounded like he was talking to a mistress.

Still too confused to speak, she looked helplessly toward Hyun-woo.

He stepped forward.

“That’s enough, Director Cha.”

“……!”

Hyun-jin froze.

That name — she’d heard it from Seung-hyuk before.

Director Cha…? Don’t tell me this is Cha Kwon-oh?

The Alpha who’d once overpowered Hyun-woo with pheromones, who’d fought with Seung-hyuk.

The same man — from the rival company.

Now standing right in front of her.

Hyun-jin’s eyes widened as she looked at him properly.

Black hair.

Cold, slanted eyes.

He was an Alpha like Seung-hyuk and Hyun-woo — yet something about him felt wrong.

Even his pheromones had a dangerous, oily heaviness to them.

He smiled, but his eyes were pitch black — empty.

There was no warmth there at all.

That look — seeing her not as a person, but as property.

She’d met Alphas like that before at the café.

The ones who made her skin crawl.

She remembered that same humiliation, that same disgust.

Disgusting man.

That was her only thought.

No wonder Hyun-woo hated him.

“She’s just a client’s guest I happened to run into.

Don’t make assumptions.

Let her go.”

“Oh?

No relation, huh?

Then why’s she calling you ‘hyung’ so sweetly?”

“We met a few times and got close.

That’s all.

Now please—”

“Then let her say it.

Is that true?”

“……!”

The words were aimed at Hyun-jin.

She blinked rapidly, caught off guard.

For a long moment, silence hung heavy between them.

Then, her eyes met Hyun-woo’s.

His face was tight with worry — almost pleading.

Her chest ached.

If this had been any other time, hearing Hyun-woo deny knowing her would’ve shattered her.

But right now… she understood.

He was protecting her.

The man in front of them wasn’t just threatening — he was dangerous.

Swallowing hard, Hyun-jin nodded.

“Y-yes.

Director Joo’s telling the truth.”

“Hmm.”

Kwon-oh’s gaze trailed over her slowly, like a blade.

Hyun-jin froze, every muscle tense.

His eyes crawled over her like a predator studying prey.

She couldn’t move — like a mouse cornered by a snake.

“You can leave.”

“Ah… okay.”

At Hyun-woo’s quiet order, she snapped out of her daze.

Trying not to meet Kwon-oh’s eyes, she backed away quickly — almost running out the door.

So that’s Cha Kwon-oh…

Even after leaving, her chest was tight.

Her heart pounded uncontrollably.

But it wasn’t the fluttery kind of pounding that came with affection.

It was fear.

Like seeing a monster.

She pressed a trembling hand to her chest, trying to steady it.

“Ah, hyung’s still…”

She couldn’t go back to the room.

Not yet.

Not while Hyun-woo was still in there with him.

If something happened, no one would be able to help.

So she waited — right outside the restroom — her heart racing.

But the minutes passed.

And Hyun-woo didn’t come out.

What should I do?

Should I go back in?

She hesitated.

Hyun-woo clearly didn’t want her anywhere near Kwon-oh.

So she paced anxiously instead, wringing her hands.

Then—

“What are you doing here?”

“……!”

The sudden voice behind her made her flinch.

She turned — and saw Seung-hyuk.

“I thought you went to get Hyun-woo hyung.

Where is he?”

“Well, I…”

Seung-hyuk stepped closer, glancing around.

No Hyun-woo in sight.

Then he noticed the restroom sign nearby, his eyes narrowing.

“What’s going on?”

“……”

Sharp as always, Seung-hyuk sensed instantly that something was wrong.

Hyun-jin bit her lip.

Somehow, she felt that if she told Seung-hyuk, everything would be okay.

But at the same time, that thought hurt.

He could always do what she couldn’t.

He could save people when she just stood there.

That small, familiar sting of inferiority stopped her from answering.

Then—

Bang!

“……!”

“……!”

A loud crash echoed from the restroom.

Both of them snapped their heads toward the sound.