Chapter Text
Jihoon couldn’t exactly remember how long it has been since.... he had been thrown into this island by his own father… Was it a decade? Or more than a decade ago? It doesn't really matter. The said place had been his refuge for years now. Wooden fences, uneven dirt paths, and a small one-room house were the sights he was most accustomed to. Every dawn, Jihoon would step outside to water the small herb garden beside his home. Rows of mint, ginseng, and wild chamomile grew neatly under his care, plants he used to prepare medicine for the elderly and sick villagers. The faint scent of herbs clung to his clothes, masking what little trace of his true nature could slip through the scent blockers he religiously applied each morning.
Because Jihoon was an Omega, but no one in the village knew. Everyone else feom there thought he's a beta due to his lack of smell.
He hid it well. The pills he took each day suppressed not only his scent but his heat, dulling the biological signals that could easily draw unwanted attention in a place as small as this. To the villagers, he was simply Dr. Lee. None of them would ever guess that beneath that calm exterior was an Omega who had long learned to survive by erasing himself.
He had grown up here after being exiled from Seoul, sent away from the family mansion when he was still a boy. His father, an influential Alpha, had considered him a disgrace the moment his secondary gender was revealed. Omegas in high-ranking Alpha families were tolerated if born female, married off for alliance; but a male Omega was seen as a stain. Because they’re considered less fertile.
Mr. Boo, the family’s loyal butler (or more like his mother's family's loyal butler), was the one who found this small village for him and made sure Jihoon would never go hungry or homeless. The butler practically became his father, far more than the man whose blood he shared. His biological father is a scumbag afterall. Jihoon was raised alongside Mr. Boo’s son, Seungkwan— an Omega like him, but unashamed of it unlike him.
He lived quietly, studying hard in the nearby provincial school. Despite the whispers “the city boy must have done something bad to end up here” Jihoon never spoke against anyone. Silence, he had learned, was more powerful than any words thrown his way. He worked hard, studied harder, and proved himself again and again. When the village school couldn’t teach him enough, Mr. Boo brought textbooks and medical journals from Seoul.
By the time he turned eighteen, Jihoon had earned a scholarship to study Medicine at a university in Seoul. He graduated with honors. While his classmates celebrated with their parents, Jihoon stood by the window of the ceremony hall, watching the city lights flicker like distant memories.
Mr. Boo came, of course. He always did.
“Your mother would be proud, Young Master,” he said softly, eyes kind behind his glasses.
Jihoon smiled a little at the memory of the woman who brought him into this world. His mother, who disappeared just right before his father and his mistress exiled him from the mansion. He knows she’s still out there somewhere, he was sure of it. He had promised himself that one day, he would find her.
Now, at twenty-four, Jihoon lives quietly again in the countryside. He runs a small clinic attached to his home, providing medicine and care to anyone who needs it. Children adore him, elders rely on him, and though he rarely smiles, everyone seems to find comfort in him.
But fate never stays still for long. Soon, an Alpha will arrive, born of the same world that once cast Jihoon aside. Kwon Soonyoung, heir to the Kwon Group, whose life will intertwine with Jihoon’s in ways neither of them expects.
–
A white envelope sealed with a golden wax, bearing the Kwon family crest, a phoenix rising from flame came. Mr. Boo brought it to Jihoon’s doorstep one early morning, though his unreadable expression is enough to make Jihoon sigh, it's like he knew what was coming.
Jihoon stared at it for a long moment before taking it from him, the weight of the paper heavier than it should be. He already knew nothing good ever came from a name that powerful. He came from a powerful family as well but look where it brought him.
“They’ve been trying to reach you for weeks,” Mr. Boo said. “And yesterday, a letter came from your father. I thought it best to deliver this myself.”
Jihoon clicked his tongue at the mention of his father. The letter from Seoul still sat unopened on his desk, his father’s name written in elegant and cold strokes across the front. He hadn’t expected another message to follow so soon, much less one sealed with the crest of the Kwon family.
He tore the seal carefully. Inside was not an invitation but more like a summon, the Kwon Group was requesting his presence in Seoul regarding a private family matter.
He frowned. “Private?”
Mr. Boo hesitated before answering, “the Kwons are seeking a potential union. Their eldest grandson, Kwon Soonyoung, was meant to inherit the company, but after his accident—”
Jihoon’s fingers tightened on the letter. “Accident?”
“A car crash, three years ago. He survived, but… he hasn’t walked since. There are whispers they may replace him as heir. I believe the family wants to negotiate something that would keep their control secure.”
Jihoon’s brows drew together, he has an idea what this 'meeting' might be but he does not want to jump into conclusions right away. “And what does that have to do with me?”
“Because of who you are, Young Master. The last legitimate son of the Lee family. You are still very much important, even if your father tried to erase you. According to his letter, the Kwons specifically asked for you to be engaged to their heir.”
‘So this was why father suddenly remembered I existed.’
A faint, humorless chuckle escaped him. “And why not offer his beloved daughter instead? Isn’t she the perfect little Omega he’s always wanted to parade around?”
Mr. Boo’s eyes flickered, the briefest trace of discomfort crossing his face.
“He already did, Young Master. She’s been promised to Mr. Kwon Soonyoung’s half-brother—the one they’re preparing as his potential replacement.”
Jihoon’s laugh came out sharper this time, devoid of any amusement. He leaned back against the doorframe as his eyes were glinting with disdain.
“Of course. How convenient. He gets to marry off both his Omegas to the Kwon family. One to the heir, one to the backup. Sounds like a perfectly executed plan, don't you think?.”
“I believe your father sees this as an opportunity to strengthen his ties,” Mr. Boo replied.
Jihoon rolled his eyes. “No. He sees this as another way to remind me of my place.”
He paused, voice dipping lower, laced with bitter irony.
“Still, it’s a shame he can’t say no to the Kwons about me being the one to marry the original heir since they specifically requested for me.”
He looked down at the letter again. Marriage, not out of love but merely a transaction. A power exchange between two families and he was the pawn his father decided to move.
He had heard of Kwon Soonyoung before: an Alpha with a golden reputation. Charismatic, admired, everything an Alpha heir should be. But Jihoon knew better than to be deceived by polished exteriors. Alphas like that always came with sharp edges behind their smiles.
His father had been one, too. If his mother had been fooled by his stupid alpha father, he won’t allow himself to be a victim of one.
“Actually there’s something else,” Mr. Boo said, lowering his voice. “Mr. Kwon Soonyoung’s righthand man said that his boss promised assistance…resources, contacts. Enough to find your mother and get her back… perhaps even reopen the case your father buried.”
Jihoon’s breath hitched, it felt like a switch had been turned on inside of him. He hadn’t heard his mother spoken aloud in years. This was it. The one chance he might have to find her, to bring her back. A path to make his father pay for everything.
Even if it meant stepping into the lion’s den once more.
He folded the letter slowly and looked out the window. The fields outside swayed under the morning light. His life here was safe and peaceful but peace didn’t build justice, and safety never brought his mother home.
“Prepare my things,” he said at last. “I’ll go.”
Mr. Boo bowed slightly, a flicker of relief crossing his face.
“Understood, Young Master.”
—
The Kwon estate was as grand as Jihoon had imagined it, perhaps even more so. White marble columns and glass walls. But the man Jihoon came to meet wasn’t inside the main mansion.
Mr. Boo had driven him to a smaller wing at the far end of the property. It was guarded only by a few trusted staff. It was here, Jihoon was told, that the Kwon heir had chosen to live since his accident. And it was here, away from the prying eyes of both families, that they had agreed to meet in secret.
No one, especially not the respective heads of their families, could know this meeting was happening. The engagement was supposed to be announced after the official introductions next week, but both of them had their own reasons to cut ahead of schedule. Jihoon didn’t want this marriage, and Soonyoung, Jihoon suspected, didn’t either.
He was led into a conservatory filled with plants and sunlight. A wheelchair sat near the glass wall, turned toward the garden outside. The man sitting in it didn’t look like the perfect, golden heir Jihoon remembered from magazine headlines.
Kwon Soonyoung looked…just like a humble human albeit undeniably handsome. That chiseled jawline.....and kissable lips?
Jihoon wanted to slap himself mentally for even having such thoughts.
His hair was slightly disheveled, his frame thinner than before, and his eyes, though still bright, held some sort of resignation and weariness.
When Jihoon stepped closer, Soonyoung turned, his expression changing in surprise before it softened into a smile.
“You came,” he said warmly but there was something cautious beneath it, as if he’d learned that kindness often came at a price.
Jihoon gave a polite nod. “You made sure I would.”
Soonyoung chuckled. “I received your letter.” His tone lowered a bit, “You said you wanted to make a deal with the heir of the Kwon family. I understood the meaning behind that.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “You were never one to waste words.”
Jihoon’s gaze flickered, a small acknowledgement. “I didn’t think you’d actually reply.”
“I almost didn’t,” Soonyoung admitted softly. “But curiosity wins over reason, sometimes.”
As he spoke, Jihoon caught a faint whiff of his pheromones, an unmistakably Alpha scent that slipped through the air. It was… different. It’s somewhat a faint smell of sandalwood and cloves combined, unlike the overwhelming musk that came from most Alphas.
It was surprisingly pleasant, comforting even if Jihoon needs to be honest.
And Jihoon hated that realization.
He’d spent years wearing scent blockers, surrounding himself only with betas and omegas, his butler, Mr. Boo, was a beta; his wife too; and Seungkwan, their son, an omega. Jihoon had never liked the way most Alphas’ pheromones made his instincts flare uncomfortably. But Soonyoung’s scent didn’t do that. Instead, it settled low in his chest, dangerously easy to breathe in.
Of course, he said nothing.
Jihoon was far too composed to admit that he, of all people, liked the scent of the alpha he’s bound to marry soon whether he likes it or not.
Soonyoung, unaware of Jihoon’s fleeting thought, continued, “My family doesn’t know you’re here. I told them I wasn’t ready for meetings yet. I wanted to see you first without all the noise.”
That startled Jihoon slightly. “Why?”
“Because if we’re going to make a deal,” Soonyoung said, “I’d rather know the man I’m gambling with.”
Jihoon studied him for a moment. “And what do you think you see?”
Soonyoung’s gaze lingered, almost analytical but there was no hint of arrogance laced between his stares. Which then his expression softened quickly.
“I can’t smell you.”
Jihoon froze. “Excuse me?”
“Your scent,” Soonyoung clarified softly. “I know you’re an Omega. Everyone in the family does. But I can’t smell anything—no trace of it. Are you hiding it?”
For a moment, the silence between them was sharp enough to cut through glass.
Then Jihoon exhaled slowly to cut through the silence. “Scent blockers and suppressants. I’ve been taking them for years.”
Soonyoung’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t pry. “That must be… hard.”
Jihoon’s lips lifted faintly,. “It’s easier than letting Alphas notice me.”
That answer told Soonyoung more than Jihoon intended. He nodded once respectfully, before gesturing toward the seat across from him.
Jihoon sat, the tension slowly dissipating. Soonyoung leaned back, eyes flicking briefly to the garden beyond before speaking again.
“You know,” Soonyoung began, “my family didn’t waste time finding a replacement for me.”
“Your younger half brother,” Jihoon said, remembering what Mr. Boo had mentioned.
“Mm,” Soonyoung murmured, a hint of bitterness curling beneath the sound. “Jinyoung. He’s… not a bad kid. Too ambitious, maybe. But our relationship has always been strange, neither good nor bad. He was raised by his mother, and she’s always made sure he knew I was the obstacle standing in his way.” He paused, fingers tightening faintly around the armrest. “My stepmother can be vicious when it comes to power. To her, I’m a flaw in the Kwon legacy. She’s made it clear she wants her son to inherit the company, even if it means pushing me out entirely.”
Jihoon tilted his head slightly. “And you think she’ll succeed?”
“If I stay in this chair,” Soonyoung said, “she already has.”
Something in Jihoon’s expression somehow changed, just slightly though. He knew that kind of power play too well. The kind born from bloodlines and greed, from families who valued heirs more than people. Of course, he knew it too well, as a child of noble birth who was stripped of his rights the moment his father succeeded in seizing his mother’s wealth.
He suddenly noticed that he’s already deep in thoughts so he straightened, “Then let’s talk business.”
“Business?” Soonyoung asked, a wry smile touching his lips. “I had a feeling that’s what this was.”
Jihoon crossed one leg neatly over the other. “Here’s my proposal. I’ll help you recover your legs. I’ve spent years researching neuromuscular treatments, and I know people who can assist discreetly. In return, you’ll help me take back everything my father stole. His company, his reputation, and the freedom of my mother.”
Soonyoung leaned forward slightly, interest flickering in his eyes. “And the Kwon Group?”
“You’ll get it back,” Jihoon said simply. “Once you’re well, I’ll help you secure your inheritance and make sure your family never replaces you as heir.”
Soonyoung’s gaze lingered on him. “That’s… a very calculated offer.”
Jihoon didn’t deny it. “I don’t make emotional ones.”
Soonyoung smiled faintly. “And what about the marriage? You don’t strike me as someone eager to play the obedient Omega.”
The tone in Jihoon's voice stayed even. “My sister would suit the role far better than I ever could, but what can we do? Our mothers already promised us to each other, and your grandmother seems intent on honoring that wish.”
Soonyoung’s smile tilted wryly. “And you don’t want to marry me though.”
Jihoon met his gaze. “You’re still young, Kwon Soonyoung. You’ll meet your fated Omega someday, the one your instincts won’t be able to resist. I don’t plan on being in your way when that happens.”
“And what happens after we finally get what we want?” Soonyoung asked.
Jihoon looked directly at him. “We divorce.”
The word hit the air like an arrow
“You’ll be free to find your true love,” Jihoon continued. “This arrangement is just that—an arrangement. We help each other, and when we’ve achieved what we came for, we walk away.”
Soonyoung stared at him for a long moment before laughing softly without mockery.
“You’ve already thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“I’ve had time,” Jihoon said.
“Then let’s make it official,” Soonyoung said as he offered his hand which Jihoon quickly held to shake. “A secret deal between the two of us.”
—
The grand hall of the Lee mansion shimmered with gold and white, the scent of fresh lilies Evident in the air. Every corner gleamed as though wealth itself was being paraded, perhaps it was. After all, the wedding of a Kwon and a Lee was an event no social circle could afford to ignore.The engagement itself had been paraded as a grand union of two old families, a match that symbolized reconciliation and progress. The truth, however, was more political than romantic. It just happens to be a carefully curated illusion of elegance and unity.
Jihoon stepped past the tall double doors, Seungkwan following closely behind him. The younger Omega’s sharp gaze swept across the hall, taking in every familiar face painted with polite deceit. He’d been Jihoon’s right hand ever since the engagement announcement months ago. He moved with efficiency, his gaze was always sharp, and always anticipating Jihoon’s needs before he even spoke.
The engagement party months ago had gone smoothly. There had been smiles, champagne, and whispers that the Lee family had finally produced something of worth again. The Kwons announced Soonyoung’s younger half-brother, Jinyoung, as the acting heir for now, though their grandmother had yet to officially name him the family patriarch. That small window of uncertainty was all Jihoon and Soonyoung needed to hold onto. A chance. A window that Jihoon and Soonyoung had every intention of prying wider.
Jihoon’s father appeared and greeted him near the base of the grand staircase, his usual arrogance now wrapped with the facade of kindness that makes Jihoon almost want to puke.
“Jihoon,” the man said, his smile almost believable. “You’ve grown into quite the image of your mother.”
Jihoon’s lips curved faintly, though his gaze stayed cold. “I suppose that’s the only part of her you didn’t take.”
His father’s laughter came too easily, a brittle sound that cracked the air. “Still sharp-tongued, I see. Let’s not dwell on the past, son. Let’s not speak of unpleasant things. Today is meant to be a happy day. It’s your wedding day, after all.”
Jihoon inclined his head. “Of course, Father.”
Even the word Father tasted bitter on his tongue.
Beside him, Seungkwan stayed quiet, bowing politely to the older man. Jihoon could feel the faint flutter of his Omega pheromones under the scent blockers, a quiet show of support that grounded him when the Alpha’s presence threatened to suffocate.
Then came his stepmother, her perfume thick and sweet enough to choke him, mingling unpleasantly with her Omega scent. It was saccharine, cloying, and laced with hidden venom. Dressed in an emerald gown and draped in jewels, she looked every bit the dignified lady she pretended to be.
“Jihoon,” she said, her voice honeyed with false kindness. “It’s been such a long time. You’ve… matured.”
“I try my best,” Jihoon replied smoothly, the polite smile never reaching his eyes.
“It’s such a relief to see you doing well,” she continued. “Your father and I worried about you, truly.”
Jihoon resisted the urge to scoff.
Worried? They hadn’t so much as written a single letter during the years he’d been cast aside.
But he only bowed slightly, keeping his composure. “Your concern is appreciated, Madam.”
His half-sister, on the other hand, looked smug in her own gown, her chin tilted just so. The perfect picture of a favored daughter. Her Omega scent is lighter but equally artificial, overpowered by layers of floral perfume. It made Jihoon’s stomach twist. Her smile looks like it was fabricated as well by a known factory. He almost wanted to laugh.
This bitch is so fake. I wanna fucking slap her.
“Brother,” she greeted sweetly. “You look so… humble today. I suppose countryside living suited you.”
Jihoon’s expression didn’t waver. “And you look expensive,” he replied, his tone flat. “I suppose climbing the social ladder suits you.”
Her smile tightened, but she recovered quickly. “It’s only natural. After all, not everyone gets to marry the future patriarch of the Kwon Group.”
Jihoon’s gaze flicked briefly to her, then away. “True. Some of us prefer to build our own power rather than marry into it.”
Seungkwan almost choked back a laugh, bowing slightly to hide his grin.
His stepmother’s painted smile faltered, just for a second. “Now, now, let’s not ruin the atmosphere with sibling rivalry. The press will be arriving soon.”
Jihoon inclined his head again, perfectly polite. “Of course, Mother.”
It was strange, he thought, how easily the word slipped from his mouth, as if formality itself had become an armor. He’d long since learned that in households like theirs, affection was just another form of performance.
Seungkwan leaned slightly toward him. “They’re really putting on a show, aren’t they?”
“Let them,” Jihoon murmured back. “Actors should be given their stage.”
He kept his expression mild. Thankfully his scent was carefully suppressed under layers of scent blockers so one can read his real emotions through his scent.
As his family moved on to greet other guests, Jihoon stood silently beside Seungkwan, eyes scanning the hall. The mingling of pheromones was almost dizzying now.
He exhaled quietly, trying to focus on the faint scent memory that lingered in his mind. Soonyoung. His pheromones had been different. It calmed his instincts in a way he didn’t understand. The man had been patient, and unexpectedly gentle throughout the months of planning. They’d met in secret whenever they could, each encounter more of a strategy session than a lover’s tryst. But beneath those conversations lay an unspoken tension neither dared to name. Jihoon could still remember the brush of his scent. It wasn’t the suffocating musk of other Alphas he’d learned to fear and hate.
He would never admit it, not even to himself, but that his short encounters with Soonyoung made something deep within him stir.
You’ll be free once this is over.
Jihoon reminded himself. Both of us will.
But part of him wondered if freedom would still feel the same when it meant stepping away from the only Alpha whose presence didn’t make his heart recoil.
Ridiculous. Ofcourse, the answer is yes. Soonyoung and him are not romantically involved. They'll be allies more than spouses once they tied the knot together.
“You’re doing well, Jihoon-ah,” Seungkwan murmured beside him. “You didn’t even flinch back there.”
Jihoon allowed a faint smile. “I’ve had years of practice.”
He straightened, gaze following the chandelier lights reflecting across the hall.
They think the game is over
He straightened, his voice loud enough only for Seungkwan to hear. “But the Kwons haven’t declared him the patriarch yet. Which means there’s still time.”
“Time for what?” Seungkwan asked softly.
Jihoon’s lips curved, the faintest glint of fire in his eyes.
“Time to make sure the right heir takes back what’s his.”
They forget, I’m not here to play their part. I’m here to rewrite the script.
—
Jihoon was dressed impeccably that evening, his tuxedo was made exquisitely and the fabric used was screaming wealth. It wasn’t a gift from affection but rather a costume, chosen carefully by his father’s household to parade him as a ‘well-treated son’.
To the guests, it would look as though the Lees were a respectable, united family, one worthy of marrying into the powerful Kwons. Jihoon knew better. Every thread of his tuxedo was a lie.
Just like how they had once pretended to care, paying Mr. Boo just enough to keep him alive, but never enough to truly help him and educate him. They left him to scrape by, thinking that distance and neglect would tame him. In their eyes, he was nothing more than a discarded name, a countryside bumpkin they could control through pity.
The murmurs started to grow when the grand doors opened for the second time that evening, not for Soonyoung, but for his younger half-brother, Kwon Jinyoung.
He entered with a proud gait, his hand placed firmly around Jihoon’s half-sister’s waist. The two of them looked every bit the picture-perfect couple. It was somehow strange, Jihoon thought, that Jinyoung arrived before Soonyoung himself. Custom dictated that the elder son should always precede the younger, especially on a night this symbolic where Soonyoung is the one getting married. The guests noticed it too.
Jihyoung entered the venue smiling and shaking hands like he’d been born to the title. Chatting with pretty much everyone like a damn politician. And yet, the true heir, the one Jihoon was supposed to marry, was nowhere to be found
While watching her fiance talk to some guests, Sena, his half sister gives him a wide grin, her eyes flicking toward Jihoon. “See? Jinyoung arrived early, this shows how much he cares for me,” she said sweetly, her tone dripping with condescension. “Unlike someone else’s fiance.”
Jihoon was about to retort but decided to shrug her off. The murmurs were growing even further now,
“Where is the eldest Kwon?”
“Perhaps he’s unwell?”
“Or perhaps…”
Jihoon’s half-sister’s laughter sliced through the whispers like a newly sharpened knife. “Oh, don’t tell me Soonyoung won’t be showing up tonight,” she said sweetly, tilting her head toward Jihoon. “How embarrassing would that be? Imagine your fiancé skipping your own wedding ceremony.”
Finally, she’s showing her true colors.
Her mother placed a hand on her arm in mock reprimand, though the smirk on her lips said otherwise. “Now, dear, don’t be cruel. I’m sure Jihoon understands. Not everyone wants to be forced into a match they didn’t choose.”
Jihoon turned his head slightly. “Strange. I was under the impression that your daughter’s engagement was arranged in a similar fashion.”
His stepmother blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Unless, of course,” Jihoon continued softly, “Jinyoung actually loves her. In that case, congratulations are in order, though from what I’ve heard from some rumors that were circulating, that seems rather doubtful.”
His half-sister’s smile froze. “You watch your mouth, Jihoon,” she hissed. “You may be marrying a crippled Alpha who’s stripped from his title of being the family’s heir, but that doesn’t make you his equal. Besides, me and Jinyoung are in love, unlike the two of you!”
The insult stung, not for Jihoon’s sake, but for Soonyoung. He finds it disrespectful towards Soonyoung. “Careful,” Jihoon replied. “You should choose your words wisely when speaking about a man whose family you’re so desperate to marry into.”
“You—!” she snapped, her voice rising. “You think you’re better than me? You’re nothing but a castaway Omega our own father barely wanted!”
Gasps rippled across the room. Jihoon’s father stiffened, clearly caught between scolding his daughter and maintaining appearances. The humiliation was palpable.
Jihoon stepped forward slightly. “Perhaps. But at least I don’t need to beg my way into a name to matter.”
That did it. His sister’s eyes blazed. She raised her hand ready to slap him but Jihoon caught her wrist midair. The movement was swift. His omega instincts flared, warning the other like a restrained growl.
The hall went silent.
Her scent spiked in agitation, floral and acrid, clashing with the expensive perfume on her skin. “Let go of me!” she hissed, trying to pull back.
Jihoon’s expression didn’t waver. “Then don’t raise your hand at me again,” he said quietly, “unless you plan to face the consequences in front of both our families.”
Her mother stepped forward. Her voice was sharp with false concern, Jihoon perfectly knows she only cares about her daughter. “Jihoon, this behavior is unacceptable—”
Even her fiance Jinyoung, who just stepped back into the scene, doesn't know what to do. But before she could finish, the great doors of the hall opened. A ripple of murmurs spread again, then silence.
Kwon Soonyoung entered, dressed in ivory and gold, regal even in his wheelchair. Dino stood behind him, composed and steady, guiding him down the aisle. The air shifted as soon as he arrived; his Alpha pheromones rolled through the space. Even the murmurs stopped mid-breath.
Behind him, the Kwon matriarch followed. “My apologies for the delay,” she said, bowing her head slightly. “We ran into unexpected trouble on the road.”
Soonyoung’s gaze swept through the hall and stopped on Jihoon. The tension was still there, Jihoon’s hand still wrapped around his sister’s wrist. Soonyoung’s jaw tightened slightly.
Then, his voice rang out.
“I’d like to know,” Soonyoung said, “who in this room thought it was wise to raise a hand against my omega bride.”
The entire hall froze.
“Because,” he continued, eyes flicking briefly toward Jihoon’s family, “anyone who dares mistreat him is also insulting me.”
No one dared to breathe. His grandmother’s lips curved faintly with pride
Jihoon, still holding his sister’s wrist, slowly released it. His heart beat faster than he liked to admit. Soonyoung, though late, had arrived to remind them all exactly who truly held power.
“Jinyoung,” Soonyoung said mildly, “you should learn to control your omega. She doesn’t seem very well-behaved.”
The room went still again, the sharp rebuke hanging in the air.
Jinyoung’s jaw tightened due to that, his pride flaring up, after all the younger fellow hates it when his elder brother scolds him. “Hyung, you misunderstand. She was merely speaking to her brother—”
“Then she should learn to speak with respect,” Soonyoung cut in, his tone was polite but there’s firmness to it. “Especially to her elders, you know how much our family values seniority.”
Jihoon’s lips curved slightly, his gaze flicking toward Jinyoung. “It’s fine,” he said lightly, though it was obvious that he’s holding back the venom behind each word that he spit, “The younger ones tend to forget their manners sometimes. After all, being the current heir must be… exhausting.”
Jinyoung’s eyes narrowed. “Watch your tongue. You speak boldly for someone whose title and reputation now depends on an engagement contract. Be careful, Jihoon hyung. Paper promises can burn.”
Jihoon turned his gaze to him calmly. “You’re right,” he said. “But you should remember, ashes are what make the phoenix rise. And that crest belongs to your family, doesn’t it?”
The subtle jab silenced the nearby whispers. His sister huffed, pretending to look insulted, her hand twitching slightly as though tempted to strike him again. Jihoon met his glare unflinchingly. “You might be holding the title now, Jinyoung-ssi, but never forget, your brother Soonyoung is still first born. Respect is not something you offer at convenience.”
The tension was thick enough to make the crowd silent. But before either could speak again, their grandmother raised her hand.
“That’s enough,” she said firmly. “The facilitator has been waiting long enough. Let us proceed before we lose the hour.”
Everyone straightened immediately. The ceremony began. It was traditional, almost ritualistic. Lanterns flickering with golden light as attendants moved gracefully through the aisles. The air was rich with incense, a blend of sandalwood and white chamomile, and Jihoon was pleased that the scent they chose is akin to Soonyoung’s alpha scent. The smell does nothing but bring him comfort afterall, especially to an event like this where he can smell various of scents including alpha scents he hated the most.
Jihoon and Soonyoung were led to the altar. Even though Soonyoung moved by wheelchair, there was something dignified about the way he carried himself. Jihoon matched his pace perfectly, aware of every pair of eyes watching and every breath taken.
Their hands brushed once by accident, perhaps, but the brief contact sent a little spark up Jihoon’s arm. He blamed the atmosphere, the pressure, anything but the effect the alpha has on him.
The officiant began reciting the vows. Jihoon responded mechanically at first. But when it came time to exchange rings, his breath caught. Soonyoung’s fingers trembled faintly as he slid the band onto Jihoon’s hand. Jihoon noticed it and can’t blame him, he’s trembling as well when he slid the ring to Soonyoung’s finger.
Then came the final step. The sealing kiss.
A hush swept the room.
Jihoon hesitated, his heartbeat thrumming hard against his ribs. He glanced at Soonyoung, who looked just as tense, his usual composure cracking slightly. They leaned in, neither too fast nor too eager. The brief brush of their lips was soft and fleeting, yet it felt somehow magical.
Isn't he suppose not to feel this way? Jihoon does not know the answer to that question as well.
When they pulled apart, the hall erupted into applause.
But Jihoon’s mind was far away, his thoughts caught between the feeling of Soonyoung’s lips still lingering on his mouth and the realization that this marriage didn't feel as hollow as he’d expected. And Soonyoung, looking at him from his chair, seemed to know exactly what he was thinking.
—
“You look tired,” Soonyoung whispered, his words meant only for Jihoon. “You’ve been tense since the vows.”
Jihoon gave a small smile, the corner of his lips curving faintly. “Maybe because someone refused to practice them with me yesterday.”
Soonyoung chuckled softly “I wanted it to be real and sincere when I said it,” he replied unexpectedly, earnestly.
Jihoon turned to him fully, momentarily forgetting the crowd in their wedding reception. “It was,” he whispered, eyes flickering toward the Alpha’s lips before he quickly looked away with a small blush forming on his cheeks. “You did well, Soonyoung-ah.”
For a moment, their world shrank to the space between them Jihoon’s shy smile and Soonyoung’s fond gaze, it's as if they have their own world. Jihoon’s Omega instincts stirred faintly, tugging at him to lean closer, to seek comfort and security in the Alpha who had just vowed himself to him.
Soonyoung, though careful not to push, couldn’t help his gaze softening as he whispered, “You did better.”
Before Jihoon could reply, Soonyoung’s grandmother rose from her seat at the head of the table. Conversations hushed immediately.
“Thank you all for joining us to celebrate this union,” she began. “This marriage marks not only a bond between two families, but also the continuation of legacy and strength within the Kwon name.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the hall before settling on her grandsons. “And on that note,” she continued, “I wish to announce my decision. As I plan to retire soon, I believe it is time to pass down the leadership of Kwon Group to Jinyoung.”
Gasps rippled through the guests like a sharp breeze. Jihoon’s father clapped far too quickly; his stepmother and so as Jinyoung's mother who's been quiet the whole time, their faces broke into a smile that bordered on smug, while Sena, Jihoon’s younger sister, practically glowed, her hand tightening possessively around Jinyoung’s arm.
Jihoon felt Soonyoung still beside him, though the Alpha’s expression didn’t change. Jihoon let out a cough. “That’s quite the surprise,” he said. “Though I imagine Soonyoung’s current position should still be considered before such decisions are made.”
Sena turned toward him, the polite mask on her face tightening. “Oppa,” she said sweetly, though her tone was barbed, “it’s not surprising at all. Jinyoung-oppa has been taking over responsibilities for months now. It’s natural for Grandmother to recognize that.”
Jihoon smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Natural, perhaps. But convenient too, wouldn’t you say? Especially when the original heir hasn’t been given a fair chance to recover. It has only been three years, not a decade yet, besides he’s the one behind the company’s continued success currently. His contribution to the family business should also matter.”
Jinyoung’s lips curved into a thin smile. “You make it sound like we’re taking something that isn’t ours, hyung-nim. But Soonyoung-hyung himself hasn’t contested it.”
“Soonyoung doesn’t need to,” Jihoon replied smoothly. “Because I will.”
That earned him more than a few surprised glances, including from Soonyoung himself. Jihoon stood, hands resting lightly on the table, his gaze steady on the matriarch.
“I have no intention of disrespecting you, ma’am,” Jihoon said, inclining his head slightly toward the grandmother. “But if this decision is final, allow me to propose something instead.”
The grandmother’s brows lifted with curiosity. “A proposal?”
“Yes.” Jihoon’s tone held quite the conviction. “Give me three months. Three months to heal Soonyoung’s legs. If I fail, then Jinyoung can have the position, and I’ll personally step away from everything. But if I succeed…” His eyes flicked toward Jinyoung, unflinching, “then Soonyoung remains the rightful one to inherit your position, and no one questions it again.”
The hall was silent for a beat before Jinyoung let out a low disbelieving laugh. “You can’t be serious,” his voice was dripping with mockery. “You think you can fix something that even the best doctors in Seoul have failed to treat? In three months? You must be delusional.”
Jihoon didn’t flinch. Jihoon only smiled, calmly, the knowing smile that unnerved most people who underestimated him. “Then I suppose we’ll find out who’s the real fool, won’t we? You’ll find that I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
Sena sneered. “Oppa, this isn’t some countryside wager. You’ll only embarrass yourself and Soonyoung too.”
Jihoon’s gaze flicked to her briefly, his tone deceptively soft. “Embarrassment isn’t something I fear, little sister. Losing to someone unworthy, however, now that would be truly humiliating.”
Sena’s lips parted, the color rising in her face, but before she could respond, the grandmother spoke again. “Three months,” she said slowly. “You’re confident enough to make such a claim, Jihoon-ah?”
Jihoon met her eyes with determination. “I am.”
A small smile formed on the matriarch’s lips, an obvious sign of intrigue flickering there. “Very well,” she said finally. “Three months it is. Should you succeed, Soonyoung’s place remains untouched. Should you fail… the company will be Jinyoung’s, without further dispute.”
Whispers erupted around the hall, excitement and disbelief mingling in the air. Jinyoung’s smirk returned, smug and sure of victory. Jihoon sat back down, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.
Soonyoung leaned closer to Jihoon making sure his voice low enough to be drowned by the murmurs so that only Jihoon can hear him. “You didn’t have to do that,” he said quietly, eyes searching Jihoon’s face.
“I know,” Jihoon murmured back with a faint smirk touching his lips. “But I wanted to. Besides, it is part of our deal.”
Three months. That’s all I need.
To heal him.
To win. To get my mother back.
To make them all regret for underestimating and mistreating me and my mother.
TBC…