#9
He snickered. My assumption, which I thought made sense, must have seemed ridiculous to him, but I found myself wishing for such a selfish approach instead. Thinking about it again, the pity behind wanting me to become an omega still didn't sit well with me.
'Hyung feels sorry for you. Hyung pities you.’
Even after a week, Han Jinheon's voice, pitying me, was vivid. It was like that when I first heard it, and even now, mulling it over, the discomfort I feel whenever I recall those words doesn't get better. My heart even kept tingling.
“It's already too late…. What would change if I become an omega….”
I averted my gaze from Han Jinheon and muttered to myself.
I had no intention of becoming an Omega, but thinking that my situation wouldn't improve even then made me dejected. I wasn't intentionally thinking negatively, but I felt Chairman Han wouldn't have even a little bit of expectation for me.
Whether Han Sol became an Omega or even an Alpha, he'd probably continue to dislike him. It seemed far-fetched for him to suddenly switch attitudes and start doting on me.
Han Jinheon, who was silently clearing away the sushi bento, spoke softly to me as I lifted my back from the sofa seat to help.
“Everything would change. Because you'd be able to carry a child.”
“Huh? C-carry what?”
“You can carry a child.”
“A child…?”
My head throbbed at the story that felt so distant from me, who had lived as a Beta.
In this Omegaverse world, the social standing of omegas wasn't bad. Although there were prejudiced views, they could maintain a better position than Betas, for a somewhat old-fashioned reason, which is pregnancy.
While it would be best for Alphas to have children with Alphas, Alphas also had a disadvantage: the probability of pregnancy between the same trait was significantly low.
Instead, Alphas sought out and married Omegas, who not only had a higher chance of pregnancy but also a high Alpha birthrate.
Especially in the case of Alpha chaebol families, they would go so far as to endure being called "Omega chasers" to find Omegas. Whether they imprinted or not was a matter of individual circumstances.
From Omega to pregnancy. Faced with such an unfamiliar topic, a chill ran down my spine. The thought of a child potentially growing inside me felt unreal, but I quickly composed myself and asked.
Okay, fine. Let’s say because I’m an Omega, I can carry a child.
“What would change with that? Even if I become an Omega, the father of my child would still be one of those people from the matchmaking profiles, right? Isn’t that how it would be?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. You’d only know whose child you’d carry once you become an Omega.”
“……”
“At least you'll be able to choose your partner. A situation will come where your standards can get even higher than they are now.”
Han Jinheon praised me in an uncharacteristic way. He said that since I was pretty, I wouldn't attract pathetic guys, but rather surprisingly decent Alphas. And that an Omega adorned with the HANQ Group's prestige would be treated well anywhere.
This man’s voice has a mysterious power. Even if it seems like nothing special, listening to him makes you nod. It sounds right even if it’s wrong, and you believe him even without trust. Moreover, when he has such a serious face, you think, at least he’s not bluffing.
“You even joked sometimes. That if you became an Omega, you’d carry Hyung’s child first.”
“What?! Me?!”
I was so flustered my jaw dropped. Of all the things I'd heard so far, this was the most shocking, making me doubt my ears and lose my mind.
Han Jinheon narrowed his brow as if my raised voice hurt his ears, then his face returned to its usual calm.
"Saying you'd turn the family into a complete mess, a messed-up lineage. Ah, was it a threat, not a joke?”
“Ha, haha…. I must have been out of his mind….”
I belatedly realized that Han Jinheon was scoffing at Han Sol’s past actions. You even said that? Han Sol, why on earth were you like that? You’re the one who creeps me out the most…
***
"See you at home. Let's talk again at home.”
I whispered a farewell to Han Jinheon’s back as he was busy on the phone.
As if he hadn't failed to hear my voice, he waved his hand. What was that indifferent gesture? If someone else did it, it would seem arrogant, but because that cool man did it, it looked cool.
I briefly glanced at my appearance. I wore a gray hoodie pulled over my head and a thin coat.
Not only that, but as if a cold wave had already hit, I wore a mask and had a muffler wrapped tightly around my neck. This heavy armament was to avoid the prying eyes within the HANQ Group headquarters.
There was no way HANQ employees wouldn't know Han Sol, the Chairman's other son and a notorious troublemaker. Wanting to come and go quietly without being noticed as much as possible, I opted for a slight disguise, but every time I felt suffocated, a question arose.
Couldn't it be that they don't know Han Sol? Am I overdoing it?
Besides, there was no chance of meeting Chairman Han. His office was in the headquarters of HANQ Electronics, the parent company of HANQ Group. And just yesterday, he had gone down to Namhae with Han Sol’s mother, Lee Geum young. It seemed Chairman Han disliked Han Sol but liked his mother, Lee Geum young.
While I was relieved there was no collective responsibility, thinking of Lee Geum young made me curious. Did she not know her son was in Korea? Since Chairman Han knew, I presumed she knew too, but she hadn't contacted him once or asked if her son was well. Yet, I don't feel confident enough to seek her out or contact her first.
I was in front of the elevator used only by executives. I glanced at the man standing beside me, waiting for the elevator.
The man, who looked innocent, was a Beta and one of the secretaries in the executive office's secretary team. He somehow had a young and fresh vibe; apparently, he was a new recruit and the youngest.
As soon as our eyes met, I untied my muffler and took off my mask, revealing my face. The man seemed flustered by my sudden action.
"Um… Should I call you Secretary? What’s your name?”
“Pardon? I'm sorry. I remember introducing myself before, so I assumed you would still remember my name. I am Jeong Sungwoo, from the Executive’s Secretary Team.”
The man took out his employee ID from his pocket, as if he had temporarily put it away, and hung it around his neck. I slowly shifted my gaze from his ID to his face and spoke.
“Oh, I know… I do know, but Secretary Jeong Sungwoo, your voice is nice. I wanted to ask again.”
It was a lie. I didn't know his name. I smiled gently and made something up, deceiving him smoothly, and surprisingly, it worked well. Jung Sungwoo’s cheeks flushed red as he bowed his head, saying thank you.
I stared intently at the blush on his cheeks. The way he avoided my gaze was also unusual. Looking back, he had been very cautious when he came to pick me up earlier. He couldn't easily look at me, and his hand trembled for that brief moment he opened the door.
I had brushed it off, thinking he was scared because it was Han Sol, but looking at it now, it seemed like it might be the opposite. Is this man conscious of me? Still, it wasn't unreasonable. Han Sol, isn't he pale and pretty?
It's just that his personality is garbage. Among the many handsome men in this novel, Han Sol was the only character with the keyword "beautiful su".
He had a refined and handsome appearance that wouldn't be out of place anywhere, yet I foolishly forgot about it. I was too busy admiring Han Jinheon's face to pay much attention to my own.
If he's conscious of me, it's a little bit of good news. After a short deliberation, I decided to be a little audacious, relying on my looks. It's all or nothing; if it doesn't work, I can just awkwardly move on.
As Jung Sungwoo was about to open the rear passenger door, I quickly approached him and placed my hand on the car body.
“Secretary-nim.”
Jung Sungwoo, surprised by what even I considered a rather bold action, flinched and even cowered as this face moved a step closer.
"Would you mind helping me a little today?”
As I generously curved my eyes into a smile, Jung Sungwoo’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.
Since it was stuffy anyway, I even wrapped the muffler around his neck, and the man nodded, his face flushed as if it would burst any second.
“Wh-what can I help you with! Just say anything….”
“Really? Can I say anything?”
Huh. This works?
He took the bait I'd thrown out just in case. Though bewildered, I inwardly cheered.
***
Even if I had lured Jung Sungwoo, all I could ask of him was to drop me off at a café near the house. I just wanted to sit blankly and organize my thoughts.
One more thing: I asked him to lie to Han Jinheon that he had taken me home if Jinheon asked. This was something he had to do for his own sake as well.
“An iced Americano, light on ice, and… that whipped cream castella too.”
“Okay, confirming your order. One light iced Americano and one whipped cream castella, correct?”
“Yes.”
“That will be 9,500 won for payment.”
While paying, I casually looked around the cafe. I could just sit in that corner and eat.
My leisurely thought was quickly shattered. The employee, who seemed to be having trouble with the payment, pulled the card out and reinserted it into the terminal, then cautiously asked.
“Excuse me, customer. Do you happen to have another payment card?”
“Yes? Why?”
“It says the card has been suspended….”
“Ye-yes? Suspended?”
No way. My card is suspended?
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