FF Chapter 26

At Choi Muhyeok’s command, the man standing next to Park Jincheol splashed water on the unconscious Jung Doowon. Soaked with cold water in the chilly night air, Jung Doowon gasped and jerked his head up in surprise.

As Jung Doowon groggily opened his eyes and saw Choi Muhyeok standing right in front of him, he flinched. Towering at 191 cm with a muscular build and dressed in a black suit, Choi Muhyeok’s presence was overwhelming, and Jung Doowon began to tremble.

Jung Doowon already knew who Choi Muhyeok was and the kind of world he operated in, having done his homework beforehand.

“Mr. Choi Muhyeok, Managing Director, I—I…”

“There’s no need for introductions. I already know who you are and who you work for,” Choi Muhyeok cut him off, clearly uninterested in hearing more.

Despite Jung Doowon’s trembling, stuttering attempt to speak, Choi Muhyeok interrupted, as if he had no patience for his excuses.

“I know you won’t answer why you were taking those photos, and I doubt a small fry like you, just following Lee Hyunjun’s orders, has any idea about his sleazy plans.”

“I swear, I don’t know anything. I was just following orders, that’s all. I really don’t know anything,” Jung Doowon stammered.

Choi Muhyeok pressed his finger to the corner of his right eye, frowning in irritation as he held his cigarette between his fingers.

“I don’t care to hear that. You must’ve had some nerve to ignore my warnings and act like a rat.”

Choi Muhyeok glared down at Jung Doowon, whose body shook violently, his eyes as sharp as knives.

“If you’ve gone this far, you must’ve been prepared to sacrifice a finger when you got caught. Isn’t that right?”

The moment Choi Muhyeok’s voice echoed in the warehouse, Jung Doowon’s eyes widened with fear.

“W-Wait, hold on. A finger…?”

“Untie him.”

At the low command, the men standing behind Choi Muhyeok moved to free Jung Doowon from the chair and held him on either side.

“Bring the axe.”

At the next order, everyone except Choi Muhyeok flinched and hesitated, glancing around nervously.

“Didn’t you hear me?”

When no one moved, Choi Muhyeok turned his head and raised his voice. Finally, Park Jincheol signaled to one of his subordinates, who reluctantly retrieved a small axe from the back and handed it to Choi Muhyeok.

“U-Ugh…”

Realizing the situation was far from a joke, Jung Doowon let out a strange noise, gripped by extreme fear.

One of the men holding Jung Doowon forced his arm out and pinned his hand to the floor, despite Jung Doowon’s desperate struggle to clench his fist. Choi Muhyeok pressed his knee down on Jung Doowon’s wrist.

“This time, it’ll only be a finger. But if I see you again, you won’t be walking out alive. Make sure Lee Hyunjun gets the message too. Understand?”

“A-Ah… uh…”

“Place your hand properly. Unless you want to lose your whole wrist.”

Sweating profusely, Jung Doowon looked up at Choi Muhyeok, panic written all over his face. But there wasn’t a trace of hesitation in Choi Muhyeok’s cold gaze or his expression. As Choi Muhyeok raised the axe, ready to strike, Jung Doowon screamed.

“Wait! W-Wait! Please! I’ll tell you everything I know! I swear, I’ll tell you everything.”

Seizing the brief moment of slack in Choi Muhyeok’s hold, Jung Doowon pulled his hand out from under the knee and dropped to the floor, begging.

“I don’t know why the client is looking for Ji Yeonwoo. They just told me to keep an eye on him, and I was following orders.”

“Then what exactly are you going to tell me?”

Choi Muhyeok raised an eyebrow, pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek. Jung Doowon nervously glanced at the axe still in Choi Muhyeok’s hand and swallowed hard.

“Are you… curious about what happened between Ji Yeonwoo and the client?”

Hearing that, Choi Muhyeok’s eyes narrowed.

“I know why Ji Yeonwoo developed pheromone deficiency.”

“How would a rat like you know that?”

“I-I was the one who delivered the medicine Ji Yeonwoo took at the time.”

Covered in scars, Jung Doowon trembled as he desperately pleaded for his life.

Standing before him, Choi Muhyeok looked down at Jung Doowon with cold, emotionless eyes.

݁˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

Inside the elevator, Choi Muhyeok leaned back against the rail, gripping it with both arms outstretched. His expression was frozen in thought.

“The client had always been obsessed with Ji Yeonwoo’s pheromones. But after they got married, the obsession only grew, and once they were exposed to pheromone enhancers, they became sadistic.”

Choi Muhyeok’s grip on the elevator rail tightened until his knuckles turned white.

“As you know, pheromone enhancers were meant to treat pheromone deficiencies in alphas and omegas. But the client, knowing the side effects of overuse, still administered it to Ji Yeonwoo, who didn’t show any symptoms. Every time Ji Yeonwoo took it, it triggered something like a heat cycle, and a year later, he started showing strange symptoms.”

The elevator doors opened on the 25th floor, and Choi Muhyeok stepped out, hands in his suit pockets as he walked down the hallway.

“By the time they realized the enhancers no longer triggered any pheromone response, the deficiency had already progressed, and Ji Yeonwoo was eventually diagnosed as incurable.”

Half of what Jung Doowon said had been expected, but some of it was surprising. Choi Muhyeok didn’t believe Jung Doowon had told the entire truth, but he was convinced that there were no lies in what he did reveal—the fear in his eyes had made that clear.

Choi Muhyeok punched in the code to unlock the door of his home. The lights were on inside, but there was no sign of anyone being home.

Feeling something was off, Choi Muhyeok first checked the entrance. Ji Yeonwoo’s shoes were still there, just as they had been. Only then did he step inside the house.

He threw his jacket onto the sofa and glanced around. Just as he was about to head to the bedroom, thinking Ji Yeonwoo might be sleeping, he heard a soft sound of water trickling behind him.

Choi Muhyeok turned toward the sound, which was coming from the bathroom. He recalled telling Ji Yeonwoo about the bath soak before leaving.

Standing in front of the bathroom, he knocked. The sound of running water stopped, followed by a slight splashing noise.

“Managing Director?”

Ji Yeonwoo’s soft voice came from inside.

“Is that you, Managing Director?”

“Are you taking a bath?”

“Yes. I’m using the bath soak you mentioned. It smells wonderful.”

Upon hearing this, Choi Muhyeok felt a strange mix of relief and rising tension. Was it because of what Jung Doowon had revealed about Ji Yeonwoo’s past, which he had been unaware of? Or perhaps it was Ji Yeonwoo’s innocent obedience, following his words without question.

He knew that the heat cycle of a dominant omega was just as painful as the rut of a dominant alpha. He couldn’t help but wonder how Ji Yeonwoo must have felt each time he was forced to endure such a cycle.

The last entry from Ji Yeonwoo’s diary came to mind. He remembered how the pages had been oddly crumpled. He couldn’t shake the image of Ji Yeonwoo, likely crying as he wrote in that diary, filled with sadness and anger. The thought made his blood boil.

With one hand in his pants pocket, Choi Muhyeok suppressed his rising anger and spoke.

“May I come in?”

He wanted to see Ji Yeonwoo. They were already in the same house, and he would see him once he finished his bath, but he didn’t want to wait.

“Right now?”

Ji Yeonwoo’s startled voice echoed from behind the door, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden request.

“Uh, just a moment…”

After a bit of rustling, permission was granted.

“Okay, come in.”

Choi Muhyeok slowly turned the doorknob. As he opened the door, thick steam and a sweet fragrance filled his lungs.

Through the semi-transparent curtain that covered the bathtub, he could make out Ji Yeonwoo’s silhouette. Pulling the damp curtain aside with one hand, he saw Ji Yeonwoo sitting in the large tub, soaking in the water.

“You’re back sooner than expected. It hasn’t been the full two hours you mentioned,” Ji Yeonwoo remarked, turning slightly toward him.

Standing in front of the tub, Choi Muhyeok silently looked him over.

The bubbles from the bath soak, which should have spread throughout the tub, were all gathered in front of Ji Yeonwoo. So that’s why he had asked for a moment—he must have quickly pulled the bubbles together, embarrassed to show his bare body. Imagining Ji Yeonwoo’s hasty actions made the back of Choi Muhyeok’s neck stiffen.

Choi Muhyeok sat on a dry spot near Ji Yeonwoo’s head. The closer proximity caused Ji Yeonwoo’s face to flush, and he huddled even deeper into the scattering bubbles.

“Did you eat anything?”

“No, I was waiting to eat with you.”

“Good. Did you explore the house?”

Ji Yeonwoo shook his head slightly.

“I saw the second floor, the living room, and the study, but I haven’t seen the rest yet. The house is so big, I got a little lost.”

Drops of water trickled down Ji Yeonwoo’s neck and shoulders from his damp hair. Watching the water glide over his pale skin, Choi Muhyeok leaned forward, propping himself on the tub’s edge.

“It’s late today. We can explore more tomorrow.”

He whispered lowly as he pressed his lips against Ji Yeonwoo’s smooth neck and shoulders. Ji Yeonwoo flinched, his shoulders tensing.

“If you’re comfortable, you can stay longer.”

Choi Muhyeok’s lips lingered on Ji Yeonwoo’s neck, sucking lightly as he spoke. Ji Yeonwoo’s breathing became heavier, and he slowly turned to look at him.

“What do you mean? The bathtub or this house?”

Choi Muhyeok met his gaze, the corner of his lips curling into a soft smile.

“Both.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting that answer. For a brief moment, a flicker of sadness crossed Ji Yeonwoo’s face. Though it was fleeting, Choi Muhyeok didn’t miss it. Still, he didn’t show any reaction outwardly.

“What if I decide to stay here permanently?” Ji Yeonwoo asked in a small, almost sullen voice.

“That’d be better for me.”

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been looking down, glanced up through his lashes.

“You don’t know anything, Ji Yeonwoo.”

“…About what?”

“If you knew what I really thought when I looked at you, you’d want to run away.”

“And what if I didn’t care?”

“I’m the one who can’t handle it.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes narrowed, confused by his response.

“It feels like I’m doing something wrong.”

After hearing Choi Muhyeok’s words, a smile slowly spread across Ji Yeonwoo’s face. However, it wasn’t a happy smile—it felt bittersweet.

Had something happened while he was away?

Could it be that Lee Hyunjun called again?

A moment passed as all sorts of bad thoughts raced through my mind.

“Would you like to come in too, Managing Director?”

Hearing the small voice echoing in the bathroom, Choi Muhyeok’s eyes sharpened with focus. As he scanned Ji Yeonwoo with wavering eyes, he looked down. Ji Yeonwoo’s wet hand was clutching the sleeve of Choi Muhyeok’s shirt.

A hot breath escaped between his lips.

“Do you know? Ji Yeonwoo, you always catch me off guard with unexpected words.”

“So, you don’t like it?”

Ji Yeonwoo bit his lower lip but didn’t back down. Something must have happened. Doubts crossed my mind, but there was no evidence. With no solid leads, Choi Muhyeok tugged at the knot of his choking tie. Slowly, like the elongated tie, he melted his expression and moved closer.

“It’s a sudden proposal, but…”

Then, he gently cupped Ji Yeonwoo’s cheek as he gazed at him earnestly.

“I have no reason to refuse.”

Their noses brushed against each other, their faces almost touching, and their lips met.

Their wet lips collided with a squelching sound. Choi Muhyeok’s tongue slipped between their perfectly matched lips.

As he explored, Choi Muhyeok’s tongue brushed against Ji Yeonwoo’s soft palate. A soft moan escaped between their lips, making Ji Yeonwoo shiver.

Unable to breathe from the relentless kiss, Ji Yeonwoo’s breath hitched. Finally, when he couldn’t take it anymore, he gripped Choi Muhyeok’s shoulders tightly and gave him a light push. Realizing the signal, Choi Muhyeok slowly pulled away.

“Hah, ha, huh…”

As he waited to fill his lungs with much-needed oxygen, Choi Muhyeok moved closer again. His rough hands carefully cupped Ji Yeonwoo’s heated cheeks. With their foreheads pressed together, trembling breaths slipped between Choi Muhyeok’s lips. The unique scent of him made Ji Yeonwoo’s heart pound.

“Let’s do the rest after we wash up.”

Was it the whispering voice, or perhaps the steam in the hot bathroom?

Feeling his body relax, Ji Yeonwoo nodded.

“I should shower first too. My clothes are covered in dust.”

Choi Muhyeok leaned in, placing soft kisses on Ji Yeonwoo’s cheeks and ears as he whispered. Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze dropped. The first thing he noticed was the taut shirt clinging to Choi Muhyeok’s chest and shoulders. It dawned on him that, unlike him who was sitting naked in the tub, Choi Muhyeok was fully dressed.

“Just a moment, please.”

Choi Muhyeok brushed lightly against Ji Yeonwoo’s slightly parted lips before turning to draw back the shower curtain. With a sound, he revealed the silhouette behind the translucent bathroom curtain, taking off layers of clothing.

The sound of buttons being undone, the belt of his suit being released, the rustle of clothes being hung up, and water cascading down his body filled the air.

Though the outlines were too hazy to see clearly, the sounds alone were enough to stimulate Ji Yeonwoo.

“Managing Director, even shadows can be sexy.”

Muttering this as he watched the moving silhouette behind the translucent curtain, Ji Yeonwoo leaned his arms on the tub and rested his face against them.

A mix of excitement and melancholy swirled within him.

His insistence to shower together had partly been a spur-of-the-moment decision fueled by jealousy. All because of the Polaroid pictures he had seen in the study.

His words had been driven by envy, but now that it was happening, regret washed over him. Watching Choi Muhyeok, who seemed more aroused than usual, made Ji Yeonwoo feel like he had made a mistake he couldn’t handle.

The thought that he might go all the way with Choi Muhyeok today lingered, along with the memory of the Polaroid pictures. No matter what he thought, the end result was always the same: the protagonist in that picture.

“Did he date that person for a long time…?”

Of course, Ji Yeonwoo didn’t think Choi Muhyeok had no past. The skill in his every action suggested that he had enough history.

Perhaps it was an ex-lover from long ago. Who in the world had no past? Moreover, how many omegas would leave a handsome, fit, and kind alpha like Choi Muhyeok alone?

But still, the fact that he kept those photos could mean their relationship had been deep.

He remembered the photo from that book titled [First Snow], and the background of the image was snowy. That might imply something unfortunate had happened with that person amid the snow.

For instance, maybe they had broken up on a snowy day, or maybe…

At that moment, he felt a vibration in the water behind him. Startled, Ji Yeonwoo turned his head.

“What are you thinking about?”

Choi Muhyeok, freshly showered, had entered the tub and sat down. Not sensing his presence, Ji Yeonwoo looked at him with a startled expression.

Right before his eyes was Choi Muhyeok’s bare upper body, muscular and toned. Seeing that made Ji Yeonwoo’s mind go blank.

Water droplets slid down from his wet hair along his sharp jawline and solid chest muscles. As Ji Yeonwoo’s gaze followed the droplets, he swallowed hard, feeling a sense of heat rising to his face.

Not doing anything yet feeling his face flush with heat, Ji Yeonwoo quickly turned his gaze aside. Choi Muhyeok, watching him silently, broke into a smile.

“Why are you suddenly avoiding your eyes? Are you embarrassed?”

“Yes, a little…”

“I think it was you who asked me to come in first, Ji Yeonwoo.”

“Exactly. I regret saying that now.”

It was true. He resented his past self, blinded by jealousy and showing off for no reason.

“I think I should step out first. I need to wash more… Hah!”