FF Chapter 46

“But if you want to lead things your way, you’ll first need to remove any obstacles before you act. I don’t want to end up on the wrong side of the Chairman just because of a careless word.”

Muhyeok decided to hear her out for now.

“Go on,” he said.

“The Chairman’s intention is clear. Why that boy developed pheromone deficiency doesn’t matter. The fact that he’s a dominant omega? In reality, the title is meaningless when he’s currently dealing with pheromone deficiency, don’t you think?”

“…….”

“Moreover, if we were to take in a child cast out by the JT family, we’d be shouldering risks ourselves. Why should we accept someone so riddled with flaws?”

“So, you’re saying I need to prove how valuable Yeonwoo is to this family?” Muhyeok exhaled in disbelief. He had stayed silent to hear what she wanted to say, but the absurdity of it all made him realize there was no point in continuing this conversation.

Draining the remaining tea in his cup, he set it down with a deliberate clink and rose from his seat.

“Let me make one thing clear: I have no intention of treating Ji Yeonwoo as some sort of transaction.” His tone was resolute as he looked down at his stepmother.

“I knew about Yeonwoo’s pheromone deficiency before meeting him. I was drawn to him as a person. I have no intention of entering into a marriage—a once-in-a-lifetime commitment—based on some tedious assessment of genetics.”

“He’s not from an impressive family, and he’s just a dominant omega with pheromone deficiency. Are you saying that boy is worth betting yourself on?” Her voice, which had remained composed, now rose sharply. Muhyeok felt bitter. In the end, all that mattered to these people was bloodlines.

While he had had casual relationships in the past, none of them had deepened to the point where his family took notice. Ji Yeonwoo was the first exception. Yet, his family seemed oblivious to his feelings and focused solely on status and wealth. The thought made him sick.

“It seems you’re mistaken.” He exhaled sharply and continued with a crooked smile.

“I chose him. His worth is for me to decide.”

His stepmother, who had been about to retort, fell silent.

It was inevitable to face this confrontation, and now that he understood both his father and stepmother’s stances, all that remained was to determine his next move. Everything would likely hinge on the results of Ji Yeonwoo’s pheromone test in a few days.

If Yeonwoo’s pheromones didn’t recover, it might lead to a messy fight. Even so, Muhyeok’s determination to marry Yeonwoo wouldn’t waver, no matter if there was no improvement or if Yeonwoo was classified as a beta.

No one had ever made him feel as at ease as Yeonwoo. Having been alone for so long, he had difficulty sleeping with someone next to him, but Yeonwoo was an exception. He liked the coolness of Yeonwoo’s lower body temperature, even if the lack of flesh meant he could feel his bones when holding him. He liked the smooth texture of Yeonwoo’s skin and the way his body responded sensitively during intimacy.

There were countless good reasons that went beyond pheromones. Although his alpha instincts occasionally made him curious about Yeonwoo’s pheromones, it had never been his priority.

That was why Muhyeok chose Yeonwoo and resolved to marry him.

“One thing I want to make clear is that the blame for his expulsion from the JT family doesn’t rest solely on Ji Yeonwoo. If the fault had been his, that family wouldn’t have stayed silent all this time.”

His stepmother said nothing, merely watching him.

“You seem concerned about Yeonwoo’s pheromone deficiency. The test results will be out soon. I’ll speak to Father again after that.”

“A test? You mean he’s been tested? Where?” she asked, flustered, likely having assumed he’d gone to Seonwoo General Hospital. Muhyeok responded with a composed expression as if expecting this reaction.

“No need to be so curious. You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Are you really planning to bring him into this family?”

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”

“Do you honestly believe that omega’s pheromone deficiency will completely heal?”

His stepmother stood abruptly.

“The hospital director told me his pheromones are in a highly unstable state. And yet you’re convinced he’ll recover?”

Muhyeok stepped closer, standing directly in front of her.

“I’m not sure why you’re suddenly so on edge. According to you, isn’t it better for us if Yeonwoo doesn’t recover his pheromones?”

At that, her gaze wavered.

“You should focus on Minhyuk instead of meddling in my affairs. If you want to arrange a good match for him, shouldn’t you start working on it now?”

“Muhyeok.”

“I’ll give you all the justification you need, so don’t worry about that.”

“…….”

“I’m not planning to get married right away. The timing will likely depend on Yeonwoo’s recovery.” His voice was low and firm as he turned slowly, taking a few steps before pausing and glancing back.

“If you need my help arranging a match for Minhyuk, feel free to ask. I’ll assist you. But if you interfere with Yeonwoo, you’ll lose everything, so think carefully.”

˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

Half-asleep, Yeonwoo felt a faint tug on the blanket as someone slipped into bed. A warm arm slid under his head.

‘It’s Muhyeok.’

Recognizing him instinctively, Yeonwoo turned to face him. His damp skin hinted that he’d just taken a shower, and his cool chest touched Yeonwoo’s. Smiling faintly, Yeonwoo pressed his lips to Muhyeok’s firm chest.

Muhyeok flinched slightly, his breath catching as he leaned down to kiss him.

‘Did something bad happen?’

His urgency was unusual, his actions more heated and desperate than usual. But before Yeonwoo could think further, the atmosphere shifted, and the intensity between them escalated quickly.

Muhyeok was different tonight, and so was Yeonwoo. It felt as if logic had vanished, leaving only raw emotion behind.

˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

At the height of their heated embrace, a sudden unfamiliar scent hit Yeonwoo, leaving him dizzy and breathless. Stunned, he shoved Muhyeok away and scrambled to the head of the bed, clutching the blanket tightly.

“Yeonwoo?” Muhyeok, startled by his sudden reaction, sat up halfway, watching him closely.

“Just now… Muhyeok,” Yeonwoo stammered, trying to speak, but his voice trembled, and he clamped his mouth shut.

That scent—intense and heady—lingered faintly. It was almost dizzying, yet oddly familiar, reminiscent of a flower he couldn’t quite place.

It was the scent of magnolias—deep, fragrant, and unmistakably magnolia.

Was there a magnolia in the house? With a perplexed expression, Ji Yeonwoo scanned the bedroom, but no magnolia flowers were in sight.

“Yeonwoo, what’s wrong, huh?”

Sensing something amiss, Choi Muhyeok cautiously approached. As he drew closer, the magnolia scent flooded Yeonwoo’s senses, filling his lungs with each breath.

Ji Yeonwoo, who had been slowly moving to grab Choi Muhyeok’s outstretched hand, froze. His startled gaze filled with unease as he looked at Choi Muhyeok.

At some point, he had grown damp below. He considered if it was due to Muhyeok’s earlier caresses, but that didn’t fully explain it.

The scent of magnolias filled the room, even though there were none present. The fragrance, intoxicating and pleasant to the point of dizziness, made Yeonwoo wonder—

The thought struck him. Ji Yeonwoo inhaled slightly, looking at Choi Muhyeok.

‘Could it be… that the magnolia scent I smelled earlier was… Muhyeok’s pheromones?’

He recalled the incident at the hotel in Jeju.

His body had felt unnaturally abnormal, resembling the state during a heat cycle. His pheromones had started to seep out little by little, and the brief, mysterious scent that followed had left him soaked.

‘Did I really sense Muhyeok’s pheromones?’

As his thoughts tumbled, Ji Yeonwoo looked at Choi Muhyeok with trembling eyes. Finally, as a realization dawned on him, he covered his mouth with both hands.

“Muhyeok…”

His voice quivered as he spoke, prompting Choi Muhyeok to step closer and gently reach out his hand.

“It’s okay. Everything’s okay. Don’t overthink it. Let’s visit the hospital tomorrow.”

Noticing something unusual, Choi Muhyeok embraced Yeonwoo without saying another word, gently patting his back to calm him.

“I think I might be…”

Ji Yeonwoo’s voice faltered, his gaze shifting. His eyes landed on Choi Muhyeok’s vibrating phone.

Choi Muhyeok continued to soothe Yeonwoo, extending a hand to pick up the phone. It was a call from Yoo Sunho.

It was nearly 9 PM—an unusual time for a call. The timing alone seemed peculiar.

“This is Choi Muhyeok speaking.”

[Ah, sorry for calling so late. I couldn’t reach Yeonwoo.]

Muhyeok realized then that Yeonwoo’s phone was face-down on the nightstand.

“Is it urgent? He can’t take a call at the moment.”

[Yes, it’s about the attending physician. They suggested rescheduling tomorrow’s appointment sooner.]

“Tomorrow?”

[Yes. The appointment was originally in two days, but they want to run an additional blood test beforehand.]

Muhyeok glanced down at Yeonwoo nestled in his arms. Could something urgent have come up? Had there been an anomaly in the previous results? His mind raced with worrisome possibilities.

Feeling the shift, Yeonwoo raised his head from Muhyeok’s embrace.

‘What’s wrong? Did something happen?’

Yeonwoo mouthed the words, his eyes meeting Muhyeok’s. Muhyeok instinctively pulled Yeonwoo closer, holding him tightly.

˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

Due to the abrupt rescheduling of the appointment, Muhyeok couldn’t accompany Yeonwoo. He had spaced out his schedule to align with the originally planned date.

“Call me right away if anything feels off at the hospital.”

Muhyeok carefully adjusted Yeonwoo’s outerwear, his tone firm. Yeonwoo smiled softly, trying to ease his worries.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t stress too much.”

Despite Yeonwoo’s reassurance, Muhyeok’s expression remained tense.

Yeonwoo felt uneasy as well, burdened by the anxiety he had unintentionally displayed the night before.

It was the mysterious scent from yesterday that lingered in his mind.

But there was a hesitation about bringing it up now.

What if the scent wasn’t Muhyeok’s pheromones after all? It could have been something mundane, like a new body wash or an air freshener.

Curiously, there was no fragrance emanating from Muhyeok now, as they exchanged farewells. The absence made it seem like a trick of the mind.

Since the appointment had been moved up, Yeonwoo decided it was best to discuss it afterward. If his assumptions didn’t align with the test results, it would only lead to disappointment.

Suppressing the words that threatened to spill out, Yeonwoo climbed into the backseat.

“Make sure to accompany him into the hospital and call me immediately if anything happens. Drive safely.”

Muhyeok closed the car door and addressed the driver, Park Jincheol.

“Yes, Managing Director.”

Once the car departed, Yeonwoo glanced back through the rear window, watching Muhyeok grow smaller in the distance. Even as the car disappeared, Muhyeok remained rooted in place, unmoving.

Only after the car exited the apartment complex and merged onto the main road did Yeonwoo shift his attention to the congested morning traffic ahead.

‘What’s the reason for suddenly moving up the appointment?’

Although it could have been for a positive reason, the worry was inevitable.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Yeonwoo followed instructions for the blood test. After two hours of waiting, it was finally his turn.

The endocrinologist, whom Yeonwoo was meeting for the second time, greeted him warmly. Despite the doctor’s smile, Yeonwoo couldn’t suppress his nervousness.

“Have you been prescribed any treatment medications recently?”

“Do you mean for pheromone deficiency?”

“Yes, among other possibilities.”

Shaking his head, Yeonwoo replied with a worried expression.

“No, I haven’t taken any medications. Why do you ask?”

The doctor frowned thoughtfully before turning the monitor toward Yeonwoo.

“Let me get straight to the point. Your condition has significantly improved.”

Hearing the word “improved,” Yeonwoo’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Your pheromone levels have increased dramatically compared to last month’s results.”

“Really?”

Yeonwoo was stunned. How could this be when the previous results had indicated instability?

The doctor explained further, pointing at the numbers on the monitor.

“See this? Your pheromone levels are almost identical to when you first manifested as a dominant Omega six years ago. This level of recovery is unprecedented. It’s practically a miracle.”

Yeonwoo stared at the comparison graphs, his mind reeling. The sharp rise in pheromone levels was evident, far exceeding the previous month’s results.

“Have you noticed anything unusual recently? Symptoms like irregular heat cycles or other anomalies?”

The memories of his recent experiences flashed through Yeonwoo’s mind.

“Yes, I did experience heat recently.”

The doctor nodded knowingly.

“That makes sense. With such a dramatic change in pheromone levels, heat or even shock-related symptoms aren’t uncommon.”

“My heat wasn’t severe—just more intense than usual. And I’ve had similar symptoms a few times recently.”

“Did these episodes subside quickly?”

“Yes, they did.”

“That’s likely the initial manifestation of your pheromones circulating again. While we can’t confirm definitively, it’s highly probable that your pheromones were released during those episodes.”

As the doctor spoke, Yeonwoo felt a wave of clarity. The lingering doubts he had carried seemed to solidify into certainty.