MIM 78

78 – Trust 

The flowers were beautiful. Ma Jae-seung breathed in the lukewarm air deeply as he looked around the green garden. Despite its size, the garden grew many varieties of flowers, their fragrance tickling his nose with every breath. While gazing at the fully bloomed morning glories, he casually checked his phone. The colors painting the garden beautifully reminded him of someone.

“Don’t be too late.”

5:50 PM

It was a message from the very person he’d been thinking about. Ma Jae-seung rolled his eyes several times over the short sentence that didn’t require too much attention.

Shin-woo. His mind was full of thoughts of him.

He had hidden Hye-jung. Then he’d gone to his brother and threatened him with lies about killing Hye-jung to get his agreement on the will. The will was forged in Ma Jae-seung’s favor, and the witness had turned a blind eye.

Not just Shin-woo, but Butler Hwang who had quickly found Hye-jung, and Lee Young-shin must also be keeping stories from him. He had come here today to get closer to the truth. Ma Jae-seung turned away from Kim Ye-wook’s garden and started walking again.

His phone rang again. The consecutive messages were from him again.

“Kim Ye-wook appears fine on the surface but is unstable.”

5:53 PM

“Be careful.”

5:53 PM

He had made an excuse and left while Shin-woo was briefly away, worried he might interfere if he knew he was going to meet Kim Ye-wook, but apparently, his destination was too obvious. Though the problem could be solved by simply changing his phone…he didn’t dislike the fact that Shin-woo could track him if he wanted to. Ma Jae-seung clicked his tongue and shoved the phone into his pocket. It wasn’t going to be a long conversation anyway.

What he wanted to know for certain today was which of them, Kim Ye-wook or Shin-woo, was lying.

Shin-woo thought Kim Ye-wook had invited the suspicious duo to the mansion and had been warned to be careful of him. Meanwhile, Kim Ye-wook said Shin-woo was trying to frame him with ridiculous accusations and shouldn’t be trusted. Their opinions also differed regarding suppressants. Unlike Shin-woo who said not to take them because they were ineffective, Kim Ye-wook had invited him home today saying there was much to discuss.

The simplest solution was to try the suppressants himself. He’d thought they were easy to get since other Alphas said so, but actually trying to purchase them proved difficult. The attending physician firmly maintained that suppressants were ineffective and wouldn’t write a prescription, and the types available at pharmacies required certification. The certification was laminated on the back of one’s ID after being tested at a government-designated hospital following Alpha manifestation, which Ma Jae-seung naturally didn’t have.

Though he had come this far without obtaining suppressants, this simple question would soon be resolved. Reaching the entrance, Ma Jae-seung cleared his throat and rang the doorbell.

“Jae-seung.”

Kim Ye-wook, who had opened the door himself, smiled brightly at Ma Jae-seung. He led him straight to the lounge. This wasn’t Kim Ye-wook’s residence but a place built for entertaining guests comfortably, so a bar was visible as soon as they entered.

“This was where Father mainly stayed. I don’t come here often because of that…but I thought I’d visit after a while.”

Ma Jae-seung nodded his head and sat on a stool. Unlike Kim Ye-wook’s house located in the heart of the city, this place, though not exactly on the outskirts, was very quiet with mountains in the back. While not far from the train station, it was on a hill that required driving to reach. Considering various factors, it was clear that Kim Ye-wook’s father had wanted a private and peaceful space for recreation.

Though he didn’t visit often, the interior was neat as if regularly maintained. However…

Ma Jae-seung quietly observed Kim Ye-wook, who had been moving around restlessly. Kim Ye-wook was placing what seemed to be pre-bought snacks on plates and filling glasses with large ice cubes. Though these were tasks he could naturally do himself, it was strange that not a single employee was in sight.

It would be excessive to bring staff from the main house just for a brief conversation. While trying to think rationally, Ma Jae-seung remained vigilant. Kim Ye-wook, bringing ice glasses and alcohol, sat across from him and asked casually, “How are you feeling today?”

“Fine. I told you, I’m fine.”

Irritation inadvertently crept into his response. Though it made sense to worry given their previous encounter during his hyperventilation and the Omega pheromones at the birthday party, he couldn’t help feeling on edge when his condition was checked by every single contact he came across.

Perhaps it was due to doubting whether any of those who regularly checked on his well-being had truly been concerned about him. Among people who either inspected him like checking for defects in merchandise or were busy calculating their interests, Ma Jae-seung felt isolated.

This wasn’t the time to get drunk. Ma Jae-seung ignored the expensive alcohol and reached for juice instead. While filling his glass with refreshing orange juice, he immediately brought up the topic he was curious about.

“You said the suppressant discussion would be lengthy, right?”

Kim Ye-wook lifted his eyes briefly and nodded. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed hard, and his restless hands fidgeted with the edge of the tray. Ma Jae-seung, who had been watching intently, furrowed his brow. He couldn’t smell it, but it seemed Kim Ye-wook had already had a drink before he arrived.

From what he’d seen until now, Kim Ye-wook wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol. There was only one reason he could think of why someone would drink alone before their invited guest arrived.

To calm his nerves.

Because he needed to lie? Ma Jae-seung narrowed his eyes and wet his throat.

“Both my doctor and Shin-woo told me suppressants don’t work on me. But I don’t remember ever taking them, and when I tried to get some, it was harder than I expected. I didn’t even know I needed a certificate until now.”

“Ah, right. Well, they are strong medication…”

“Are there any records about suppressant use in the experiment?”

Though he had expected Kim Ye-wook to say something related to the experiment, Kim Ye-wook slowly shook his head while fiddling with his ice-filled glass.

“No. My brother was too young to take suppressants. I didn’t have such records, so after getting your text, I contacted some people?”

He meant the investors in the research. Since all the researchers were dead and the records burned with them, they were the only ones left to ask.

“They all said they’d never heard about suppressants not working, that it couldn’t be possible. I was surprised too. To think you’ve been enduring your ruts raw, without any medication until now.”

“Is that so?”

“How is your doctor so sure they don’t work? Has he been treating you since childhood? Is he trustworthy?”

Though he was a doctor Shin-woo had brought in after his father’s death, he would have received all the past medical records. He likely knew about the trait research too. As Ma Jae-seung frowned and held back his response, Kim Ye-wook cleared his throat.

“Anyway, I want to tell you not to trust Shin-woo or that doctor too much. Rut is your weakness. They’re making it difficult for you to control it yourself.”

Ma Jae-seung nodded halfheartedly and waited, but Kim Ye-wook just took a few more sips of his drink without continuing. Couldn’t this have been said over the phone? He’d insisted on meeting in person saying the conversation would be long, but was it? This doesn’t resolve any of the questions he had.

“Or maybe those people still think you’re incomplete.”

Ma Jae-seung’s eyebrow twitched at these quietly added words. There was no way suppressants wouldn’t work on an Alpha. The other Alphas had said the same thing.

“…”

Tapping the table repeatedly, Ma Jae-seung finally spoke first.

“Is there no way to get suppressants?”

Kim Ye-wook furrowed his brow in surprise and rolled his eyes around for a while. Wait, maybe…He drew out his words as he got up to his feet.

“There might be some somewhere here. After Father…passed away, I haven’t touched any of his things.”

Ma Jae-seung watched Kim Ye-wook bustling about while resting his chin on his hand. Kim Ye-wook opened every drawer and cabinet one by one, even getting down on his knees to check all the storage spaces in the vicinity.

Finally, there was the sound of pills rolling around in a bottle. Kim Ye-wook stumbled back with an armful of items and dumped them all out.

They were all kinds of basic medicines. From cold medicine to painkillers, vitamins, bandages, and patches. Among them, Kim Ye-wook picked up a small box.

“This is it.”

It was a soft capsule taken during rut. Ma Jae-seung took it and examined it carefully.

Five out of eight had been taken, leaving three. So much time had passed since Kim Ye-wook’s father died—could these really be his leftover medication by chance? He thoroughly checked the box for the manufacturing date but couldn’t find it.

There was a mark in the corner as if a sticker had been peeled off. It likely had the expiration date, but it was suspicious that it had been deliberately removed. Ma Jae-seung glanced at Kim Ye-wook. The timing was too convenient—the medicine appearing right after he said he needed it seemed really suspicious.