OMS 63

Park Dong-sik opened the safe and put Madam Song’s contract inside. The safe already contained the contract with Kim Jun-han, the bracelet received from him, the card key to the Gangnam villa from Kim Tae-han, and the gun stolen from Moon Ho-cheol’s office. It felt like secrets were piling up as time passed.

After coming out, he took a candy from the glass jar and put it in his mouth. He’d bought them to eat whenever he had the urge to smoke, but since eating too many sweets during pregnancy wasn’t good, he was trying to restrain himself from even doing this.

Just being pregnant, why were there so many restrictions? Then he thought of his birth mother. Where might that person be now, who abandoned his baby when he was young? Given his lack of attachment to children, Park Dong-sik must take after his mother. Not to mention that person who was his father. Still, this child would live in luxury here, so it would be much better off than Park Dong-sik in the end.

Sucking on the candy, Park Dong-sik went down to the first-floor living room and lounged on the sofa to watch some TV. He was engrossed in watching a new zombie drama when suddenly the screen went black. Turning around, he saw a middle-aged man smiling gently.

“Excessive TV watching isn’t good for the fetus. Especially violent shows.”

Park Dong-sik sighed softly and stood up. This was Manager Lee, an omega male who was assigned to be responsible for Park Dong-sik during the pregnancy. From healthy meal plans to exercises, correcting living habits, and even reading books, which sometimes were in English and sometimes in Chinese.

Having to follow his robot-like instructions all day was driving him absolutely insane. However, it was clearly stated in the contract with Madam Song, so he couldn’t refuse.

[Until the child is born, prenatal education will follow Madam Song’s wishes.]

It was supposedly the Daesan Group’s traditional prenatal education method, systematically nurturing the child from the womb to ensure they develop an excellent character, but looking at Chairman Kim, Kim Jun-han, and Kim Tae-han, it didn’t seem very credible. If anything, he suspected their personalities might have resulted from the stress this sort of regimen put on their mothers.

Soon after, staff from the main house came carrying various flowers wrapped in paper.

He had a bad feeling about this. Sure enough, Manager Lee handed him a frilly apron.

“Today we’ll do flower arranging. Using your hands a lot is very good for the baby’s brain development.”

Park Dong-sik asked irritably, “What kind of arranging?”

“Flower arranging. You’ve done it before, right?”

“Oh yes, in someone’s stomach—”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing…just talking nonsense.”

Park Dong-sik didn’t like flowers. Rather than spending money on these, he’d prefer to buy meat. He couldn’t understand why people bothered putting flowers in and taking them out of a vase when they’d just wither anyway.

“Do I really have to do this?”

“As I mentioned before, for the baby’s brain development—”

“Damn it.” 

Manager Lee flinched at the curse.

“Swearing has a negative impact on the fetus. Please refrain. A mother’s speech becomes the child’s speech.”

“I think stress would be worse, though?”

“This is all for your sake, Young Madam.”

Park Dong-sik laughed. Not for him, but for the child in his belly.

“Look here, Manager. Since we’re both omegas, I’ll be frank. Isn’t there something more…practical we could learn?”

“Practical like what…?”

“Like marital relations?”

Surprisingly, instead of being disgusted, he accepted the question.

“Intimate relations during pregnancy are very important. Appropriate physical contact helps the baby develop positive feelings toward the father and find stability. Please feel free to ask me anything.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Park Dong-sik rattled off questions like a machine gun, “When can we have sex? I read there are 50 positions, can we do them all? Is it okay to finish inside? Can I swallow? Can I squirt? Dad’s dick is fucking huge, the baby won’t become stupid if it gets hit in the head during sex, right?”

Manager Lee’s face gradually turned ashen. His nostrils flaring, he looked ready to shout at any given moment. As he trembled trying to hold back, the sound of a car came from outside as a black sedan pulled up.

Park Dong-sik’s face contorted as he looked through the living room window. It turned out to be Kim Jun-han. Why was he home so early today? Though it had been nearly a week since discharge, Park Dong-sik rarely saw Kim Jun-han these days. He’d be gone when Park Dong-sik woke up and return when Park Dong-sik was almost asleep.

Worried about causing trouble, Park Dong-sik pretended not to notice and picked up a flower.

“Where do I put this?”

But Manager Lee stood up. The other staff followed him toward the entrance. Soon Kim Jun-han entered, and they greeted him respectfully. 

“Welcome home, Director.” 

After a slight nod, Kim Jun-han looked this way. Park Dong-sik forced out a smile, holding scissors in one hand and a flower in the other.

“You’re home?”

Without responding to Park Dong-sik, Kim Jun-han asked Manager Lee, “What’s going on here?”

“Yes, Director. We’re doing flower arranging, it’s good for prenatal education.”

Park Dong-sik defiantly cut the flower stem all the way to the bottom.

“I don’t know if it’s good for prenatal care, but it’s definitely not good for my mental health.”

Then he stuck the rose behind his ear. See? I’m going half crazy. He started cutting the other flowers’ stems, making Manager Lee’s expression contort. If Kim Jun-han hadn’t been there, he would have lectured endlessly.

Kim Jun-han looked around at the staff.

“Thank you for your work. Everyone may leave.”

Manager Lee’s panic was palpable.

“B-But Madam said…”

“I’ll speak with her. Please go.”

As the staff left, Park Dong-sik internally celebrated. Though being alone with Kim Jun-han these days, he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. Was this their first proper face-to-face in a week? He wished Kim Jun-han would just go upstairs…

But contrary to his wishes, Kim Jun-han hung his coat on a chair, washed his hands, and made coffee. While cutting flower stems, Park Dong-sik’s eyes followed Kim Jun-han’s back. Then, snap, he cut both stem and fingertip. Ah! Blood immediately started dripping from his wound.

Damn. It’s bleeding.

As he tried to wrap it with a tissue, footsteps approached. When he looked up, his arm was already caught and lifted. Surprised, he saw Kim Jun-han looking down with a cold expression on his face.

“Where was your mind wandering off to?”

Embarrassed, he tried to pull his arm away, but Kim Jun-han took him to wash it under running water and wrapped the wound with a sterilized towel.

“Wait. I’ll get medicine.”

“It’s fine. Why make such a fuss over this? If I just apply pressure, it’ll stop. It’s not like I lost a finger.”

Ignoring him, Kim Jun-han insisted on getting the first aid kit. Though the wound wasn’t deep, blood kept seeping through. His movements were delicate as he disinfected the wound, applied gauze, and cut medical tape. Park Dong-sik carefully observed his fingers, which seemed to have never known hardship, then naturally moved up his wrist to his face.

“Been a while.”

“Indeed.”

“Why are you home early?”

“I’m tired.”

“Must be busy at work?”

“It was busy. Had a lot to think about too.”

His eyes remained fixed on Park Dong-sik’s finger rather than his face.

“When someone’s talking, look at their face. My face isn’t on my finger, you know?”

Finally, Kim Jun-han looked up. Though his gaze was cold, he showed clear signs of fatigue unlike before. He must be really tired. As Park Dong-sik awkwardly tried to pull his hand away in the uncomfortable atmosphere, Kim Jun-han reached out with his other hand. A moment later, the red rose that had been in Park Dong-sik’s ear was in his hand.

“Instead of protesting like this, you should try persuading.”

“Is your mother someone who can be persuaded? And do you know how much Manager Lee pushes me? Making me do all sorts of things claiming it’s traditional prenatal education, I think this family’s alphas are crazy due to that education. This isn’t prenatal care; it’s torture.”

Kim Jun-han laughed out loud, which was rare for him, and Park Dong-sik momentarily lost himself in that smile. Then he almost slapped his own cheek. Get it together, Park Dong-sik. He’s already lost interest in you.

Sitting across from him, Kim Jun-han picked up the scissors and started cutting flower stems, placing them in a vase. Even his casual arrangement looked quite decent. While wondering whether to compliment him, Kim Jun-han spoke up first.

“You asked why I came home early. I have something to tell you.”

Though nervous about what he might say, Park Dong-sik tried not to show it.

“Go ahead…”

“I heard you agreed to take money from my mother.”

Park Dong-sik looked at him like he’d just been slapped.

“I didn’t investigate intentionally. She was selling some properties, and I found out while looking into the reasons why.”

“…”

“Tell me the amount and conditions you were offered.”

Park Dong-sik sighed softly and adjusted his posture.

“Our director is always so direct. No turn signals. Maybe because your life has been smooth sailing throughout.”

“Just tell me. What was it?”

Park Dong-sik pressed his lips shut. Madam Song told him to keep it absolutely secret…How careless was her cleanup for Kim Jun-han to find out?

“Did you agree to take money in exchange for leaving the child behind?”

His tone wasn’t accusatory or reproachful, purely curious. Park Dong-sik wet his parched lips. He figured there was no point in hiding anymore since it was already exposed. But he didn’t know where to begin explaining.

“Do you want to leave this house?”

He couldn’t deny it.

“And you want the money?”

He couldn’t deny that either.

“Thief’s mentality.”

Park Dong-sik didn’t particularly deny the accusation. Yes, it was a thief’s mentality.

“I’ll add 40 billion won to whatever amount my mother offered.”

He almost bit his tongue hearing that number. What did I just hear? Looking up in surprise, Kim Jun-han’s face was devoid of emotion. It was unsettling and hard to respond when he couldn’t read what the other man was thinking.

“Are you joking…?”

“Of course not. I’m making a proposal. Though accepting it is up to Lee Hee-soo.”

“Why are you doing this…? It’s fucking scary…”

“If you want, I’ll let you leave this house.”

“Are you serious…?”

“But there are two conditions.”

“What are they?”

“Let’s divorce.”

Park Dong-sik froze. What…?

Then he said something even more unexpected.

“Get rid of the baby too.”

“…”

“Get rid of it, and go live as Park Dong-sik. Those are my conditions.”