“You’re really sleeping?”
First, I checked my phone. As expected, there were no missed calls or text message records left at all. Thanks to that, my mood became twisted. When someone’s head felt like it was going to burst like this, but the person himself was sleeping comfortably with his legs stretched out—it was the same story.
However, I had no grounds to be angry at him. Was it the effect of alcohol? All my memories were being covered with regret.
“Ah, fuck.”
From the night before, Baek Sahyun had gone through all kinds of trouble to accommodate me. He readily drank whatever alcohol was given, and even personally prepared and served food.
‘But I left that Baek Sahyun behind, went to find Seo Jeongmin, got my secret discovered, and came back.’
Perhaps because shame came rushing in belatedly, I squatted down and buried my head in my knees.
“I really lost my mind.”
Perhaps I wasn’t in my right mind, just as Baek Sahyun said. That’s why I felt even more ashamed. Seo Jeongmin and Kim Jongsu must have noticed about 98% that I’m not an alpha.
Then what should I do now?
That thing about being able to apply pheromones, could I close my eyes tightly and ask Baek Sahyun? Everything seems to be exposed, so for a blessing in disguise, could I ask him to apply some pheromones?
“Would that work, fuck. As if he’d do it nicely.”
I shook my head frantically. If it were Baek Sahyun, he’d be the bastard who would rather use that as a weakness to manipulate me as he pleased. As my mind became unsettled, the alcohol that had been calm began to rise sharply.
“Forget it, forget it. That damn beta or alpha. It’s not even a class society, is there a law saying a beta can’t be a third-generation chaebol?”
I tried to pass it off as nothing, but the image of Seo Jeongmin scanning me with thin eyes and Kim Jongsu giggling suspiciously kept flickering before my eyes.
At that moment, what suddenly flashed through my mind was the latter half content unfolded in <Excessively Brilliant>.
– Why? Why on earth did you do that to me…? Why. Please at least answer me, Chae Eunwoo!
A voice filled with resentment sharply split the air.
Nam Heejae, his face covered in blood, grabbed Chae Eunwoo’s pants.
– Is what you did love? Huh?
He burst into a strange laugh where sobbing and bitter laughter coexisted, was silent for a moment, then wiped away the tears that had formed in his eyes. A comical tone flowed from him.
– It all flew away, you know? Huh? Everything. Honor, wealth, love. Everything I built up by dedicating my whole life! Haha!
In the end, Nam Heejae lowered his head. The tears pooling at the tip of his chin felt pitiful. When Chae Eunwoo reached out his hand as if possessed, Nam Heejae grasped that white hand with bloodshot eyes.
In a powerless voice, he whispered:
– Remember, Eunwoo-ya. You ruined me with your own hands. Because of that fucking trait…, you, me.
He was showing his last struggle.
Chae Eunwoo looked at the face of the man he once loved with a devastated heart. Everything was ruined. However, it wasn’t all Chae Eunwoo’s fault that his company went bankrupt overnight, that his prestige fell to the ground, that he lost love. His past of hiding being a beta and entering the business world while committing all sorts of fraud was the real wrong. So the beginning clearly came from Nam Heejae.
Therefore, Baek Sahyun used to say it was just a matter of timing. It was bound to be exposed at some point, and he just advanced that timing.
– You don’t think about anything, Eunwoo-ya. I’ll take care of Nam Heejae myself. You just…, just need to wait for me.
Remembering the gentle yet cruel voice, Chae Eunwoo pulled away the hand that had been in contact with Nam Heejae. Nam Heejae’s back of hand full of scratches floated in the air helplessly.
Nam Heejae pleaded with his gaze. Please pull me up. Save me.
As if in response, a soft touch landed on his cheek.
– I’ll remember until I die. Everything I ruined with my own hands.
– Huk.
– But I can’t forgive you. That wouldn’t be consideration for the dead child.
A face rippling with a faint smile. That face that made him suffer a terrible fever grew distantly far.
And the sentence that appeared:
– Everything was over. It was time to acknowledge the downfall.
The final chapter episode called <Time of Downfall>. Content where all incidents are wrapped up as Nam Heejae, who was reborn as a villain starting from Chae Eunwoo’s pregnancy, faces a backlash.
Nam Heejae, who was blinded by inferiority and loss and caused Chae Eunwoo to miscarry, planted an industrial spy in Baek Sahyun’s company, and pulled all sorts of tricks, gets repaid several times over.
From the beginning, he couldn’t be a match for Baek Sahyun. Just the fact that his origin was ‘beta’ meant the weight of victory was already tilted toward Baek Sahyun. So Baek Sahyun just needed to provoke Nam Heejae. Capturing evidence and exposing it to the media was nothing to him.
What I should focus on in this passage is what kind of repercussions occur when being a beta is exposed.
In the work, only Baek Sahyun was involved, but now Seo Jeongmin and Kim Jongsu were also mixed in.
“At this rate, won’t something bigger happen than in the original?”
Seo Jeongmin’s face, smiling leisurely saying let’s meet tomorrow too, induced a sense of foreboding. The seriousness of the situation was hitting me belatedly. I really had gotten caught in a trap.
I trembled my legs and pondered solutions.
“In the end, is running away the answer?”
But if I did that, it would become admitting the fact that I’m not an alpha. If suspicious traces pile up one by one, wouldn’t it become the truth even without physical evidence?
No matter how I thought about it, it was right. Rather than running away, it was better to just ask Baek Sahyun to give me pheromones or whatever. It was very simple and clear, but the barrier to entry for execution was far too high. Even now, I was staring blankly at the fence wall without being able to open the mansion door.
Inwardly, I recalled a lengthy apology letter to tell Baek Sahyun.
While at it, I also tried to gauge how I could receive pheromones.
That damn bet or whatever, how about I readily admit I lost? That I’m actually gay. That I seem to be fucking attracted to you. Then he might feel good and readily allow it.
While I was absorbed in thought, my vision suddenly flashed. It was because the car headlights parked behind reflected this way. The moment I confirmed the identity of the driver stained with shadows, my breath caught.
It was Baek Sahyun. When I stood frozen as if broken, Baek Sahyun honked the horn again.
When I hesitantly approached the car, the door soon opened smoothly.
“Get in.”
He said dryly. I asked:
“…Did you go out?”
“For a drive. Hurry and get in.”
An air freshener scent wafted. It was a cool but somewhat cold fragrance. Baek Sahyun was silently tapping the hand he placed on the steering wheel. That presence approached somewhat coldly.
‘Is he angry?’
Well, he would be. Because I left the house without a word. Moreover, the destination was even the accommodation of the person who sexually harassed me—Seo Jeongmin. Really me. I’d have nothing to say even if he slapped my cheeks telling me to come to my senses.
Since it’s better to take the beating first, I opened my mouth.
“Sahyun-ah. That…”
“……”
“I was sorry earlier.”
I started as kindly as possible.
Nevertheless, Baek Sahyun showed no movement. As the silence continued, my liver was shrinking together. While I was trying to figure out how to unravel this tangled situation, Baek Sahyun answered belatedly.
“For what?”
“Huh?”
“What are you sorry for?”
It was a surprise question. Actually, I expected it to some degree, but when I had to recite the charges with my own mouth, I couldn’t get a sense of where to start. I had practiced the apology letter muttering earlier, but it had no particular effect.
“Just…, not being able to control my emotions and yelling at you, and all this and that. Honestly, even coming here for vacation is thanks to you, but I acted too presumptuously. I have no face as an elder. I’m sorry.”
Still, once I opened my mouth, somewhat sincere-like remorse poured out smoothly. I pray my earnestness is well conveyed. I glanced at Baek Sahyun’s profile.
Behind his neat features, the scenery of the dusky seaside reflected. The face shining palely under the faint lighting was very picturesque.
Baek Sahyun, who had been expressionless for a while, finally turned toward me. Flinch. My body trembled. The deep gaze was burdensome, so I moved my eyes here and there. It was a pitiful reaction like a bastard who needs to pee.
Baek Sahyun laughed out loud. He, who had been consistently laughing, leaned his head over the steering wheel.
“Nam Heejae. You want something from me, right?”
And whispered:
“Say it.”
“……”
“Don’t just act cute. I don’t really like that kind of thing.”
It was a bait-like demand. An arrogant smile came as a bonus, as if he had already seen through my intentions.
From where to where does this bastard live anticipating everything? I felt rebellious for no reason.
“…Nam Heejae being a beta, Baek Sahyun, you honestly noticed too, didn’t you?”
“Mm?”
“You don’t have to deny it. Let’s bare it all cleanly just for now.”
“……”
“This body is possessed by a ghost, that’s right, Sahyun-ah. Of course it’s not multiple personalities. Actually I’m…, a ghost who stole Nam Heejae’s body.”
I opened my mouth as if confessing a crime.
When I spilled out the heavy secret, my chest seemed to feel a bit relieved.
