To Me, Who Doesn’t Love You

“…This concludes the presentation by the Food and Beverage Division.”The presentation was a success. At first, despite their familiarity with him, some executives had been uneasy seeing Yeonseo take center stage. Even the chairman and his wife were visibly relieved, applauding brightly when Yeonseo ended with a calm and trustworthy closing statement. It was over. As the final slide transitioned, Yeonseo kept a composed expression but breathed a sigh of relief inside.The rushed schedule meant leaving Suhan in the hospital, which had left him on edge, worrying that he might make a mistake or draw a blank in the middle of presenting. The lack of even a moment to check his phone only worsened his anxiety.But with Suhan unable to be here himself, Yeonseo had to fully take his place. Though he’d always taken a step back, supporting Suhan, this was his way of being there for him.Now that it was all over, he just needed to quickly wrap things up and rush to the hospital. Just then, as he was wrapping up, Juno, who had looked anxious through the presentation but also oddly excited, shot Yeonseo a smug look.“…?”Yeonseo was puzzled. Surely Juno wasn’t looking at him that way just to congratulate him. What was going on? As Yeonseo continued tidying up, a low hum of vibration followed by notification chimes echoed through the presentation room.“Huh? What’s that?”“Maybe it’s a disaster alert?”“No, the sound’s different.”As people checked their phones one by one, everyone’s expressions turned uneasy. After a flurry of alert sounds, a chilly silence fell over the room, as though ice water had been poured over them. The executives turned pale, but Yeonseo, completely unaware of the situation, looked around in confusion.“What… is going on…?”As Yeonseo cautiously trailed off, Juno, folding his arms as if he’d been waiting for this moment, stood and approached him.“Oh, it seems only Deputy Cho missed it. The presentation’s over, so maybe you should check your phone.”He gestured to his phone, smirking. Feeling a foreboding sense of dread, Yeonseo quickly checked his screen. Ignoring the unread message notifications, he clicked on the most recent multimedia message, which contained an attached photo that began downloading. The source of the alert became clear.It was a photo with no text attached, showing Suhan close to someone in a dimly lit hotel lounge, holding a crystal glass of liquor. Not just one but a series of similar photos, as though taken in succession. Yeonseo’s heart felt like it had stopped for a moment, but he couldn’t let himself falter yet.“What is this?”Pretending to know nothing, he asked through gritted teeth. Juno, amused, smirked and replied.“Funny, that’s what I was going to ask. If it’s something between husband and wife, you’d be the one to know best, wouldn’t you?”Ignoring the taunt, Yeonseo answered without faltering.“I’m not sure what you’re implying.”Juno burst out laughing.“Come on, stop pretending you don’t know. You knew that Director Lee Suhan had been maintaining an inappropriate relationship with someone from a rival company long before the accident.”Hearing it from someone else’s mouth felt like a thorn digging deep into his chest. Suhan loved him now. He had resolved not to want anything else, yet once again, harsh reality had crushed that hope. For a moment, he was left speechless, his tongue frozen.“…..”But he couldn’t afford to be silent here. Whatever Suhan’s past plans or feelings might have been, it didn’t matter to Yeonseo now. His priority was to protect Suhan until he could return to his position. Supporting Suhan, regardless of the truth, was Yeonseo’s way of standing by him.“An inappropriate relationship? I don’t understand what you’re talking about. It’s rather excessive to make baseless assumptions about someone on parental leave. A close relationship between same-gender friends, colleagues, or industry peers shouldn’t be unusual, should it? If you claim a personal friendship should be off-limits simply because someone is with a competitor, I’m sure many would disagree.”Gathering all his composure, Yeonseo calmly denied it. Some executives, who had begun to murmur, realized it was only a photo of two men drinking closely together, and opinions started to split. But the hand of the suspected competitor on Suhan’s shoulder and waist… as the room grew louder, Juno, eager to drive home his intended response, countered Yeonseo.“Same-gender? Deputy Cho, you seem to be under a serious misunderstanding here. Just because someone is male doesn’t mean they aren’t an Omega. Can an Alpha and Omega be that close without it being something more than friendship?”Just as Yeonseo hesitated, trying to find a way to refute this new angle, the chairman, who had been quietly watching, spoke up with a stern expression.“Chief Cho Juno, what on earth do you think you’re doing? It’s unconfirmed, irrelevant to work, and creating an unnecessary scene. And in front of the executives no less—have you no sense of propriety?”He was right. Even if Juno and Yeonseo were family, and even if Suhan had been unfaithful with Chef Im, it was an issue between Suhan and Yeonseo, not Juno. Unless Suhan’s actions had directly impacted work, it was a matter of personal morality, and the company had no business intervening. Even if, strictly speaking, they could punish him for damaging the company’s image, as long as Yeonseo denied it, third parties should have stayed out of it.Moreover, airing out personal matters before such a large crowd when it could’ve been handled quietly. When the chairman criticized this point, Juno raised his head defiantly.Juno couldn’t let this opportunity slip. He was already backed into a corner, his image plummeting within the company. Before being all but exiled to the U.S., he had tried every trick to ruin Suhan, who had Yeonseo’s support, but all in vain. He couldn’t bear to see Suhan survive every crisis with that grim face like some immortal, indestructible force. Now, if he failed to eliminate Suhan, it wouldn’t just threaten his position; he was staring down the edge of a cliff.“What’s all this fuss over some showbiz guy? And why can’t you handle even one thing properly without causing such a mess?”People with many secrets had to constantly weave new ones to keep the old ones hidden. And if there was a day everything started to get tangled, it was undoubtedly that day. Brazenly spilling out pheromones as bait to lure in an Alpha, all with the obvious goal of spreading their legs and gaining a foothold in the Seosang family, yet they acted picky about who they’d let close, only fueling his impulsiveness.Before heading to the villa, Juno had once again endured his parents’ bitter and condescending scolding, as he did every time. What was he lacking that he couldn’t beat that weakling? How long were they supposed to tolerate the little son from the other side flaunting himself? If they had stayed close to Grandfather and had everything handed to them on a silver platter, they would be in a different position. Instead, they were only being disregarded because he couldn’t measure up.It was after hearing his parents’ derisive remarks about both Junseo and Yeonseo that Juno arrived at the villa ahead of everyone else. The scent of an Omega’s pheromones, unfamiliar and overwhelming, permeated the space. He had, of course, heard of Suhan. A bright Omega the other family had been supporting since his school days, one with enough promise that the chairman and his wife doted on him as if he were their own child, and Yeonseo practically trailed after him everywhere.But at the end of the day, he was just an Omega. Once the pheromones filled the air, he’d lose all control and come running. He thought it’d be amusing to see Yeonseo’s face twisted with defeat, like a dog losing its prey, for coveting Suhan since childhood. And that combined scent of pheromones, mixed with years of growing up under constant comparison to the other family, ignited his resentment, pushing him to act. But what he hadn’t anticipated was the fierce resistance he met.“Damn, how is he this strong…?!”As the struggle continued and it became clear he couldn’t overpower him, Juno grew frantic. With so many pheromones in the air, there was no way Suhan could resist like this… But his shock was short-lived, as the terror of dealing with the aftermath flooded him. If the family found out, it would all be over. The thought of his parents’ cold, disdainful gaze drove him further into despair.“Should I just kill him? End it all that way…?” Just as Juno’s hands tightened around Suhan’s neck, a searing pain erupted from his lower abdomen.“Kh… cough…”When he released his grip due to the unbearable sensation, as if his bare skin were being branded with fire, Suhan fled without even pausing to check on Juno’s condition. Without notifying insurance, Juno received treatment for his injuries in secrecy, confined himself to his room, leaving his family baffled. What had happened for him to come home after days in that state, retreating like a ghost with no explanation?“Aren’t you going to tell us what happened? At least the kids from the other family didn’t embarrass us like this…”Despite his mother’s taunts, Juno couldn’t utter a word. For over a month, he didn’t leave his room, paralyzed by fear, wondering when and where Suhan might report him. Days passed in dread until he heard that Suhan had gone back abroad for his studies, allowing him to resume a semblance of normalcy.But even after that, the memory of that day would surface, making him anxious. Even if Suhan did report him now, there would be no hard evidence—but he and Suhan were the only ones at the villa that day. If there was any proof he’d been there… Daily, he researched statutes of limitations, minimum sentences for failed attempts, legal fees for evading jail time, and whether a plea for leniency could save him from punishment. Years passed in this obsession before he finally encountered Suhan again.“Haven’t we met somewhere before?”Feigning nonchalance, Juno asked, and when he heard Suhan’s response, he became convinced fate was on his side.“I don’t think so. This is the first time we’ve met, as far as I know.”No matter how much suppressant he’d used or how thoroughly he scrubbed himself to ensure not a trace of pheromone remained, he hadn’t expected Suhan to mistake him for a stranger. Years later, when he heard of Suhan’s accident, Juno thought his prayers had finally been answered.Suhan, whom no one believed would survive, not only came back from that accident but returned with Yeonseo at his side, appearing as though they’d been a loving couple for ages.“You keep messing up, forcing us to go this far.”When Juno found the black box recording from the accident, he felt a cold laugh bubble up. He wasn’t the only one hiding dirty secrets. Now was the time to end all these tangled connections. This might be his last chance. At every critical moment, fate had always been on his side, and he was sure it would be now too. That desperation clouded his judgment.“It’s relevant to our work, Chairman.”Juno, with a calm facade, stepped toward the podium. Before Yeonseo could react, Juno seized the laptop connected to the projector, inserted a USB drive, and opened a file.“I thought showing everyone would help you understand the seriousness of the matter. Since last June through early this year, Director Lee Suhan has privately met with someone from a competitor no less than seven times. Do you consider this a typical friendship? Do you meet with your friends this often without a purpose?”He smirked, appearing triumphant.“Even if I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume there were no personal motives, does that make it any less of an issue? Can we trust an executive who’s been meeting privately, once a month, with someone from a competitor working on a new project? Who knows what they discuss or share away from prying eyes?”But despite Juno’s assertions, the Chairman and some executives still didn’t look entirely convinced. Given Suhan’s work in broadcasting and consulting, maintaining connections was part of his job. As long as he wasn’t leaking information, this could even be seen as a business strategy. Suhan had never harmed the company; in fact, he was known for his outstanding results. Frustrated, Juno let out a forced laugh.“Well… I get that you might not want to acknowledge a spouse’s infidelity. I hadn’t intended to show this, but since you’re so sure of Director Lee’s integrity, I suppose I have no choice.”With a click, Juno opened another file on the screen. It showed an unsigned employment contract from a company where Chef Lim Cheol-min worked, along with budgeting and job allocation documents for new hires. No one could miss the implication.“You said Director Lee was on leave for personal reasons. But it doesn’t look that way, does it?”With rumors of both infidelity and industrial espionage, even Lee Suhan wouldn’t be able to stay in the Seosang family. If he couldn’t be erased, Juno would at least drive him out. His own survival was at stake. As far as Juno was concerned, losing the family’s trust was better than being exposed. Backed into a corner, he had no other option. This was his last stand.“For the future of Seosang Group, I propose that we dismiss Director Lee Suhan. As those leading the company, I trust you can judge what’s best.”All eyes shifted from Juno to the screen, and then to Yeonseo. What could he say? Yeonseo couldn’t find the words. If it were just an affair, he could deny inappropriate behavior, but the leaked documents suggested he was planning to leave, which was impossible to explain away.His only option was to question the evidence—how Juno had obtained it and its reliability. Perhaps that could buy him time, and just as he was about to speak—“Apologies for my delay; there was an issue.”The conference room door opened, and a familiar, composed voice rang out.The expressions of those who turned to see the source of the voice were filled with shock. The man at the center of the accusations entered, impeccably dressed in a deep navy suit.“Wh-what… How…?”Tall, with striking looks that rivaled any celebrity, his confident posture silenced the room. Suhan, ever aware of how he presented himself, had the audience captivated.As Juno stammered, looking like he’d seen a ghost, Suhan calmly stepped up to the podium and took the microphone. His expression was so unbothered that it baffled everyone present. Yeonseo, too, was stunned, unable to look away as Suhan glanced playfully at him and winked subtly, a gesture only Yeonseo would catch.What on earth was his plan? Suhan might have business knowledge, but he was still a blank slate without memories of his past actions. Had his memory returned? But if so, Suhan wouldn’t be smiling at him so impishly.“Ah, I’ve got a bit of a sore throat, so I’ll use the mic.”Suhan, who had thrown the room into chaos, adjusted the mic with a serene smile, his handsomeness as intimidating as ever.It was unclear exactly when Suhan had started listening, but the unexpected appearance of the topic of conversation drew everyone’s attention toward him. As Suhan offered a relaxed smile amidst the tense silence, Juno’s expression twisted in frustration. Although Juno was confident that the evidence of Suhan’s alleged betrayal was clear enough that he wouldn’t get away easily, Suhan’s calm demeanor ate away at him.“I apologize for causing unnecessary concern during my extended absence.”However, since that apology wasn’t what everyone was waiting for, the chilly atmosphere didn’t immediately thaw. Suhan, seeming to have anticipated this reaction, smiled amiably and adjusted the microphone.“It’s true that I received a scout offer from a certain company last year. The documents shown on the screen are a preliminary contract I received from Chef Im Cheolmin late last year, which was provided to outline their employment terms. Please note that this was not an official document.”At that, one of the executives, who had been waiting for a chance to question him, raised his hand. Suhan gestured for him to proceed, and the man asked in a ringing voice.“So, does that mean you actually considered transferring?”Suhan maintained his serene smile without the slightest tremor and replied.“No. While I did receive an offer, I did not accept it, and although they continued to contact me, I unilaterally cut off communication early this year. To my knowledge, they have already hired someone else. My last private meeting was at the end of last year, and we haven’t been in touch since the contract talks fell through.”The crowd stirred at Suhan’s calm explanation. When the preliminary contract was leaked, even some of the executives suspected that his prolonged absence might be due to a connection with a competitor, but Suhan’s composed demeanor was beginning to sway them. As an atmosphere of hesitance spread, with everyone now unsure which side to support, Suhan gripped the microphone tighter to drive his point home.“I understand that sensationalized stories can be tempting, but I’m a bit disappointed in all of you. I’ve dedicated years of my life to this company, yet a few personal interactions are being blown up into accusations of infidelity and industrial espionage? And, if I were involved in any inappropriate relationship, I wouldn’t have attended Chef Im’s business launch with my spouse earlier this year.”Despite the pressure of being cornered like this, Suhan didn’t seem anxious or shaken. Instead, he seemed incredulous, as though disappointed that such suspicions had even arisen. Suhan, sensing he had the upper hand, turned his sights on Juno.“Rather, I’d like to ask you, Chief Cho Juno. That preliminary contract—given that it contained sensitive information like unique welfare benefits and salary negotiation terms that could incite internal backlash, how exactly did you obtain it?”Now, it was Juno, not Suhan, who was in the hot seat. But Suhan wasn’t ready to hand the microphone over just yet; he wanted to make full use of his position.“Let’s be honest. If I were a Beta or Alpha instead of an Omega, would this controversy have blown up in the same way? Plenty of you have shared much closer interactions with former colleagues, school alumni, and business associates than what you saw in those photos. Just because I’m an Omega, is it fair or rational to interpret any minor touch as an affair? It would have been better if you’d put aside prejudiced assumptions.”Some of the executives seated in the front row mumbled as they glanced around, gauging each other’s reactions.“Well, we only suspected something because Chief Cho was so certain….”“Without Chief Cho’s input, those photos wouldn’t seem so questionable….”Seeing them scramble to avoid looking like bigots nearly made Suhan laugh. How typical that they secretly thought of him as an insecure Omega leveraging the chairman’s favor, yet were now desperate to avoid any hint of prejudice. Suhan glanced at the ashen-faced Juno and asked again.“Well, then, explain yourself. How did you obtain those documents?”Juno’s response was predictably flimsy.“I… received them from an anonymous source, claiming it was a public interest tip….”“Are you seriously expecting us to believe that? That an executive like you would recklessly use anonymous, unverified information to instigate trouble in a formal setting like this?”Suhan didn’t hold back. If anything, he saw it as his duty to verbally dismantle Juno, right down to the bone. He might have wrapped things up here, given the chairman and his wife were present, but Suhan wanted to make sure Juno wouldn’t recover anytime soon.“Chief Cho, I’m giving you an opportunity here to explain yourself, not make excuses. Even excuses need to be backed by some reason, but your answer doesn’t even qualify as one. Does that seem like a credible source to you? Should I reveal an anonymous tip I received here, right now? If merely saying ‘anonymous source’ makes it trustworthy, I have plenty to share.”Juno, now looking pitiable, was completely humiliated. But Suhan wasn’t done yet.“You would’ve been better off telling the truth from the start, Chief Cho. This wasn’t anonymous, was it?”As Suhan smiled with a chilling sneer, murmurs rippled through the room once more.“What does he mean, not anonymous?”“What’s going on here…?”The executives, who were now trapped in a room embroiled in a truth-telling contest, were growing increasingly restless. It wasn’t in anyone’s interest to prolong this situation. Just as things seemed about to spiral, Suhan pulled up a file he had received from a former employee at Chef Im’s establishment.[New Project Proposal Recipe from XX Food]Everyone’s eyebrows raised as they wondered why Suhan was showing a document related to the competitor’s project. The executives squinted at the bolded creation dates and the articles cited. One of them, upon noticing the dates, asked in astonishment.“Isn’t this too similar to our new project proposal?”The creation date of the document was well after the proposal Suhan and Yeonseo had made, though the prototype production was scheduled to begin sooner. Noting their sharp observations, Suhan made a small gesture, as if to confirm.“So, let’s be clear, Chief Cho. How much of our project data did you hand over in exchange for those offers and photos? Who exactly did you exchange it with? If you confess now, you might get a reduced sentence.”He added, flashing an infuriatingly handsome smile.“Oh, and for the record, I didn’t receive my information anonymously. It was provided by several former employees for public interest purposes.”Now, on the screen, a digital receipt gleamed—an electronic invoice from an interior design company, showing that Juno had collected a certain sum. If only they had led honest lives. Suhan had never expected that not just the staff he contacted, but also others who had previously worked there, would reach out with additional documents.As it turned out, Juno had tampered with their final pay, arguing that since their contracts ended during the probation period, they weren’t entitled to full-time wages. This led the former employees to contact each other, realizing that they’d all been shortchanged and sparking discussions about a collective lawsuit. When Suhan reached out with a chance to expose Juno, they jumped at the opportunity, resulting in Suhan obtaining far more incriminating evidence than he anticipated.“People really should live kindly, you know.”Suhan sneered, looking down at Juno, who had collapsed to the floor, legs giving out beneath him.