SPW 39

If Sarang were to agree to Bailey’s request, that’s how it would have to be.

‘No, the boss must not know.’

Even now, with their relationship having grown distant since his independence, Florian was still Sarang’s guardian and protector. And Florian absolutely did not want his relationship with Sarang to change.

‘Because the boss would never allow it.’

‘Bailey. In this world, a relationship without the other person’s consent is called rape.’

Bailey’s expression hardened at the smooth, unwavering voice.

‘What do you think about being treated like a sex doll and subjected to unimaginable humiliation while unconscious? Kim.’

The phrases ‘treated like a sex doll’ and ‘unimaginable humiliation’ were expressions that could not coexist with Florian in the slightest.

‘The boss has already been treated that way against his will far too many times. Because now, no one respects “Omega Florian” when he enters his heat.’

As if he had already guessed Sarang would refuse, Bailey uncharacteristically poured out a torrent of unrefined, harsh words. But Sarang, from the moment he had spotted Bailey standing at the mansion door, from the moment he had read the ominous aura on his face, had wanted to run straight to Florian. Sitting in front of Bailey and powerlessly listening to the words he poured out was the greatest display of patience Sarang had ever shown in his life.

‘I’ve tried to post guards. I even considered installing security cameras. But I couldn’t even suggest it to the boss. Kim, have you ever seen a trait-holder who has lost control of their reason during a heat? It’s horrifying. It was such a horrifying sight. Knowing that, I couldn’t ask the boss to reveal a scene where his dignity as a human being was trampled.’

Bailey, who had paused to catch his breath, calmed his unintentionally agitated voice.

‘That was the emotional aspect, and there are practical problems as well. A secret you want to hide will find a way to leak out. The moment rumors that spread without feet gain a basis is when a record appears. The moment a security camera feed leaks, it becomes a fatal record. Miller, being a fellow trait-holder, cannot be in the same space as an Alpha and Omega in heat. That means I have to post other guards, but in this situation, who can I easily trust, Kim.’

Florian had expressed his intentions clearly. That summer after spring had ended, Sarang had read the clear meaning of rejection in Florian’s piercing blue eyes.

I do not want you to love me. I can never have that kind of relationship with you. I will neither acknowledge nor accept your feelings.

It was a sad, yet certain rejection.

Sarang’s independence consisted solely of moving his belongings from the mansion where Florian resided to a mansion Florian had provided. As Sarang spent his days as an adult with the people Florian had assigned to him, he thought constantly. He tried to understand.

Why could he never be ‘that kind of’ person to Florian?

Because Florian was Kim Sarang’s guardian. Because he had declared to the world that he had taken on the position of guardian as a ‘protector,’ not as a ‘claimant.’ He had not given Sarang even a hair’s breadth of an opening.

Sarang wanted to conclude it that way. That it wasn’t because Florian disliked or hated him, not because he was lacking or insignificant, but because he was honoring their contract. He wanted to believe that. Only then could he avoid spending his nights with his eyes wide open.

‘My reason for coming to you, Kim, is not just for confidentiality. The boss needs an Alpha to spend his heats with steadily from now on. The probability of his heat cycle and pheromones stabilizing is higher the more he settles down with one person and the higher his compatibility rate is with that person.’

‘Why do you think I will keep the secret, Bailey?’

Bailey froze like a man who had been caught off guard. It seemed he hadn’t known it himself. He appeared to have just realized that the belief that Kim Sarang would never betray Florian was unconsciously laid as a basic premise.

‘How long do you think you can deceive Lahn?’

Bailey fell silent at Sarang’s words. Agreeing to be a heat partner without obtaining Florian’s consent was an act of deceiving him. Sarang did not want to deceive Florian. He did not want to earn his betrayal and anger. Sarang would rather die than be hated by Florian.

His heart had become that way at some point.

‘If Lahn finds out later, he will definitely be angry. He might not even treat me like a human being and try to punish me using every method possible. Then I would lose Florian forever. Even the nominal relationship of being his guardian will be severed.’

The year he left Florian’s house, Sarang succeeded in signing a five-year contract with his team on very good terms. Sarang could get a house to live in with his own power, and he could hire his own staff.

After the Asian Cup victory, the Korean public’s interest in Sarang grew, and it caught fire as his performance in a distant foreign league was quickly reported. They loved the soccer player Kim Sarang. They cherished him and showed him affection as if he were their own younger brother, oppa, son, or hyung. Their overwhelming love brought Sarang economic wealth.

Sarang could become completely independent from Florian at any time.

But the reason he didn’t was because he didn’t want to. Because he didn’t want his connection with Florian to be broken. It felt as if his relationship with Florian would be severed in an instant if he moved out of the mansion Florian had provided and dismissed the staff he had assigned. All that would remain was the formal relationship of a guardian. A single relationship that was bound to be broken in 10 years. It felt like if he cut his points of contact with Florian one by one, even that relationship would be severed early.

Sarang was scared of becoming nothing to Florian. Bailey knew that and still asked for his help. Bailey had noticed Sarang’s feelings for Florian early on. That’s why he must have been inwardly confident that Sarang would not be able to refuse.

Of course, if Sarang were to spend his heats with Florian steadily and stably, Florian would certainly get better. In that process, he would naturally come to know that the person he spent his heats with was Sarang.

Bailey knew that and still demanded that Sarang be his heat partner. It was a demand, not a request. Sarang could read the anger-tinged coercion, as if to say, putting everything else aside, if you received that much help from Florian Dietrich Wellington, shouldn’t you repay him at least this much? Sarang was grateful for yet resentful of such a Bailey.

‘Kim…’

Sarang didn’t have the confidence to listen to him any longer. Shaking his head, he opened the lips he had been biting tightly.

‘Bailey. I don’t want to lose Lahn.’

Knock, knock.

Sarang, who hadn’t fully emerged from the memories of the previous night, came to his senses at the sound of knocking on the window. Outside the car window, Allen, holding an umbrella, was giving him a look that said, “What are you doing, not getting out?”

“Were you sleeping?”

“No.”

“Well, you have reason to be upset.”

It wasn’t comfort or sympathy, just Allen’s usual way of speaking.

“That whole thing about guys being tight-lipped is a bunch of crap. There’s no creature with a bigger mouth than the creature known as man.”

Allen placed the umbrella in Sarang’s hand and strode ahead, getting soaked by the rather heavy rain. In addition to using slippers indoors, using an umbrella when it rained or snowed was added to his habits. It was a culture from his home country that he had learned from Colin and had become a part of his life.

“Dietrich Wellington is a fine trophy.”

Sarang stopped dead in his tracks. Allen, standing on the covered porch steps, looked back at Sarang with a nonchalant attitude.

“How badly must those bastard Alphas have wanted to crush Florian? The most perfect Omega among all existing trait-holders, so perfect he even intimidates Alpha males. On top of that, he’s the sole heir to the Duke of Dimitri’s family and the young master delicately raised by the historic Wellington family. What could be a more stimulating temptation than being able to handle him however they want for at least fifteen days, kiddo.”

Plop, plop, heavy raindrops fell on the umbrella. Sarang, standing under the pure white umbrella and looking up at Allen, couldn’t hide his anguish.

Tsk, so soft-hearted.

It was truly a mystery how he could run wild like a crazed leopard on the pitch.

“Those bastards don’t want to step on Florian, they want to step on Dietrich Wellington. They’re just pathetic bastards with no dicks.”

Having said his piece, Allen went inside first. Sarang stood there blankly for a long time before finally folding his umbrella and opening the front door after darkness had fallen. There was no decision to be made. The most important thing to Sarang was Florian.

What Sarang feared most was losing Florian. Therefore, if he did nothing, he could lose nothing.