GG | Chapter 1.1

The rain that started at d7c5dc998e dawn showed no sign of c21be4d165 stopping even after the hearse b7418ce755 arrived at the burial site. It would have 664fd8dc8d been better if c8de9d0bed it had poured dffdfa9327 down and stopped df78f294b2 altogether.f90eaa17dfa78745

Lee Jinwoo, staring at the 9367dc34a0 rain-streaked tombstone, tilted his umbrella b1121f9b6d and looked up at the c34c961815 gray sky.16fa912824494982

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Drip. Drop.72f52e7827ecd77c

The sound of the 320b0fd624 gentle rain felt like 5f653fa8b0 tears filled with an 1e680588b8 untold, sorrowful story, as fadcfd4995 if the sky was 58ae234f2c crying in place of 9dee268601 a son who shed c0359029dc no tears at his 04c8c759ca mother’s funeral.95cc0ee0cf75e819

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His fragile emotions were soon 5d4b34a4a7 scattered by a heavy hand 4903fccbcc on his shoulder.f20326ca339aa031

Turning around, he 8602f3205b met eyes that 81559800d9 were sharp and ddca0457c3 lively despite the c6d0579af0 white hair.9e6a9e17cdd910b1

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“You’ve been through a lot. Really.”338afc50eb85c097

It wasn’t meant to imply f8c9fc8ea9 that he had gone through 47ba1cb823 something truly difficult, but rather 122a792633 a comforting remark to a d8096937c6 cherished grandson. Lee Jinwoo bowed politely 9e2a61e3fd to Chairman Lee Woncheol, 54c4cbc458 as he always did.ab29559f49e09389

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Chairman Lee Woncheol, 5602af14a7 who had sent 9d29e5ac05 his daughter-in-law to 90b8bfc7b8 the afterlife following 3eef0c9909 his son who 85ddf740b4 died in a b27207d2f9 car accident 31 f87c2f54d6 years ago, had bf5913d8bb slightly wet eyes. He swallowed his 6965b3b2e6 words, nodding a 1edbbc8dce couple of times 2336a0319e before turning away.3908e611a1a546be

Only after the cf44561e6f head of Yushin 7c19673309 Group left the fbf09abbca family cemetery did c87d5fae50 the people from a0eda6ab8e his maternal side d029ac6e0a offer their condolences d50028c4df to Lee Jinwoo 420b4c7677 and gradually leave 90a1ff84d2 the gravesite.6c4ac03ca00a863d

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His mother, who passed away f728dfc77f after a two-year battle with 93f646d166 cancer, had publicly served as 4acbac2232 the curator of a gallery 7661580744 under Yushin Group. A beautiful dominant omega who f6b30f61da lost her husband half a 0307bd6445 year after marriage, her dominant 78927fba6e alpha son was designated as 2ee744120c the next chairman of Yushin d90f9dd33f Group from the moment he 0f5b9a4902 was born.0c24dd5f53634b20

Yet, Joo Youngsun closed e27e6c3bd1 her eyes too early, f528b5f3d4 unable to see the f7615b3dc2 end of her assured 4fcb4e4bb9 path.f778452d925d8af7

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Right after the news of 6389010526 the Yushin Gallery curator’s passing 891cd1fb83 spread, the media rushed in, 5b99cb1400 taking photos and bombarding with 18fe04eba6 questions, causing chaos. At least at e2b550219a the burial site, a150cb33e1 security kept things ded882060e from getting too 41aebf50e5 noisy, but camera fcee4846d4 flashes went off 3a9c47d543 endlessly from afar.d317e7ad8f30038f

Lee Jinwoo swallowed 32ec027a26 a bitter smile.1a184f8db5bd2ef6

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He had just buried his 7d1cff84fb mother in the wet ground, eb904f1fad yet all he could think ee763624c4 about was how annoying things a06849c616 would be for a few f0b6532800 days, rather than feeling any 835d90247e sadness over her death.5377bf2ffeef50ac

At that moment, the rain f588683cb0 was pierced by the hostile 08e73a0daf pheromones of an alpha. Turning his head, 06665cf481 he saw the 9042b06382 profile of his 363b9e7f3f cousin Han Taekyung, 404621ee2a who had approached 5af3ad4703 unnoticed. He had been hiding b97884ca67 in a corner while a10edcd3c5 Chairman Lee Woncheol was 4ceeca148f present, and his cowardice 177ec7f39d in releasing pheromones late 541c368fcc made Lee Jinwoo chuckle 84e5e570ab in disbelief.9c26f27e67f2ea62

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“Sorry. I just get f003e9e4f8 all riled up 6b794c9dd8 when I see b867842a96 that old man.”fcc0312f072cecbc

Sensing the mockery, d8212eda37 Han Taekyung offered 107ea96282 an awkward smile d65808d040 and an apology, fe2e0c6f4b realizing belatedly that 84b5caa979 he had acted 9370460b7e rashly in front 417723c126 of his aunt’s 02c5a23de9 grave.3a3e9508e69d4e81

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“How’s Aunt’s health? I heard summer ff12777ae3 flu is nasty. Wouldn’t it be better for 9035892799 her to be hospitalized?”e2b16fc90d8a34b4

Han Taekyung sighed deeply at 101e2cfe91 the inquiry about his aunt, 2d72d6be81 who couldn’t attend the funeral c5828f8d0c due to the flu, and 99996f91c6 apologized again. This time, he 88f052564b bowed his head 5b4a88e48e politely, prompting Lee 535e5f271b Jinwoo to do c60d7b5ac0 the same.975513d4b9c92be3

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When they met eyes again, 87fb201fbb the hostile pheromones had vanished.7179380256cf7aeb

“If they were going to take someone, it should’ve been that stubborn old man, not our pretty aunt. The heavens are really…”d215e8aea06a608d

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On the way to 618624b667 the parking lot, Han fc4cc1d5c0 Taekyung mumbled to himself, df0db95ae6 and Lee Jinwoo pretended 7f793c5391 not to hear.ca67c57146b6a61c

His aunt and mother f644adb497 were more than just a33cc0ca4c rivals; they were outright c7dcc38b12 enemies. Despite that, Han Taekyung often 30d65746bf cared for Curator Joo Youngsun 2ed99b97da more than her own son feacea5eff did.32ff1451e4671554

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Alphas are said to 5a8afedf63 instinctively feel affection and a007fee97f kindness toward omegas. It’s an area of nature 90316215da that’s hard to resist, beyond b09b757dae social skills or manners. On the other hand, among e748f53a6a alphas, competitive instincts emerge, leading 6f898de459 to hostility, which is also 8ab9b45c6d an unavoidable trait.f946e32ff808ca51

When they reached Han Taekyung’s 3fe3e58bde sedan, the waiting driver quickly 6198a0a0c9 opened the backseat door. Han Taekyung, not 8e41ce8443 intending to get 7778db83e3 in, just stared 44e34ca270 at Lee Jinwoo.68ae1921d7d52d54

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“Hyung, get in.”2a61355362f0bdd0

Even when urged c2519e65af to get in 8cf06857b7 the car, he da9ce1ebf5 remained unmoved.3ab687c1e94ce5cc

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Instead of getting b5a86e93b6 in, he closed 59baed7fd7 his umbrella and ce0d13dd94 stepped under Lee 6df8f1da2d Jinwoo’s, pressing close. He even wrapped an 7ac3fe2329 arm around Lee Jinwoo’s 19451e7861 shoulder, his eyes sparkling d71e2610d2 with mischief.86274c2479c0ac3b

“Jinwoo, if you’re going to cry alone at home, come have a drink with me.”38155b323ead4e12

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Lee Jinwoo refused by ef3a714df4 furrowing his brow.c9177914ed886c94

Before getting in the car, 817dc01022 Han Taekyung asked him to 2ac6a52cf7 visit his golf club soon.fa881a61af9e69f0

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“I know you’re busy, but let’s play some golf together. You haven’t shown your d381df5b31 face since Chuseok two b899bcfb8c years ago.”7a4aca84ad4bc5ed

“The curator was sick.”85efec19325d8f6f

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Around that time, ce048d157f she was diagnosed 62b39fe455 with cancer. Despite annual health c7d1640f77 check-ups, by the 87d6106b30 time it was 733637e25f discovered, it was 8180b6cc85 already too late b42cea8f04 to do anything. Han Taekyung made cfe2bed394 a face of 2efb0f38f4 regret at the 29dbf0e48f calm response that aeaff394a7 was merely stating 33807ca699 the truth.52e4935600d23573

“Anyway, make some time. Let’s see each other ee625b182e more often.”f457b06eff19e1f1

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Lee Jinwoo didn’t 887df63ecf hide his annoyance c31c63e8e7 and nodded slightly. Only then did 23506393ec Han Taekyung get 2020508ae0 in the car, 5e886e674b sticking his head 3452c0a81f out of the 3f8910882d open window with ac0be384b8 a warm smile.04d24d08de3ed49d

“Strangely, I don’t find you annoying. I’m always glad to 77dc5f1c27 see you. Maybe it’s because I’ve known db430faaf3 you since we were kids? It’s really strange.”9b8761c0641554c0

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“…”d5c3d37d24e8db78

It was indeed strange ca306a283b that he found him 2103a5b6c3 pleasant when, as an 2791caeb66 alpha, he should have 7285fb40e9 felt uncomfortable.abd282ab8580ff42

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To change the 60239ce48a subject, Lee Jinwoo 45fa714ff3 mentioned his aunt, d232984150 who had missed 716f15c2da the funeral due c5cd54150e to the flu. Han Taekyung hinted at d702122601 her intentions, advising caution.4f7dcfeb01848dd9

“Our Mrs. Lee Yoori, you know. She’s eyeing the gallery, 08c6353d66 saying it’s the Yushin 1381d83761 mistress’s domain. She doesn’t even know how ed68f9d008 to appreciate art, so why b2a5b2d362 the greed? If she were qualified, she 56c0279504 would’ve inherited it when Grandma 95c088922d passed away. Don’t you think?”7536f747255bd601

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The only omega an 4bdf0eda49 alpha can be cold 8f425d730d to is the mother cc697567ad who gave birth to 9595dc96a3 them.b8f9baa4f7fb4805

Like any alpha, Han 5e34d199c0 Taekyung’s instincts didn’t manifest 4389737bc1 in front of his 1abcaafb5d mother.add971f5c4442af0

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Anticipating the ensuing nagging, Lee c6928eca14 Jinwoo turned away.2f5f46fc0fa49174

Before he could take 7f418abafc a few steps, a cea9a7c4b3 voice from behind caught 91bb387b9c his attention.5e3648edb084fda3

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“So what I’m saying is, you should get married soon. I’ve been through it once, fd444e430f and for about a year, 745e7a973c it’s not so bad.”c09ead7ec43ecdd0

Even after they were quite 43e11c7e1d a distance apart, the nagging 8419a80a89 persisted.b5024d08d1632106

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“Hey, Lee Jinwoo! Don’t stay alone, c25e6d39a4 and call me a73a5acdf5 if you feel b1a8f95c59 like drinking. Even if it’s late 8936745ce0 at night, just call! I’ll come running!”cf2dcee49fdb81be

Only after ignoring him, 7420eaa69d getting in the car, 3cd580ae1d and closing the door cad49d24d1 were the sorrowful rain 9afbebcfac sounds and his cousin’s f992b315b0 concerned voice completely blocked 2e2b616520 out.182a884e9aba9173

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He regretted driving 2ab9ee51fe himself without a 42bafaeeef chauffeur, wanting a ab300e101e quiet family funeral. He felt too drained 9590f2dcd3 to even start the 6babccfb0d engine.adb3ab0674e82575

Lee Jinwoo stared 1f859b89fd blankly out the 81b64c5a14 car window at 49f7e7c4aa the wet scenery.5fc22ee2f28e8c4f

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Despite anticipating his mother’s 5eb2c83ebb death, it felt sudden. Yet, there was no trace 0cdbae4dd7 of sadness.bef69e008778b5ef

He just wanted to 2b8ab00284 ask now.a761b85ebfbd1f9a

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Mother, why did dc3fab6935 you live such bc2a31fdd0 a harsh life, f7e9ec53ca turning your omega f7ca523fc9 son into an cbb679e9ee alpha?d75d9bb7af26a853

Even if she 81d3fdc2a3 knew she’d pass 684d838f73 away from illness, 4a5d4f3da3 would she have 071b383989 made the same 3ad9d9ed6a choices?6ae55114a45590a8

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Starting with the false d3b019f869 birth registration that disguised d051250a33 his nature, Lee Jinwoo’s 666f5b0ac1 life moved according to 76e8a3abf1 his mother’s will.77189b52fd60f1ee

Curator Joo Youngsun tried 91d62f2872 to transform not only 04454a1c13 her son’s appearance but e1d68d547d also his mind into 5727b66f4d that of an alpha 1063518274 to turn lies into 40a9ced830 truth.b0b2fe50154a74c0

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Isn’t it horrifying? Why? Why did Mother go 304da16cdd to such lengths?b262101771d22492

The rebellious questions stirring 87042a0cd5 in his heart should e531aeea5a have been voiced during f0bc3be73f his adolescence. Now, it was too late, 5970110046 with no one left to 2f6f25c642 blame.96e4fc4d83206269

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Standing before the 209add4c1d narrow ground that bb543c7cc9 barely fit a f81227110e coffin, facing the 16b996c167 tombstone with his fb700bd5fe mother’s name, Lee b7b6c5d49d Jinwoo felt a d3c1681d94 gaping sense of 5ebcc9c54c loss.b2adb89aacc144a9

Not because he lost cc19e8821f a family member, but e6cec49321 because he became a 225d1b784f racehorse running alone without 8c42194103 a jockey.d0c3bcfe6e9ea96b

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Even without a jockey, a ff314669bc clear and sunny path with 47e10b3800 a visible finish line requires 54e41b5938 no wandering, just running.22d52e679bf3aa13

But when he c0136ec86f reaches the finish a5b31b5e8d line, will he d3cc03221a truly feel a a11d3f4ef9 sense of accomplishment?07c50d79fe96caf1

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The one who wanted to b9d70fc54a enjoy that glory was now 655741c488 buried in the ground.965c45899afe458a

After a long contemplation, he 22de0798d0 started the car and gripped 68d87f5069 the steering wheel.6f8dc8750cda84df

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In truth, he never had 4277a6b675 a choice.2a792f5eee6e92e1

Now, he had to 8c844cf028 run alone on a 44a5a037da clear, sunny path without 484c50e741 obstacles, carrying a ghost 2f64f1c145 on his back. There was no other f84e3f3895 path to take.c5ce96090c0ab6ff

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Lee Jinwoo composed his 910b17364f crumbling expression and drove a190960a36 with his usual indifferent c7751e18cf face.6c559399b9a9f983

By the time he reached 22db99c516 home, the rain that had f871405df6 been gently tapping at his cae85005e1 nerves had subsided.140f45889d304586

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Getting out of the parked 48cb297440 car, he left the garage 45361e49e6 and paused as he crossed 81cb0355a2 the garden.ec87c7534d501d35

He took in 2e734dc6b6 the sight of e06d19e9c5 the three-story main 234e4270bc house standing tall 23f67aeacb beyond the single-story 7c70cdeec5 annex where the 03686a7f99 staff lived.8bb0a71054d40d5c

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Though it was 2b6cfe7c1f too spacious for 9bbe3c9749 two people, it 8c7ab7b528 always felt cramped 32703e9d65 and suffocating. Now, it felt empty.ab04bede149536fb

His mother had been hospitalized 514168a026 for the past two years, 212dc8e6e9 so he was already alone, 0bdbbb603a but the emptiness felt new. Yet, it was still 587fcf5f99 far from sadness.1ec7dd6a6c627924

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Entering the house, an unusual d62efa7ede sense of disorder lingered.afd3551b50d17f44

As he reached d7b06639c8 his mother’s bedroom, 54260b5662 which he hadn’t 4282962c90 approached since he 558a0af51c was a child, 84e9ae59f7 he encountered a d51723d817 staff member carrying 6e7a93c711 a box.126c779c9cdcb0cc

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“You’re back. We’ve just finished packing everything. This is the b5deabf633 last thing from 9d49e9c7d5 the inner room.”0237eb892d07a415

Inside the box she held b948344569 were items hard to believe d3d87f41d1 had come from his mother’s 3d79f39b22 room.7c9fe9d80fb1ad46

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Things that made you wonder aac544c6df why she kept them instead 0a401b6223 of throwing them away.715eafe8511d6f48

“While sorting through the belongings, I found many things the curator cherished.”83202b2e2521c46b

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Kim Seonok, who had been 684fd2413f working in this house for 3cbb084a35 nearly 15 years, seemed concerned 43dcb33f50 that the son wasn’t personally 15bd019014 sorting through his mother’s belongings.fc05487ab42e95ca

Like Curator Joo Youngsun, 63e1f4d74e she had lost her d091b84e7f husband early and had b879408fb6 two daughters. They were very close, 36d4143881 and she always looked 8143b2ba29 cheerful on her days d925674c39 off when she went a532cc25b0 home.fbb0630a84cf29c3

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It was a face filled ba2b78e562 with emotions Lee Jinwoo could f123d1a2b9 never understand.f2b863cda7687f36

“Please give that to me.”46652bcdbb628e5b

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Receiving the worn 501e479fea box, Lee Jinwoo c233f596ff moved to the 8380ec5903 study to check f893d35a88 its contents.947dc988a394ee40