AOA Chapter 3

 

The surroundings were filled with factories. 

 

The place where Yeonseo had been held seemed to be an abandoned factory, exuding a sinister atmosphere. 

 

Among the crumbling buildings, only a few factories were still operational, their noisy sounds making the place feel even more eerie.

 

“I’ll escort you to the car.”

 

A man in a suit, likely a bodyguard, approached. He had an earpiece with a microphone and gestured toward a large sedan that radiated a commanding presence.

 

“Can you tell me where this is?”

 

The man seemed surprised that Yeonseo spoke to him but answered after a brief pause.

 

“Namyangju.”

 

Yeonseo was stunned. It was just in Gyeonggi Province. ABO probably never imagined that an omega could be kidnapped so close by.

 

Inside the open car door, Joo Kangwon was visible. 

 

The car carrying Yeonseo started moving without any further conversation. 

 

They soon left the factory district, which felt like something out of a horror or thriller movie, and entered the city. 

 

Yeonseo was dumbfounded again. If only she had escaped the factory… 

 

No, it was a pointless thought. She hadn’t even been able to escape that tiny room, let alone the factory.

 

The confined space of the car quickly filled with Yeonseo’s scent. 

 

Despite the long shower, traces of Joo Kangwon’s pheromones still lingered, mixing with hers and carrying the lingering aftermath of their recent intimacy.

 

Fortunately, the driver and the man sitting next to her seemed to be betas, showing no reaction. 

 

Unlike before, Joo Kangwon had completely reined in his pheromones and didn’t seem bothered, so Yeonseo pretended not to notice either.

 

Then, Joo Kangwon’s gaze shifted slightly downward. 

 

Following his gaze, Yeonseo noticed her arm trembling. It was likely a lingering effect of being bound for two days.

 

Though she tried hard not to show it, Yeonseo was far from okay. 

 

After being kidnapped for two days and suddenly going into heat, she was pushed to her limits, both physically and mentally.

 

“Um… thank you for saving me.”

 

It felt strange to thank someone who might demand something in return, but she felt she had to say it. 

 

After all, he held her life in his hands, and she wanted to make a good impression.

 

However, Joo Kangwon seemed to find her gratitude odd, as one of his eyebrows quirked upward. His expression made it clear that his intentions were far from altruistic.

 

“But you still prevented the worst-case scenario. I held on, trusting ABO, but…”

 

Her unwavering faith in ABO had kept her hope alive for those two days. 

 

In a situation where her mind was on the verge of collapsing, Yeonseo had repeatedly told herself that the rescue team would burst through that iron door.

 

Joo Kangwon had said she was destined to be drugged and crushed by disgusting old beta women. 

 

Yeonseo’s imagination wasn’t far off. When the kidnappers tried to lay hands on her, they were warned that she was a product reserved for someone higher and must not be touched.

 

Omegas were already seen as the exclusive property of alphas, so any wealthy beta would have gone mad to get their hands on one. 

 

Just escaping that fate made Yeonseo feel like bowing deeply in gratitude.

 

“So, thank you.”

 

After expressing her gratitude, she felt a sense of relief. 

 

The image of the abandoned factory, still stuck in her mind, seemed to fade slightly.

 

💫

 

The disappearance of an A-grade omega was nothing more than a minor incident to the average beta—just another unfortunate event happening to someone. 

 

In a world where worse things happened regularly, it barely raised an eyebrow.

 

But for the small, tightly-knit community of alphas and omegas, it was a thunderbolt out of the blue. 

 

Especially for omegas, who now trembled in fear, realizing that the protection offered by ABO, the association for alphas and omegas, wasn’t foolproof.

 

Omegas, known for their stunning beauty and captivating pheromones, were particularly vulnerable to being targeted by international mafia or local crime syndicates. 

 

Before ABO existed, it was said that a significant number of omegas had been dragged into the shadows, never to be seen again.

 

Now, ABO managed each omega individually, monitoring their biometric data in real-time through smartwatches. Their rescue teams, faster than the police, would mobilize immediately upon receiving a report.

 

Yet, an omega under such protection—an A-grade omega, no less, considered a national treasure—had been kidnapped right in the heart of Seoul. 

 

She was last seen at a department store, then in a secluded alley nearby. The exact location was debated, but the fact remained, she had vanished into thin air in a crowded area, sending ABO into chaos.

 

Her phone and smartwatch, which could have tracked her, were found discarded in a restroom trash can. 

 

The last footage of Hwang Yeonseo on CCTV ended abruptly in a blind spot. Her disappearance was so flawless that it raised suspicions—had she hidden herself?

 

But why would an omega, enjoying all the benefits of being a special management target, willingly step outside ABO’s protection? 

 

She lived rent-free in a high-end apartment in Gangnam, received lifelong living expenses, dignity allowances, and various celebratory funds.

 

ABO rescue teams and even the police were mobilized for the search, but not a single strand of her hair was found. Her photo was released, hoping for tips from the public, given her unforgettable beauty. 

 

Yet, no credible leads came in. The only calls they received were vulgar offers, asking if they’d get a chance with her if they helped find her.

 

Two days. Forty-eight hours passed with no progress. 

 

They raided organizations suspected of kidnapping omegas but found nothing. 

 

Rumors even circulated that she might have already been shipped to China, where omega management was so strict that they implanted biochips. 

 

The theory was that they targeted South Korea, where management was comparatively lax.

 

Amidst the public speculation and lack of progress, Hwang Yeonseo reappeared—with Joo Kangwon of Cheonsang Group.

 

“So, you’re saying Joo Kangwon personally found and rescued her?”

 

Lee Changgi, the head of ABO Korea, who had rushed out barefoot upon hearing the news, looked at Kangwon with a mix of disbelief and unease. 

 

He knew who Joo Kangwon was. He didn’t doubt the information network of Cheonsang Group. 

 

They undoubtedly knew more about the underworld than ABO, which operated in the light.

 

But what he couldn’t understand was why Kangwon had acted alone, without sharing any information with ABO. 

 

‘Why had he excluded ABO entirely and taken matters into his own hands?’

 

Changgi’s gaze shifted to Hwang Yeonseo. She was undoubtedly a high-value omega as an A-grade, but there was no prior connection between her and Kangwon. 

 

Still, he couldn’t question why Kangwon had saved her. 

 

Quickly changing his expression, Changgi expressed his gratitude. If they hadn’t found her, ABO’s credibility would have plummeted to an irreparable level.

 

“We’d like to hold an award ceremony to present a plaque of gratitude to Joo Kangwon for taking the lead in protecting an omega. Would that be acceptable?”

 

“I’ll decline. I’ve already arranged to receive my reward directly from the omega herself.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

Changgi blinked in surprise, but Kangwon stood up, signaling that his business was done. 

 

Before leaving, his gaze lingered on Yeonseo, heavy with unspoken meaning. It was a look that said, ‘Imagine what will happen if you change your words.’

 

Yeonseo swallowed dryly and nodded.

 

“Aren’t you going to get up?”

 

“Ah…”

 

Under his reproachful gaze, Yeonseo hurriedly tried to stand, but Changgi quickly stepped in to stop her.

 

“Are you taking her with you now? I’d like to speak with Hwang Yeonseo briefly… and she needs to undergo a medical examination at the hospital.”

 

Kangwon’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he wasn’t pleased. 

 

However, the omega’s health was also a critical matter to him, so he gave a brief nod.

 

“I’ll assign someone to stay with her. Send her over when it’s done.”

 

His attitude made it clear he wouldn’t wait even a single day. 

 

Yeonseo silently nodded, grateful that he wasn’t being unreasonable. His sharp, no-nonsense demeanor as he turned to leave was like a blade cutting through the air.

 

The branch director, who had broken into a cold sweat in the brief exchange, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead. 

 

When his eyes met Yeonseo’s, he offered an awkward smile and bowed slightly.

 

“I sincerely apologize for the ordeal you’ve been through. We should have acted faster, but we didn’t receive the rescue signal… We’ll make sure to address this issue moving forward.”

 

“I don’t remember much from that time… Didn’t my third sister report it immediately?”

 

“The report from your family came much later. They thought you had gone off on your own while shopping.”

 

“…”

 

Yeonseo, whose last memory was of the fitting room, couldn’t make sense of his words. 

 

But since she could ask Naeun directly, she decided not to argue and let it go. The branch director studied her reaction carefully before continuing.

 

“First, we’ll move you to the hospital for a check-up, and then you can return home…”

 

The branch director paused, looking somewhat troubled. 

 

It was because Joo Kangwon had already declared that he wouldn’t let her go home immediately. 

 

Since they didn’t know what he might demand, the director had no choice but to change the subject.

 

“I’ll make sure to contact your family.”