GG | Chapter 1.1

The rain that fd51a7cc05 started at dawn 7436178988 showed no sign 94a8a685e8 of stopping even fac282aaa4 after the hearse a39f093f7a arrived at the 944ad36fac burial site. It would have been better 8bf5d9b5d5 if it had poured down 78ce5cccf9 and stopped altogether.b4f478fb3522c65c

Lee Jinwoo, staring at 0a07243e08 the rain-streaked tombstone, tilted 684236dead his umbrella and looked becc909910 up at the gray 0747508e6a sky.3a959f2da96e554d

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Drip. Drop.9e06431eaebd3439

The sound of the 92f3967329 gentle rain felt like 0d592f9d43 tears filled with an 52b6023614 untold, sorrowful story, as 553259ccf0 if the sky was 4b122ad0ac crying in place of 84ca130302 a son who shed e1e97c4da9 no tears at his 2193ea791a mother’s funeral.5bfbedf0df4df8a4

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His fragile emotions 44a6ab6cf8 were soon scattered 36634f1936 by a heavy 0bf1a13bbf hand on his d7b33a7fe4 shoulder.3749cafd7be6f12e

Turning around, he c95ea7e8d9 met eyes that 0c943c4676 were sharp and d261a8c57c lively despite the 28525742ad white hair.65ee289cb17cd458

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“You’ve been through a lot. Really.”0da47ff21e56a8b2

It wasn’t meant to dde0cce982 imply that he had 39f4f57f93 gone through something truly 7c11759208 difficult, but rather a c85ea018a9 comforting remark to a 871ea763f2 cherished grandson. Lee Jinwoo bowed 916e7ab71a politely to Chairman 0c05584b52 Lee Woncheol, as d48ed6fd13 he always did.0ee6458b18d862f4

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Chairman Lee Woncheol, who e4b42f17e5 had sent his daughter-in-law e796d83ca8 to the afterlife following 51de0d196f his son who died e4e3bae91b in a car accident 58cf94a2d5 31 years ago, had 6925a859b0 slightly wet eyes. He swallowed his words, nodding 0a08abd9a0 a couple of times before a24ac53f84 turning away.942c796688e0c4bc

Only after the df89379f77 head of Yushin a5d61a5831 Group left the 620b17c921 family cemetery did 2541b0b923 the people from 91da9a70eb his maternal side b2440ec697 offer their condolences 98736cc778 to Lee Jinwoo b458a0a711 and gradually leave 161f9e86a7 the gravesite.9b4867bfbaf3fb6e

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His mother, who passed 32fd421a15 away after a two-year a1ceb47b04 battle with cancer, had dff294222b publicly served as the a0fc1f81f7 curator of a gallery 00568546ac under Yushin Group. A beautiful dominant 541563b167 omega who lost d8049d7a91 her husband half d17fd31c7c a year after 77901ce264 marriage, her dominant e2ef9f69a9 alpha son was 3d764cb5f8 designated as the b03510ff39 next chairman of f5ec993652 Yushin Group from 71f456d6b6 the moment he e44f1da00d was born.ce4977a58258d6d0

Yet, Joo Youngsun closed her f465125724 eyes too early, unable to 6264dd1a65 see the end of her 29a22ef586 assured path.9aac824c417e4604

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Right after the news of ac9cf54022 the Yushin Gallery curator’s passing fd9b9b1cea spread, the media rushed in, de12719cd5 taking photos and bombarding with db4239ed02 questions, causing chaos. At least at the burial f8b2836357 site, security kept things from af4ae19d56 getting too noisy, but camera a079ceb463 flashes went off endlessly from 20dc671d79 afar.e295e0bf8bc6038b

Lee Jinwoo swallowed a bitter 48f61fbaf4 smile.929bb1c5e0160b26

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He had just buried his ce0acf9209 mother in the wet ground, 025b667d7c yet all he could think 723dbb740e about was how annoying things 70ce0e5ee2 would be for a few 7cb17f3de6 days, rather than feeling any ad267c2016 sadness over her death.cfe4e608b0d94d7b

At that moment, 94d59eeeb5 the rain was 3766914da4 pierced by the 47efaf2426 hostile pheromones of 4753cac486 an alpha. Turning his head, he saw 19c81d1a76 the profile of his cousin daaae1261a Han Taekyung, who had approached ecf4f89a98 unnoticed. He had been 40b6367d12 hiding in a ece3686907 corner while Chairman 46e69ba805 Lee Woncheol was 66e5eefa19 present, and his aa18ba1a1b cowardice in releasing 91fdb9fe28 pheromones late made 28941c6bb4 Lee Jinwoo chuckle fb0d7440dc in disbelief.15b2981080e0d4e8

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“Sorry. I just get faf0599ad6 all riled up 6fb5b203f5 when I see ab057c14a3 that old man.”22171f1faaece6bd

Sensing the mockery, Han Taekyung 367446f720 offered an awkward smile and b8f59130f5 an apology, realizing belatedly that 7b56e4f095 he had acted rashly in 06cc8833ad front of his aunt’s grave.3da81fc8ea768af6

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“How’s Aunt’s health? I heard summer flu is 5a6c8b7aa1 nasty. Wouldn’t it be 06e1e3913b better for her bc8e825181 to be hospitalized?”1712a5bd5e12382e

Han Taekyung sighed deeply 8881d80235 at the inquiry about e652544e91 his aunt, who couldn’t 94d848aa83 attend the funeral due c098a4af2e to the flu, and a1fd1d1b17 apologized again. This time, he bowed 38f5b336dd his head politely, prompting b05f79ba01 Lee Jinwoo to do e0d185cab2 the same.041a9ca2792e14fa

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When they met eyes 9a9ce2d9f3 again, the hostile pheromones 4476ac5182 had vanished.f720a657b3cd3dfb

“If they were going to take someone, it should’ve been that stubborn old man, not our pretty aunt. The heavens are really…”38d19a1532e68d49

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On the way to 718793c20f the parking lot, Han 65600f4c13 Taekyung mumbled to himself, 51840f6c4e and Lee Jinwoo pretended 07eb1b9792 not to hear.0d5f10ac676ebcde

His aunt and 589f560185 mother were more 9dd6c46dab than just rivals; 51fdbbbe63 they were outright 65a3419730 enemies. Despite that, Han Taekyung 4d25be1c13 often cared for Curator 414f3f889f Joo Youngsun more than 307ae6867a her own son did.c0fccbf0c9b934c3

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Alphas are said to instinctively b7d87a715a feel affection and kindness toward e1f5b9f2a9 omegas. It’s an area of nature 819bc3a2eb that’s hard to resist, beyond a01ef31e3b social skills or manners. On the other hand, 35654ecd17 among alphas, competitive instincts 58947abcae emerge, leading to hostility, 0bbaed915b which is also an 98d9e7244b unavoidable trait.8abb40f84af524ba

When they reached Han 2324d10e72 Taekyung’s sedan, the waiting 22ce1dba22 driver quickly opened the 896107fb33 backseat door. Han Taekyung, not intending e06bd18020 to get in, just 1914393315 stared at Lee Jinwoo.821c81c85eaa7cb7

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“Hyung, get in.”16c2eb87df1466f2

Even when urged to get 0ae76c67b1 in the car, he remained aaf8d90322 unmoved.1b7a3bb37d52f182

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Instead of getting in, he d9c64b37a4 closed his umbrella and stepped f01bf7be57 under Lee Jinwoo’s, pressing close. He even wrapped an arm d01d0f176d around Lee Jinwoo’s shoulder, his ba0fa153b4 eyes sparkling with mischief.9494b064d789bbdc

“Jinwoo, if you’re going to cry alone at home, come have a drink with me.”839d91c9574556c2

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Lee Jinwoo refused by 7ea7a17da6 furrowing his brow.587d3bbc3e05ee3f

Before getting in the bc9f5ba311 car, Han Taekyung asked a5a4c7fd7c him to visit his e150cfb80c golf club soon.de33804c568af578

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“I know you’re busy, but let’s play some golf together. You haven’t shown your 1387a89479 face since Chuseok two 20d438b2ab years ago.”f063a2e4f0528c8d

“The curator was sick.”b48f8b2d2be21015

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Around that time, 3e5942e692 she was diagnosed 2983d4f3a8 with cancer. Despite annual health 83cdc5d925 check-ups, by the 7e56a92e69 time it was 9992f749bf discovered, it was a84d2b3460 already too late 06be2ff2c6 to do anything. Han Taekyung made a 43a566dabd face of regret at 16772ba0c3 the calm response that f5e7ee0e2a was merely stating the 8627bc0803 truth.7aa7d0f857ce52e9

“Anyway, make some time. Let’s see each other more b26bb7c4c9 often.”557b556724236859

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Lee Jinwoo didn’t hide his e47fe91fde annoyance and nodded slightly. Only then did Han Taekyung c03add17ea get in the car, sticking 04ec248e75 his head out of the cbd56ff8d9 open window with a warm 0bf7750153 smile.3df6603eaef6b61e

“Strangely, I don’t find you annoying. I’m always glad to see 09a71a4b0e you. Maybe it’s because I’ve dd06206751 known you since we 2d5d78e86d were kids? It’s really strange.”ec9ddee930ee64dd

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“…”95105a68b2ab71e9

It was indeed strange 1ceaed3e0f that he found him a2250460e3 pleasant when, as an 5c53ca1f65 alpha, he should have 5f903601e9 felt uncomfortable.a3339f8b8af3767f

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To change the subject, Lee 9414860fb2 Jinwoo mentioned his aunt, who 9d0c0d8ad9 had missed the funeral due 1153a811cc to the flu. Han Taekyung hinted 9f7b028bc4 at her intentions, bb4df2090a advising caution.5fd76859aca1b082

“Our Mrs. Lee Yoori, you know. She’s eyeing the gallery, saying c5f20c8621 it’s the Yushin mistress’s domain. She doesn’t even know how 89f8778008 to appreciate art, so why c8dca972bf the greed? If she were qualified, she 86a863a4a9 would’ve inherited it when Grandma 8f4dc904ba passed away. Don’t you think?”1d2a711b7a364ea7

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The only omega d7061cf0fc an alpha can 8a9dbcac26 be cold to f42d54e692 is the mother 0daacfdc1e who gave birth 0262e2c28e to them.8203676c7571f92d

Like any alpha, 459367e78e Han Taekyung’s instincts 07d7d207f0 didn’t manifest in dc86baad34 front of his 9072bb99c7 mother.a6ae34daf5ce4e28

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Anticipating the ensuing dcc8f36ace nagging, Lee Jinwoo 7e3d5af2d8 turned away.59e5801b4852f2b6

Before he could take a 6c9dd3f96c few steps, a voice from 8b3935ab2b behind caught his attention.2940a3cb3e795d33

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“So what I’m saying is, you should get married soon. I’ve been through it 1c46365bea once, and for about 165a8824ee a year, it’s not 736814db0b so bad.”a9411ac4cc59d604

Even after they were quite c3c4180c80 a distance apart, the nagging 1e4de13806 persisted.ca04f4e4fe88f655

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“Hey, Lee Jinwoo! Don’t stay alone, 08c8cf63b8 and call me 55ef3d8190 if you feel 13eef62bf6 like drinking. Even if it’s late bed6930fc0 at night, just call! I’ll come running!”09858d1fc275e218

Only after ignoring him, efbc191f2a getting in the car, 6aad3c787f and closing the door cffb60d746 were the sorrowful rain c4d2e38ee8 sounds and his cousin’s aab17cde98 concerned voice completely blocked a4a6ac9fd8 out.1b743d89f3838617

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He regretted driving 12cb082fd0 himself without a d9eb67f6e1 chauffeur, wanting a c1cd87c969 quiet family funeral. He felt too e4a17f6fdd drained to even 946bfb6943 start the engine.b0f80260615445f4

Lee Jinwoo stared blankly out 2e8ace1a5a the car window at the ca9eb9f46f wet scenery.830278a4abc71ad5

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Despite anticipating his mother’s death, 2b410bfea8 it felt sudden. Yet, there was 37a298c52c no trace of 67f4977437 sadness.b5bb2febc5a053b5

He just wanted b583dead4c to ask now.2e0f2ad35d56bdb9

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Mother, why did you 501f581542 live such a harsh 7a7037ae80 life, turning your omega df7840bd51 son into an alpha?f784c3724a68fcfe

Even if she knew b591d8b79e she’d pass away from 7e5de94740 illness, would she have 3bff5bec38 made the same choices?9f71adb1191402ab

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Starting with the 754057375a false birth registration ebaf6673ef that disguised his 07350eab95 nature, Lee Jinwoo’s 2ff5a402ca life moved according 76f60fcaba to his mother’s e8fade841e will.70394edfe3e0e0cb

Curator Joo Youngsun tried a14361f63a to transform not only 7784c11638 her son’s appearance but df9819a43f also his mind into 51bca72998 that of an alpha 2ad256e689 to turn lies into 51b2b056c7 truth.f7aeac9099d7a26d

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Isn’t it horrifying? Why? Why did Mother ce94615295 go to such ac50a4c14e lengths?5d22dda7ca550345

The rebellious questions stirring adfd78cfbf in his heart should f919d5274e have been voiced during f29c139638 his adolescence. Now, it was ff84ce0412 too late, with f6237e8e23 no one left f0ec2fff63 to blame.1a00c9a2eabaff8a

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Standing before the 2af68a6e46 narrow ground that 2e30470327 barely fit a c19a979129 coffin, facing the 05c3e34062 tombstone with his 1475786abf mother’s name, Lee d74da22454 Jinwoo felt a da8ceaa9fa gaping sense of da37728117 loss.acb9eca9c83e6f04

Not because he 4262fc9013 lost a family a08573a627 member, but because efe7e12323 he became a b8b2983c19 racehorse running alone 67cf2c759a without a jockey.52f59c7812d51f98

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Even without a c4dab2843b jockey, a clear b0a1934851 and sunny path b0d82ee063 with a visible 05dc9f534e finish line requires 06fff50bb5 no wandering, just 10c9967525 running.d6a3064ebb2b0383

But when he 046b356362 reaches the finish 8857176194 line, will he 57f1b166e1 truly feel a 885cbc8ae2 sense of accomplishment?84bf11f467f87f52

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The one who 191c9e7e32 wanted to enjoy 65aa8b77a5 that glory was 6333cfdf9c now buried in 48f7aedc4c the ground.6ddc9bbff5db781e

After a long contemplation, da593b231b he started the car 652440dd1d and gripped the steering e93871c898 wheel.4dfb33a774156333

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In truth, he e8bbef13ac never had a 17bf614801 choice.e37f225d8887dfe0

Now, he had to run 5f42739684 alone on a clear, sunny 76c44441e8 path without obstacles, carrying a d845631972 ghost on his back. There was no d641a90ae7 other path to 9b26be0c02 take.ef875a0257780bd3

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Lee Jinwoo composed his crumbling 9f1700bddc expression and drove with his 60c6c57930 usual indifferent face.564d042d171c9a70

By the time he reached eb75b18012 home, the rain that had 77727b30c1 been gently tapping at his ba8f05ee60 nerves had subsided.4deb95a862488158

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Getting out of 451ee4436f the parked car, 6182453e48 he left the 1a580d5e4a garage and paused 2582a26615 as he crossed 92b7bc747e the garden.5bd51713646c51b2

He took in f590bd75f4 the sight of 1f24db88cf the three-story main 17f8f19642 house standing tall e173e5b557 beyond the single-story 9c06b4cf3c annex where the 48c60854b6 staff lived.421577bb0a0e2233

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Though it was too spacious 4c536bd04f for two people, it always 486a2c2a7f felt cramped and suffocating. Now, it felt empty.c24aa954460530b5

His mother had 30c3f6706c been hospitalized for 35c6ecd3b7 the past two 46d3c5eb91 years, so he c417883315 was already alone, ff384c48fe but the emptiness ff4849caeb felt new. Yet, it was still far 01e5788527 from sadness.065dafa494311e97

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Entering the house, fa04ecb2e3 an unusual sense cb26a6581f of disorder lingered.01ff59cb297c4a3d

As he reached his 2de198ed3f mother’s bedroom, which he 68312e5e3e hadn’t approached since he 6f3f413345 was a child, he 18c4793c7c encountered a staff member 00802057f4 carrying a box.643db64566609f3e

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“You’re back. We’ve just finished packing everything. This is the last 36cee04b04 thing from the inner 9050c7069a room.”784a593a4a6a4bc2

Inside the box she held 1cf68ff018 were items hard to believe 920a999e6f had come from his mother’s 625c994737 room.20c4e6e9bd47f33f

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Things that made you wonder 48a5d5e665 why she kept them instead 763711fcb1 of throwing them away.d1b389fdd8f88553

“While sorting through the belongings, I found many things the curator cherished.”aeb7c5a2e235af75

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Kim Seonok, who had been a980cfbc3f working in this house for a4cc20dc96 nearly 15 years, seemed concerned f87ba73d99 that the son wasn’t personally 9e6f284cb2 sorting through his mother’s belongings.6d22a3c973dd638c

Like Curator Joo Youngsun, she 31ece9d41d had lost her husband early 442a66ccd1 and had two daughters. They were very 699fe2ca7e close, and she 96d599dad5 always looked cheerful 0e4f106cba on her days f18345b566 off when she fdb7919033 went home.7cc0ca1c021f70fe

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It was a face 91292d8416 filled with emotions Lee 4515a5d7d0 Jinwoo could never understand.40b2759b8d932be2

“Please give that to me.”941c4c90d86aa86a

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Receiving the worn 16891c92c9 box, Lee Jinwoo 9619f89318 moved to the 3ba4101e76 study to check 067fb70d72 its contents.6e6a77d45c497611