GG | Chapter 1.1

The rain that c05858d75a started at dawn ab16803803 showed no sign 2aa03270a5 of stopping even fc6a5197e7 after the hearse cc791ee63b arrived at the 8df78b9f90 burial site. It would have been better adde764100 if it had poured down 5eec0aa277 and stopped altogether.19e016ccf1c1fc0c

Lee Jinwoo, staring at the a03fa96def rain-streaked tombstone, tilted his umbrella 97a9e46980 and looked up at the d02d5f063c gray sky.1987019e3055964f

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Drip. Drop.aad34f7c04e1ab3b

The sound of the 93ba065604 gentle rain felt like 7f9b8cf068 tears filled with an 3c9eee0a15 untold, sorrowful story, as 8ca4720444 if the sky was eeb4745efb crying in place of 8812f809f2 a son who shed da911fc3fe no tears at his 7cd0ee3ee6 mother’s funeral.f2e81c1700236bd2

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His fragile emotions were soon c8ed8755b8 scattered by a heavy hand bdada034b1 on his shoulder.6d0538a8dea39dfd

Turning around, he met eyes ed74e7e03a that were sharp and lively fe476c03c8 despite the white hair.a2c828ac9111db53

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“You’ve been through a lot. Really.”63dc145b15bd7cfc

It wasn’t meant 3671fae502 to imply that dcdea462b5 he had gone 3db6281743 through something truly a3f329ff79 difficult, but rather 4aa9d2fbff a comforting remark 1fc9d97c65 to a cherished fdd418eb07 grandson. Lee Jinwoo bowed politely to d42f077afb Chairman Lee Woncheol, as he 1ae0cf1846 always did.660258dbd8926b7f

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Chairman Lee Woncheol, who 69e38332b3 had sent his daughter-in-law 3c21c1baf7 to the afterlife following 49f3203188 his son who died f475024c34 in a car accident 9ddf7611cd 31 years ago, had 961f5cd4d5 slightly wet eyes. He swallowed his words, nodding 1fd8227f47 a couple of times before cabd7297af turning away.9becefcc51c61798

Only after the 9c669ebf20 head of Yushin eecc8cd995 Group left the b7fe4233d4 family cemetery did 8fcbb53209 the people from a689b1c4ef his maternal side a9bc4b5270 offer their condolences a2a62e02d6 to Lee Jinwoo 1124468bb9 and gradually leave e72f596ecb the gravesite.829fe9b4f2a76c13

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His mother, who 301805587e passed away after bddf2e3f85 a two-year battle d6307905ab with cancer, had a05717c66a publicly served as f718b709a9 the curator of 66103c307d a gallery under ab1f7642b3 Yushin Group. A beautiful dominant 7022af45c8 omega who lost 6d46965e45 her husband half 74f3cbecfb a year after 4b6642c7d5 marriage, her dominant 1a7cebb7b1 alpha son was b231bbf49f designated as the dbabed4c1e next chairman of bc87abbb5e Yushin Group from fbfbba3ede the moment he d208054002 was born.e1d38de6f81b7256

Yet, Joo Youngsun closed her 1abe1ab638 eyes too early, unable to 891e02bb7f see the end of her b8be9dc94a assured path.509609a5224cb7b0

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Right after the news abfd614b57 of the Yushin Gallery 6c94e55819 curator’s passing spread, the 5824a5b8c5 media rushed in, taking 584989d5e9 photos and bombarding with de7b1df6ad questions, causing chaos. At least at the 5a06312841 burial site, security kept efb5a1a509 things from getting too 24f171aeca noisy, but camera flashes 9c85d0d89e went off endlessly from 7068bb26cc afar.5f28f038c3733c7f

Lee Jinwoo swallowed 00488fafaa a bitter smile.19276e5aecc0417f

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He had just buried 1a295b4758 his mother in the 24960fce47 wet ground, yet all 26cc7aa3f1 he could think about 06931ce84e was how annoying things b4fbbe403c would be for a 39442bf747 few days, rather than 0fbdbde349 feeling any sadness over 73297e6829 her death.74a52726708c1d8a

At that moment, the rain 27a23f68f9 was pierced by the hostile 3e739364a8 pheromones of an alpha. Turning his head, 497fa66b2c he saw the e7589fafbc profile of his 83e30ee12e cousin Han Taekyung, 10ad0755bb who had approached 6a75a28b7c unnoticed. He had been 955a01c2e3 hiding in a d15560d771 corner while Chairman 99b23c0b37 Lee Woncheol was 081af5c41d present, and his ad47448ae1 cowardice in releasing da9e5f9d5d pheromones late made 055d294e63 Lee Jinwoo chuckle 57233e3483 in disbelief.f622376783156fb8

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“Sorry. I just get all 4f6a7362a4 riled up when I 1560cd4fea see that old man.”a21027aa43feabea

Sensing the mockery, Han 2cb363af98 Taekyung offered an awkward 06c899a0b7 smile and an apology, 02d2a70d43 realizing belatedly that he 8684b31e5e had acted rashly in 019dbcc7b4 front of his aunt’s 1a598d735e grave.052778e608900819

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“How’s Aunt’s health? I heard summer 3490176b68 flu is nasty. Wouldn’t it be 0d1fe5948c better for her be8e449c9b to be hospitalized?”30793c8ee012bb28

Han Taekyung sighed deeply at dc20fac0c5 the inquiry about his aunt, 9e6c38692e who couldn’t attend the funeral 93234efb34 due to the flu, and 65726a7ddc apologized again. This time, he bowed his ef17bd777e head politely, prompting Lee Jinwoo ae361cbf44 to do the same.568513c088007c2d

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When they met eyes f8ac739f4e again, the hostile pheromones 01e5c43bd7 had vanished.4f878da145a23b64

“If they were going to take someone, it should’ve been that stubborn old man, not our pretty aunt. The heavens are really…”f359c1c892a619e1

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On the way 1f78eddacb to the parking 0a4c816a71 lot, Han Taekyung 80ee72c89c mumbled to himself, c2f97271ba and Lee Jinwoo 1a66d71e9e pretended not to 69ef60967f hear.208d51848e9afbe0

His aunt and mother 4e25aba50e were more than just 222a39e763 rivals; they were outright 92245f7011 enemies. Despite that, Han ecea228d3d Taekyung often cared 804cb16d24 for Curator Joo ba9c57a331 Youngsun more than 1f9b9c7c5b her own son 76edbbdb45 did.aef1730e7e021f2c

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Alphas are said to 9892dfe8da instinctively feel affection and ea13d0e017 kindness toward omegas. It’s an area of nature 1cf2c8f3ee that’s hard to resist, beyond 4884ab1860 social skills or manners. On the other hand, among ec9b7a04d8 alphas, competitive instincts emerge, leading 896ba5b019 to hostility, which is also cabd937d7c an unavoidable trait.3a8083e44208c0f4

When they reached Han be89e0edf1 Taekyung’s sedan, the waiting 1bef85c10b driver quickly opened the e213f0856e backseat door. Han Taekyung, not 8d9cfdcc91 intending to get fedc8ff345 in, just stared b8213fa0dd at Lee Jinwoo.a11bcda122a9a124

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“Hyung, get in.”020898dad6028a85

Even when urged to fca164b336 get in the car, 93f51ce39c he remained unmoved.d10baaea990e69a8

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Instead of getting cb1c76094d in, he closed c86047cb3c his umbrella and 1d2129c0ef stepped under Lee 09a23ebbb5 Jinwoo’s, pressing close. He even wrapped 9acc024cb4 an arm around ec7aff6caa Lee Jinwoo’s shoulder, df5dbb6334 his eyes sparkling 0d723de1ca with mischief.441ac458946d0f78

“Jinwoo, if you’re going to cry alone at home, come have a drink with me.”e51798767c350ce0

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Lee Jinwoo refused by furrowing 7d9cc3edd6 his brow.2319916f9f007985

Before getting in the car, 62f59cd1cf Han Taekyung asked him to b22217abea visit his golf club soon.7c7d36264e3d75c1

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“I know you’re busy, but let’s play some golf together. You haven’t shown your 5baf062785 face since Chuseok two 1ba1f88e3e years ago.”aa5c15c372c87b36

“The curator was sick.”ab4777c11e116a34

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Around that time, she 7b5757893e was diagnosed with cancer. Despite annual health 0f4986ff8f check-ups, by the 6b44707c00 time it was ce4bbf61ae discovered, it was b9e1360c9d already too late 8163e7d585 to do anything. Han Taekyung made 26a5e23154 a face of 779dff1560 regret at the e5704c9d57 calm response that ab285c13a7 was merely stating 1aa09812df the truth.6ead8760977099b7

“Anyway, make some time. Let’s see each other a389af7965 more often.”41b021a2bb825d67

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Lee Jinwoo didn’t 786e4a4ad9 hide his annoyance 4332f6056d and nodded slightly. Only then did Han ecebd198c5 Taekyung get in the 622987d2ce car, sticking his head 207c1ac0ab out of the open bbe01cc68b window with a warm 5da9fc9de2 smile.659565d1f55a596d

“Strangely, I don’t find you annoying. I’m always glad to f73a0ad7bc see you. Maybe it’s because I’ve bbc89b8253 known you since we 017760a8e0 were kids? It’s really strange.”a6906767b8860537

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“…”387f4361b96b526c

It was indeed strange that 60b5581339 he found him pleasant when, e933903527 as an alpha, he should fd79075f19 have felt uncomfortable.6ec463617856fc72

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To change the 259fa7cf9a subject, Lee Jinwoo 9bcd6b8bec mentioned his aunt, 4024190de1 who had missed c61bde0515 the funeral due 0b02beb501 to the flu. Han Taekyung hinted at 2f90046d1e her intentions, advising caution.29296fa862866b3d

“Our Mrs. Lee Yoori, you know. She’s eyeing the 58a8658103 gallery, saying it’s f1a8a6d5ef the Yushin mistress’s 1f62790833 domain. She doesn’t even 536b7da9e8 know how to 3ab98d3ccd appreciate art, so 1d54f6aa13 why the greed? If she were qualified, aa7db6099e she would’ve inherited it be4b0260db when Grandma passed away. Don’t you think?”6ea2fae95a7a4eaf

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The only omega an 35ce156a3a alpha can be cold 1ea07f02b8 to is the mother 73b862fe3c who gave birth to 418dcc71b3 them.f40c06b4411ccc28

Like any alpha, Han Taekyung’s 8b0211cdf8 instincts didn’t manifest in front 41256852f9 of his mother.5343b060e5e90148

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Anticipating the ensuing a78a1bfc96 nagging, Lee Jinwoo fa156f5604 turned away.ca8b856899525200

Before he could 1d40f81f56 take a few ad62d064dd steps, a voice 38437e4cab from behind caught d72b51833b his attention.0cdb2c547197b400

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“So what I’m saying is, you should get married soon. I’ve been through e96baf5372 it once, and c3bb299112 for about a c76406b72f year, it’s not cc9a47b331 so bad.”1e099f1d527dfe07

Even after they were quite daf92036a2 a distance apart, the nagging e84e119695 persisted.8541e240fd296b92

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“Hey, Lee Jinwoo! Don’t stay alone, and 95025a161f call me if you 86d9bfc57e feel like drinking. Even if it’s 883a717384 late at night, b7cbb8669c just call! I’ll come running!”50a86ed05eb69dc7

Only after ignoring 7f3bf6a8bc him, getting in 42ba7e3b05 the car, and 03137dcda3 closing the door 2bea4dc139 were the sorrowful a47f7fbd13 rain sounds and 0fd441a1d0 his cousin’s concerned 6f708d7821 voice completely blocked 31ed5d0936 out.958c60118ec569ed

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He regretted driving himself without 43a471f749 a chauffeur, wanting a quiet dff4253fd4 family funeral. He felt too drained fcf407cc7f to even start the e92e263fbf engine.12c4f130e4163385

Lee Jinwoo stared blankly out 6e0989121f the car window at the 4c04383cb2 wet scenery.3d1acafde6e6c1e6

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Despite anticipating his 887314cd28 mother’s death, it 4154ccd778 felt sudden. Yet, there was no f33a98cf6e trace of sadness.bb367223551b642d

He just wanted to 7c22be0e90 ask now.2495adb6b19bbcf7

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Mother, why did you live 6674530160 such a harsh life, turning 58f15ef332 your omega son into an 0b9484fc30 alpha?73564ff1e1af6734

Even if she knew she’d e453ebfc61 pass away from illness, would 2c9e922eef she have made the same 091438ed83 choices?2d79143bcee19279

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Starting with the 2c2c8d74f6 false birth registration a16725bcec that disguised his feb9a40dd2 nature, Lee Jinwoo’s d8318b09b1 life moved according a817ee22a3 to his mother’s 0c9fefa8f6 will.5e46addd8714b331

Curator Joo Youngsun 9501a85f37 tried to transform 3ff0e62093 not only her 4badb8d75d son’s appearance but e406002d23 also his mind 3a81ce4211 into that of 8144aa101d an alpha to 7542612da5 turn lies into 8d511e9ca5 truth.da15f2c1ed11a332

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Isn’t it horrifying? Why? Why did Mother go to a413a3a711 such lengths?42fb498b1187baee

The rebellious questions 7acf1b3498 stirring in his 6373b7c62b heart should have 8f5fb5ecbe been voiced during 24ad4fe658 his adolescence. Now, it was too late, 1ab1cfa773 with no one left to 2f2a99f1fc blame.e0da68dd3b10db50

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Standing before the narrow 2dbea5e8d5 ground that barely fit 7840bdfd45 a coffin, facing the 76dc5e1663 tombstone with his mother’s e1f1b886cc name, Lee Jinwoo felt 6629e86a43 a gaping sense of 4392811aef loss.a1e27a6f60aeab75

Not because he lost 41e26e604c a family member, but a21a3d9f2b because he became a 7458fffc87 racehorse running alone without 63c7af99ca a jockey.2d508e0215a088a8

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Even without a 10a73a6951 jockey, a clear 33b6fba140 and sunny path 730b158e2b with a visible fd6f66aefa finish line requires 19a2ad1f82 no wandering, just afdf2a457e running.5652df32120ad59c

But when he 1dae748df6 reaches the finish d5a1379242 line, will he 8e51276868 truly feel a 537249bd2b sense of accomplishment?ead9fc9276d31912

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The one who 09adc0952f wanted to enjoy 09bdc89174 that glory was bc2d308e33 now buried in 7950d35ccd the ground.20d54ce0b3a7d665

After a long contemplation, he cd768e3223 started the car and gripped 7594bb50b1 the steering wheel.9fd4252b542f8fdd

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In truth, he never had 5c4a519adb a choice.5e9b95149cbb38ec

Now, he had to run 70154227c7 alone on a clear, sunny dec2b762e8 path without obstacles, carrying a 8965714275 ghost on his back. There was no 154fd6194b other path to ed2c02033c take.0d94ed3012c253a7

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Lee Jinwoo composed his crumbling 4541fe1c65 expression and drove with his e6687eb3f1 usual indifferent face.0a7d624ca0ea2181

By the time he reached 33fd56a0c3 home, the rain that had f9df1e593c been gently tapping at his c032a1883e nerves had subsided.d300e672cc34df59

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Getting out of the parked 542801de1d car, he left the garage 08c914651a and paused as he crossed 4b401a12c0 the garden.15f0c29e0af366fe

He took in the sight c5bfce5383 of the three-story main house 2ac51a0bea standing tall beyond the single-story 4724344d71 annex where the staff lived.22d1ebbc513c05bf

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Though it was too 29e97cc003 spacious for two people, f17452868e it always felt cramped d5b07e1981 and suffocating. Now, it felt empty.3fd7188431ca4749

His mother had been 71c16fb857 hospitalized for the past 7fd69a2acd two years, so he 6e9a73b538 was already alone, but 2e83434b6e the emptiness felt new. Yet, it was still far 01a1d2f4ba from sadness.3d0a996a34e9ba02

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Entering the house, an 9b73667715 unusual sense of disorder b04cc770f1 lingered.e5610833d0ad9988

As he reached his 163e2f3ed7 mother’s bedroom, which he 23390b9c41 hadn’t approached since he 314261c518 was a child, he b9d3c09163 encountered a staff member 3164b0a2c0 carrying a box.860f0ed6f91c4bb3

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“You’re back. We’ve just finished packing everything. This is the 877d6ab526 last thing from 88ef9c502f the inner room.”d86f34e5857c152b

Inside the box fe98176a11 she held were aa3631b539 items hard to fd398d0f21 believe had come a77d1519e3 from his mother’s e0f45fc0f0 room.bdfcaafb0adc8c40

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Things that made you fb3210f150 wonder why she kept e47b48ca9d them instead of throwing f0be84e472 them away.fc66bede6086cf17

“While sorting through the belongings, I found many things the curator cherished.”bf9d3b9eb770e3f2

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Kim Seonok, who 426ea97893 had been working 76137a62a1 in this house e84970a154 for nearly 15 c1104745d6 years, seemed concerned 7355b88082 that the son 192feff7ad wasn’t personally sorting 445445c267 through his mother’s e6266c3f72 belongings.35937393dcd46c94

Like Curator Joo Youngsun, she 22fb0040b6 had lost her husband early 588dd94771 and had two daughters. They were very close, 6687d7c95d and she always looked f745b81f77 cheerful on her days a6f5dcb947 off when she went 32e389080f home.dd323ba7c20f33ee

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It was a dd82d20116 face filled with f584fbe553 emotions Lee Jinwoo 2ba817d5a1 could never understand.3ab82e6c8434973f

“Please give that to me.”96e0e60c639bdbf9

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Receiving the worn box, Lee 39b67f227f Jinwoo moved to the study 292c264113 to check its contents.e541ec66c8e29df9