TL | Chapter 52 | You Never Know

“Ugh!”

A short moan followed by a faint thudding sound echoed from the bedroom. Sitting on the couch in the living room, Rodney let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. This was 100% an act just for him to hear. He had a good guess when Iden had dragged Seowon off right after they’d finished eating. He hadn’t stopped him because he was curious himself.

Could that Ha Seowon really be able to have sex with Iden?

A marking never breaks, not even if one partner dies. If fate is cruel and your marked partner dies, you’re left forced to remain celibate. So, even Alphas and Omegas rarely take the step to mark each other. Among the people Rodney knew, Iden was the only Alpha with a marked Omega.

Was it because he was madly in love? Or because he couldn’t bear anyone else but Ha Seowon? Others might believe that, but Rodney thought it was all nonsense. Iden had hurried to mark Seowon only after he had shown interest in him. Whether or not true love existed, Rodney believed Iden had marked Seowon to keep him from anyone else—to ensure that Ha Seowon was, unquestionably, Iden de Luciano’s.

The obsession and confidence were infuriating. So when Ha Seowon had died from a gunshot, Rodney hadn’t felt a shred of sympathy for Iden despite the unfortunate loss. Losing his marked partner was his own doing.

But now, Ha Seowon was back. Rodney wasn’t sure if it was really him or just someone identical to him, but the resemblance was unmistakable.

Could it really be him? Seowon didn’t remember Rodney at all. Even Leo had confirmed that Seowon didn’t remember the security team, either.

Was it that he couldn’t remember or that he wasn’t able to? If he was a lookalike or a surgically-altered copy, it made sense that he didn’t recognize them. When Leo had told him about it, Rodney had thought Iden’s obsession had driven him to create a replacement.

But seeing him in person only confused things. It was clear he had no memory, not distorted or partially erased—none at all. He acted as if Rodney were a complete stranger.

And yet, the wary gaze, the polite yet guarded manner—that was exactly how he had looked when Rodney first met him. Even the way he held his gaze without backing down was the same as before.

And now, there he was, letting Iden hold him in that bedroom. Whether they were just putting on a show or actually doing it, he could tell immediately. Stifled moans escaped, unwilling to be loud. Rodney had heard those same sounds before. Back then, too, Iden had embraced Seowon proudly, knowing Rodney was outside and ensuring he knew Ha Seon was his.

*This is so annoying.* Muttering under his breath, Rodney brushed his bangs back from his face. Despite his words, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

It was definitely Ha Seowon. He didn’t know how, but the real Ha Seowon was alive and had come back.

*

Thank goodness it was Sunday. Seowon opened his heavy eyelids, letting out a long, weary breath. He was awake, but he couldn’t move a muscle. Once Iden started, he never finished quickly.

Maybe he needed to build more stamina. It was a serious consideration. At this rate, he would have to worry about the next day every time they spent a night together.

When he finally managed to sit up, he found Iden’s spot next to him completely empty, not even a trace of warmth left. Iden must have gotten up at his usual early hour.

Surprisingly, he didn’t feel as sore as he’d expected. After their rough night, Iden had carried him to the bathroom, filling the tub with warm water and settling him in. He had thought he was safe until Iden joined him, sitting behind him in the tub and pressing himself insistently between Seowon’s thighs. That was when he should have escaped.

Before he knew it, Iden was inside him again, and they were going at it in the steamy bathroom. Despite already finishing once in the bedroom, Iden was still hard, more so than before, and it took even longer for him to finish. Eventually, Seowon had to beg, pleading that he couldn’t go on anymore before Iden finally pulled out. Annoyingly, Iden hadn’t even climaxed then and had laughingly warned him that he’d “make up for it” later.

After changing the bed sheets, Iden had gently laid him down. That was all he remembered. He had drifted off, vaguely thinking that recovering from a cracked rib had been easier.

Finding the empty space next to him was a relief. He wouldn’t have to face Iden right away and struggle with what to say. Even though it had been his choice to stay with him during his last Heat Cycle, he still felt a heavy weight in his chest after sex, the memories of Iden filling him pressing down on his heart.

The only difference now was that he felt guilty for feeling that way. Even though he’d chosen to be by Iden’s side and share his bed, he still felt the presence of “Iden-hyung” within him. That, in its own way, felt like a betrayal to the Iden in front of him.

*After all, the person is still the same.*

Even as he told himself that, a part of him insisted that they weren’t. This sense of separation would likely linger for as long as he stayed by Iden’s side. This discomfort was the price of his choice.

He threw on some clothes and stepped into the living room. Iden wasn’t there either. He knocked on the study door, but there was no response. When he opened it and checked the desk computer linked to the house’s security cameras, he saw Iden and Rodney in the basement gym. Iden was running on the treadmill with his earbuds in while Rodney stood in front of him, talking about something.

Seeing the earbuds, Seowon shook his head. Iden really must not have wanted to listen to Rodney’s chatter.

With Rodney by his side, Seowon figured he could leave Iden for a bit without worry. Heading to the kitchen, he poured himself a coffee, and the smell of the roasted beans finally helped wake him up.

Rodney was there, so he could step away for a moment.

*“Are you really alive?”* Natasha’s smiling face came to mind, her reaction making it seem like it wouldn’t have surprised her if he was alive again.

*“Maybe you just pretended to die.”*

That was the reason that Jian and the security team had reluctantly accepted. Natasha’s sharp gaze had softened into a playful smile as she watched him.

*“Well, maybe. Or perhaps you just fell from the sky.”*

The cryptic words left him struggling to keep his face expressionless, though internally, he was taken aback. Only Min and Iden knew he was somehow different—that he was Ha Seowon, yet not Ha Seowon. Neither of them would have told anyone.

Did Natasha know something? But how?

*“And yet, you’re still marked with Iden de Luciano?”*

He had no idea how much she knew about him and Iden.

*“You look curious.”*

With a sly smile, she placed a small note on the table. It only had a series of numbers on it, likely a phone number.

*“Call me if you feel like it. We might be able to help each other.”*

That was all she said. She had left quickly after that, disappearing in the brief moment Seowon glanced at the note.

He’d almost thrown it away but couldn’t bring himself to do it. She might know something about his situation. He couldn’t just toss it aside so easily. He still hadn’t decided if he would contact her.

“What are you thinking about? Could it be…me?”

The sudden voice and face that appeared in front of him startled Seowon so much he nearly spilled his coffee. Rodney stood there, grinning.

Seowon had been so deep in thought that he hadn’t even sensed Rodney approaching, and the realization left him stunned.

“I know, I know. I’m pretty handsome,” Rodney smirked, smoothly taking the mug from Seowon’s hand and setting it on the island.

“It’d be dangerous if you spilled it. Imagine if you got a burn and ended up with a scar.”

Rodney’s hand slid along Seowon’s arm, sending a chill down his spine. He pulled his arm back, stepping away, but Rodney stepped forward to close the distance.

“Did Iden pamper you a lot last night?”

Seowon frowned at the question. He felt bad knowing Rodney had heard them, but it was uncomfortable how blatantly he hinted at it.

“I’m good at it, too.”

Rodney’s hand brushed the nape of Seowon’s neck. Seowon quickly moved back, but an unsettling shiver ran up his spine. Though he couldn’t sense Rodney’s pheromones directly, his body’s reaction suggested that he was subtly emitting Alpha pheromones laced with desire.

“Are you sure nothing could happen with me? You never know. If you came back from the dead, the marking could have broken too.”

Rodney leaned closer, whispering in a low voice.