A Marriage Signed in Silence

Jaekyung Park and Taeseok Han first met when they were in elementary school.

It was at the celebration for Nasun Electronics’ 30th anniversary — the same day the company rebranded itself as NI Company.

The two knew of each other’s existence, but had never met, and had no interest in one another, so they didn’t even know each other’s faces.

At the gathering where their parents greeted one another, they were introduced briefly — this is so-and-so’s child, and that is so-and-so’s child — exchanged a quick glance, and then turned away, forgetting each other’s existence entirely.

After that, their paths diverged.

Jaekyung went to study in Japan, and Taeseok in the United States.

Each prepared to become the successor of their respective families.

The two met again for the first time three months before their wedding — at an arranged meeting.

Jaekyung was the eldest son of Jaewang Group, and had been a Beta until his secondary gender manifested late, at the age of twenty.

When his doctor confirmed the manifestation, his father looked at him with disappointment.

“You were a useless Beta, and now you’re a recessive Omega?” — the ridicule still lingered in Jaekyung’s memory.

That night, his mother cried for a long time in his room.

His father, the heir of the Jaewang Group, had married a partner and had two children — a daughter and a son.

The daughter, a Beta, had been frail since birth and was recuperating in Canada, naturally stepping out of the line of succession.

The son, Jaekyung, had been a Beta who later manifested as an Omega.

Though society no longer discriminated against Omegas, within the realm of power and wealth, they were seen as little more than tools to link families through marriage.

If Jaekyung had been the second son, or if there had been another Alpha in the family, his father, the chairman, might not have treated him with such disdain.

When his father’s expectations shattered completely, Jaekyung tried desperately to piece together the broken glass.

He studied hard, devoted himself to his overseas education, and upon graduation, joined Jaewang Group as a new employee, starting from the bottom.

He achieved great results at a young age, successfully leading several projects, and even secured an overseas construction deal the board had long dreamed of — impressive enough that the directors remarked to the chairman that, although Jaekyung is an Omega, he is perfectly qualified to be an heir.

After that, his father began to summon him more often, entrusting him with responsibilities.

Believing he was finally earning his father’s recognition, Jaekyung slowly began to heal the wounds in his heart.

Then one day, under the name of a “family dinner,” he was summoned.

That was the second time he met Taeseok Han.

A wide table.

His father and mother on the right.

Across from them, on the left — the chairman and his wife of NI Company, and their son, Taeseok, whom Jaekyung had only seen in magazine photos.

“What are you doing, standing there blankly? Greet them.”

Jaekyung froze by the entrance until his father’s stern voice jolted him back to reality.

He quickly bowed, apologized for being late, and took his seat — directly across from Taeseok Han.

Taeseok didn’t look at him.

He simply took a sip of water, set down the cup, and the sound filled the quiet room.

Something felt strange.

If this was merely a casual dinner between families, his parents would have told him.

And if it were casual, there would at least be some friendly talk — light laughter, an exchange of updates.

But there was none of that.

Instead, the NI couple silently examined Jaekyung from head to toe.

“Jaekyung, you’ve grown well.”

Ji Yeonju — eldest daughter of Gukmin Group, one of Korea’s largest media conglomerates, now the wife of NI Company’s chairman and director of Han Art Gallery.

She was the stern-faced woman sitting beside her husband.

After finishing her quiet observation, she finally spoke.

The NI chairman nodded in agreement.

“It’s a concern that he’s a recessive Omega… but I’ve received his recent health report from Dr. Kim. There shouldn’t be any issues with conception, and if he continues hormone therapy, he may even lose the ‘recessive’ label, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

What… what are they talking about?

Jaekyung opened his mouth in shock, but his mother grabbed his arm tightly.

Her trembling eyes said, Don’t move. Don’t speak.

“Then let’s set the wedding for three months from now. What do you say, Chairman Park?”

“Three months… that would be December. Perfect for closing the year, Director Ji.”

“We’ll leave the announcement and other details to the lawyers and the children.”

“Agreed.”

Marriage…?

Jaekyung’s hands trembled.

So suddenly — marriage?

He had thought he was finally being recognized by his father, but he was wrong.

He clenched his fists, grinding his teeth, but couldn’t say a word.

His mother was watching his father’s face too closely for him to dare.

“Father.”

As soon as Jaekyung arrived home, he followed after his father, calling out, but Chairman Park ignored him and slammed his bedroom door shut.

When Jaekyung tried to open it, his mother stopped him.

“Mother.”

“Jaekyung.”

“Do I… have to get married?”

“Yes.”

“When was this decided?”

“…They’ve been discussing it for several months. The company was struggling, and NI Company helped us.”

“The company was struggling? I never heard anything about that.”

His father had never mentioned any financial trouble.

From what Jaekyung knew as an employee, and based on the company’s performance, things weren’t bad at all.

Stock prices were climbing, international reputation was high, and revenue was up from the previous year — the company was thriving.

“There was no need to tell you.”

Having changed clothes, Chairman Park came out to the living room, clicked his tongue, and sat down on the sofa.

“Father.”

“You’re an Omega. Omegas eventually leave the family. Why would I tell an outsider-to-be about company affairs?”

“Father—!”

“That’s enough. Start preparing for the wedding tomorrow. You’ll be busy.”

“You really mean… I have to marry Han Taeseok?”

“He may be only twenty-five, but he already completed his PhD in business administration in the U.S., and started a company that grew to a billion-dollar valuation in a year. He’s a remarkable man — and a dominant Alpha. Do you know how hard I worked to secure this marriage?”

So you used your son as a bargaining chip.

That’s what this is.

“He’s far more than you deserve. Stop talking back and get married.”

You can’t see your son’s happiness.

Nor Mother’s.

“Do as the NI side says. Say yes to everything. Don’t let me hear a single complaint.”

Having said all he wanted, Chairman Park disappeared into his study.

Jaekyung’s mother gripped her son’s trembling hand.

“I looked into him. They say he’s a good man — kind, gentle.”

Mother, please don’t.

You saw it too.

He didn’t look at me once during that entire hour.

To him, I’m just another tool in a business deal.

“Trust me, my dear. You’ll be happy. You will be happy, Jaekyung.”

No.

I see Father’s shadow in that man.

And I will live the same life you did, Mother.

You’re pushing me down that path too.

◆

Things moved quickly.

Just as his opinion hadn’t mattered before, it didn’t matter now.

The only time he was needed was to sign documents that required his personal confirmation.

A week after that first meeting, they met again — in a hotel lounge owned by NI Company.

They exchanged silent greetings and sat down, leaving the lawyers to do the talking.

Neither Jaekyung nor Taeseok looked at each other.

Jaekyung refilled his tea cup several times, while Taeseok only took a sip, lowering his gaze in silence.

His straight posture, neat manners, long fingers, and perfectly pressed clothes told Jaekyung everything about his character.

And his face…

Would it sound ridiculous to say Jaekyung remembered him because he was so handsome?

Even when they first met in elementary school, he’d thought the boy looked extraordinary — and now, even more so.

Deep eyes, a sharp nose, full lips, and double eyelids that made his gaze intense yet not unkind.

His skin was flawless, his jawline sharp, the curve from his ear to his neck smooth and graceful.

A face that would draw anyone’s admiration.

And his physique — even through his clothes, Jaekyung could tell he worked out.

He was much taller than Jaekyung’s 178 centimeters — maybe 188, even 190.

And a dominant Alpha, no less.

Jaekyung couldn’t fathom why NI Company would want to marry such a man to someone like him, a recessive Omega.

Surely, powerful families or politicians would be vying to marry him off to their daughters or sons.

Just what kind of deal had been made?