The Price of a Promise

“If he were to respond to the summons even now.”

“I told him to do so, but he insists he is innocent and absolutely refuses.”

Innocent, he said… the documents from China were not fabricated, and the evidence was right there.

“More importantly, Korean investors are also entangled in Jaewang Steel, and if they move, the company will be driven into bankruptcy immediately.”

“My goodness.”

Even a rough estimate of the amount was incomprehensible.

It felt as if only by destroying one or two affiliates could the damage be contained.

Jaekyung felt a dizzying sense that only the destruction of the world tomorrow could resolve this.

Being in China didn’t seem like a particularly good option now either.

Now that the news was out, the stock prices of Jaewang Group subsidiaries would plummet in unison, and shareholders would be furious.

The tower they had painfully built would collapse like a sandcastle in an instant, and the thought made Jaekyung sigh.

The lawyer said there was nothing he could do in the current situation and that preparation for a response would only be possible if the chairman returned and complied with an interrogation.

That, too, required his father’s return.

Jaekyung had no power to act.

All he could do was stay hidden at home and read the news and articles, doing everything possible to remain unnoticed.

He asked the lawyer to inform him if there was any contact from his parents, but a week passed without news.

Eventually, his father was forcibly summoned from China and transferred to the prosecution in disgrace.

Meanwhile Jaewang Group plummeted toward ruin in a hellish curve.

As Jaekyung nervously watched the news and tore at his nails, the bell rang.

It was Secretary Oh.

“I brought what you asked me to find, Mr. Park.”

Although he knew he shouldn’t, a few days ago Jaekyung had asked Secretary Oh to look into Jaeyoung.

He couldn’t help worrying about the last call she had made.

Fortunately, Secretary Oh quickly discovered the current situation and handed Jaekyung what he had requested.

It seemed their mother was in Canada at the hospital where Jaeyoung was.

The lack of contact suggested Jaeyoung’s condition was very serious.

There was a note that he had undergone surgery a few days ago and was in the intensive care unit.

“Is Jaeyoung very ill?”

“It appears so from what I confirmed.”

“Did he not receive the injection?”

“He did, but it seems he developed antibodies.”

“My god.”

“Then there is no way? Is this… the end?”

If so, why was he here at all?

If he couldn’t save or help anyone, what reason did he have to sit like a useless straw man?

“Research indicates that antibody formation can occur, but they’ve developed an RS-2 to address that.”

Secretary Oh’s words barely held Jaekyung back from the abyss of despair.

“Director Ji will know.”

Of course she would.

She had the authority.

There was no need to hesitate or flee.

With no time to waste, Jaekyung begged Secretary Oh to take him to the gallery.

Secretary Oh said the car was ready.

As if someone had waited for this moment.

It was a gallery he had been to hundreds of times, yet the route felt long and his heart heavy.

Was this the right path?

Could this be a chance to run away from this loathsome house?

But no.

He had to save either his father or his sibling—one of them at least.

Otherwise his time would be wasted, and he would feel miserable and unjust and never be able to close his eyes.

Even if his father were at fault, or his sibling were to fall, they would not release him, and this hell would continue.

So he had to secure at least one life.

“Come in quickly.”

Director Ji greeted him as if she had been expecting him.

After Secretary Oh closed the door and left, she removed her glasses and stared at the trembling, hollow-faced Jaekyung.

“What is it? You will not be staying home for a while?”

Her unusually gentle tone made his body shake and fear flare up.

Would it be better to run now?

He knew he shouldn’t remain tangled in this house any longer, but his body would not move.

They were his blood, after all.

He worried, and he wanted to save them with whatever he could do.

“Please… help me.”

Jaekyung bowed his head and pleaded.

He asked her, as his only hope, to help the family.

Once his mouth opened, the second plea came easier, and the third easier still.

He did not need to explain precisely what he wanted; she already knew everything.

“Helping is not difficult.”

“Phase two of the drug’s clinical trial has concluded, and we planned to administer it to your sister next week.”

“That was promised from the start, so do not worry.”

“But your father’s case is different.”

“We would suffer heavy damage, and it would be very hard for us as well.”

“We would lose precious time.”

“What should I do?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You have not fulfilled any of the contractual obligations.”

“We are the ones who have been executing the work diligently.”

“You must understand how unfair that looks.”

“If you had shown some earnest effort, things might be different.”

“Frankly, I am very disappointed.”

“That is why we will not intervene in your father’s affairs.”

“Do not think we are the ones who made Jaewang into such a mess.”

“We would never ruin an in-law like that.”

“Your father’s greed brought this on, and now we are also implicated and suffering.”

Director Ji stood abruptly and stared out the window in genuine frustration.

She was right.

There were already articles and public sentiment suggesting NI might be involved in Jaewang Steel’s affairs.

“It’s almost heat cycle time.”

Jaekyung spoke with difficulty, his lips trembling.

“I will be marked.”

“And… I will try to conceive.”

He pronounced each word, pressing them out as if sealing an irrevocable vow.

Director Ji slowly turned and looked at him.

“When is it?”

“Probably next Wednesday or Thursday.”

“Understood.”

“I will not say anything to Taeseok, so you should tell him.”

“And tell me after you are marked.”

“Then I will help your father.”

“Jaekyung, I do not dislike you so much.”

“So I hope our family becomes whole quickly.”

“Yes, I will do my best.”

Jaekyung bowed deeply to Director Ji and left the gallery.

Secretary Oh was waiting for him.

He opened the rear door, climbed in, and fiddled with his phone for a long moment.

He needed to see Han Taeseok.

But he didn’t know where Taeseok was.

He knew Taeseok had been coming and going from the house in recent days, but he had not seen his face.

“Secretary Oh.”

“Yes, Mr. Park?”

The secretary in the passenger seat looked back when Jaekyung spoke.

“Where is that person… Executive Han now?”

“Ah… he is currently at the office.”

“No, I mean… where has he been staying these days?”

“…For what reason?”

Since Secretary Oh faltered, it seemed Taeseok still spent most nights at hotels.

Maybe he had two households with that omega, or perhaps he had.

The image from those photos came back to him and Jaekyung shook his head.

A lump rose in his throat, making it hard to breathe.

Don’t think about it.

It has nothing to do with me.

So please—.

“No. I will contact him.”

Jaekyung opened the messaging app on his phone.

Who even used text messages these days?

He and his husband never had casual chats, not even a light message.

He scrolled to their last exchanged message.

It was a message from before they married.

Lucky that he hadn’t changed phones; otherwise he might not even have had the number saved.

He typed.

“Park Jaekyung here. I need to discuss something today. Can you come home after work? Or meet me elsewhere. I await your reply.”

Was it too blunt?

He could not add a smiley face.

He had no choice but to press send.

About ten minutes later, his phone vibrated with a reply.

He waited five minutes, surprised at the quick response, then opened the message carefully.

“I will come home by nine.”

It was 7:30 now.

There was no time.

He had to decide what to say and simulate the conversation in his head.

He needed contingency plans for refusal.

There was no option of acceptance.

He was sure he would be refused.

That was who he was.

If he had an omega he was seeing now, it would be even more likely.

Maybe he would place conditions.

What conditions could they be?

They were beyond imagination and impossible to fully prepare for.

He had only one wish.

If that man was still human, do not strangle the life out of him.

Allow him to stay alive.