The List That Shattered Everything

Haejin took the bowl of plated fruit from her and went upstairs.

The door to the study next to the master bedroom was firmly shut.

Standing before the tightly closed door, it felt like a metaphor for the distance between them, weighing heavily on his heart.

Haejin stood before the door with a gloomy expression, then abruptly shook his head.

“……It’s just delivering fruit.”

It’s just delivering a piece of fruit; why am I overthinking everything?

Deeming his thoughts excessive, Haejin forcibly shook off the burden, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

A stiff voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

He didn’t even ask who it was.

Did he permit it thinking it was someone else…?

Even though granted entry, Haejin felt unsure if he should enter.

Hesitating, Haejin carefully opened the door and entered the study.

Beomwoo was working inside; he didn’t even glance this way, speaking as if unaware of who had entered.

“Wait a moment.”

“……”

He was deeply focused on the task at hand.

Since Haejin had no other business, he could have just left the fruit and gone, but seeing Beomwoo looking too busy to even shift his gaze, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

Saying he’d just leave this might disturb his concentration.

Since he had nothing else to do anyway… Being in the same space was awkward, but he feared disturbing his work or upsetting him more, so he decided to wait quietly.

While waiting, Haejin slowly looked around the study.

The study was a space he rarely visited.

It resembled Beomwoo’s personality—decorated to maximize efficiency with no clutter.

Though it was the first time he was working from home like this since their marriage, he used the study for overtime or work-related calls after hours, so it was recognized as his workspace.

Perhaps because of that, Haejin felt the study didn’t suit him; even if he wanted to read, he’d only take a book out, never spending time here.

So, as Haejin curiously looked around the study while waiting, minutes passed.

Eventually, Beomwoo, who had been working intently, set aside the glasses he was wearing and spoke to Haejin.

“I had something urgent to handle. What is it?”

“Ah, it’s not anything… Just… have this while you work…”

Startled by his voice breaking the silence, Haejin replied.

He approached and carefully placed the bowl of fruit on the table.

Beomwoo looked down at the beautifully plated fruit, then let out a small sigh.

“You don’t need to prepare this from now on.”

“……”

Was that all? Did you interrupt me for this?

He seemed extremely annoyed.

It wasn’t an outright cold, harsh refusal, but a roundabout one.

However, to Haejin, filled with worries and thoughts, it felt like a massive rejection.

Given his sensitive nature, he might dislike being disturbed with such things while working.

But it felt like he disliked and rejected Haejin himself.

……So this meaningless act *was* pointless after all.

He had agreed to deliver the fruit to avoid contemptuous looks and potential criticism if he refused.

Yet, because some expectation towards him still lingered in his heart, it hurt and weighed on him greatly.

“……I’ll go now.”

“Wait a moment.”

Just as Haejin, his mood rapidly deflated, tried to flee the study, Beomwoo suddenly stopped him.

Halting his retreating steps, Haejin looked back at him.

Beomwoo, looking tired, pressed his eyes with his fingers and made a request.

“If you’re not busy, could you get a document from my bag in the bedroom? I have something urgent and no time to go myself.”

“A document? Ah, yes…”

“It’s inside a transparent file. I’d appreciate it.”

He refuses the fruit but makes a request…

Given the recent rejection, it felt somewhat awkward.

But Beomwoo rarely asked Haejin for anything.

If he was asking for such an errand, he must be really busy.

Since it wasn’t a difficult task, Haejin nodded and left the study for the bedroom.

Heading to the bedroom, he saw Beomwoo’s bag placed on a chair near the table.

Assuming this was the bag, Haejin opened it and examined the contents.

His bag contained many items like a tablet and documents, heavy but neatly organized, true to his character.

Thanks to that, despite the many items, the transparent file he mentioned was visible immediately upon opening.

“Is this it?”

It seemed urgent; good thing he found it quickly.

Haejin was about to take out the file without much thought.

Just as he tried to pull the file out, other items inside came tumbling out, spilling onto the floor with a clatter.

“Ah, it all spilled…”

When things don’t go right, they find every way to make life difficult.

Haejin crouched down, hurriedly gathering the spilled items.

Since the bag contained so much, the amount of scattered papers was considerable.

As he swept the papers scattered everywhere into one pile, he noticed that papers from a brown document envelope were sticking out.

“Gasp, this… it’s not mixed up, is it?”

Haejin muttered worriedly.

Since they’re all papers, it’s hard to tell which came from where.

The thought that they might be mixed up and cause problems drained the color from his face.

It’s bad enough as it is, and now an accident…

Trying to handle it alone, Haejin first picked up the papers near the document envelope.

Thinking he might classify them by content, he pulled out the documents, then froze, his expression hardening upon reading the text on the first page.

“……Omega list?”

At the top of the first page was written the title: ‘Omega List.’

A chilling sense of foreboding instantly crawled up his spine.

Haejin quickly flipped through the following pages.

Inside were several documents resembling resumes.

Beomwoo, as the company CEO, might occasionally hire people directly, but that was rare.

And hiring only Omegas? Even more so.

While it’s a world without discrimination, societal preference for Alphas still exists; there’d be no reason to specifically hire only Omegas…

At that moment, their previous conversation came to mind.

He said it wasn’t necessary for the child to be born between us.

He said the marriage would continue, but as long as it was his bloodline, a child with another Omega was fine.

Recalling that conversation, he became convinced: this Omega list was obtained for that reason.

He had already heard him talk about having a child with another Omega.

But to actually be seeking Omegas…

Seeing it with his own eyes was twice as shocking as hearing about it.

His infertility wasn’t his fault; it was an unavoidable problem that struck like a disaster.

He knew Beomwoo might be displeased that his plans were complicated, but… is this necessary?

He understood they had their circumstances, but wasn’t this too disrespectful?

To him, was Haejin just someone to be replaced when no longer needed?

Even knowing he didn’t consider him a special spouse, this felt too much.

Clenching the documents tightly in his hand, Haejin headed back to the study with the requested file.

****

When Haejin returned with the requested item, Beomwoo, who had immersed himself back in work, looked over and relaxed his expression slightly.

“Thank you. I won’t have to ask for such favors from now on.”

“……”

He took the file from Haejin, seemingly unaware that Haejin also brought the documents containing the Omega list.

Perhaps too busy with work, he showed no sign of noticing anything amiss, checking the received document and refocusing on his work.

He delivered the fruit, brought the requested document… his tasks were done.

But Haejin didn’t move.

As Haejin stood silently beside Beomwoo, he, about to refocus on work, sensed something odd and turned his head again.

“Do you have something to say to me? If so, let’s do it later. I’m not done with work yet.”

“……”

Beomwoo noticed Haejin seemed to have something to say but postponed it.

Haejin knew well that he prioritized work above all and shouldn’t disturb him.

But having seen the Omega list, maintaining composure was impossible.

“This… what is this?”

Haejin placed the documents, clenched tightly enough to crumple, before him.

Beomwoo looked at him with a ‘what now?’ expression, seeming bothered, then finally noticed the documents containing the Omega list and his expression hardened further.