* * *
Gordon didn’t bother hiding his displeasure as he spoke.
“I’m not expecting you to bring them down completely. But you should at least land a blow. And yet here you sit, rolling your eyes around like idiots. Huh?”
His sons hastily bowed their heads, awkward expressions on their faces.
But behind their troubled looks, resentment festered.
‘Damn it, are those things even human? They’re monsters—monsters. How are we supposed to land a blow on them?’
‘And you, Father? Hah. You’re just taking your frustration out on us because you can’t do it yourself.’
A heavy silence, thick as stone, filled the room.
Gordon glared at the pile of gold coins stacked before him.
It was a game to soothe his anxiety, but it provided no relief.
His fingers gripped the armrests of his chair tightly.
“Find out everything.”
After a brief pause, Gordon spoke, his voice cold and metallic.
“Anything that could be used as a weakness. Find it all. Recruit people working under them, keep pressuring them. I don’t care how trivial it is. Dig it up and report it to me.”
Gordon bared his sharp teeth in a grin.
It was a venomous smile, like that of a snake ready to strike.
“Those who’ve never tasted failure crumble even from the smallest hit. Good. Let’s see how they fare.”
His sons left the room with grim expressions.
A weakness, he said.
Where the hell were they supposed to find one?
“Do they even have weaknesses? They’re not human… They’re monsters, monsters,” Jacob, the eldest son, muttered irritably.
“They have every reason to act so smug. Damn it, where the hell are we supposed to find a weakness?”
“Tch.”
The second son, Bellick, scoffed.
“Why complain out here? You should’ve said that inside.”
“What?”
“You were sucking up to Father real nice back there. I was honestly impressed, big brother.”
The two brothers glared at each other.
Bellick smiled mockingly and added:
“Ah, so that’s what it looks like to play the obedient dog. I learned a lot from you, brother. You’re truly inspiring.”
“Do you have a death wish? I hear you’ve been dealing with drug traffickers lately. Making quite the fortune, huh? Is that why you’re so full of yourself?”
“Drugs? I have no idea what you’re talking about. All I’ve done is build a school. Giving poor children dreams and hope—that’s my contribution. Even Father’s delighted about it, you know. Oh, and…”
His lips curved into a sly smile as he deliberately emphasized the word Father.
“I have no plans to die anytime soon. I still have duties to fulfill as ordered by Father, after all.”
The second son brushed past his older brother, his nonchalant voice echoing down the hallway.
“Though I’m not sure if you’re capable of doing the same.”
“What? You—what the hell does that mean?”
But there was no answer.
His younger brother didn’t even glance back, leaving behind only a chilling air.
Left alone, the eldest son of the Fetchwig family ground his teeth in frustration.
Soon, he pulled a folding dagger from his coat.
It was a habit of his—fiddling with the blade whenever anxiety overwhelmed him.
“Damn it…”
He muttered under his breath as he repeatedly unfolded and folded the knife.
Click, clack.
The cold, metallic sound filled the space as he bit his lower lip hard.
‘I have to find a weakness. Faster than him. No matter what.’
The Carlisle brothers were known for their strong bond—but this family was different.
His brother was nothing more than a competitor eyeing the prize of House Fetchwig for himself.
To become head of the family, he had to earn their father’s favor.
If he failed to do that, he’d be completely out of the game.
Click, clack.
Lost in thought, the eldest son toyed with the knife again and again.
The sharp blade sliced through the empty air, and soon, a venomous gleam filled his eyes.
It was the same ferocious look he inherited from his father.
After the ball, spring reached its peak.
Bathed in bright sunlight, the Carlisle estate and its gardens shimmered with unmatched beauty.
The vast lake rippled with brilliant colors, glistening like a gemstone.
Every time the wind blew, soft yellow, lush green, rosy pink, and deep blue hues danced and sparkled across the surface.
Next to the lake stood a wisteria tunnel, crafted from rounded trellises.
The wisteria vines that climbed along the structures were heavy with large, fragrant blossoms.
Walking beneath them, with the grape-like clusters of flowers swaying overhead, felt like stepping into a dream.
Marigolds blanketed the hills, and lilacs bloomed in abundance around the castle, attracting countless bees buzzing in the air.
“You’re not pregnant yet. No particular symptoms either.”
The window had been left open to let in the floral scent.
The physician, glancing over his notes, nodded. Sitting across from him, Adam let out a small “Ah.”
The doctor lifted his gaze to Adam and offered a gentle smile.
“But there’s no need to be concerned. It’s still early. We’ll have to wait and see.”
The light, nonchalant tone eased Adam’s nerves.
As the tension left his face, the doctor smiled again, his eyes drifting to either side—where two dukes sat beside Adam.
‘Wow… They showed up in person. Both of them, no less.’
A mere report from a butler should’ve sufficed.
Was this how desperate they were for an heir?
Or did it mean they cherished Adam that much?
The doctor couldn’t tell.
He picked up his pen.
“Any questions?”
“Ah, yes. I do.”
“Go ahead.”
“It’s just…”
Adam’s expression turned cautious.
“My heat cycle hasn’t come. I haven’t taken any suppressants, but still…”
“Mmm, I see.”
“I heard the heat cycle boosts the chances of pregnancy. Shouldn’t it appear soon for the best outcome?”
“Listen carefully.”
The doctor jotted down Adam’s words, then explained.
“The primary cause of heat cycles is clear. An Omega’s body emits stronger pheromones than usual to attract an Alpha, driven by the desire to conceive. Why does this happen? It’s the body’s way of signaling a deficiency.”
“A deficiency…? In what sense?”
“In terms of sexual activity.”
The moment the word sexual activity left the doctor’s lips, Adam’s face flinched with embarrassment.
“If intercourse happens frequently, heat cycles don’t occur. There’s no need for them. The body doesn’t feel the pressure to trigger one, because it perceives conception as sufficiently probable.”
The doctor tapped the paper lightly with his pen.
Unlike him, who spoke casually, Adam’s ears flushed red.
The conversation stirred vivid memories of recent, very specific events.
Since the ball, the Carlisle brothers had been visiting Adam more often.
They came by day and night, seeking him out with little restraint.
Sometimes it was Isaac, sometimes Chester, and sometimes… both at once.
“…Ah, I see.”
Bedroom, study, garden—anywhere, the three of them became entangled.
There were even times it happened on the dining table.
Adam flushed deeply.
He could still feel the texture of the tablecloth and the fruit in his hands.
“The lack of a heat cycle actually suggests things are going well. What matters most is a calm mind and body. Before and after pregnancy, that’s the key. For now, I won’t prescribe any more suppressants. Just in case.”
“Yes, let’s not,” Chester chimed in, clearly entertained.
At some point, he had turned to admire Adam’s cheek.
“Who knows? Maybe your body will adjust again. Maybe it’ll even start craving more.”
A mysterious gleam lit Chester’s eyes.
“Then the heat might come after all—your heat cycle, Adam.”
“Exactly. The body is incredibly adaptable.”
The doctor replied calmly, unaffected.
To him, the three before him were simply patients.
Adam admired the man’s composure, even in front of the two dukes.
* * *
