* * *

Jungin’s temperature had suddenly risen, and failing to identify the cause had cost Jungjin significant trust in himself.

Cautiously gauging Jungjin’s reaction, Dr. Choi carefully handed over the materials he had brought and began to speak.

“Since you’re here at the hospital, we conducted some additional tests on Jungin’s condition. Judging by the pheromone levels being outside the normal range, I believe he’ll soon enter a heat cycle.”

Jungjin, who had been trying his best to remain rational, let out a breath of disbelief at the mention of a heat cycle.

“Jungin can’t even properly sense pheromone scents yet. Besides, he’s never once experienced a heat cycle before…”

Lost in thought, Jungjin’s gaze shifted to Beomhyeon.

Alphas and omegas usually weren’t affected by blood relatives.

Excluding their immediate family, the only person who could influence Jungin, a dominant omega, was Beomhyeon—that bastard.

“This is ridiculous. I’ve had enough of this, damn it.”

Before Jungjin could act, Jungseo rose from his seat and lunged at Beomhyeon.

He’d suspected it ever since Beomhyeon had drenched Jungin in pheromones.

“Well then, I’ll excuse myself to prepare,” Dr. Choi muttered, hastily retreating from the room now devolving into chaos.

After closing the door behind him, he wiped the sweat forming on his brow and finally exhaled the breath he’d been holding.

“Are you alright, Doctor?”

A nurse, noticing his pale complexion, asked with concern.

Dr. Choi nodded, as if to say he was fine, and issued his instructions.

“Rotate the pheromone testing lab for 24-hour operation for the time being.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Ensure absolute confidentiality about the VVIP’s status.”

“Of course.”

Glancing at the disabled CCTV, Nurse Jang nodded dutifully.

With a polite farewell, Dr. Choi turned away, and she boarded the elevator to head to the pheromone testing lab on the fourth floor.

Ding.

“Oh! Nurse Jang! Perfect timing. Can you help me out for a second?”

By chance, she ran into a colleague in the elevator, who looked anxious as he tapped his feet nervously.

“What’s the matter?”

“We’re short-handed. If you’ve got a moment, could you help move this with me?”

“Sure, I can help.”

Since the VIP ward had fewer patients than the general wards, this kind of thing was manageable.

Besides, the entire VIP ward was currently occupied by a single patient, so Nurse Jang, who had time to spare, took the items her colleague was carrying.

“Phew, thanks. I got greedy and tried to carry it all at once because I didn’t want to make a second trip, but it was heavier than I thought.”

As they exchanged updates and walked, a scream rang out nearby.

“Sounds like the patient in Room 702 is acting up again.”

“Oh, the elderly shaman, right?”

The patient was often mentioned during post-shift drinks.

Her colleague nodded briefly, glancing toward the gathered caregivers near the nurse’s desk, and let out a short sigh.

“She was apparently a renowned shaman back in the day.”

“Really? Was she that famous?”

“Maybe 20 years ago? She was so well-known around here that people came from far away to see her. But then she suddenly lost her powers and went mad. I don’t know much beyond that, but she’s been chanting apologies to someone every night—it’s terrifying.”

Avoiding the screaming patient, the caregivers muttered among themselves.

Handing the items back to her colleague, Nurse Jang glanced toward the source of the commotion.

She could see the patient pounding her forehead against the floor and muttering.

“I’m sorry! It’s my fault. I was wrong! I won’t do it again, I swear!”

Her unfocused eyes were filled with desperation as she begged for forgiveness.

“I had no choice. Sniff… If I didn’t, my grandson would’ve died! So, I had to… I had no choice!”

Yelling into the void, the patient eventually calmed down after receiving a sedative.

As if it were routine, the caregivers clicked their tongues and returned to their posts.

Watching this unfold, Nurse Jang felt a chill crawl up her spine.

“Thanks, Nurse Jang. I’ll buy you a drink on my next day off.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Take care, Nurse Choi.”

After exchanging farewells, Nurse Jang noticed a photograph on the floor.

It was of the elderly shaman and a much younger boy.

“That’s odd…”

The boy’s face bore a striking resemblance to the VIP patient.

Though it couldn’t possibly be the same person, the uncanny similarity made her pause.

Before she could dwell on it further, her phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She placed the photo on the desk and hurried on her way.

---

“Jungin, where are you off to?”

Recently, his brothers had been taking turns watching over the hospital room, and today, it was the second brother, Jungwoo’s, turn.

Were they doing this to protect him or to monitor him?

Jungin hesitated, feeling awkward under Jungwoo’s gaze as he swung his legs off the bed.

“Huh? Just going for a walk…”

“It’s hot outside.”

The season, teetering on the boundary between spring and summer, had fully crossed into summer’s grasp, with days hot enough to warrant the air conditioner.

“How’s your head?”

“It’s fine now. Doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Alright. But don’t stay out too long—too much sun might make you dizzy. Just get a bit of fresh air and come back.”

Jungwoo’s face briefly darkened before he met Jungin’s light brown eyes and regained his usual expression.

Looking at his younger brother’s gaunt cheeks, he reached out with a gentle smile and patted Jungin’s hair affectionately.

Jungin’s body had become so frail that it felt weightless.

Without realizing it, Jungwoo bit his inner cheek and draped a pre-cooled scarf from the refrigerator around Jungin’s neck.

“Not too cold, right?”

“No, it’s nice and cool.”

The cool scarf against his neck felt refreshing.

Nodding in contentment, Jungin took Jungwoo’s hand and walked slowly out of the room, now wearing a wide-brimmed hat his brother had placed on his head.

The rooftop garden had become a frequent destination for him since his health had improved.

Yesterday’s rain had left the sky unusually clear today, a vivid blue unmarred by a single cloud.

Taking in the fresh air, Jungin closed his eyes as his brother stepped aside to take a phone call.

Though he hadn’t shared it with his brothers, fragments of Lee Jungin’s memories had surfaced in his mind during the past few days, accompanied by a splitting headache.

The memories were incomplete, like shattered pieces of a puzzle.

Most were from his middle school years onward, though a few earlier moments emerged, faded like relics of a distant past.

“Poor thing…”

Lee Jungin’s life had been marked by neglect and subtle torment from their stepmother, Madam Jang.

Seeing those memories, Jungin finally understood why Lee Jungin had made such a drastic choice.

At first, he had resented Lee Jungin for stealing his body and fleeing, but now, sympathy overshadowed that bitterness.

“Still… Lee Jungin’s lover was Lim Kyungsoo?”

Lim Kyungsoo, a recessive alpha, had relentlessly bullied him during middle school.

Learning that he had been Lee Jungin’s partner stirred mixed emotions in Jungin.

He felt a pang of betrayal—Lee Jungin must have known how much Kyungsoo had tormented him.

“That’s probably why he kept it a secret from me.”

Still, it must have been inevitable since he had been good to Lee Jungin.

After all, Lim Kyungsoo had been a ray of light in Jungin’s difficult life.

Swishing the bitter taste in his mouth, Jungin decided to understand and let it go.

“Phew…”

Lifting his eyelids with a sigh, Jungin exhaled deeply.

As he did, he noticed his older brother approaching and forced a nonchalant smile.

“Hot, isn’t it? Should we head back down now?”

Jungwoo, who had just finished a call with Jungjin, rubbed his flushed cheeks with the back of his hand as he spoke.

“Just a bit longer, maybe five more minutes.”

The child, who had longed to escape the stifling hospital room, looked at him pleadingly.

It seemed quite some time had passed.

Even so, Jungin’s lips, pressed together in stubbornness, hinted that it still wasn’t enough.

With a small laugh, Jungwoo gently swept the sweat from his younger brother’s forehead and tried to persuade him with something he’d like.

“If you’re feeling stuffy, we can come back up later tonight. For now, let’s go downstairs. If you stay in this heat any longer, you’ll get sick. I’ll cut up some mango for you when we’re back. You love mangoes, right?”

The word mango brought Beomhyeon to mind.

This was the same place where he had first met him.

When was the last time he’d seen Beomhyeon’s face?

Since he no longer visited, maybe he’d grown tired of Jungin’s endless ailments and refusal to listen.

Jungin had written and deleted messages to Beomhyeon countless times.

Without realizing it, he touched the ring Beomhyeon had given him, his expression turning somber as he stood.

* * *