* * *
The only reason he managed to hold it in was because, at that moment, the carriage came to a stop in front of the mansion’s entrance.
“Alright, I’ll be going now. Thanks for bringing me home, Rex.”
“Wait.”
Just as Remy was about to step out, Rex grabbed his wrist.
It was unusual for him to do something like this, and Remy looked at him in confusion.
“This is strange.”
“Hm?”
“The way you’re talking… It sounds like you’re saying goodbye for the last time.”
Remy stiffened.
No one could read an Omega’s emotions as well as a dominant Alpha.
It felt as though Rex had seen right through him.
“Am I wrong? Tell me, Remy.”
Rex’s eyes locked onto him with an unwavering intensity, silently demanding an answer.
But Remy couldn’t bring himself to say yes or no.
All he felt was guilt toward Rex, who was looking at him with such sincerity.
“Rex.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re a good person.”
And I… I am not like you.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Soon, you’ll be disappointed in me.”
“Remy?”
“When that time comes… don’t hesitate to hate me. Hate me as much as you’re disappointed.”
Rex’s expression grew even more conflicted as he listened to Remy’s cryptic words.
Remy gently pulled his wrist free from Rex’s grasp.
As he stepped down from the carriage, he turned back to Rex and offered him one last farewell.
“Take care, Rex.”
Rex looked as though he wanted to say more, but in the end, he shut his mouth.
Keeping an Omega out at this late hour was improper.
As someone raised with strict Alpha etiquette, he couldn’t bring himself to do such a thing.
“Alright. Let’s talk again later. Get some rest.”
Without another word, Remy nodded before turning away.
Only after Remy had disappeared inside the mansion did Rex’s carriage finally begin to move again.
The night sky was a deep, endless black.
Much like Remy’s heart, as he prepared to end everything with his own hands.
The day before the ball, Ashton came looking for Remy.
Remy, busy with preparations, frowned in irritation at Ashton’s unexpected visit.
He had no idea what this alpha was scheming now, but one thing was certain—he was not a welcome guest.
“Why are you here? Don’t tell me you suddenly went into rut.”
Though Remy had never witnessed an alpha’s rut firsthand, he figured it would probably resemble a heat cycle. He greeted Ashton bluntly.
“Aren’t you being a little too cold, Remy? You haven’t forgotten that I’m cooperating with you, have you?”
“Cooperation? That depends on how you define it.”
“This is a pretty major level of cooperation. I’m keeping your secret, helping with your heat cycles, and even offering my services for a few days if needed.”
“…What’s your point? If you don’t have anything to say, get lost.”
“Get lost? That’s a bit harsh for a partner, don’t you think?”
“Yeah. I don’t think of you as a partner. So if you’re just here to run your mouth, leave. Please.”
“Do I really have to come only when I have something important to say? Even if it’s a contract relationship, that’s too stiff.”
“I’m busy.”
Remy scowled, his delicate brows furrowing deeply.
Seeing that expression, Ashton chuckled.
Just looking at this annoying alpha made him feel like he was aging ten years, but Remy ignored him and focused on his work.
He didn’t even bother getting up from his desk.
“What are you so busy with?”
Ashton approached subtly, peering over, and Remy slammed his notebook shut with a loud snap.
Glaring at Ashton, who had casually perched on his desk, Remy spoke.
“Not your business.”
“What is it? Another one of those possession records? You writing them again?”
“Someone took my last one.”
“You need evidence to make sure the contract is properly upheld.”
“Oh, right. Evidence. You mean the evidence you use to blackmail me?”
“Blackmail? It’s a contract.”
“Call it whatever you want, but let’s be real. This is blackmail.”
“Come on. What do you take me for, a thief?”
“Just because you’re not holding a gun doesn’t mean it’s not robbery. Taking someone’s belongings and using them as leverage—if that’s not robbery, what is?”
“Why are you so twisted? I always do my best for you.”
“Yeah. The problem is, it’s only in certain situations.”
“And you like that, don’t you? You’re not going to deny that, are you?”
“…Shut up.”
Seeing Remy’s cheeks flush, Ashton burst into laughter again.
It never failed to amuse him how easy it was to fluster Remy.
He always put on this tough act, but just a little prodding turned him shy.
How could any omega be this adorable?
“So, what are you writing so seriously? You’re not just copying the old records, are you?”
Ashton reached for the notebook, but Remy snatched it up and hugged it to his chest.
He had already lost the last record unwillingly—he had no intention of letting this one be taken too.
“Hands off. I have no intention of showing it to you.”
“Come on. At this point, wouldn’t it be easier if you just let me help? You never know—I might actually be useful.”
“Yeah, no. Absolutely not.”
Ashton was strangely obsessed with Remy’s records.
It was suspicious, but Remy never really dwelled on the reason.
He just chalked it up to Ashton’s usual nosiness.
“You’re so mean.”
Remy shoved the notebook into a drawer and even locked it.
To make sure Ashton saw, he tucked the key into the pocket inside his vest.
Then he stood up abruptly, tilting his chin up defiantly to meet Ashton’s gaze.
He was at least a head shorter, but that didn’t stop him from looking down on him metaphorically.
“You can forget about ever seeing it, little duke.”
Ashton let out an exaggerated breath, watching as Remy walked past him toward the table.
He followed, keeping close.
The table was set with snacks brought by the attendants.
When Remy sat on the sofa, Ashton casually perched on the table in front of him.
He picked up a fork and lifted a piece of cake.
“It’s your favorite. Lemon cake.”
Remy scowled at him.
The way those big eyes glared up at him was almost too much for Ashton to handle—it was criminally cute.
Smirking, he held out the forkful of cake like he was feeding a child.
“Come on, open up.”
Remy let out an incredulous scoff.
“You want me to eat it? Are you insane? Do I look like a kid to you?”
“What’s the big deal? You’ve taken food from me before.”
“…That was just because I was dazed from the pheromones.”
“What are you talking about? I meant when you were sick during the hunting trip and I fed you chicken soup.”
“…….”
“Your mind is filled with dirty thoughts, isn’t it? Or—do you want more? Should I feed you again? I’m always happy to oblige.”
“W-What are you even saying?! Who said I wanted that?!”
Ashton chuckled and held the fork out again.
Remy glared at him for a long moment before reluctantly opening his mouth.
Ashton slid the cake inside, watching as his lips closed around the fork.
The lemon cake was delicious as always—except for the infuriating fact that Ashton was the one feeding him.
“You eat so prettily.”
Even that casual remark made Remy’s face heat up. He refused to accept that his own thoughts were the problem.
This was definitely Ashton’s fault.
As he chewed, a smear of white cream clung to the corner of his lips.
* * *
