However, as talented as Lee Jaeha was, he was still human, and thus an unavoidable vulnerability existed.

His vulnerability gap widened precisely where he tried to control emotions with reason.

Lee Jaeha's way of loving was distinctly alpha-like. He was a person who possessed much and had grown up surrounded by wealth all his life, so he considered even that as part of what Taegun called 'coming empty-handed.'

Lee Jaeha, who had just realized he was in love, wanted to do anything for Taegun. Whether Taegun wanted it or not wasn't particularly important.

No, more accurately, he couldn't pay attention to that.

"That may be so. I'm well aware of your character, Director, and I like it, but your in-laws probably don't think the same of our Manager Jang."

"...That's not true."

Jang Changsik was an elderly man, still vigorous for his age, as if he had built Janghan Construction with just one 50-jeon coin[[6jask7]] and two balls.

He had an aura of someone who had cut down countless hardships with his own hands and risen from being a thug to growing Janghan into a major corporation.

But Lee Jaeha wasn't particularly intimidated by this type. Because people like Jang Changsik, though rough on the outside, were clear about their intentions.

It was around the time when the wedding with Taegun was about a month away. Preparations were proceeding smoothly. Neither Taegun nor Jaeha had anything to worry about regarding the preparations.

Such matters could be handled by their respective groups of secretaries through consultation. Moreover, neither of the two had any particular romantic notions about the wedding.

Jang Taegun's side was a bit more indifferent. He had no interest whatsoever in things like the flower meanings of the decorations or the color of the boutonnières. He didn't want to expend energy on issues like who would wear the white formal attire.

In traditional alpha-omega ceremonies, the omega, whether male or female, wears white formal attire. In this case, it was ambiguous since it was a marriage between two alphas.

Such matters risked escalating into a battle of pride between the individuals, and further, between the families. Jaeha thought that if Taegun was reluctant, then naturally he himself should be the one to wear the white attire.

He believed it was right for him to yield since he was the one who proposed first and Taegun was the one who accepted.

But Jang Taegun's reaction upon hearing the wedding planner's question was indifferent.

'Who's going to stand on the left? I'll do it. I can even hold the bouquet and wear the veil.'

He said this with an expressionless face. ...Was it a joke? He wasn't sure.

He liked him, but he didn't know much about him. He knew he had a sharp tongue, but since promising marriage, the swearing had decreased immensely.

And none of it was directed at Jaeha. It felt like his mouth was still sharp, but noticing he was being careful with his attitude evoked an indescribable feeling.

They didn't meet every day, but they had dinner together about three times a week. He wasn't a picky eater; he ate well, and his table manners were clean.

Compared to Lee Jaeha, whose appetite definitely decreased when stressed due to hot summer weather or personal changes, his food intake was remarkably large.

Yet he didn't eat greedily. During those meals, they sometimes talked about each other's lives. It was mostly Jaeha saying a few words, but Taegun listened silently.

'Ah, this kind of talk must be boring for you.... It's just work talk anyway...'

'You stopped at an interesting part. Go on.'

To Jaeha, who thought he might have been babbling excitedly alone, Taegun replied in an even tone. Feeling reassured by the casual response, Jaeha could ramble on a bit more.

Jang Taegun couldn't be called affectionate, but he wasn't cold either. He was distinctly different from first impressions.

Around the time Jaeha was growing curious about that change, a call came from Taegun's grandfather. He said he was at a Korean restaurant near the company and would appreciate it if Jaeha could spare some time.

Jaeha told Yujin to postpone two meetings and one phone call, then immediately got up and headed to the Korean restaurant.

The Korean restaurant in Nonhyeon was a place Jaeha had visited a few times himself, mainly to entertain older counterparts.

Jang Changsik was the oldest and most uncomfortable among Jaeha's such counterparts. Understandably, as Taegun's grandfather.

The elderly man, more due to a straightforward personality than the impatience unique to those with few days left, got straight to the point.

"My in-laws don't seem to like our Manager Jang."

"...I am ashamed."

Saying 'That's not true' was difficult, as it was long after rumors that Lee Jaeha had completely withdrawn from the corporate succession structure for this marriage had spread widely.

Moreover, it couldn't even be called a rumor.

Because it was all true. After notifying them of the marriage with Taegun, Jaeha had been organizing to hand over director positions in key subsidiaries to his half-brother, Lee Jaeho.

The land, buildings, stocks, etc., that Jaeha's grandfather, Lee Wonwoong, had personally gifted to Jaeha, he planned to keep and marry with. However, the director positions in the subsidiaries would fall into Lee Jaeho's hands by the end of this month.

He didn't have that much attachment to those positions. Having been born at the peak, he had treated given duties like homework to be done.

He had no intention of handing them over to his stepmother, who had pushed her way into his mother's position, but he also didn't have overflowing attachments to fight tooth and nail to keep them.

Thinking he was paying a price to obtain something he desired for the first time in his life, it didn't feel that wasteful. However, Jang Changsik's thoughts seemed different.

"Taegun's father passed away the year before last. Dying before one's father is the greatest unfilial act, but because he messed up a few businesses he had started, our Manager Jang is having a hard time, which is one of the things keeping this old man awake at night."

Hearing that far, Lee Jaeha could guess why Jang Changsik had suddenly summoned his grandson's prospective spouse.

People with clear desires were easy to handle. Recalling the always indifferent tone and the inscrutably impassive face, Jaeha briefly thought they were very much alike, but apparently not.

"You must be deeply grieved, sir."

He bowed his head briefly, then immediately faced Jang Changsik.

"I was actually thinking of preparing a wedding gift hoping it would be of some help to Manager Jang's business. I thought of it as a surprise gift, so I was keeping it secret, but I should have relieved your worries earlier."

Jang Changsik's face noticeably brightened. Hiding the corners of his mouth, which rose with satisfaction, behind a teacup, he said.

"Aren't I your grandfather now? The formal address creates distance."

"Yes, Grandfather."

That seemed to be the correct answer this time too, as Jang Changsik even chuckled heartily. He thought that day's lunch was somewhat successful.

He had lost little and had obtained at least the blessing of one side of the family for his marriage with Taegun.

Since he was daring to go through with a marriage his father opposed, he hoped at least Taegun's paternal family wouldn't disapprove of their union.

Having disposed of numerous personal assets, all that remained in Jaeha's hands were some Yushin stocks and a few buildings in Nonhyeon.

To those who have nothing, it was an immense fortune, but to Lee Jaeha, it gave him the feeling of having suddenly become middle class.

Still, it was fine. It would be correct to say he didn't mind. The mistake was assuming that Jang Taegun would be as satisfied as Jang Changsik was pleased.

He knew better than anyone that a family member's will and his own were never the same.

Just as Jaeha was about to leave work, he was surprised by what Yujin said upon entering the director's office and asked.

"Who is here?"

"Manager Jang from Janghan Construction."

"You should have said it's your prospective spouse."

A deep voice came from behind her. Jaeha barely stopped himself from standing up involuntarily.

Compared to Yujin, a beta woman, the man standing behind her was so large he cast a shadow.

Yujin, who had entered to announce the visitor, unconsciously looked up, made eye contact with Taegun, and was so intimidated she gasped and swallowed.

Watching that, Jaeha let out a short sigh.

"Manager Lim, you can go. Tea..."

"If I'm thirsty, I can drink something else."

In response to Jaeha's words, Taegun answered instead, sticking out his tongue to lick his own lips.

At that highly suspicious tone, the moment a puzzled look appeared on Yujin's face, Jaeha's face flushed without him realizing it, and he waved his hand dismissively.

"You can just leave for the day. Good work today, Manager Lim."

"Ah, yes. See you tomorrow, Director."

Yujin bowed her head, closed the door, and left the director's office. Jaeha looked at the man for a moment, then moved his lips intending to offer him a seat, but was preempted.

The man, who had quickly scanned the director's office once, struck first.

"Your earholes are clean and pretty."

"...What?"

At Taegun's unexpected words, Jaeha blinked his eyes twice. It took time to understand the sudden remark.

He opened his mouth again.

"But then why did it sound like you couldn't understand through a blocked hole? Did someone stuff a dick in your pretty earholes because I said they were nice?"

"...What?"

"I told you to come empty-handed."

The pressure intensified slightly. Lee Jaeha forcibly suppressed a groan that tried to escape with an 'Ugh.' The eyes looking at him held no emotion.

Only then did Jaeha understand why he had come to the Yushin director's office without an appointment. He was interrogating him about the matter with Jang Changsik.

Jaeha bit his lip, hesitated, then soon, unable to hold out any longer, answered.

"I thought I could bring at least a dowry."

"I told you not to bring a single spoon from Yushin. Is this you telling me to tolerate your stupidity because you have a pretty face?"

"Manager Jang."

It was a call to stop his mouth. The problem was that he didn't even feel bad about the insulting remarks. But Lee Jaeha had lived a life too long detached from his feelings.

When someone disregarded him, it often directly affected corporate interests, so he hadn't just let it slide.

Due to that habit, he called his name as a warning, but in truth, Jaeha wasn't that angry either. He was simply robbed of his focus and mind by the alpha before him.

As if he knew that very well, Taegun came within arm's reach and looked down at Jaeha.

The difference in height between the two alphas was exactly about 10 cm. Being quite tall himself, Jaeha rarely had to look up at anyone. Unconsciously, he found himself blankly surveying Jang Taegun's strong jawline.

Jang Taegun, looking down at Jaeha with narrowed eyes, opened his mouth.

"That's quite a cute trick."

"……."

"Please make it clear whether you're marrying me or becoming my grandfather's concubine. I'm in a fucking bad mood because it seems like the latter."

"...That wasn't my intention."

He mixed in curses he hadn't uttered once since the marriage was decided. The chilling alpha pheromones pressed down on Jaeha.

It was pheromones that felt more oppressive than ever before. Jaeha unconsciously groaned. Because his breath caught.

Seeing him like that, Taegun clicked his tongue and stepped back. His pheromones were still surging.

It wasn't that his anger had subsided, but it seemed he stopped showing it so plainly to Jaeha.

"Don't do useless things."

After that, Taegun didn't contact Jaeha until the wedding day.

Only then did Jaeha admit his mistake. All the meetings they had before were abruptly cut off. All communications came through his secretary and Yujin.

The wedding day was the same. Even during the exchange of vows, he didn't look at Jaeha. Even when placing rings on each other's hands, Taegun just lowered his gaze and stared intently at Jaeha's ring finger.

Jaeha felt considerable dread. A chilling sensation, as if he had overturned something precious that had just begun to sprout with his own hands, made him hesitate.

To be honest, Lee Jaeha was a bit of a fool in the face of love. While he had lived a flawless, perfect life, he lacked a relationship that defined what love was.

Though his innate nature was affectionate and he maintained a fairly healthy mental state compared to the lethargy he unknowingly suffered from, he had never been rejected by someone he gave his heart to, so he didn't know what to do.

If it were work, a business matter, or a task related to economic profit, Lee Jaeha would have easily resolved the problem.

But since it was a matter between people, concerning the first relationship where he had lost his heart, Jaeha had no choice but to flounder a bit.

Lee Jaeha's married life began unsteadily, like building a sandcastle[[yt6uy6]].