I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega - Episode 173
I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega – Episode 173
The attending physician swallowed hard. From the moment the door opened and his eyes met Han Seung-jae’s, he felt his scalp prickling and the back of his neck going cold. The room that had felt spacious just 5 minutes ago now seemed as stifling as a narrow jar.
The physician’s lost eyes scanned Han Seung-jae’s cold features. His indifferent gaze betrayed no emotion. However, given the circumstances, it was palpable that he was in an unpleasant mood.
“Director Han…”
The physician’s lips moved but he struggled to continue. His eyes kept darting towards the door.
Han Seung-jae picked up the teacup in front of him. As if an opening had appeared, the physician took a short breath. But Han Seung-jae’s next words made his breath catch.
“I’m giving you a chance right now.”
The physician clenched his hands on his thighs, wrinkling his pants. He urgently opened his tightly closed lips.
“I didn’t receive any money. It’s true, Director Han!”
Han Seung-jae moved his head languidly as if savoring the tea. His suit draped over his broad shoulders complemented his refined features, and his perfectly positioned tie didn’t move at all. Han Seung-jae held the teacup and raised only his cold eyes to look at the physician.
“You don’t need money? Then do you want honor?”
At that, as if he had never closed his mouth, the physician confessed:
“CEO Han has been looking after our Haseon Hospital for a long time, so to repay the favor a little, I told Chief Secretary Kang… I’m truly ashamed.”
Han Yechan was also a strong supporter of Haseon Hospital. It wasn’t that Han Seung-jae didn’t know this. And his father wasn’t the kind of caring person who kept useless people around. Wasn’t he the one who discarded even friends he had been so desperate for, fearing they might splash dirt on him?
“I’m sorry. I’ll never do such a thing again.”
The physician hung his head low. It seemed like he might go back to the hospital and pack his things. He had been in charge of Han Seung-jae’s child’s care and enjoyed many benefits. But he had been tempted by Chief Secretary Kang’s suggestion of becoming hospital director and had been regularly reporting on Seo I-Kyung’s physical condition.
And he had attended today’s meeting thinking it was to solidify his position by meeting CEO Han. So he never dreamed Han Seung-jae would appear here.
Just as he was about to stand up with a desperate expression, having lost all the opportunities that had been before him, Han Seung-jae put down his teacup and spoke. The physician’s eyes lit up and sparkled as he heard his words.
At that moment, there was a presence and the door opened. Han Seung-jae stood up, and the physician, belatedly coming to his senses, jumped to his feet. Soon after, food was placed on the table and the employees and Secretary Park withdrew. Only three people remained in the room.
“Have you greeted each other?”
At Han Yechan’s words as he sat down, Han Seung-jae instinctively knew he had arrived late on purpose.
As Han Seung-jae had expected, Han Yechan was showing that no matter how much Han Seung-jae tried to hide things about Seo I-Kyung, he could never truly hide them. That’s why he had set up this unwelcome meeting.
Moreover, what meaning did Chief Secretary Kang’s promises have? Those were words that could easily be overturned at any time.
His father hadn’t changed at all from before. If anything, he had only become more vicious and petty over the years. And that’s what made Han Seung-jae unable to trust people.
“CEO Han.”
The physician broke the silence.
“I’m not sure if I should say this, but…”
“Go ahead.”
Han Yechan readily gestured towards the physician sitting next to him. The physician spoke to Han Yechan with a face full of confidence.
“Your grandson is definitely an alpha.”
“No, this person. Isn’t that something you can only know after the child is born and tested?”
Han Yechan had met countless omegas over the years. Yet Han Seung-jae was his only child. Han Yechan had seen and heard just as much as the physician, if not more.
“It’s certain.”
The physician’s expression was more resolute than anyone’s. And gradually, as if persuaded by his words, a smile appeared on Han Yechan’s lips, and he began to laugh out loud.
“If it turns out as you say, I’d be very happy.”
Then he turned his body towards the physician and listened attentively to his words.
“This is just between us…”
“It’s an honor, CEO.”
The physician had barely grasped what seemed like a second chance after great difficulty.
***
In the rapidly moving car, Han Seung-jae looked out the window for once as he headed to the office. Outside, where the sunlight stretched long, there were many people coming and going.
The sedan stopped in front of the tall Myeongjun Financial Group building. Secretary Park, who got out of the passenger seat, opened the back door. As Han Seung-jae entered the building, people bowed to him and made way.
Secretary Park pressed the elevator button. Han Seung-jae entered first, followed by Secretary Park, and the doors closed.
Looking at Han Seung-jae’s reflection in the door, Secretary Park asked:
“Should we change the attending physician?”
Perhaps Han Seung-jae had already known that the physician would report to his father. Han Seung-jae spoke coldly.
“He was doing a good job.”
“Pardon?”
Secretary Park asked back, uncharacteristically. However, Han Seung-jae stepped out of the elevator as if nothing was wrong.
“Leave him be. If we change him, I’ll have to eat lunches like today’s again.”
It was truly not welcome at all.
The employees at the entrance to the director’s office stood up and opened the office door. Han Seung-jae entered and took off his coat. Secretary Park received it.
Han Seung-jae sat at his desk and opened the stack of pending approval documents.
As Secretary Park turned around holding the coat, the conversation between the two in the room brushed past his ears.
“I’m sorry. I’ll never do such a thing again.”
“Tell my father. That his grandson is an alpha.”
The physician opened his mouth in bewilderment.
“That… that can only be known through genetic testing after the child is born. Surely CEO Han knows this fact too.”
Regardless, Han Seung-jae’s voice rang out coldly.
“Then you’ll have to work harder? Make my father believe it. You said you don’t need money, but you need honor, right?”
Finishing his reminiscence, Secretary Park, who had put away the coat, slowly turned around. He approached Han Seung-jae, who was sitting at his desk flipping through documents, and said:
“…What if the child manifests as an omega?”
Secretary Park needed to prepare for contingencies too. The physician being fired would be the least of their problems, and the already strained father-son relationship would become even more starkly divided.
As if not unaware of Secretary Park’s concerns, Han Seung-jae raised his head from the documents. Han Seung-jae’s eyes were still cold.
“That’s something to think about when the time comes. If it’s something Seo I-Kyung will hear anyway, wouldn’t it be better if it’s good news?”
***
From early morning, people were coming and going at the townhouse in Seongbuk-dong. Even Butler Do was unaware of these events. He hadn’t heard anything about this from Secretary Park. Yet gift piles kept appearing in the reception room.
Butler Do examined the items lined up next to the sofa. Some were sent by companies, others by individuals. The senders were all different. The sizes and contents varied too.
“Are these for Director Han?”
If so, there were baby items mixed in. There were even things for omegas. Someone had even included a set of earrings and a necklace, as if they had misunderstood.
“Butler Do, where should I put this?”
At helper Da-hye’s words, Butler Do turned around. He pointed to an empty space near the sofa for now. She put down the flower basket there and left.
Knock knock, Butler Do knocked on the studio door. The door opened slightly and Seo I-Kyung poked his head out. His pale face held a questioning look in his eyes.
“Did something happen?”
Seo I-Kyung asked that while looking at Butler Do’s troubled face. Then he opened the door and came out. Jin Seon-yoo followed, taking off his apron.
“I think they’re for Seung-jae.”
After looking around the reception room, Seo I-Kyung concluded this. Who else would send all these boxes?
“I thought so too, so I called Secretary Park to ask.”
“What is all this?”
At that moment, Min Ra-hyun’s voice cut in. He went ahead of Seo I-Kyung and touched the boxes around the sofa. Then he picked up a card from among the flower baskets and read it. “Sincere congratulations.”
Butler Do looked at this scene and opened his mouth towards Seo I-Kyung.
“Secretary Park said they’re all gifts for you, Young Master.”
“For me?”
Seo I-Kyung’s doubt was momentary. Butler Do recalled his recent phone call with Secretary Park and said:
“He said those who should give are giving, and those who should receive are receiving.”
Seo I-Kyung felt as if he could hear Han Seung-jae’s indifferent voice in his ear.