“I’ll call you back later.”
“…….”
“Haa….”
After ending the call, Seung-hyuk let out a long sigh.
Hyeon-woo approached him and asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“Hyung, it’s just…”
“……?”
His expression was unusually serious, making Hyeon-woo tense up as well.
With a displeased look, Seung-hyuk finally answered,
“My mother flew back to Korea.”
“What? Your mother?”
“Yes.
When I told her I was getting married… she said she has to meet you.”
“Ah…”
Professor Lee Hyun-ah—Seung-hyuk’s mother.
He vaguely remembered seeing her once before regression.
Her sharp gaze back then had been intense enough to leave an impression.
His shoulders shrank without meaning to.
Another sudden marriage… of course she wouldn’t look kindly on him.
She probably rushed back to confront him.
Before regression, he had avoided meeting her altogether—since he knew nothing good would come of it.
Thinking of his past foolishness, Hyeon-woo bit his lip.
“Hyung.”
“……!”
Warm fingers pressed gently against his lips.
At the same time, a comforting wave of pheromones wrapped around him.
“If it’s too much, you don’t have to meet her.
I’ll talk to her myself.”
“No…
No, I shouldn’t avoid it this time.”
“Hyung…”
“I’ll meet her with you.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
Nodding, Hyeon-woo exhaled deeply.
He had to convince Seung-hyuk’s parents eventually.
It was sooner than planned, but maybe not a bad timing.
He steadied his anxious heart.
That weekend, Hyeon-woo headed to a café near their home with Seung-hyuk.
Professor Lee Hyun-ah always stayed at the same hotel whenever she came to Korea.
They wondered if they should go to her instead, but she said she was coming this way to visit their home as well.
Hyeon-woo tried to look calm, but his anxiety grew the closer the meeting approached.
He still remembered the cold eyes that mirrored Seung-hyuk’s own.
“It’s okay, hyung.
If she says anything harsh, I’ll handle it.”
“…….”
Since they were imprinted, no matter how he tried to hide it, his anxiety leaked straight into Seung-hyuk.
So this was a downside of imprinting.
He gulped down water to soothe his nerves.
“I’m a bit late, aren’t I?”
“……!”
A fresh voice entered along with a burst of citrus scent.
Startled, Hyeon-woo turned sharply.
“Hello, Professor.”
“Professor?
Oh, please.
Just speak comfortably.”
“Ah… yes.
I’m Joo Hyeon-woo.”
“I know.
You’re quite famous.”
“Haha…”
Hyun-ah smiled at him.
Her friendly expression was unfamiliar, leaving Hyeon-woo unsure how to react.
Up close, her resemblance to Seung-hyuk was striking.
If Seung-hyuk were shorter with long wavy hair, he might look exactly like her.
Her soft brown hair, even lighter eyes, elegantly sharp cat-like features—
She was beautiful in a cool, almost mysterious way.
Sitting across from them, she raised the corners of her lips.
“You two look good together.”
“…Do we?”
“Yes.
My talented son, honestly…”
“……!”
A loud smack echoed in the café as Hyun-ah slapped Seung-hyuk’s shoulder.
Startled, Hyeon-woo’s eyes darted between them.
“Ow—!
That hurt!”
“You seduced him with your face, didn’t you?
You should be grateful to me.
You got your good looks from my genes.”
“Mom, can you please lower your voice?”
Laughing, Hyun-ah waved him off.
“…….”
What… was happening?
This was not the woman he had imagined.
Before regression, he’d only seen her briefly, but she had seemed elegant, cold, and distant.
Not… this.
This lively, unfiltered personality was completely unexpected.
“Sorry if I surprised you.
It’s just… I’m amazed.”
“Amazed?”
“Yes.
My son—who’s ignored people since birth—suddenly has someone he likes?
And with that face of his, he even suffered one-sided love?
It’s hilarious.”
“O-one-sided…?”
“Haa…”
Seung-hyuk groaned and rubbed his forehead.
Then it clicked for Hyeon-woo.
That early morning phone call he once misunderstood—
Seung-hyuk had been talking to his mother, confessing he came to Korea because he liked someone.
Hyun-ah had apparently bombarded him with questions then, too.
“So you really didn’t like him back at first?
His personality’s a bit rough, but he’s good-looking.
Must be nice he takes after me.
Or was it because you were both alphas then?”
“Professor, um…”
“He’s stubborn, sure, but he listens well to the person he loves.
He just acts tough.”
“…….”
She knew her son perfectly.
Watching her, Hyeon-woo swallowed hard.
“Please stop, Mom.”
“I’m just curious!
Munseong will be family now, so I need to make sure this is real.”
“Haa…”
She certainly seemed excited.
Before regression, she had opposed Seung-hyuk’s marriage harshly.
But now she wasn’t even resisting.
It was surreal—and a relief.
“And hyung isn’t an alpha anymore.”
“What?”
“There was an accident.
His trait changed.
He’s an omega now.
And… he’s pregnant.
With our baby.”
“……?”
Hyun-ah stared, stunned.
She looked to Hyeon-woo, searching for confirmation.
He nodded slowly.
“How could something like that…”
“I know it’s sudden, but please believe us.
And this must remain confidential.”
“Don’t worry about that… but really…”
“It’s true.”
“Haa…”
Only after hearing confirmation twice did she accept it.
Her gaze drifted toward his still-flat stomach.
“Oh—sorry, that was rude.”
“It’s alright.”
“How far along?”
“About six weeks.”
“Oh my.”
“So you don’t know the s*x yet…” she muttered quietly.
“My son chased after someone he liked, now he’s suddenly getting married, and now I’m becoming a grandmother…”
“Haha…”
Despite her youthful appearance—barely looking over forty—the word “grandmother” seemed to shake her.
“So you plan to hide the pregnancy entirely from the public?”
“Yes.
If anyone discovers I’m an omega, a lot of people will try to attack me.
The child will be added to our family registry later.”
“Well… I’ve heard plenty about corporate families.
I suppose that’s unavoidable.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“…So you’ll have to give birth in secret?”
“Yes.
I’ll be going overseas soon.”
“Overseas?”
“Yes.”
At the mention of that, Hyun-ah’s eyes widened—then she suddenly clapped her hands.
“Oh!
Then come to the U.S.!”
“The U.S.…?
Yes, I’ll probably be assigned to the U.S. branch.
And then—”
“You’ll go somewhere quiet afterward to have the baby secretly, right?”
“Yes, that’s the plan, but—”
“There’s a secluded area near where we live.
No one looks twice there.
Why don’t you stay with us?”
“Oh… over there?”
He hadn’t decided on a place yet.
Her offer was unexpected—
But extremely useful.
The Seung family lived in the U.S. and had strong ties there.
It’d be easier to avoid the media, and no one would think he was hiding in a place he had no known connections to.
And time was running out.
Getting help from them would make everything smoother.
“Then… we’ll be in your care.”
“Of course.
I’ll let my husband know.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
“Professor?
Didn’t I tell you to speak comfortably?
Just call me Mom.”
“No, I couldn’t possibly—”
“Why not?
I’d love it.”
“…….”
Her bright, energetic personality left him dazed.
Eventually, even Seung-hyuk had to step in to shush her.
By the time the meeting ended, Hyeon-woo felt mentally exhausted.
“Then see you in America.”
“Yes… Mother…”
“Hehe.”
She looked delighted hearing him say it.
He and Seung-hyuk waved as she walked away.