AOA 10

The wedding planner handled almost all of the wedding preparations. As for the exchange of gifts and ceremonial goods between families, my biological father and stepmother took care of it all.

All I had to do was participate in the suit fittings for the wedding day and take the wedding photos. I also had to manage my skin, diet, and work out, but none of it was too hard.

Since Baek Mugyeong had to go to work during the week, the wedding shoot was naturally scheduled for Sunday. Thanks to the wedding planner confirming the schedule multiple times, I was able to arrive at the studio on time.

There were a total of seven outfits prepared. Based on my experience before the regression, every time I changed clothes, they would re-style my hair and fix my makeup. Knowing it would take nearly the entire day to finish the shoot, I had mentally prepared myself.

But the real problem wasn’t the time.

“Alright, grooms. Look this way and smile.”

The photographer shouted desperately. But neither I nor Baek Mugyeong showed any expression befitting grooms about to be married. We were both openly broadcasting that we didn’t want to get married. It was obvious people around us found it strange, but neither of us cared.

The wedding planners standing behind the set looked as if they were in mourning. Understandably so, at this rate, the mood of the wedding photos would be dismal.

“Cheeese~ Repeat after me, cheese. Wait, did you two have a fight? You really don’t look like newlyweds. The composition is fantastic, but it looks like you’re about to pull out guns and shoot each other. This is supposed to be a wedding shoot.”

The bubbly photographer tried hard to smooth over the awkward situation. But the mood didn’t improve.

In the end, neither of us smiled. The photographer, after repeated attempts, finally declared a ten-minute break. He left, telling us to sort things out, saying it would be tough to continue like this.

The wedding planners, who had been watching the situation, led us to Baek Mugyeong’s break room. They suggested we change the wedding photo concept to something more serious and somber instead. In exchange, they proposed taking just one cheerful shot to show the guests.

“Let’s do that.”

Having been through this once before, I agreed without protest. Honestly, the wedding planners weren’t at fault. They were just doing their job for pay.

Before the regression, neither Baek Mugyeong nor I had been cooperative. Only after the planners practically begged did we force some smiles for the photos. Then the photographer worked their editing magic, and the pictures displayed at the wedding came out looking fairly decent.

Thinking back now, we had behaved terribly. I couldn’t repeat that this time, so I resolved to do better.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Baek Mugyeong. The man, arms crossed, nodded reluctantly.

“Alright.”

The planners’ faces instantly brightened, and they suggested I go to the adjacent break room to fix my makeup.

The studio was large and had several break rooms, so we could each use separate ones.

“Will you have time after the shoot? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Before leaving, I addressed Baek Mugyeong. Once we parted today, we wouldn’t see each other again until the wedding. So I had to settle things today if possible.

“Let’s talk here.”

At his gesture, the planners, reading the mood, excused themselves from the room and even closed the door behind them.

“What is it?”

Baek Mugyeong was the first to speak. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo with his hair immaculately styled, he looked so good that even another man would find him impressive. Just as the photographer had said, it was a picture-perfect image.

Despite his broad frame, his limbs were long and sleek, giving no sense of heaviness. His strong-featured face and sharp eyes gave off a dangerous aura.

Under that piercing gaze, I tensed up without realizing it. But this was something important, so I took a deep breath and gathered my courage.

Before the regression, I had barely spoken to Baek Mugyeong at all. Even during the wedding shoot, we had only exchanged glances. I couldn’t even remember how the wedding ceremony ended. After the honeymoon, when Baek Mugyeong said we should just stay out of each other’s way, we truly lived like strangers.

If I wanted to reach an agreement with Baek Mugyeong, now was the time.

“There’s something I need to discuss.”

He gave a look that said, “Go ahead.” Even in that small gesture, his arrogance showed. I ignored it and carefully chose my words.

“As you know, I haven’t manifested as an omega yet.”

“I’m aware.”

“Even though the probability is ninety-one percent, no one can say for sure what will happen.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

I had laid the groundwork, so now I needed to get to the point. I steadied myself and gathered strength in my stomach.

“If I don’t manifest as an omega, this marriage will be a sham. Executive Director Baek, I understand you’re drafting a prenuptial contract. I’d like it to state that if I haven’t manifested as an omega within one year of marriage… then we will divorce.”

Though I stumbled slightly at the end, I made it clear what I was asking for. I could, after receiving the money, do something reckless to provoke a divorce. But citing my failure to manifest as an omega would be the most straightforward justification.

Before the regression, someone from Baek Mugyeong’s family had called the marriage a scam to my face. I had just laughed it off, not in my right mind, but the mood had definitely been unpleasant.

The chairman of Daesong Group, who had arranged the marriage to secure an alpha great-grandchild, brought up divorce after two years had passed. If I hadn’t conveniently failed to manifest as an omega, I probably would’ve been kicked out.

Even after changing from Lee Eunho to Jeong Minchae and getting regular manifestation stimulants, my body showed no change. The doctor even said it was an extremely rare case.

Although it was likely the side effects of the medication that prevented me from manifesting in the previous timeline, even if I avoided them this time, I still wouldn’t manifest within a year.

One year was enough. By then, I would have multiplied my money significantly and could treat my brother without needing my father’s help. I’d even repay every cent he had spent so far, so he wouldn’t be able to use that as leverage.

This was not a bad deal for Baek Mugyeong either.

Before the regression, when I didn’t manifest as an omega, people blamed Baek Mugyeong for entering a fraudulent marriage. Worse, they said he wasn’t a capable alpha.

According to common belief, frequent exposure to an alpha’s pheromones increases the likelihood of omega manifestation. That someone like me, with over a ninety-one percent probability, still hadn’t manifested led to rumors that Baek Mugyeong lacked the necessary alpha traits, despite being a dominant alpha.

Baek Mugyeong might not know the future, but he was smart enough to understand the consequences if I didn’t manifest within a year.

But instead of agreeing, Baek Mugyeong stared at me in silence. His gaze felt like it could see right through me, and I couldn’t breathe under the weight of that silence.

“…I didn’t expect you to be so astute.”

His tone was calm, but it didn’t sound like praise. It felt more like mockery, an undercurrent of disdain. It wasn’t just the marriage, he seemed to dislike me, too.

Before the regression, Baek Mugyeong rarely showed emotion. He wasn’t warm to me, but he wasn’t hostile either. Even when I made dumb mistakes due to declining mental faculties, he never got angry. Instead, he did his best to clean up after me.

He would sometimes sigh or look at me with disappointment, but he never verbally lashed out or tried to torment me. Thinking back now, it felt more like he pitied me.

But maybe because of the butterfly effect from our first meeting, a lot had changed this time, and for the worse.

Feigning ignorance, I responded calmly.

“So, what will you do?”

“Do you think you’ll be able to divorce after a year?”

“If I don’t manifest as an omega, this marriage will be meaningless.”

“You do realize this marriage is supposed to be meaningless, don’t you? Ah, I see you do.”

I failed to hide my reaction, and of course, Baek Mugyeong noticed.

Vice Chairman Baek Jaehan had chosen me specifically to prevent Baek Mugyeong from forming a strong marital alliance. It was no surprise that Baek Mugyeong was aware of his uncle’s scheme—he had even said outright that this marriage wasn’t his choice.

I had a basic understanding of the family dynamics in Daesong Group. But I still didn’t know why Baek Mugyeong hadn’t refused the marriage his uncle had arranged. After all, he had said he was reconsidering it after witnessing Jeong Guhyeon’s violence.

At any rate, one thing was clear: Baek Mugyeong was dissatisfied with this entire marriage.

“Then, Executive Director Baek, are you saying you have no intention of divorcing? Wouldn’t it be more advantageous to divorce?”

I asked bluntly. If we were going to divorce, we had to be in sync.

“Mr. Jeong Minchae.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you remember saying we should stay out of each other’s business?”

“I remember. But that doesn’t have anything to do with divorce, does it?”

“I’m saying, don’t try to gauge whether I want a divorce or not. If I did, I would’ve brought up the prenup myself.”