RACA 90

Lee Daebak did not immediately understand what he had just heard.

Buzz. Buzz. Bzz. Bzz.

He felt the vibration against his palm. When he checked the name on the screen, he remembered what his son had just said.

“S-stupid. Y-you really, believe s-such nonsense?”

Lee Daebak smirked. It was a sneer. He too had once been an ordinary alpha who dreamed of a stable home and a future.

But what was the result?

Once the child was born, his wife treated him like a machine that only made money. When he had looked elsewhere for a moment because he was lonely, he found his wife hypocrisy disgusting.

So he had gone out more, and then stopped going home altogether. That was all, but the wife who had promised him forever disappeared, leaving only the child behind.

“Love forever, ha, what a fool.”

“Who even thinks like that?”

“…What?”

“No one knows how life will go. I can’t tell what will happen far ahead, but right now, I do love him.”

Eunsol was a realistic type. Though he had a bright personality, he never believed blindly when it came to the future.

He and Jaebeom had confirmed their feelings and even married. He wanted to stay with him for a long time. But could he promise forever? Well, not really.

“C-could you, s-say that, to Mr. Pyo t-too?”

Eunsol rolled his eyes. What kind of face would Jaebeom make if he said that honestly. He would probably look dumbfounded.

Or he might frown in annoyance, saying, they’re already married, how could he still talk like that.

“I haven’t even said I love him yet, so I don’t know about that.”

When he said that while tilting his head, Lee Daebak’s face changed strangely. Eunsol wondered why but didn’t think much of it. He had already figured out why he had been kidnapped. Now he had to find out who was behind it.

‘It doesn’t seem like that person called President Kim.’

He thought hard about how to get information out of him.

“Y-you h-heard, right? H-he’s not attached! So if y-you p-pay me, I’ll t-take care of it myself!”

That was when Eunsol realized that Lee Daebak was staring at his phone. A chill ran down his spine.

–I won’t let him go just because he didn’t accept all of my heart. So Mr. Lee Daebak, you’d better make your choice carefully.

As he had guessed, Lee Daebak had secretly kept the call connected and was passing everything to Jaebeom.

As if he had read Eunsol’s mind, Jaebeom spoke. His lazy tone made it sound as though none of this affected him, but Eunsol knew better. He knew how nervous Jaebeom must be now.

Even if they hadn’t met in person recently, Eunsol had seen his acting through countless media appearances. That was why he could tell Jaebeom was desperately pretending to be calm, just like he was.

‘I’m sorry, Jaebeom-ssi.’

If he hadn’t fallen asleep then, he wouldn’t have been dragged here like this. At the very least, he would have contacted Jaebeom or left him a clue.

So what Eunsol had to do now was meet him unharmed and tell him his feelings clearly.

What was happening now wasn’t Jaebeom’s doing. Everything was moving according to the plan Lee Daebak had set.

Even if Eunsol had been tricked into speaking his true feelings, he had to make Jaebeom know that those feelings were not light.

“I-I said no! You heard him j-just now!”

–That has nothing to do with what we’re negotiating.

“H-how c-could it n-not!? H-he b-betrayed you! S-so y-you don’t have to c-care what I d-do w-with him!”

–Listening to you, it sounds like you’re the one who wants to do something to Eunsol. Why? Did someone tell you there’s money in it? Or maybe you can’t take revenge on me, so you plan to take it out on him instead?

Jaebeom paused and let out a long sigh.

–Ah, maybe it’s not Eunsol you’re after. Maybe it’s the twins.

“W-what’re y-you talking about?!”

Lee Daebak reacted violently. Eunsol leaned quietly against the car body. His legs were starting to ache.

As the months went by, the weight increased, and standing for long periods became difficult. Since Lee Daebak was busy arguing with Jaebeom and not paying attention to him, Eunsol had to find a way to turn things around.

He looked around carefully. His gaze stopped on the driver’s seat. The car started with a button, so there was no key in the slot. That meant if the smart key was inside the car, he could drive.

‘Where is it?’

Would Lee Daebak be carrying it himself?

Eunsol turned his body completely toward the car and scanned the inside. His eyes lit up. Just as he had hoped, the smart key was left on the door trim.

–How much do you want? Five billion? Ten billion?

Running away on foot was impossible, but if he could get the car, he had a chance. Now, while Lee Daebak’s attention was on Jaebeom, was his only opportunity.

‘The luggage should still be in the trunk.’

He had put all the suitcases there when they left the airport earlier. Unless Lee Daebak had thrown them out along the way, they should still be there.

Eunsol moved quietly toward the front of the car and glanced at the direction where Lee Daebak stood.

“W-what?”

–Name your price, and bring Lee Eunsol back to me. That’s my condition.

Hearing that enormous amount seemed to throw Lee Daebak off balance. He looked unsure of what to do. Jaebeom really was a brilliant actor.

‘He’s shaking him on purpose to confuse him and draw out the answer he wants.’

Jaebeom probably had no intention of paying him any money. He was only stalling to figure out where they were.

“O-one, one hundred billion?”

–That’s right. Bring Lee Eunsol to me. I don’t need to say that he must not be hurt.

“W-wait, j-just, wait.”

–Fine. Take your time and talk it through. But I want to hear every word of what you say.

It was obvious now that Jaebeom had taken control. His negotiation skills were impressive enough to inspire awe. Eunsol bit back the urge to click his tongue and moved again.

He had reached the middle of the car’s hood. Half more and he would reach the driver’s seat.

“I-it’s m-me. Th-they’re talking a-about f-fifty billion. But it’s on the c-condition that I b-bring the o-omega.”

Even in that situation, Eunsol found it ridiculous that Lee Daebak was still trying to keep half for himself.

‘Human greed really has no end.’

He himself hadn’t even touched his grandmother’s inheritance, not knowing what to do with it, just keeping it in his account.

‘Now that I think of it, if a father like that had shown up, that would’ve been a problem.’

He thought briefly of his biological father, who had disappeared after leaving him with his grandmother. Then he heard the voice rising through the speaker and listened closely.

–This isn’t about money. I want to make Pyo Jaebeom cry blood. So don’t you dare give in!

From the rough, hoarse voice, Eunsol could tell the man was middle-aged at least. And from what he said, it was clear he had a bad history with Jaebeom.

‘Who is that?’

He felt frustrated that he knew nothing about the drama world. But unlike him, Jaebeom seemed to have already figured out who the culprit was.

–So it’s you, President Shin.

There was a brief silence after the mocking reveal.

–Pyo Jaebeom, you bastard! I’ll destroy you! I swear I’ll destroy you!

Then curses and harsh words came from the other phone in Lee Daebak’s hand. But Jaebeom ignored it and spoke calmly.

–Then do it. If you’re going to destroy me, come at me. Why are you dragging someone else into it? You really have no backbone, President Shin.

–What did you say? You bastard!

–I won’t repeat myself. If you want to talk to me, bring Eunsol Lee to me. We’ll settle everything after that. Got it?

Eunsol moved carefully so Lee Daebak wouldn’t notice. He finally reached the driver’s side. Meanwhile, they were still arguing.

–Hah! You think things will go your way? Never. You’ll never find your omega.

The call with the man called President Shin ended abruptly. Jaebeom seemed to notice but didn’t care.

–Lee Daebak, think carefully. Bring Eunsol to me, and the whole hundred billion is yours. So move now.

At that moment, as Eunsol was about to open the driver’s door, his eyes met Lee Daebak’s in midair.