Chapter 148: WALKING ON THIN ICE
GARAM may look calm outside, but he was actually a nervous wreck inside.
Right now, he was having an afternoon tea with Song Sihyuk in one of the mansion’s fancy reception rooms.
There was a variety of snacks and pastries served along with the tea.
But that wasn’t the thing that was keeping him calm— it was seeing his son feed the group of koi fish in the pond with his grandparents.
It seemed like Song Sihyuk chose that room on purpose.
After all, it was just across the koi pond.
The windows were wide open, so Garam could see Gunwoo and his in-laws.
They’re playing well.
"Don’t worry, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk assured him after the tea and the food were served. "I made sure our drinks and food aren’t spiked this time."
"Oh, I’m not worried about that. I knew you wouldn’t bring us here if the place isn’t safe yet."
"Does it mean you see me as someone you can depend on?"
"I just don’t underestimate the protectiveness of an Alpha, that’s all."
"Is it so hard to say that you trust me, Garam-ah?"
"There’s a reason we’re divorced now, Hyung."
"Well, you have a point there," Song Sihyuk admitted, leaning against the chair while crossing his arms over his chest. "I was the one who asked for a divorce back then. But the fact that you agreed right away must mean I had been a horrible husband to you."
"Yes, you treated me horribly, Hyung."
"Aigooya. You didn’t even try to deny it. I think my feelings are hurt, Garam-ah."
"Hyung, we only got married because you wanted a test subject for the miracle pills. So, it’s natural that our marriage ended after I became an Omega."
Technically, it wasn’t a lie.
Their marriage started that way, after all.
Sihyuk Hyung doesn’t need to know that we fell in love with each other, and his obsession with me was the true reason behind our divorce.
"I really don’t remember that part. But that explanation fits the report that I got from Jung Han before— that I chose you for that little experiment of mine."
Whew.
Mija’s ’curse’ was really powerful.
Everyone who knows about my marriage with Sihyuk Hyung, except for Appa and Dr. Seong, has ’forgotten’ about me. Not in an amnesia kind of way. They know that I exist, but they don’t think about me that much. And their memories of me were hazy. Plus, Mija made sure that everyone who knew I was pregnant would forget about that part.
"Anyway, let’s not talk about our failed marriage."
Garam nodded because he really didn’t want to talk about that either.
"So, let’s talk about Mija."
Whew.
Here we go.
Thankfully, Garam had already made up a story in his mind.
I just need to answer as calmly as possible.
"Mija is a shaman that serves our family," Song Sihyuk said, the vibes around him suddenly got serious. "And it seems like everyone in our family, especially my grandfather who’s very superstitious, has forgotten about her. That’s why I find her sudden disappearance suspicious."
"I’m not sure what happened for you to forget about the child, but I can tell you that she didn’t turn her back on your family," Garam explained, hoping that he sounded as calm as he wanted to be. "Mija chose to come with me because she wanted to make sure I’d give birth to Gunwoo safely. After all, my son is the reason you needed to marry me in the first place."
Garam had to sprinkle his lie with a bit of the truth.
Sihyuk Hyung is quick-witted, so I can’t really fool him.
"Mija knew that my son was needed to preserve your family’s fortune. That’s why she chose to come with me."
"I understand that part," Song Sihyuk said while nodding. "But how come we seem to have forgotten everything about her?"
"Like I said earlier, I’m not sure about that."
"Right, I should ask Mija directly."
Hearing that made Garam nervous, but he didn’t show it.
I can already tell what Sihyuk Hyung wants to say.
"Garam-ah, I want to meet Mija."
Ah, I knew it.
"You don’t need my permission for that," Garam said, still acting calm. "We should be asking Mija herself."
Song Sihyuk nodded in agreement. "Then you don’t mind calling Mija for me, right?"
Tsk.
***
"DAAAD, can Daddy sleep with us?"
"No, absolutely not," Garam said bluntly, but he still smiled ’sweetly’ as his son. "You can choose to sleep either with me or your daddy, though."
Gunwoo pouted.
On the other hand, Song Sihyuk— who was carrying Gunwoo in his arms— clicked his tongue as if he were disappointed.
"Then I’ll sleep with you, Dad."
"Good choice, baby," Garam said, opening his arms. "Come here."
Song Sihyuk sighed before handing Gunwoo to Garam carefully— while complaining. "Garam-ah, you’re too guarded."
Garam ignored the Alpha’s useless complaint. "Good night, Hyung."
"Tsk."
Again, Garam ignored Song Sihyuk’s whining as he focused on Gunwoo. "Baby, say goodnight to your daddy."
"Good night, Daddy," Gunwoo said sleepily, and then the child opened his arms. "Give me a kiss, Daddy."
What?
Garam was surprised by Gunwoo’s request.
And so was Song Sihyuk.
But a glint of playfulness instantly crossed the Alpha’s eyes.
Hyung is enjoying this...
"Sure," Song Sihyuk said, and then he stepped closer— leaning down to kiss Gunwoo on the forehead. But the Alpha’s heated gaze didn’t leave Garam’s face. "I’ll give you a kiss, baby."
Garam avoided Song Sihyuk’s gaze, his cheeks flustered for some reason.
Song Sihyuk was flirting with him— he could tell by the Alpha’s pheromones!
Why is he doing this to me?
***
"DAD, I don’t want rice— I wanna eat pancakes with fried chicken..."
Oh.
Garam was quite embarrassed when Gunwoo requested something that wasn’t served on the table.
Their breakfast today was a full Korean breakfast.
He was about to tell Gunwoo to eat whatever was on his plate, but...
"You heard my son," Song Sihyuk said to the waiting staff. "Ask the chef to make pancakes with fried chicken."
Aigooya.
One of the waitstaff bowed his head politely before leaving, probably to go to the kitchen.
My son is really getting spoiled rotten here.
Even his in-laws didn’t bat an eye as if it were natural to give the child what he wanted to eat instead of urging him to eat what was already served on the table.
Is this really okay?
"Thank you, Hyung," Garam whispered when he made eye contact with Song Sihyuk. "You didn’t have to, though. Gunwoo should learn to eat what’s served on the table."
"It’s fine from time to time," Song Sihyuk said casually, and then he turned to Gunwoo. "Is there anything else you want to eat, Gunwoo-ya?"
Gunwoo, who was busy stuffing his face with grapes, just shook his head.
"Do you like pancakes, sweetie?" Lee Wonjae asked, obviously pleased. "I guess you’re really like your daddy. When he was your age, your daddy didn’t like rice either. He liked pancakes, sausages, bacon, and the likes."
"Well, our Sihyuk grew up overseas," Seong Seokju said. "Gunwoo-ya, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the food in Western countries where your daddy used to live. Do you want to go on a vacation with us?"
Gunwoo tilted his head to one side. "Vacation?"
"Yes— and we’ll ride an airplane."
"Airplane!" Gunwoo clapped his hands excitedly. "I’ve never been on an airplane!"
Garam was surprised when Song Sihyuk and his in-laws looked at him as if they were surprised by what Gunwoo had just said.
Wait, what?
"Uhm, Gunwoo doesn’t have a passport yet," Garam said awkwardly. "To be honest, this is the first time Gunwoo has left Nami Island. He hasn’t gone anywhere far yet..."
"What?" Song Sihyuk asked in disbelief, knitting his eyebrows. "Then where do you take our son for vacation during the holidays?"
"We just usually tour around the island..."
Song Sihyuk was obviously stunned.
Aigooya.
I can take Gunwoo anywhere, okay? But I didn’t want to accidentally meet you or something if we leave the island.
And he was right.
The moment we left the island, we immediately met.
But Garam couldn’t say that, so he just kept his mouth shut.
And, yeah, he had to endure Song Sihyuk’s judgmental look.
Tsk.
"We’re getting Gunwoo his passport today," Song Sihyuk said sternly, and then he looked at Gunwoo. "Son, do you want to go to D*sneyland? L*GOLAND? We can go to the US, or Japan, or whatever country you want to visit."
"I don’t know those places, Daddy," Gunwoo said casually. "But I wanna ride on a plane!"
"Alright," Song Sihyuk said while gently patting Gunwoo’s head. "It seems like my son loves airplanes, huh? Now I know what present to give you on your birthday."
Aigooya.
"That better be a toy, Hyung," Garam said, glaring at Song Sihyuk, who just shrugged and avoided his gaze. "Just. A. Toy."
Gunwoo doesn’t need a private plane!
***
OF COURSE, my in-laws have a mini-golf course in their garden.
After all, Garam’s Omega father-in-law was a legendary golf player.
And, now, Lee Wonjae was teaching Gunwoo how to play golf using the complete gear set (for kids) that he gifted to the child.
He heard his Omega father-in-law mention ’driver,’ ’7 iron,’ ’driver headcover,’ etc.
Garam had already forgotten everything related to golf that Lee Wonjae had taught him before, so he couldn’t really follow what his Omega father-in-law was introducing to his son.
I can tell that those golf clubs are expensive, though.
"What are you thinking, Garam-ah?" Song Sihyuk asked when he stood next to Garam. "Do you want me to teach you how to play golf?"
"No, I’m fine," Garam said while shaking his head. "I’m just worried that the expensive golf club that Appa gifted to Gunwoo might go to waste. I know Gunwoo is bigger than kids his age, but he’s still only four years old. He might get bored with golf soon..."
"I don’t think Appa will let that happen," Song Sihyuk said nonchalantly. "And it’s not like a set of golf clubs for kids would make Appa go bankrupt."
Right.
I should never worry about money around these rich people.
Garam was about to ask Song Sihyuk if he wasn’t going to work when Song Seokju, his Alpha father-in-law, had already left the house.
But he got distracted when his phone rang.
It was a call from Mija.
"Let me just pick up this call, Hyung," Garam said, showing his phone to the Alpha. "It’s from Mija."
Song Sihyuk just nodded.
When Garam picked up the call...
"Oppa, Grandfather Chairman’s people have picked me up from our apartment— I’m on my way to meet Grandfather Chairman now."
What?!
***
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