Chapter 57 - Naomi

She slowly inhaled the smoke and exhaled as she smiled furtively. “I can’t make any promises as to how I might be. We wouldn’t know until the time comes, right?”

She was right, but as the person directly involved, it wasn’t like I could just accept and nod obediently.

As I kept my silence, Naomi asked, “If I don’t hit you, would touching be allowed?”

“Pardon me?” I thought I had misheard.

When I blinked my eyes in confusion, she chuckled. “Even if you’re an omega, you can still sleep with women. It’s just that you won’t be able to have children. In fact, it might be better this way if it’s just for enjoyment purposes.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words. I knew that she was quite experienced with men, but I didn’t think that I could be one of her candidates. Of course, that wasn’t what she was getting at.

“How cute. You remind me of my son, you know.”

“Your son?” Did Naomi have children? She was married twice, but as far as I knew, she was single right now. I never heard that she had children, and the only people I found at her place other than herself when I had visited her were employees. I frantically retraced my memories before dubiously staring at her. “Could it be that little dog at your place—”

“Yes, Mickie!”

At that moment, I was unable to control my facial expression. Jesus Christ, to think that I would hear that I remind someone of a dog… However, when she saw my distorted face, she giggled loudly as if it were the most amusing thing.

“You really do look alike. Mickie makes that face whenever he’s angry at me. Look, isn’t he cute?” Naomi found a photo on her phone and tried to show me. 

Of course, I refused. “It’s all right. Excuse me for a second.”

I was just about to tell her that I would go look for Charles when she suddenly wobbled. Surprised, I grabbed Naomi in reflex.

The pheromones that were wrapped around her rushed inside me without warning along with my breath. I hurriedly stopped my breath, but my heart was already pounding, and my hands were soaked in sweat. Forcing myself to calm down, I supported Naomi’s body. Her gaze that rested upon me seemed somewhat hazy.

I was finally able to grasp the situation. Naomi was drunk on pheromones. Even a beta must be affected if they were pickled in this many pheromones.

‘To be fair, I was like that, too.’

It might not have immediately affected her because she was a beta, but it took effect as time passed. Since she was completely fine when she first walked out of the mansion, the pheromones must have been absorbed at a delayed pace. I bitterly grabbed Naomi’s arm. The pain must have brought her back a little, as she scrunched up her face.

“It’s because of the pheromones. When you get back, make sure you shower before going to bed. We’ll get you some meds, so take those as well… Otherwise, you might transition into an omega,” I added bitterly.

Naomi, who was slowly blinking her eyes, suddenly smiled. “You’re very kind, Mr. Puppy.”

A truly unexpected thing happened after that. She abruptly grabbed my face and thrust her lips toward me.

Our lips met before I could avoid it. It was more like an accident than anything else. I stood frozen for a moment, unable to react right away. Meanwhile, Naomi firmly pressed her soft lips against mine, followed by her tongue.

The wet sensation slapped me awake. I frantically peeled her off and shouted, “What are you doing? Snap out of it.”

“Hahaha.” She laughed as if she found it truly entertaining. Of course, I didn’t laugh at all. As I hurriedly wiped my lips, I saw Charles walking out of the building.

“Charles.” I greeted him more happily than ever and called him over.

Charles, who had brought me my jacket, soon spotted Naomi and came walking straight toward her. “I will drive you home. Why don’t you head back, Yeonwoo?” He willingly handed me the jacket and was about to escort Naomi away.

“Um—” I quickly interjected, “She seems to be drunk on pheromones. She may need some meds…”

Charles replied as impassively as ever, “It happens all the time. Don’t worry about it.”

Watching the butler’s unwavering reaction made me wonder if I had shamefully given Naomi unnecessary advice. However, Naomi didn’t seem to understand the situation at all.

“See you next time, Mr. Puppy.” Naomi giggled and blew me a kiss.

I didn’t say anything. I stood still as I watched Charles drag Naomi away when I suddenly felt chilly. Before I knew it, I looked up and jolted.

Keith was sitting down and leaning on the guardrails of the balcony, smoking a cigarette as he looked down at me. Feeling as if my heart had sunk to the ground, I looked up at him.

Neither Keith nor I spoke. We merely stared at each other. Since when had he been there? How much of it did he see? Why was he looking at me like that?

What was going through his head right now?

I wanted to know everything, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. A few of his shirt buttons were undone, and his hair was ruffled. He looked more roughed up than I had ever seen. I was taken aback by Keith’s unfamiliar appearance, but at the same time, taken away.

A lonely gust of night air brushed past me. Left with no choice, I lifted my arm to hold onto my hair that had been messed up by the wind. When I looked up after much hesitation, Keith was still there.

He deeply exhaled some smoke. The cloudy white smoke that rolled linearly seemed to pierce through the air for a moment before scattering about. I thought I saw Keith knit his brows for a split second. I subconsciously tilted my head.

Keith suddenly moved his body. I watched him as he retracted his gaze away from me and disappeared into his bedroom.

‘Ah.’ Only when I felt a stinging pain in my desolate heart did I realize that I was left alone in this empty garden.