SWNOVELXO Chapter 2.3 - Inside the Cold House (3)
Yoichiro decided that pretending to be heartbroken would suffice.
How he would convey this to his spouse…
The thought troubled him for only a moment.
(There’s no need to say anything. If I ignore them during their heat cycle, they’ll eventually find some man, and pregnancy will follow.)
Even Yoichiro could feel the newfound lightness in his step. With a calm mind, he observed the city around him. The festive atmosphere, which had irritated him earlier, no longer bothered him. Instead, he scanned for untapped opportunities, letting his thoughts wander as he made his way home.
As expected, the apartment on one of the top floors was cloaked in darkness when he arrived.
A faint smirk played on Yoichiro’s lips as he headed to the bedroom.
(As I thought, Omegas have no sense of chastity. I’ll never understand Alphas who obsess over them.)
The nature of an Alpha was one of fixation and possessiveness. Once they deemed someone theirs, they couldn’t tolerate another laying a hand on them. This obsessive need for control was almost pathological, and the “mate” bond was said to exist precisely to temper this tendency. A bond rendered an Omega’s heat ineffective on anyone but their mate.
But Yoichiro couldn’t comprehend why anyone would become fixated on an Omega.
What appeal could there possibly be in a being so indiscriminately promiscuous?
If the goal was to preserve superior genetics, wouldn’t it make more sense for Alphas to produce test-tube babies in bulk?
Modern medicine had advanced far beyond the need for Omegas.
The idea of another Alpha succumbing to an Omega’s allure was incomprehensible to Yoichiro.
(It didn’t even last six months.)
Even if Kusunoki had behaved for a while, as his parents had urged, they were still an Omega at their core. Unable to resist their carnal desires, they must have gone out to indulge.
After all, Kusunoki was the son of Kikuchi Manufacturing’s CEO. A small-to-medium-sized business owner with an Omega child would undoubtedly spoil them, seeing them as a tool to secure ties with larger corporations. It wouldn’t be surprising if even their “playful escapades” were condoned as a means of catching an Alpha.
Considering that less than 3% of the population were Alphas, most of whom occupied key roles in politics and economics, any Alpha they ensnared would be a win.
An Omega raised in such an indulgent environment would hardly remain loyal to Yoichiro, who showed no interest in them.
As Yoichiro moved to change clothes, the door ahead of him opened.
“Welcome home.”
At that moment, Yoichiro’s sharp, masculine gaze narrowed, his brow furrowing instinctively.
“…You’re here?”
His voice dropped, cold and cutting.
“Ah! I… I’m sorry… cough…”
A rough, hoarse cough escaped Kusunoki as they hurriedly covered their mouth with both hands.
(So, they stayed home because they’re sick.)
The wet, phlegmy coughing continued unabated.
“Don’t spread it. Just get better quickly,” Yoichiro snapped. Internally, he cursed them, urging them to recover so they could resume their usual escapades. Without another word, he entered the bedroom and tossed his bag onto the bed.
“Damn it! Why are they here?!”
He had been so sure they wouldn’t be home.
An Omega wasn’t supposed to remain chaste forever. Ignoring their heat should have driven them to seek companionship elsewhere. Yet there they were. The rising irritation made Yoichiro want to lash out, but his self-discipline as an Alpha restrained him. Frustrated, he threw his coat onto the bed with a forceful motion.
When was the last time he had been this annoyed?
Every time he returned home, Kusunoki greeted him persistently. No matter how late, there was always a word of welcome. Those greetings had always irritated him, but now they sparked a fury unlike anything he’d felt before.
He couldn’t understand why.
Just seeing Kusunoki’s face had stirred up uncontrollable emotions.
Perhaps his nerves were still frayed from sensing his father’s interference earlier.
Yoichiro’s relationship with his father was anything but amicable. As president and chairman, they maintained a strictly professional relationship, devoid of personal conversations—something that had been true since Yoichiro’s childhood. Yet, his father had no qualms about stepping into Yoichiro’s private life under the guise of parental concern.
The irritation Yoichiro had tried to suppress exploded the moment he saw Kusunoki’s face.
(Don’t pretend to act like a father now!)
It was far too late for that.
Yoichiro knew the real reason behind his father’s insistence: to ensure Kusunoki bore a child, after which they could be discarded. It wasn’t for the company or the family—it was so his father could manipulate Kusunoki at will afterward.
Yoichiro had noticed his father’s unsettling interest in Kusunoki during the wedding.
His father had appraised Kusunoki from head to toe, his gaze lingering uncomfortably as he wore a lecherous smile.
(Despite having a harem of Beta mistresses, he still finds time to fixate on my spouse?)
His father, who had no shortage of attractive lovers, remained insatiably greedy.
Yoichiro recalled the cold, broken family he had grown up in. After his birth, his parents had both abandoned him, deeming their roles fulfilled. They each took lovers and rarely returned home. The vast, empty house of his childhood had been a lonely, frigid place. Even during New Year’s gatherings, the air had been filled with an unwelcoming chill.
Clenching his fists, Yoichiro struggled to contain his anger. Seeking a distraction, he headed to the living room to pour himself a drink. However, the sight of a single plate of food wrapped in plastic on the dining table stopped him in his tracks.
(Again?)
How many days had it been now?
Almost every day, Kusunoki left meals for him.
In the mornings, it would be eggs, salad, and toast. At night, traditional Japanese dishes like simmered vegetables and grilled fish.
It enraged Yoichiro that Kusunoki didn’t approach him directly but instead left food as if to curry favor. Tearing off the plastic wrap, Yoichiro dumped the food into the trash and slammed the empty plate into the sink.
“Trying to win me over? How pathetic.”
He refused to eat anything prepared by an Omega. Who knew what might be in it? No matter how hungry he was, he wouldn’t take a single bite.
Since they had started living together, Yoichiro had thrown out every meal Kusunoki prepared. Kusunoki must have noticed, but they never said anything. Yoichiro almost wished they would confront him—it would at least be more tolerable than the silent pretense.
Reaching for the wine rack designed by an interior decorator, Yoichiro retrieved a bottle of Scotch whisky. He poured himself a glass, letting the rich aroma of the sherry cask fill his senses with every sip.
Even so, his frustration refused to subside.
“Damn it.”
Why did he feel so agitated in his own home, the one place he should be able to relax?
“It’s their fault…”
The sight of Kusunoki after so long had completely ruined his mood. Their coughing—intended, Yoichiro thought, as a passive rebuke—further stoked his anger.
(As if I’d ever bother with an Omega.)
All Yoichiro wanted was to focus on work, free from the burdens of a personal life.
“I shouldn’t have come home,” he muttered, letting out a long sigh. He drained his glass of whisky, the sweet, fruity warmth doing little to soothe his turmoil.
He hadn’t expected them to be there…
Omegas were not the type to remain chaste forever. Ignoring their heat cycle should have driven them to find some release elsewhere. Yet there they were. What was that supposed to mean? Yoichiro’s irritation mounted, an urge to lash out bubbling inside him. But as an Alpha, he forced himself to maintain composure, holding to an image of restraint and propriety. Frustrated, he hurled his coat onto the bed, unsure how else to vent his pent-up anger.
When was the last time he’d felt this irate?
Every time he came home, Kusunoki would greet him—persistently, without fail. No matter how late he returned, there was always a word of welcome waiting. It had always been mildly annoying, but this time, the anger was different—sharper, more explosive.
He couldn’t explain why.
Just seeing Kusunoki’s face stirred something uncontrollable within him.
Perhaps he was agitated because his secretary had reminded him of his father—the man Yoichiro despised most in the world.
His relationship with his father could hardly be called good. As president and chairman, they maintained a strictly professional rapport. There was no private conversation between them—a reality that had existed since Yoichiro’s childhood. Yet, his father had no qualms about trampling into Yoichiro’s private life under the pretense of parental concern. Feigning care, his father would step in and disregard any boundaries without hesitation.
The irritation Yoichiro had been suppressing erupted the moment he saw Kusunoki’s face.
(Don’t act like a father now!)
It was far too late for that.
And Yoichiro knew the reason behind his father’s actions: he wanted Kusunoki to bear a child quickly so they could be discarded. It wasn’t for the family or the company—it was so his father could manipulate Yoichiro’s spouse at his convenience afterward.
Yoichiro recalled the way his father had stared at Kusunoki during their wedding.
He had fixed Kusunoki with an uncomfortably intense gaze, openly appraising them from head to toe, his expression a sickening mix of satisfaction and lechery.
(For a man with so many Beta mistresses, could he not leave my spouse alone?)
His father, who already kept an entourage of beautiful Betas, seemed insatiable.
Yoichiro thought back to his broken family. After his birth, his parents had both taken lovers and stopped coming home, as if their duty had ended. The grand, empty house of his childhood was a cold and lonely place. Even during New Year’s gatherings, the air remained heavy and frosty.
Clenching his fists tightly, Yoichiro fought the urge to punch something, channeling his restless anger as he headed to the living room. He intended to grab a drink to distract himself, but the sight of a single plate of food, carefully wrapped in plastic on the dining table, stopped him.
(Again?)
How many days had it been?
Without fail, Kusunoki left meals for him.
In the mornings, it would be eggs, salad, and toast. At night, traditional Japanese dishes like simmered vegetables and grilled fish.
It infuriated Yoichiro that Kusunoki didn’t directly try to curry favor but instead maintained this infuriating distance, leaving things behind silently. Tearing off the plastic wrap, Yoichiro grabbed the plate and dumped its contents into the trash. He slammed the empty plate into the sink before pulling a glass from the cabinet.
“Trying to win me over? How ridiculous.”
He had no need for such things. Who knew what an Omega might put in their food? No matter how hungry he was, he wouldn’t touch it.
Since they began living together, Yoichiro had thrown away every single meal Kusunoki left for him. Kusunoki must have noticed by now, yet they said nothing. A confrontation would have been better, but Yoichiro couldn’t stomach seeing them face-to-face.
He retrieved a bottle of Scotch whisky from the designer wine rack, pouring himself a glass. The rich aroma from the sherry cask filled his senses as he took a sip, the smooth flavor lingering in his mouth.
And yet, it did nothing to ease his mind.
“Damn it.”
Why was he so angry in his own home, the one place he should be able to relax?
“It’s their fault…”
Seeing Kusunoki’s face after so long had thrown him off completely. To make matters worse, Kusunoki’s coughing seemed almost accusatory, as though blaming Yoichiro for neglecting them. It made him furious. Was it dissatisfaction with being ignored that had prompted such behavior?
Not that it mattered. Yoichiro had no intention of dealing with an Omega.
He found every aspect of his private life exasperating.
All he wanted was to focus on his work.
“I shouldn’t have come home,” he muttered, exhaling a long sigh as he downed the whisky, the sweet, dried-fruit flavor doing little to dull his frustration.