NOVEL NEXT chapter 107
A brief silence swept through the room.
Joo Taehyun involuntarily held his breath. An uncomfortable, cold energy surged through the bedroom—so much so that he even had the absurd thought that maybe his parents had turned into secondary genders themselves. Was this what his mother and father’s pheromones felt like?
“I see. He came a long way. Let him in.”
If his parents had simply lost their temper instead—if they’d flown into a rage, demanding how the bastard who knocked up their son dared to show his face after making a pregnant child talk about divorce—then Taehyun could’ve at least chimed in.
“Dr. Woo. You said the cause of Taehyun’s condition was… what was it again? A pheromonal anomaly, right?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”
Their tones were impossibly calm. Not a trace of anger, not even irritation. Their expressions, too, were no different than before. And because of that, Joo Taehyun could tell with absolute clarity: his parents were truly furious. That was the face and voice they only ever reserved for Association officials or media outlets when they made truly absurd demands.
“So you’re saying having Seo Baekhan nearby definitely helps Taehyun’s condition?”
“Yes… for now, at least.”
“Then we’ll have to observe closely.”
“So basically, you’re saying Seo Baekhan’s like a charger for our son. Is that right?”
Dr. Woo flinched at the sharp, targeted hostility aimed at someone who wasn’t even in the room.
“Y-Yes. That’s more or less the concept. I’ll set it up so we can monitor the young master’s vitals when Director Seo is present.”
“Dr. Woo, I want you to keep a close eye. See if there’s any improvement in Taehyun’s condition.”
“Y-Yes. Understood.”
Taehyun opened his mouth a few times but ultimately said nothing. He understood how his parents were feeling, and he didn’t want to make it worse by throwing out some trite reassurance like “I’m fine” or “Don’t worry about me.”
“If we’re going to be stuck dealing with this mess anyway, there’s no need for us to start facing Director Seo right away,” said Chairman Joo as he stood up, and President Yoo followed suit.
“Um… Mom. Dad.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Just stay comfortable.”
Not wanting to just lie there passively, Joo Taehyun tried to sit up against the headboard, but Chairman Joo gently stopped him.
“But—”
“Taehyun, your mom and I—”
Perhaps moved by the fact that her youngest couldn’t even bring himself to properly call them, President Yoo turned back just before leaving and stroked his cheek. The icy air from earlier had vanished completely. Her face was one Taehyun knew well—gentle, tender, familiar.
“No matter what happens, you come first.”
“But still…”
“If having him around is good for your body, there’s no reason to kick him out. Don’t worry about how we feel. Just focus on getting better. You’re not alone anymore, remember?”
“…”
“There’s no need to force yourself to get over him, either. If you still love Director Seo, then go ahead—act like it. Your dad and I want you to keep doing whatever the hell you want, without worrying about anyone else.”
“…Okay. I will.”
“Why should our baby have to worry about what that ‘charger’ wants, huh?”
Charger.
What that Director wants.
The way they referred to Seo Baekhan like an object made it painfully clear how furious they were. The same parents who used to welcome him like a son-in-law now regarded him as nothing more than a tool—something to be used only if needed for their child’s recovery.
That sharp professionalism helped Joo Taehyun steel himself as well. He still felt sick just hearing Baekhan’s name, but he wasn’t going to be swayed by old habits anymore.
He hadn’t thrown out talk of divorce just to throw a tantrum. He’d made up his mind on the way to Seoul—he was going to take responsibility for his words.
In the silence of the vast house, the sounds of an outsider crept in.
The soft rustle of clothes, the nanny’s murmured announcement, familiar footsteps on the stairs, and that sweet scent—so intense it felt like it could melt his brain.
The peach-like aroma surged closer, almost as if it were sprinting toward him. At this rate, he was going to run into him before his parents had even left. That thought made him briefly tense.
“It’s been a while.”
A familiar hand rested on the doorframe—and someone unfamiliar stepped in without warning.
“Madam, are you feeling any better?”
Casually revealing that he’d stationed someone to watch the house, Seo Baekhan asked with visible concern.
His voice was gentle, but his face looked awful. His sclera were bloodshot like he hadn’t slept, and the glance he threw at Taehyun was sharp, even hostile.
He was dressed as impeccably and neatly as always, moving with calm precision, and yet… he somehow looked anxious. Maybe Taehyun was reading too much into it.
In any case, he couldn’t receive a guest like this, half-sitting in bed. But when he tried to get up, President Yoo gently pressed down on his shoulder, guiding him back. Her touch was soft and loving, but it left him completely frozen in place.
“Whatever you need to know, Dr. Woo will explain. Taehyun’s pheromone system is more critical than the baby right now, so listen carefully.”
“…Ah, I see. Understood. I had something I wanted to say to you both as well—”
“You should be grateful to Director Seo.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you. I’ll work things out with Taehyun through conversation, so please don’t worry too much. They say married couples fight all the time, right?”
“Hm? What are you talking about? Why would the two of you settle this with conversation? Leave it to the lawyers.”
“Madam.”
“We haven’t heard Taehyun say he wants to stay married yet.”
“I see. No need to worry. That’s going to change.”
“Well, if that’s what Taehyun wants, of course we’ll respect it. But if you think we’re going to sit back and let you upset him? Not a chance. Don’t even think about it.”
All Taehyun could see was the backs of his parents. Seo Baekhan stood tall between them, his expression calm—but now and then his brow twitched ever so slightly, displeased by their blatant coldness. It was a tiny habit only Taehyun would recognize.
“You took a knife for our Taehyun. As his parents, we’re grateful.”
“Ah, well—”
“Of course, we’ll make sure you’re fairly compensated. We can discuss that more thoroughly when we review the divorce terms… Dr. Woo, please monitor Taehyun’s condition carefully. And make sure to verify that Director Seo’s pheromones really are helping.”
Even as his words were dismissed and redirected, Seo Baekhan continued smiling. He didn’t twitch an eyebrow or clench his fists. But perhaps he was bracing himself internally—something about him made Taehyun uneasy. He hadn’t seen this side of Baekhan often, but when he had, things had always spiraled out of control.
“It’s good to see you again, Doctor.”
Leaving Taehyun’s parents behind as they headed toward the door—deliberately avoiding him—Seo Baekhan spoke to Dr. Woo like nothing was wrong.
“…Yes. How’s your health?”
“I’m fine. No one would believe I had surgery recently. Must be the imprint effect.”
His parents paused mid-step. Just for a moment—but they’d clearly heard that on purpose.
Taehyun couldn’t take any more. He stepped forward. His legs felt impossibly heavy, like ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) they were filled with lead, but he didn’t want to hide behind his parents again.
“…Yeah, mutual imprinting is convenient.”
His calm remark made his parents’ eyes go wide.
So it really was mutual? And wait—our son talks like that?
Their astonishment was so clear that Taehyun couldn’t help but laugh a little. It helped him relax, at least.
“There are a million ways to break an imprint. It’s nothing.”
That was when a crack finally showed in Baekhan’s otherwise flawless mask. Brief—but satisfying.
He’d thrown tantrums before, but it had never fazed Seo Baekhan. Now, every word seemed to provoke a reaction.
The fact that he was watching Baekhan this closely, dissecting every gesture—that alone proved he still wasn’t over him. He knew the imprint was what made him act like this, but still. The fact that he could affect Baekhan at all—only he could—stirred something in him.
And then, without even getting to enjoy that small satisfaction, a wave of disgust washed over him.
“Maybe once the baby’s born, the imprint will break on its own.”
He’d really loved him.
More than half his life, short as it was, had been spent looking at Seo Baekhan. He’d given his heart so freely, and now he was spending just as much energy hating him.
How had they ended up like this? Taehyun reached down and dragged his sinking heart back to the surface.
…What are you moping about? This is all your fault. You don’t even deserve to feel depressed.
If he hadn’t lied about using Dirty Switch, if he hadn’t begged Baekhan to marry him… maybe it wouldn’t have ended like this.
“I’m sure of it now—your pheromones don’t affect me anymore.”
Taehyun wiped his dry lips, trying to hide the way they kept trembling.
“I think your pheromones are going to the baby now. So once I give birth—”
“Oh? You were planning to give birth?”
Seo Baekhan smiled faintly and tightly gripped Taehyun’s hand, pulling it away from his mouth. As if to say: don’t hide anything from me.
“In that case, divorce is definitely off the table. Why would we split up now that we’re having a child?”
“Baekhan-hyung…”
He hadn’t even believed it at first. Had mocked him, laughed at him. And now he was bringing up the baby to say they couldn’t divorce?
“Let’s calm down, both of you. The pheromone levels—”
“So having a baby means we can’t divorce? Coming from you, that’s absurd—!”
“Taehyun-ah. Do you really think I don’t know you?”
Taehyun tried to pull his hand away, but Baekhan moved faster. Unlike before, he now laced their fingers together tightly—locking him in so he couldn’t easily escape.
“Do you really want to do something that would hurt the baby?”
If he said one more word about the trauma of growing up without a father, Taehyun wasn’t going to hold back. He believed he was one of the most loved children in the entire Empire. He hadn’t decided yet what to do with the baby, but if he kept it, he would pour all that love into it.
He wouldn’t let his child watch one parent shrivel beside another who couldn’t love. They’d grow up surrounded by real family, messy and warm.
“That baby isn’t even a person yet and you’re already—”
“If you file for divorce, I’ll do whatever it takes to win custody.”
Taehyun’s head snapped up. This man—saying insane things in the gentlest voice—was this really the Seo Baekhan he knew?
“The child came from a biological anomaly. Doesn’t that make me the more suitable guardian?”
Baekhan’s face as he looked down at him was completely unfamiliar. An expression like that of an animal that had just lost its cub—desperate, wild, flickering in his dark eyes.
“…Hyung.”
“The court won’t care what a newborn wants. They’ll care about the legal arguments—”
“Seo Baekhan!”
He said it as if he regretted having to go this far, gently stroking Taehyun’s palm.
“Compared to someone who held a press conference over Dirty Switch and drug rumors, don’t you think I look like the better guardian?”
“What kind of garbage are you spouting!”
Chairman Joo, who’d been trying to stay out of it, couldn’t take it anymore and slammed his palm into Baekhan’s back.
But Baekhan didn’t budge. Even when the chairman grabbed his collar and tried to yank him away, he stood his ground. As if letting go of Taehyun’s hand meant he’d die. His eyes were fixed only on Taehyun, voice unwavering—borderline deranged.
“I don’t want to escalate this either. So, Taehyun…”
You’re not getting a divorce. Not from me.