Chapter 1

"I wish you would end things with Douglass now."

Douglass's mother cut straight to the point before Mitch even had a chance to touch the teacup in front of him.

Mitch's hand froze mid-air, shocked. He hadn't expected her to know about his relationship with Douglass Brady.

"How... How long have you known?"

"Is that important?"

She was exactly as Mitch remembered her—calm and elegant. Her gestures and voice matched perfectly with the sophisticated classical music playing in the background.

"..."

Mitch swallowed dryly, not knowing what to say. He had prided himself on successfully keeping their relationship secret all this time. Perhaps dating the youngest son of a famous corporate chairman was impossible to hide after all.

"Given the years you've spent together, you'll need some time to sort things out."

She maintained her composure despite facing Mitch Forbes, someone far beneath her preciously raised son. Every movement—lifting her teacup, sipping her tea, fixing her hair—exuded dignity.

The more her elegance stood out, the more confusion clouded Mitch's mind.

"If you end things with Douglass within a month, I'll transfer the apartment you're living in to your name. I'll also help move your café to a better location."

"..."

"If necessary, I can even find you a suitable match. Even if you're male, an omega still needs a partner."

Giving him an apartment in exchange for breaking up with Douglass Brady? The place they currently shared overlooked the Willow River and was worth tens of billions of money. Add to that the café relocation costs and matchmaking services.

It was more than generous, but Mitch still couldn't find an appropriate response.

"Why aren't you answering? You wouldn't be losing out with this offer."

Mitch had always thought that if their relationship was discovered, he'd at least get slapped. But Douglass Brady's mother sitting before him remained composed throughout.

She didn't berate him for daring to date Douglass despite his status, nor did she speak in a deliberately contemptuous manner.

"I'm afraid that would be difficult. I'm sorry."

Mitch finally spoke after a long pause. The corner of his parted lips trembled slightly.

But Douglass's mother remained unaffected, as if she had anticipated this response.

"If there's something else you want, don't hesitate to tell me."

"I'm not with Douglass because I want something from him."

"Douglass is getting married next year."

Mitch's breath stopped instantly.

"What?"

"I don't want him walking down the aisle surrounded by scandal. That's just how parents feel. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Marriage...? Douglass?"

She nodded. It was clear she had already anticipated Mitch wouldn't know.

"He's at the right age now, so it's time for him to marry."

"Did Douglass Brady agree to this? He never mentioned anything to me."

"Of course Douglass knows. It's his own marriage, after all."

Mitch's heart sank at hearing Douglass knew about it. Something must be wrong.

"That can't be true."

"This has been discussed since his college days."

"..."

"It's time to end this little dating game."

"W-who is it? The person he's marrying..."

"Would you even know them if I told you?"

It was a genuine question without a hint of mockery.

"I... I didn't know. There wasn't any sign at all..."

"He probably didn't see the need to tell you. Or perhaps, has Douglass ever proposed to you?"

"..."

Come to think of it, despite dating and living together for quite some time, they had never seriously discussed marriage. Not once.

After all, Mitch was twenty-nine, and Douglass was only twenty-seven. They were both still in their twenties and both men.

While it was generally acceptable for alphas and omegas to marry regardless of gender, families of higher status tended to prefer male-female pairings.

Douglass was the youngest son born into the well-known Laverne Group, so everyone naturally assumed he would end up with a female omega.

Mitch was also aware of this stereotype, which is why he had never really thought about marriage with Douglass in concrete terms.

Apparently satisfied with the answer she found in Mitch's silence, Douglass's mother spoke first.

"You'll need time to think, Mitch. Contact me by the end of this week once you've decided."

"Ma'am, I... I..."

He had originally intended to say that no matter what was offered, he had no intention of breaking up with Douglass Brady.

But from the moment the topic of marriage came up, his mind went blank as if frozen.

"Since you'll be breaking up anyway, wouldn't it be better to take what you can get? You're still young, you should think about your future."

She handed Mitch an envelope.

"I'm giving you this advice for Darla Forbes's sake."

Darla Forbes was Mitch's mother. When his mother's name came from her lips, Mitch nervously glanced at the envelope placed before him.

Inside were a business card and documents. The name on the card belonged to someone he didn't know, likely Douglass's mother's assistant. The documents meticulously detailed the compensation and conditions in exchange for ending his relationship with Douglass.

When Mitch looked up a moment later, she was already getting up from her seat. She accepted her coat and bag from a staff member and said:

"It would be best not to mention our meeting to Douglass."

"..."

"It was nice seeing you after so long. I'll be waiting for your call."

***

After descending to the parking lot, Mitch sat in the driver's seat reflecting on their conversation.

'Douglass is getting married next year.'

'Of course Douglass knows. It's his own marriage, after all.'

Douglass Brady having someone to marry.

It was too sudden. If it were true, how could he not have known until now? They had been dating for 4 years since college, and living together for well over a year. And yet...

[Where are you? You're not at the store]

Just then, a text arrived from Douglass. Mitch, who had been sitting in the driver's seat without starting the engine, stared blankly at his phone screen.

The text from his partner of 4 years suddenly felt unfamiliar, like it came from a stranger.

He wanted to call immediately and ask if what his mother said was true. But the faint trace of reason remaining warned him that confronting without evidence would be hasty.

After all, Douglass's mother could have been lying.

Instead of replying, Mitch took a deep breath. His chest felt tight. He wanted to go somewhere quiet to gather his thoughts, but...

He didn't have anywhere to go. Usually, he only went between the café he operated and home, and occasional outings were just for dinners with Douglass.

His phone vibrated again. The screen displayed the word "Mom."

It wasn't a call he wanted to take right now. He decided to call back later, ignoring his mother's contact. If it was urgent, she would leave a message.

After sitting motionless in the car for some time, he received a text from the café part-timer.

[Boss, when are you coming?] [That customer is here... keeps asking where you are ㅜ;;] [Says he'll wait until you come if you're not here... what should I do?]

The part-timer's predicament was evident in the text.

The "customer" who would make a scene demanding to see the owner at Mitch's café could only be Douglass Brady.

Douglass was calling again, but Mitch was in no mood to answer.

Ignoring Douglass's call, Mitch replied to the part-timer.

[I'm coming now]