Chapter 5

"If you skip treatment again next time, you'll really be in trouble all night."

Douglass pinched Mitch's chest while murmuring seriously.

"Oh, what are you talking about?"

"Think I'm joking? I'm serious."

"Move. I need to brush my teeth."

"After I went to the trouble of coming for you, why clean it off?"

"Don't cling to me, you're heavy."

"Don't you dare miss your hospital appointment next week."

"..."

"Hey? Answer me."

"I understand."

"Good, that's obedient."

Large hands messed up Mitch's wet hair.

Mitch smiled helplessly. The conversation, the behavior, the way he looked at him—nothing had changed since their college days.

That's why he hoped his mother's words weren't true. He hoped it was just a lie to separate him from the omega Mitch Forbes, who had nothing and even had a bad leg.

"I'm sleepy. I really want to sleep now."

"Let's sleep."

Douglass picked Mitch up. His feet dangled in mid-air.

About to tell him to put him down, Mitch instead relaxed his body. They entered the bedroom side by side.

***

The next day.

First, he needed evidence before asking if Douglass had a fiancée. Not to corner Douglass Brady, but for Mitch Forbes's own sake.

Evidence that Douglass's mother had lied.

Evidence that their peaceful daily life wouldn't collapse.

Mitch needed that.

This morning, as soon as he confirmed that Douglass had gone to work first, instead of going to the café, he headed to the university hospital in Cascade.

"Mitch Forbes? What brings you here? Alone without Douglass."

Sitting on a chair in the first-floor lobby, Mitch turned his head at the voice calling him. Marlon, wearing a white coat, was approaching with a puzzled expression.

"How have you been?"

"Well, I'm at the hospital every day, so nothing much."

Marlon Fitzpatrick. The son of the director of Mondel University Hospital and a practicing surgeon.

He was a connection made through Douglass, and the person who had arranged rehabilitation therapy when Mitch injured his ankle previously.

Meeting occasionally for treatment, they had become close enough to share updates over meals. He was also one of the few people who knew about Douglass and Mitch's relationship.

"I have something I want to ask you."

"What is it? Is it important?"

"It's important to me."

Marlon looked around and, seemingly deciding it would be difficult to talk here, gestured for Mitch to follow him. Mitch silently walked after him.

After thinking it over, Marlon Fitzpatrick was the most suitable person who might tell him the truth.

A person in a social position likely to know if Douglass was getting married. And someone he could approach most easily. Plus, he had a good personality.

"I already know everything, so please be honest with me."

As soon as they entered a quiet office away from the open lobby, Mitch spoke as if getting ahead of the conversation.

"What is it, suddenly being so intimidating..."

Marlon widened his eyes, pretending to be scared.

Of course, saying he already knew everything was a lie. If he asked naively for the truth while knowing nothing, he didn't think he'd get the answer he wanted. So he decided to bluff a little.

"Douglass Brady getting married."

"Huh?"

"You knew about it too, right?"

After asking, Mitch swallowed dryly.

Please, say you don't know. Ask what I'm talking about, say it's the first you've heard of it...

"Douglass Brady said that?"

But his heart sank at Marlon's calm response. Mitch stared intently at his troubled expression.

"...You did know, right?"

"Mitch, that's their family matter, so it's a bit difficult for me to comment..."

"Ha, so it was true."

He definitely seemed to know something.

I was just fishing, but I didn't expect to catch something so easily.

***

"When was it decided? Douglass Brady's marriage."

"Wouldn't it be better to hear it directly from Douglass? If he hasn't mentioned it himself, it's awkward for me to say anything."

It was the moment when the hope Mitch had desperately clung to shattered completely.

So everyone really did know except for me. I was the only one who didn't know.

"If he had told me willingly, I wouldn't have come to you. You know there's no one around who would tell me these things..."

Marlon scratched his head thoughtfully, then glanced at Mitch's face.

Only after a few seconds of heavy silence did he finally speak.

"The marriage talks have been going on for a while."

"Since when exactly?"

"Probably... around when he was in college, from what I know."

"......"

"Since it was an arrangement between the parents, the people actually involved probably didn't think much of it."

Marlon quickly added before Mitch could say anything.

"As you know, it's common around here. Rather than doing it by one's own will, everyone just gets married that way."

The more he heard, the more Mitch felt a mix of emptiness and betrayal.

So everything Douglass's mother had said yesterday was true. It wasn't something she made up to separate them, nor was there any misunderstanding.

That's probably why she looked at him with pity in the end.

"Since college... How could I not know about marriage talks that started so long ago?"

The more he thought about it, the more shocked he became, his mind going blank.

How could something like this happen?

That thought filled his mind completely.

He felt pathetic for having come all this way, constantly telling himself there must be a misunderstanding, that it was too early to judge.

"By the way, who told you about this? Not Douglass Brady, right? No wonder he didn't even go to rehabilitation therapy yesterday."

"Marlon."

"Yes?"

"...Marlon."

"Why do you keep calling me like that? You're scaring me..."

Mitch called Marlon's name blankly, then shook his head as if it was nothing.

"I... I should go. Thanks for making time for me when I showed up so suddenly."

Then, stammering belatedly, he turned to leave. Marlon grabbed him.

"Hey, Mitch Forbes! Wait a minute. Look, I know it's not really my place to interfere, but..."

"......"

Marlon fell silent as he looked at Mitch, who seemed half-dazed. But a few seconds later, he continued as if he'd made up his mind about something.

"Don't think about it too negatively. It's not like Douglass broke up with you first because of the marriage."

Mitch stared quietly at Marlon, whose words sounded like he was comforting a child.

"He set up that café for you and it's doing well, and didn't you get that officetel too? The place you lived before. Above all, Douglass's not the type to place much importance on marriage."

"How can someone not care about their own marriage?"

"It might seem strange from your perspective. But seriously, in these circles, many people get married and still keep their lovers."

"......"

"Marriage doesn't mean everything is over and you have to break up. Think of it as something they do out of obligation, for the sake of wealth. Douglass's older brother and sister all got married that way too. So if possible..."

"I guess you're not on my side either."

"What?"

"I'm really leaving now."

Feeling there was no point in listening further, Mitch cut off Marlon's words and quickly left the hospital.