chapter 19

                                    

                                          


Something was wrong, He could tell that, something was terribly off, and it wasn't the grey clouds casting shadows outside his office window, nor the near-disaster of his coffee tipping over onto his suit. 
It wasn't even the sting of a paper cut on his finger that lingered. No, it was something deeper, an anxious gnawing in his chest, a quiet alarm that refused to fade. It was the kind of feeling you get when you know something crucial is slipping through your fingers, or when you realize too late that you've left the stove on and the flames are rising.That feeling was growing, tightening like a knot in his stomach. His alpha instincts were screaming at him, something was terribly wrong.
Late in the afternoon, right before a critical meeting, his phone buzzed on his desk. It wasn't Sunoo, as he expected. Instead, the name of their head maid flashed on the screen. A rush of unease washed over him as he answered immediately, skipping the pleasantries.
Her voice, usually calm, was trembling. Worry sharpened every word she spoke, and that was enough for Heeseung to know-something was seriously wrong.The meeting? Irrelevant. 
Deals, profits, and partnerships didn't mean a thing if his family was in trouble. Without hesitation, he told his assistant to cancel everything. Let the competitors take advantage of his absence; he didn't care. Sunoo had come back from the hospital, but something was wrong. He wasn't the radiant beam of sunshine that Heeseung had kissed goodbye this morning. And their son-his five-year-old, Suwon-was scared. Terrified for his father.
Heeseung drove home like a man possessed, ignoring traffic signals, the world outside becoming a blur. All that mattered was getting to them.When he finally arrived, he found the household staff gathered near the closed door to his and Sunoo's bedroom, their faces drawn with worry. 
And there, clinging to his nanny, was Suwon. His small body shook with sobs, his tear-streaked face breaking Heeseung's heart.
"Dad!" 
Suwon's voice cracked, and Heeseung dropped to his knees, scooping his son into his arms. His little body felt so small, so vulnerable in his embrace. 
It reminded him of himself, the Lee Heeseung of six years ago. nights he had spent alone, yearning for comfort that never came. He would never let Suwon feel that same loneliness.
"Hey, champ... it's okay. Dada's going to be alright," 
Whispered the alpha, though his own heart was pounding in his chest.But Suwon only cried harder, his small fists clutching Heeseung's suit jacket. 
"He was crying, Dad! I miss Dada!" 
Heeseung rubbed soothing circles on Suwon's back, pulling him closer in a warm, protective hug. 
"I'm here, okay? Suwon-ah, can you do something for me? Go to your room with your nanny, and I'll check on Dada, alright?"
His little boy, so brave for his age, sniffled and nodded. He wiped his cheeks dry with the back of his hand and slipped out of Heeseung's arms, casting one last look of encouragement before heading to his room.
With the hallway empty, Heeseung dismissed the staff and entered the bedroom. The air was heavy, oppressive, and the scent of dead roses hit him like a punch to the gut, overwhelming and suffocating. 
It was Sunoo's scent, but not the soft, delicate fragrance he was used to. This was different-tainted, wrong. It made his stomach twist.His heart pounded louder in his ears as he searched for his omega, the fear gnawing at him with every second that passed. 
The scent grew stronger as he neared the closet, and dread washed over him. He slid the door open, and the sight before him nearly broke him, his omega was curled up inside, clutching one of Heeseung's shirts to his chest, his face buried in the fabric as though trying to find comfort in a familiar scent.