The waiter led them to a large table. Seo-jun and Do-hyun sat on one side, while Joon-ho and Mr. Cha sat across from them. The air felt heavy, but Do-hyun broke the silence first.
"So…" he said, leaning forward with curiosity, "how do you two know each other?"
Joon-ho and Mr. Cha exchanged a glance. Both of them flushed slightly, their expressions stiff.
Seo-jun noticed immediately. "Wait—what's with that look? Why are you two blushing?"
Do-hyun blinked. "Blushing?" He tilted his head, confused.
Seo-jun frowned, staring between them. "Yeah… what is that?"
Mr. Cha coughed into his hand, clearly flustered. "I-It's not like that. I'm also a dominant Alpha. We've known each other since childhood. We're… technically like cousins."
Do-hyun's expression softened into a smile. "Ohh, I see."
But Seo-jun didn't let it go. "Then why can't you say it properly? Why are you both acting so awkward?"
Across the table, both Joon-ho and Mr. Cha stiffened again, silently panicking. How are we supposed to tell them the truth? That years ago, it wasn't just friendship… but a one-night stand?
The silence dragged until Do-hyun leaned closer, resting his arm casually across Seo-jun's shoulders. "Father," he said with a playful grin, "why don't you just tell us?"
Before Joon-ho could answer, Mr. Cha cut in quickly. "W-wait. Before that… what are you two doing here together?"
Seo-jun opened his mouth to respond, but Do-hyun beat him to it. He pulled Seo-jun a little closer and announced, "We're dating."
Seo-jun's eyes widened in shock. "Father! It's not like that. He forced me to come here with him."
Do-hyun only smirked, pretending not to hear. Joon-ho stared at the two of them, his face unreadable—blank, but his eyes carrying a weight that made Seo-jun shift uncomfortably in his seat.
Joon-ho let out a tired sigh and turned to his son."Seo-jun, did you even tell Soo-yeon you were going on this… date?"
Seo-jun shook his head quickly. "No! It just happened all of a sudden. I didn't even get the time to inform her."
Across the table, Mr. Cha raised his brows, studying Seo-jun more closely."So, this is your younger son?"
Joon-ho's lips curved into a small, proud smile. "Yeah. He is."
Mr. Cha gave a polite nod. "Nice to meet you."
Before Seo-jun could reply, Do-hyun leaned in with a grin. "Father, isn't he cute?"
Mr. Cha chuckled softly. "Yeah, he is."
He turned back to Seo-jun, his eyes sharp but warm. "So, you're a Beta?"
Seo-jun nodded. "Yes."
Something in Mr. Cha's smile hinted he already knew more than Seo-jun was admitting.
Do-hyun tilted his head, looking between the two older men. "Wait, Father. You guys are technically cousins, right? How does that work?"
Joon-ho leaned back, his voice calm. "Our fathers were brothers. That's why."
"Ohh, I see." Do-hyun nodded, finally piecing it together.
But then Mr. Cha leaned forward, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "Joon-ho… your sons really don't know what you were like when you were younger, do they?"
Seo-jun's head snapped up, brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Mr. Cha smirked and glanced at Joon-ho. "Should I tell them?"
Joon-ho's jaw tightened, but before he could answer, Mr. Cha continued."Your father wasn't just anyone. He was a mafia gang leader."
Seo-jun's face went pale, his mouth falling open. "What?!!"
Even Do-hyun froze, eyes wide in disbelief. "Wait—Mr. Han… you?!"
The table went completely silent, the weight of that revelation hanging heavy in the air.
Joon-ho's eyes burned with anger as he glared at Cha Tae-hyun across the table."Cha Tae-hyun… don't laugh. You were there with me too."
Cha Tae-hyun only smirked, his calmness almost provoking.
Seo-jun's mind reeled. Cha Tae-hyun… so that's his full name.
Do-hyun leaned forward, curiosity sparking in his eyes."Father, tell me something. How many women did you actually marry?"
"Women?" Seo-jun echoed in shock, whipping his head toward his father.
Joon-ho let out a slow breath, then smiled faintly. "Our family bond is strong, and most of us are Alphas or Dominant Alphas. Your mother, Do-hyun, was good for me. She cared for me, and she even raised Min-jae as her own."
At Min-jae's name, his tone softened. "How's he doing now?"
Cha Tae-hyun answered, "He's fine. Doing well."
Seo-jun frowned, piecing things together. "I heard Do-hyun and Min-jae are half-brothers…"
Cha Tae-hyun leaned back and nodded. "Yes. You're right. Let me explain."
The table went quiet as he spoke."Min-jae's mother was my first wife. She was kind… but she was a Beta. After marrying me—a Dominant Alpha—she became an Omega. After she gave birth to Min-jae, her health collapsed. She didn't survive."
Seo-jun froze, stunned.
Cha Tae-hyun continued without pause, his voice calm but heavy."After that, my parents arranged his second marriage. This time, with a German woman—an Alpha. Her name was Lisa. She was the daughter of a powerful mafia leader. But it was a forced marriage. She was cold, distant… she never wanted it."
Joon-ho's jaw clenched, eyes flickering with old pain as Tae-hyun spoke.
"Lisa always claimed she couldn't give birth to a Dominant Alpha," Cha Tae-hyun went on. "And yet… she gave birth to an Alpha girl. Still, she forced me to marry another woman. That's when I married Do-hyun's mother."
Do-hyun's face went pale, but he stayed silent.
Cha Tae-hyun exhaled slowly. "Lisa later gave birth again—but this time, to a Beta boy. After that, she said she didn't want to stay married. She left. I let her go. The children stayed with her in Germany. I thought it was better that way. But I still regret sending them off. Children belong with their mother… even if the home isn't perfect. Do-hyun's mother offered to take care of them, but I… I let them go instead."
The air around the table grew heavier, everyone caught between past wounds and present truths.