11

At Chase's order, no one spoke on the way back to his mansion, which was not on the set. Chase himself remained silent, his face serious, but no one could deny the fact that Josh, who was driving, kept glancing at the rearview mirror—his gaze fixed on Chase the entire time.

After they arrived and Chase went up to his room, nothing changed. Mark, with a grave expression, gave the order.

"Everyone, gather in the drawing room."

It was obvious what he intended to discuss. Josh followed behind him, feeling like a prisoner about to be sentenced.

The air in the drawing room, where all the team members sat, was unbearably heavy. When was the last time it had been this silent? Even when Chase had been kidnapped, the tension hadn't been this thick. Maybe it was because, this time, the issue was about Josh himself.

"Sigh."

Mark let out a deep breath, but the weight in the room remained. He shut his mouth, and the rest of the team followed suit. In the end, it was Josh who broke first.

"I'm sorry for hiding it all this time."

His voice came out hoarse, forcing him to clear his throat quickly. Even after his apology, the silence persisted. Chase, still pale and visibly shaken, just blinked blankly. Mark continued to smoke, and Henry wasn't any different.

Only Seth, who had known the secret for a while, remained composed. However, even he hesitated to speak in such an atmosphere.

"Hmm, hmm."

Mark cleared his throat, finally preparing to say something. Everyone except Isaac turned to him. He repeated the same gestures—exhaling, lowering his head, sighing—three times before finally speaking.

"I was really surprised, Josh. We've known each other for years, and yet…"

This was exactly what Josh had expected to hear. He apologized again.

"You know I couldn't say anything. I wouldn't have been able to get a job."

"That's true."

Mark nodded in agreement and took another drag of his cigarette. If he had known Josh was an Omega, he wouldn't have hired him in the first place. Omegas were often seen as liabilities in this kind of work, given the risks involved. But now that Josh's secret was out, Mark felt uncomfortable, as if his own bias had been exposed.

Josh, unaware of Mark's internal struggle, simply remained quiet. He had deceived them all, after all.

Seth was the one to finally break the silence.

"Anyway, that's in the past. What matters is, what are we going to do now?"

Everyone turned to him, realizing that the real issue was still unresolved. Even Isaac, who had seemed lost in thought, focused on him now. Seth, ever the pragmatic one, continued.

"You're all going to have to decide whether Josh stays on the team or not. I assume Josh knew from the start that this day would come and was prepared for the consequences."

Josh nodded and looked at Mark.

"I understand that I lied and deceived you, so I'll accept whatever decision you make."

"It's not that simple, you idiot… Ugh."

Mark, initially irritated, let out another sigh.

"Give me some time to think. Damn it… How could you not be either an Alpha or a Beta…"

He muttered, shaking his head as he stood.

"I'm going to the monitor room. You all sort this out. Seth, let me know by tomorrow."

Leaving the matter to Seth, who was the most level-headed among them, Mark walked away.

Silence returned. Seth got up, went to the refrigerator, and grabbed a few cans, placing them on the table. He took one for himself, and Josh did the same. Then, Henry suddenly spoke.

"Seth, why are you so calm? You knew?"

His tone was full of suspicion. Seth answered indifferently.

"Oh, yeah. For a few years now."

"A few years?!"

"What?"

Isaac nearly shouted, while Henry looked stunned. Josh, embarrassed, focused on opening his can as if it required all his attention. Henry stared at him, then asked cautiously.

"Then… what about Peter? Could it be that you… gave birth to him?"

Josh couldn't answer. But his silence was enough.

"Oh my God… I did think he looked a lot like you."

Henry muttered to himself, and Josh replied casually.

"You've only ever seen my face, so of course you'd think that."

At that moment, everyone's eyes locked onto him. Oops.

"No, seriously. Peter looks exactly like you."

Henry insisted. Josh frowned at him.

"What are you talking about? He doesn't look that much like me."

"He does."

Isaac chimed in.

"I bet you looked just like him when you were younger. He has your exact features now."

Josh turned to Seth for help, but Seth, in his usual deadpan tone, simply added:

"I was starting to think you were capable of asexual reproduction. So you did have a partner."

Josh blinked, speechless. He was relieved they hadn't realized Peter actually resembled Chase more than himself, but the whole conversation was absurd.

"Then… was I imagining things when I thought Peter looked more like someone else all this time?"

Josh meant to be sarcastic, but his words backfired.

"Of course," the others responded in unison, nodding.

Josh sighed. He turned his head away but froze when he made eye contact with Isaac. Out of everyone, Isaac was the biggest problem.

Now that he knows I'm an Omega, will he start pursuing me more aggressively?

The thought flashed through his mind, but the worry was unfounded. Isaac, looking resigned, lowered his gaze.

That reaction surprised not only Josh but also the others.

"What's wrong with you? You always acted like you were gonna pounce on him."

Henry teased. Josh wanted to intervene, but it was awkward to step in. Instead, Isaac mumbled weakly.

"There's a mark already… What am I supposed to do?"

"What?"

"What?!"

Henry and Seth both reacted in shock. Isaac sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"It's basically like being married. If I interfere now, it's like… an affair."

"…"

"Ohhh, I see why Josh kept rejecting you."

Isaac sighed again, then staggered to his feet.

"I'm sorry, Josh. If I had known earlier, I would've backed off sooner… I'm really sorry for making you uncomfortable."

After repeating his apology, he left the room. The three remaining men stared after him in silence.

"…Is that guy completely broken?"

Henry finally spoke, looking between Josh and Seth. Seth took a deep breath and replied.

"Then tell him to replace the mark with a new one."

Before Josh could react, Henry snapped.

"Are you crazy? I can't tell him that!"

And just like that, Josh and Seth recalled—Henry liked Isaac.

"I knew you weren't actually interested in Isaac that way," Henry said, grinning. Then he turned to Josh with a smirk, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Good luck with your mini-me."

"…Thanks," Josh muttered reluctantly.

Just then, the phone on the wall rang.

"C told you to come to his room."

Josh felt his heart drop.

Seth, unfazed, added casually, "And he said to bring all the inhibitors."

"What for?" Henry frowned.

Seth shrugged. "Probably wants to confirm that Josh is really an Omega."

Josh couldn't say anything.

✤✤✤✤✤✤

With the extra medicine hidden deep in his bag, Josh walked toward Chase's room, his steps heavy.

Should I just confess everything now?

He seriously considered it, but deep inside, fear held him back.

If I tell him I've never been with anyone before, yet somehow I had him… and that the result was a child…

Josh clenched his jaw.

Someday, I'll have to tell him. But not today.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward. Chase's room was just ahead.

Knock, knock.

The sound echoed eerily.

No response.

Josh opened the door. The hinges creaked.

And inside, Chase was waiting. His face was cold and unreadable.