Everything went smoothly until I brought Yunqing back to my pre-marriage apartment and then hesitation struck. Before I could explain, Yunqing rubbed his cheek against mine and said, "Daddy told me the house feng shui got messed up and has to be torn down. Daddy's taking me away first. And he also said"
This house was designed by a feng shui master hired by Wei Shen's father. Uncle Chen and the staff never dared to change a straw's length. Only I had rearranged the garden, planting a patch of endless Summer.
My heart ached sharply, and I hurriedly cut him off. "Daddy knows, but now it's time to eat and sleep, okay?"
Yunqing obediently walked to the dining table. That night he slept peacefully.
The next morning, after dropping him at kindergarten, a financial news alert caught my eye: Breaking news, Wei family mansion demolished overnight.
I stared blankly at the rubble in the photo, then swiped the notification away. That place wasn't my home anymore.
I sighed and drove to the mall to replace the clothes I lost while moving. But after visiting several stores, I couldn't find anything suitable. As I wondered to switch malls, I overheard a conversation. "Wow, X brand just opened on the fourth floor."
X brand, it was the most frequently custom-ordered label by the Wei family, so comfortable to wear.
I raised my eyebrows and followed the sign upstairs. But I hadn't expected to see Shi Han as soon as I walked inside. He had a new shirt draped over his forearm, Wei Shen's size.
I pretended to be blind, veering toward another rack. Yet Shi Han approached me again. "Mr. Lu, long time no see."
I frowned at the use of that name, he knew about my divorce with Wei Shen. But we had agreed to keep it quiet for now.
I scoffed lightly and bypassed him deliberately. I thought avoiding him would make him embarrassed and keep his distance. But Shi Han seemed indifferent and clung closer. I picked one shirt, and he grabbed the same.
Fueled by rising anger, I snapped, "Mr. Shi, can you please stay away? You smell terrible, really unbearable."
Suppressing my nausea, I grabbed the shirt and hurried to the cashier.
Before I could pay, my phone rang abruptly. "Mr. Lu, the watch is ready from maintenance. No off-odors detected. When would you like to pick it up?"
Frowning, I refused. "Sorry, please contact Wei Shen's assistant directly for pickup."
Before he could answer, a voice beside me replied calmly, "Mr. Lu, don't worry, I'll pick it up myself. Also, when are you free Sunday? I'll come collect Yunqing."
That watch, do as it pleases. But who gave him the right to lay hands on my child?
My face turned icy as I growled. "Get lost."
Grabbing my shopping bag, I turned to leave.
Right before exiting, a sudden sharp cramp seized my abdomen. Could it be the emotional stress catching up?
My heart leapt, and I quickened my pace toward the underground garage. But as I reached basement two, the pain intensified, my legs weakened, nearly collapsing. Luckily, someone grabbed me just in time.
I looked, it was Shi Han, smiling gently as he released his grip.
I instinctively shielded my belly, knees aching, as his invitation echoed in the garage. "Mr. Lu, Chairman Wei wants to see you."
Appearing with seven or eight burly Alpha bodyguards, I had no choice but to comply. I bit back the pain and climbed into the car, carefully slipping my hand into my pocket to fumble for the emergency alarm button. But my phone was dead silent, unresponsive.
I looked outside as familiar scenery blurred past, my mind spinning in chaos. Was there any chance of escape? Who was Shi Han really? What relationship did he have with Wei Shen's father?
I soon got my answers.
Wei Shen's father tapped his cane on the floor. "Sit."
I stood warily at the side, refusing.
The sharp clack of the cane summoned two guards who forced me into a wooden sofa.
"I remember when you first married Wei Shen, you were an obedient Beta." His cold gaze slid downward. "But you changed. You refused synthetic pheromones to soothe Wei Shen's heat. Each cycle got more uncontrollable. Do you know how much damage an unruly Alpha causes to Wei Corporation's image? Not to mention the adopted child."
How did he know I had thrown away most of the synthetic pheromones he gave me?
My pupils contracted in terror as I watched Shi Han leisurely pour tea for him, with a rare gentle smile.
"Mr. Lu, you might not know I am the youngest child of the Shi family, a Grade A Omega, with 85 percent compatibility with Wei."
A high-match AO pairing. Plus, the Omega is the Shi heir, twice as strong as the Lu family's Beta.
Even a fool could see who would be chosen.
A cold shiver skittered down my spine, and I instinctively curled, shielding my belly.
But the next moment, guards grabbed me.
Shi Han's light laughter reached me. "Don't worry, Mr. Lu. It's just a minor surgery to remove the mutated secondary sex characteristics. Worst case, organ failure and early death."
Those men really want me dead.
I had no energy left and cursed softly. But a sharp pain at my nape silenced me.
When I opened my eyes again, I was strapped to an operating table. A person in green surgical robes raised a syringe, an anesthetic.
No, that could harm.
I struggled with all my might but only succeeded in pressing the needle further into my arm. The liquid marker silently descended.
Consciousness blurred, harsh alarms drowned out a low buzzing.
"Master, this area is forbidden. Master, please leave. The elder is doing this for your own good"
Noise fell into an angry roar, "Get lost."
The restraints loosened, and I fell into a familiar embrace.
"It's okay now. When you wake, everything will be fine."
I couldn't open my eyes wide but saw Wei Shen one last time before blacking out, my neck wet with tears.
Upon waking, I frantically pulled up my shirt no scars, no pain.
Relieved, I slowly got out of bed.
But after just a few steps, I collapsed back.
The cause was the culprit, a sliding closet door wide open, revealing fabrics inside.
The most eye-catching was a red and green floral shirt.
It looked so familiar.
Before I could reach for it, Wei Shen pushed the door open. "Any pain anywhere else?"
I instinctively shook my head and stepped back from his touch.
Wei Shen's face was pale as he shut the closet door behind him. "Good. It's my fault for affecting you."
I remembered everything and glared at him hard. "Wei Shen, whatever you do or whoever you're with doesn't concern me anymore. Can you control your father and Shi Han? You divorced me so decisively, did that high-match Omega soften your heart?"
I gave a bitter smile and jabbed at him with a pointed remark. "Don't bother me again. You all make me sick."
Wei Shen kept his head down, voice oddly hoarse. "Okay, I understand."
Though it should have been a relief, my heart ached quietly.
I looked away, letting a heavy silence smother the room.
Thankfully, a knock broke the awkwardness. "Director Wei, the medicine has arrived."
Wei Shen opened the door and handed me the medicine and report through Assistant Zhao.
I looked at the familiar blue liquid in the vial. "Why this again?"
This special drug was used once during the second year of our marriage, the time I inexplicably had full-body pain.
Wei Shen sighed and pointed to a line on the report. Suggested daily controlled use of Alpha pheromone extract to counteract pain from mutated areas.
I glanced at him, realizing this was Wei Shen's own pheromone extraction.
I pursed my lips and counted the vials, only a week's supply.
Just moments ago, I had told him to get lost.
Clearing my throat, I looked at Wei Shen.
Before I could speak, he answered first. "It's my responsibility. Don't worry, I will arrange regular deliveries."
Finally at ease, I drank the vial quietly and whispered thanks. "Thank you, I'm leaving now."
Wei Shen softly acknowledged and followed behind me.
Stepping out of the bedroom, I noticed this was his small apartment, one he had never told me about.
I suddenly clenched my palms and quickened my pace to leave.
Luckily, no incidents on the way home. I slammed the door shut firmly, curling up on the sofa as I called my mother to help watch Yunqing.
While waiting, a thought nagged me relentlessly.
If I kept relying on medicine and Wei Shen's connection, trouble would come again.
Neither Wei Shen's father nor Shi Han were reasonable men.
I rubbed my temples and thought, if only there was a substitute.
Wait, substitute.
My eyes sparked with hope five words flashed in my mind: synthetic pheromones.
Without hesitation, I booked an appointment at a top-tier hospital's pheromone department.
The next day, I brought up my idea to the doctor, but she said, "Mr. Lu, I think you should undergo a test first."
The doctor held my report, her face grave.
"How many doses of synthetic pheromones have you used before?"
I hesitated, carefully recalling: apart from the 50ml injection on our wedding night, and two uses before Wei Shen discovered me, it totaled only 80ml.
The doctor sighed. "Even the least side effect type has a lifetime limit of 100ml for Betas. According to your report, you have already begun secondary sex trait mutation."
I remembered from what I learned: Betas, being the most common kind, have no active pheromones or glands, but this doesn’t mean they lack secondary sex traits internally.
On the contrary, the Beta's secondary sex traits are underdeveloped and fragile, unable to withstand much disturbance.
She looked at me with pity and continued, "Once mutation completes, mild cases lead to genetic defects, needing expensive drugs for survival. Severe cases result in organ failure and early death."
My ears rang, and my face drained of color. "Is there a cure?"
She picked up the blue vial, eyeing my stomach. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lu. As long as you consistently use this Alpha pheromone extract, you shouldn't face major issues."
I gasped and asked, "How long must I keep using it? Can I switch to another Alpha?"
She frowned, "At least five years. Switching requires, come with me."
Puzzled, I followed her to a sterile extraction room.
Through one way glass, I saw a nurse take a six centimeter, 0.3-millimeter-thick needle and insert it into a bound Alpha's gland to slowly extract fluid.
The doctor whispered, "Anesthesia affects extraction quality."
The Alpha struggled in pain.
So Wei Shen has been extracted like this ever since discovering I used synthetic pheromones secretly?
Why? I was a Beta who had tried nothing but gratitude toward him.
I dared not think deeper or ask for answers.
"Have you seen the extraction process, Mr. Lu? Do you still insist on switching? You should protect yourself, this kind of Alpha deserves it."
Seeing her determined expression, I finally understood, she thought I was being coerced.
Sadly, I wasn't.
I smiled bitterly and pressed on about switching, and got my answer: I could switch, but only after this eight-month period.
Chapter 03
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