The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 53
“You resemble your brother quite a bit. Did you say he’s a dominant Alpha?”
Leonid tightened his grip on Johanna’s hand as he asked, pulling her along. Johanna, dazed by his hold, found herself following him almost automatically.
“Yes, he’s a dominant Alpha. Fourteen years old.”
“His academic performance is impressive.”
“Daniel is very bright. He puts in a lot of effort too. He’s also incredibly talented as a magical engineer.”
Sensing an opportunity, Johanna eagerly praised Daniel. She wanted to leave a good impression on Leonid, as she needed his help to get Daniel into the Bamberg Boarding Academy. Leonid’s gaze lingered on her, his eyes glinting with a curious light.
“You’re aware, of course, that whether it’s for entry or transfer, one must pass an exam to get into Bamberg Boarding Academy. Not even I can tamper with the exam results. You understand what I’m saying, right?”
How could she not? Financial support was one thing, but altering qualifications through sheer power was another matter entirely.
Johanna nodded obediently. Leonid’s lips curled up slightly, then he let out a faint, almost dismissive sound.
“Have I mentioned before that I find you agreeable, Miss Lucerne?”
“Ah, yes…”
“You’re quick to understand. I can’t stand dealing with people who need things explained two or three times. In that respect, I’d say you’ve earned high marks with me.”
“Hmm, thank you.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It doesn’t mean I have any other feelings for you.”
“…Yes.”
They were alone in the corridor, with no eavesdroppers nearby. Leonid reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of Johanna’s hair behind her ear. The gesture was so delicate, so tender, that anyone watching might have gushed over how caring he seemed.
“I can be as kind as I like.”
“…”
“It’s easier when it’s not genuine. Lies are light, but the truth is heavy.”
His voice carried a quiet warning. Don’t mistake the play for reality. If she ever developed feelings for him, it would become a troublesome affair. His sharp gaze pierced through her like shards of ice.
“Take care of your heart, Miss Lucerne.”
“…”
“If you give it away in a relationship that isn’t meant to be real…”
“…”
“Then you’ll only end up miserable.”
With a generous, almost kind smile on his lips, he patted Johanna’s shoulder lightly. Johanna bit down on her lip, feeling as though she might choke even before they’d sat down for the meal.
* * *
There was no money left. If he lost this round, he might really end up at the bottom of the sea. The maniacs sitting at this table were certainly capable of it.
“Well, well. What do we have here? Looks like I’ve won this one.”
The man with a long scar across his chin smirked as he flipped his cards over. Seeing his opponent’s hand, Philipp Lucerne’s face turned deathly pale.
…He lost. There was no way to win with the cards he was holding. His trembling hand slowly laid his cards down. His opponent glanced at his hand and let out a mocking laugh, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Our dear Lucerne is in big trouble now. All that’s left is that useless body of yours… What can you even do with a recessive Alpha who’s neither a dominant Alpha nor an Omega? You’re nothing but a burden.”
The men exchanged looks and burst into derisive laughter. Philipp Lucerne was so overwhelmed by despair that his mind went blank. He couldn’t think of any way out.
“Well… at least your pheromone glands are intact, right? Lucky you, to have something useful left. Isn’t that right, Lucerne?”
One of the men tapped Philipp’s dazed face, then grabbed him and hauled him to his feet. The word “pheromone” finally registered in his mind. Philipp began thrashing violently, screaming in protest.
“L-let me go! You bastards! The whole game was rigged, wasn’t it?! You tricked me! You’ve been deceiving me from the start!”
“Now, now, causing a scene like this will only disturb the other guests. We’re not taking an organ; we’re just extracting a bit of pheromone from your glands. What’s there to be afraid of? Just endure it for a month. After a month, we’ll let you go.”
The men grabbed Philipp, who was resisting with all his might, and dragged him away. The other people in the casino found the commotion annoying but did nothing to help.
There were wealthy Betas in the world who wore Alpha pheromones like perfume. They wanted to seduce an Omega, even if only for one night, using any means necessary.
Sleeping with an Omega was supposed to be far better than with a Beta—it was the kind of experience that desperate fools were willing to pay for. And pheromones, of course, were worth money.
Naturally, extracting pheromones from a human body was illegal in every country.
“You bastards! I’ll report all of you! I’ll make sure you rot in prison!”
“Sure, sure. Calm down, or you’re going to pass out.”
