Secretly Married to a Chaebol Alpha-Chapter 166: SELF-PUNISHMENT

"DAD, I want to go this school! I want to see my friends again! Pretty please?"

Garam smiled, having fun watching Gunwoo cling to him while giving him his puppy-dog eyes.

After his son played with his new friends, the kid started begging him cutely.

To be honest, his son didn’t have to beg.

In fact, Appa isn’t here because he’s already talking to the school director.

"There are other schools that we can check out, baby," Garam reminded his son. "Are you sure you like it here?"

"Yes, Dad!" Gunwoo answered energetically while nodding. "I love this school! My friends, too! We have a playground, the snacks are yummy, and the classrooms have a lot of toys!"

Right.

They visited the classrooms earlier.

Even Garam liked the fact that each classroom looked cozy for kids.

There was only one thing making him worry, though.

It’s not really a problem, but I want to make sure that my son understands what he’s signing up for.

"Gunwoo-ya, you heard the teachers and other students talk, right? They mostly talk in English," Garam reminded his son. "Plus, many of your classmates aren’t Koreans. I’m afraid communication will be a bit difficult at first. Are you willing to take on the challenge?"

"Yes, Dad!" Gunwoo answered determinedly. "I know English! Daddy taught me English before!"

Huh?

I didn’t know that.

"Really? Your daddy did?"

"Yes, Dad. Daddy only speaks in English when we play."

Oh.

Well, Garam wasn’t worried about that since Song Sihyuk was fluent in English.

He remembered that he would often hear the Alpha talk in English, or other languages, on the phone when working.

I think Hyung also knows French and Italian? Japanese and Chinese, too.

Ah, he just realized that the Alpha was multilingual.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since Hyung is often overseas for business.

That was probably why Song Sihyuk wanted Gunwoo to study in an international school.

"Dad, Dad, I have a question, though," Gunwoo said while tugging at Garam’s sleeves. "Why does one of my friends have chocolate skin?"

Ah.

As Garam said earlier, many students in that school weren’t Koreans.

I guess this is the best opportunity to teach my son about other cultures early.

It wouldn’t hurt to raise his son with an open mind as early as now.

"Gunwoo-ya, I understand that you don’t mean that in a bad way. But let’s not compare other people’s skin color to food."

"Okay, Dad," Gunwoo said while nodding, and then he tilted his head to one side. "But why is their skin color different than mine?"

"Good question, baby," Garam said, carrying Gunwoo and putting the child on his lap. "Let’s talk about that."

***

"GARAM-AH, are you alright?"

"I’m not sure, Appa," Garam said, gulping hard. He and his Omega father-in-law were already sitting in the backseat of the car, with the sleeping Gunwoo between them. "Is that really a normal tuition fee for kindergarten? I understand that this is an international school. But the amount is still pretty shocking."

Garam already enrolled Gunwoo at Eliot Foreign School.

He had also signed all the necessary documents.

Including the NDA.

All they had to do was go to the school’s private tailor shop for Gunwoo’s sets of school uniforms.

And other school supplies, of course.

They could get that later, and his Omega father-in-law promised to help, too.

"Dear, that price is pretty normal," Lee Wonjae assured Garam without blinking an eye. Of course, that kind of tuition fee wouldn’t make his Omega father-in-law shocked. "Sihyuk’s tuition fee was even more expensive since he studied abroad."

"I still can’t get used to how rich your family is, Appa," Garam said, slightly worried. "And, to be honest, I’m not sure if Gunwoo should really be attending a kindergarten this prestigious already."

"Of course, dear. Your son is the heir to SG Group, after all. I know that Sihyuk already told you about it, but it is for Gunwoo’s safety, too. The tuition fee in this school is crazy high because of the tight security here."

Right.

Garam would still often forget that his son was a big shot.

We’re also paying for my son’s security here.

Whew.

"Don’t worry about the tuition fee— my son won’t go bankrupt because of it."

Yes, it was Song Sihyuk who paid the tuition fee.

Garam allowed the Alpha to pay for it because it was his idea to enroll Gunwoo to an international school.

But I’m paying for everything else.

Like Gunwoo’s uniforms and other school stuff.

"Let’s just focus on Gunwoo’s first day as a kindergarten," Lee Wonjae said excitedly. "Are you going to invite Sihyuk? The school encourages the parents to attend their children’s first day of school, after all."

"I’ve already decided to co-parent with Sihyuk Hyung, Appa," Garam said. He was still uncomfortable around Song Sihyuk, but he wouldn’t deny the Alpha the chance to spend time with their son. "I won’t stop him if he wants to see Gunwoo on his first day of school."

***

"DAD, DADDY said he won’t come with us tomorrow!"

Aigooya.

Garam’s heart broke a little while watching Gunwoo cry.

Earlier, his son got a phone call from Song Sihyuk.

He wanted to give his son privacy, so he took a shower first.

When he returned to the bedroom, Gunwoo was already crying his heart out.

"What did your daddy say, baby?"

"He said Dad and Grandpa should be enough," Gunwoo said between sobs. "Daddy said he’s busy with work. Daddy doesn’t want to see me on my first day of school, Dad. Does Daddy hate me now?"

"Of course not, baby," Garam said, sitting on the bed. He then lifted Gunwoo and put his son on his lap. "Your daddy must really be busy."

It was a lame excuse, yes.

But what else could I say?

"Daddy left the house, and now daddy won’t come to my school," Gunwoo said, pouting. His tears had stopped rolling down his chubby cheeks, but the child was still clearly upset. "If Daddy doesn’t hate us, then I hate Daddy."

"Baby, hate is such a strong word."

To be honest, Garam didn’t know why he was defending Song Sihyuk.

I know Hyung is keeping his distance for my sake, but that doesn’t mean he should neglect our son.

Plus, they agreed to coparent Gunwoo.

Why is that hyung acting this way now?

"Dad, I lied. I don’t hate Daddy," Gunwoo said, his eyes teary again. "I miss him so much."

Garam hugged Gunwoo tight. "I’ll try to talk to your daddy."

***

AFTER Garam tucked Gunwoo into bed, he grabbed his phone and headed to the balcony.

It was still cold, but that not cold anymore.

Hence, he could enjoy the beautiful garden of the family without freezing on the balcony.

Let’s get this done and over with.

Garam took a deep breath before calling Song Sihyuk.

To his surprise, the Alpha picked up the call on the second ring.

"What’s wrong, Garam-ah? Did something happen? Are you alright? Is Gunwoo safe?"

Garam furrowed his brows. "What’s with those questions, Hyung?"

"Well, I figured you’d only call if there’s an emergency..."

That wasn’t wrong, though.

"Gunwoo invited you to watch him on his first day of school. The school encourages the parents to stay and watch their children on the first day. Are you that busy that you can’t make time for your one and only son?"

"I’m really sorry. I’ll make it up to Gunwoo later."

Okay, Garam was shocked by Song Sihyuk’s response.

Really? He’s not going to show up even after I scolded him?

He didn’t expect the Alpha to be this firm.

"Is there anything else, Garam-ah?"

"What?"

"If there’s nothing else, then you should have up now. It’s already late, so you should be sleeping."

Hah!

Garam was so annoyed, but he didn’t know he was feeling that way, so he just ended the call without even saying goodbye to Song Sihyuk.

I wonder what that hyung is up to now.

***

"YOU SHOULD seriously stop giving your pheromones to Cho Dongpyo, Song Sihyuk."

"How many times do I have to tell you that it’s already too late for that?" Song Sihyuk snapped at Seong Kyungmin. But he didn’t sound as convincing because he was actually pretty sick at the moment. "I’ll be fine with a little rest."

"No, you won’t be fine with a little rest," Seong Kyungmin said firmly. "You should take a break from work."

"I can’t do that."

"Dude, your condition is getting worse."

"But I’m still fine."

Song Sihyuk still went to work religiously.

But, this weekend, he couldn’t get up from bed because his pheromones suddenly felt like they were crushing him.

Hence, he called Seong Kyungmin to his penthouse.

"You won’t be fine for long, Song Sihyuk," Seong Kyungmin said sternly. The doctor was upset, but the doctor was already clearly worried about his condition. "An Alpha who can’t get his rut is bound to be very sick."

Yep, that was Song Sihyuk’s current dilemma.

I lost my ability to go into a rut.

"This is my karma for all the bad things I had done."

"Sihyuk-ah, don’t give me that bullshit," Seong Kyungmin said sternly. "Let’s ask Garam’s help— he might trigger your rut because he’s your Omega."

"No, I won’t let Lim Garam get dragged into this," Song Sihyuk said firmly while shaking his head. "Let me get my bad karma in peace, will you?"

***

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