逆转 (Reverse) – 莲鹤夫人
Chapter 17
After that negotiation, the omega moved out of the house. He stayed at one of the Institute of Sciences’ affiliated facilities, taking a medication that stimulates pheromone production every day. He signed a contract with the alpha. Aside from the promised divorce, the alpha also provided various privileges to his family.
“Consider it a reward for your excellent after-sales service.” he said casually.
The omega signed over and over. The alpha’s family, or more precisely, the alpha himself, had a large legal team that handled disclaimers, declarations of willing gland donation, and agreements over property division following a divorce. They had already written solid terms to maximize their master’s benefit. Even when confronted with such an overwhelming intellectual force, the omega’s demands remained firm throughout. He was well aware of the risks associated with gland removal, and all he wanted was for his marriage to end without affecting his family.
Luckily, he wasn’t completely alone. His older sister was able to get the Omega Rights Association to intervene. As the first representative case of an omega voluntarily offering their gland, his personal information was immediately blasted across the media. Twenty-four hours a day, social platforms and news outlets continuously covered his name and the progress of his surgical preparation. The public backlash triggered by this was equally terrifying. To avoid suspicion, the alpha was forced to temporarily live apart from his wife. Without those numerous “voluntary consent” documents, the alpha’s political enemies would have long since succeeded in impeaching him on charges of “abusing power to coerce a marked partner into donating their gland and disregarding omega rights,” which would have utterly destroyed his reputation.
But so what? The alpha’s mouth curved into a sly grin. They were all cut from the same cloth—do they honestly think that just one small, “politically correct” controversy could cover up their crimes and make them look innocent?
—The world had started to turn in reverse. The timing was just right. They might as well go all out if they were going to play.
In the recovery room, his sister sat on the edge of the bed with the omega. A painful thought filled her mind as she looked at the gland behind his neck. It had started to swell up like a sanded blister, getting soft and raised on skin that was once smooth.
“…Does it hurt?” she asked, her eyes welling up with tears.
The gland removal surgery itself wasn’t particularly complicated, but the addition of pheromone extraction made the procedure significantly more difficult. He had to take medication—large doses of physically harmful stimulant drugs—to force the production of enough natural pheromones in a short period of time for post-operative research. The doctors at the Institute told him that the alpha’s team had told them not to give him any painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs so that the pheromones would be pure. Eventually, his gland would swell so much that he might not be able to lift his head.
“It doesn’t hurt.” he said with a slight smile, “You always have to pay for what you want.”
His sister sniffed and reached out like she did when they were kids, ruffling his hair, “I’ve already taken care of everything. We also checked things at home—as long as you take proper care afterward, you won’t lose too many years off your life. How long is it until the surgery?”
“About two more months, I guess…” the omega thought for a moment, “I’ll have the surgery done before his rut. Once his rut comes, the cure should be ready for him.”
His sister’s lips moved as if she were muttering a curse. She finally forced a smile and said, “I see… Oh, listen! When the time comes, you can go anywhere you want! When you were little, didn’t you always say you wanted to see the whole world? That when you got settled, you’d find a sunny spot, buy a small house, and have a cat, a dog—I’ve already found a place for you! There aren’t many people around, and it’s very quiet. We haven’t decided on a house yet, but… you’ll know once you see it. Feel free to pick one on your own. Take a look, and you’ll see…”
Her sobs became louder as she continued to speak. The omega’s nose stung. He put out his hand and wiped her face dry.
“I’m fine, sis. I made this choice on my own… I’m really okay.”
“Anyway,” she said as she wiped her tears away. Even bare-faced, she was incredibly elegant, “Don’t worry about the family anymore. Our parents didn’t care about you. They’ve done enough damage to you in recent years to establish their alpha son. We’ll leave after your surgery is done. The environment is beautiful, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the people are laid-back—no place for ambition, simply a place to live comfortably. We’re leaving this shit behind and going to spend our peaceful lives there!”
Although the gland in the back of his neck hurt and throbbed, the omega couldn’t help but smile with excitement, “Okay.”
Soon after, the omega spoke up and asked, “Oh, right—can I ask something?”
“What is it?”
The omega thought for a moment and then said, “I’m stuck in here right now with little access to the outside. I’m curious… how are things going?”
His sister’s expression darkened, “Everything you were publicly allowed to reveal has already been thoroughly investigated. Except for that big shot husband of yours, everyone’s in chaos.”
She despised the alpha so much that she wouldn’t stop calling him that sarcastic name.
“Really?” A bit taken aback, the omega asked, “It’s blown up that badly?”
“As it should,” she smiled bitterly, “You got married to someone from too high a social class. Your husband’s influence is far too powerful. You would’ve been devoured to the point of bone dust if the Omega Rights Association and every other sector of society hadn’t intervened. Now that various groups must work together, this cooperation will help balance his power… The seat he’s in is terrifying enough, so there are always those who loathe and fear him.”
The omega became dazed. Looking out the window at the orange-red sunset, he asked softly, “Back then, so many people wanted to marry him. Why did he choose me?”
Before his sister could respond, he chuckled bitterly and said, “Then again… to him, who isn’t lowborn? He probably just pointed at anyone on a whim—like how black cats and white cats are all pets to us.”
His sister stroked his soft black hair, looked into his stunningly clear eyes, and gritted her teeth, “He’ll regret it. I promise you—he’ll be sorry he did it.”
The omega let out a heavy breath and said, “But I don’t need his regret anymore.”
“It doesn’t matter if you need it or not. Just wait and see.” she declared with confidence, “That idiot… he’ll never realize what he’s lost.”
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Translated and edited by janemoyu (01/23/26)
