"What?" Xian looked at the woman, she appeared to be in her twenties. The strong pheromones emitting from her let him know she was alpha. And it made him weak, his legs slowly turning into gelly. He was no match for her.
DING:
[ALERT: Diffuse situation]
"Don't play fucking dump with me." She grabbed his collar, shaking him. "How much did he pay you filthy omega? Are you the reason he hasn't been picking his calls?"
Even in his previous life he'd always been afraid of confrontation. "I don't even know him. Maybe you should call your husband and ask him?" He tried to explain but it only angered the woman.
"I'm just here to see my sick sister," he added, his eyes pleading.
"What shitty luck you have," the woman sneered. "I'm going to make you regret ruining my marriage."
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. There were a bunch of people waiting to enter. They all looked at Xian with pity as the woman dragged him out.
"Please…" Xian pleaded. "Let me go. I know nothing about you and your husband. I'm just here for my sister, she needs me right now."
She took him to a corner and told her assistant to keep an eye on him. Xian pulled out his phone and sent a rapid text to his mum telling her he was in the hospital.
"Can I at least sort my sister's bills? She's due for surgery and we're running out of time. We can sort this problem out after." Xian pleaded with the assistant who looked at him in pity.
"You really have the worst luck. I'm sorry but I can't help you. Ms. Jia is the most vicious woman I've ever met. Even her parents dare not cross her."
Dread filled Xian.
The dating app didn't disclose the information of their customers. It was why Xian had chosen it. No one he met would really know who he was or be able to trace him outside of the platform.
Every interaction was based on anonymity. Which was why he hadn't bothered to look the alpha up, he didn't even know his name.
"Who is she?"
"Wang Jia of the Wang family. They're one of the oldest conglomerate families in the country."
"And the husband in question?"
The assistant narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You don't know him?"
Xian shook his head. "I really don't."
"Mr. Shin of the Yan family. He's the youngest of four boys. And has been engaged to Ms. Jia since they were kids. I'd pray for an intervention if I were you. She doesn't spare anyone who crosses her path."
Xian gulped.
"The original heir to the Wang family was her younger brother. But she sent him to prison and took over the family's companies."
The situation looked worse with the more he learnt. He should've never let him take those pictures. Or at least changed his clothes. But he was already running late.
He froze when he saw Jia walking back. She looked more agitated than before. He couldn't even begin to think of ways he could diffuse the situation.
She stopped in front of Xian. "I'll ask you one last time." She peered into his face, daring him to lie. "Did you sleep with my husband? It's okay if you did, everyone makes mistakes. Except me of course."
Xian's heart beat so hard and fast he was afraid it would burst out of his chest. "I swear, I didn't."
That earned him a slap that had his sight blurring for a couple seconds. But he couldn't move. She was using her pheromones to dominate him, keep him helpless. It made him feel hot and weak all over.
"I'm telling you the truth. I didn't sleep with your husband," he managed to say, slowly sliding down the wall. Her assistant held him up.
"You still dared to lie in my face? I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget. Next time you keep your hands off other people's property!"
"What's going on here?" a tiny voice asked.
Xian looked to the side and saw his mother. He should've felt a sense of relief but her presence made him feel worse. That she had to see him in a situation like this.
"And who are you old woman?" Jia asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "I don't have any more money to give beggars today. You can leave."
"That's my mum," Xian said. "She's with my sister. I'm just here to pay her surgery bills."
Jia laughed. "So you fucked my husband for money to pay your bills. Is that it?"
Xian shook his head, looking at his mother. "That's not what happened."
His mother, Ms. Lin looked at Jia with contempt on her face but she didn't miss her shiny suit and designer jewelry. It made her envious. "My son wouldn't do something like that."
"Are you calling me a liar?" Jia immediately pulled up the picture. "His face might not be in the shot but that's him." She showed the picture to his mother.
Ms. Lin looked at Xian with contempt. "You told me it was all acting, that you weren't gay. What is this?"
Xian struggled to explain. "I swear, I did not sleep with him. It's a misunderstanding."
"Pictures don't lie," she sneered. "I asked you a thousand times, but you denied being involved with men. But now you're sleeping around with men for money? How pathetic of you. You really are a shameless omega. I regret having you as a son."
"Mom…" Xian couldn't stop the tears from flowing down his cheeks. "I'm not sleeping around."
Ms. Lin didn't respond, simply took his phone and transferred money into her account for her daughter's surgery. "I was willing to overlook all your flaws. But I won't tolerate this. I never want to see you again."
Xian couldn't even stand up because of Jia's alpha pheromones. "Please…" Even in this world his family deserted him. What was he supposed to do now?
DING.
[SYSTEM WARNING]
Primary Guardian Connection: TERMINATED
Emotional Stability: -20
Attachment Slot: EMPTY
A sharp pain cut through Xian.
[MISSION: Establish New Connection +10 points]
"You are good for nothing. Even your mother has left you." Jia watched Ms. Lin walk away with a smug satisfaction. "Good for her." She grabbed the collar of his shirt. "You'll be reduced to dust by the time I'm done with you."
The assistant was about to drag Xian up when a cold voice spoke from behind them.
"Get your filthy hands off my man."