CHAPTER 14- Just because I'm a Beta⁸

EARLIER THAT DAY…

Presley stepped out of the car, exhaustion clinging to him like a second skin. The day had been rough—mentally and emotionally.

After much deliberation, he'd concluded the best time to confront Jamie was during the evening, right when he’d be leaving work. That was how things had always been between them—quiet, hidden, tucked away from the eyes of the company staff. Riley had memorized Jamie’s schedule like second nature back when he was still his assistant… his former assistant.

He scanned the parking lot, stopping when his eyes landed on a familiar car.

Bingo.

But just as he began to move forward, the universe played its cruel trick.

He wasn’t the only Wilson on-site.

Mrs. Sandra had come to the company that day.

And as fate would have it, she spotted him.

“Hey!” Her sharp voice cut through the air like ice.

Presley froze.

“Oh, shit…” he muttered, yanking up his hoodie in a panic.

Too late.

She was already approaching.

“Shit!! Shit!! SHIT!! Why didn’t you warn me?!” he hissed under his breath.

Von remained frustratingly silent.

«........»

Presley’s face turned ghost-pale.

“...SERIOUSLY?!”

He nearly threw the phone across the lot but stopped himself at the last moment—that phone was his only ticket back to his past-life.

With a guttural sigh, he shoved it into his pocket.

“Ugh... screw this,” he growled and turned to face the woman.

"Riley, was it?" Mrs. Sandra removed her sunglasses with poised elegance.

"You didn’t even give me the chance to miss you before crawling back like a cockroach," she said with a venom-laced smile.

Presley smirked and leaned against the nearest car. “Surprised myself, honestly. I thought I was dead for real.”

His gaze hardened.

“So... is this how you solve your little boy’s problems?”

The question froze her in place.

She looked up slowly, but Presley already caught the twitch in her jaw.

“Are you accusing me of that accident?”

“I never mentioned an accident,” Presley replied coolly.

That was all it took—color drained from her face. She had outed herself.

Just as I thought.

He knew she was behind it.

The Wilsons would do anything to protect their name. Sandra was no different. After Riley was hit, the driver left the truck— making it look like he was going to help the injured person, but in reality his motive was to confirm Riley was dead and then dispose the body. If the body was never found, it would just be a tragic disappearance. One that conveniently erased her son’s inconvenient lover…

....Just like that ‘certain omega’ Jamie loved back in high school, 'disappeared'.

Presley only thought of it as a possibility but Mrs. Sandra's reaction, confirmed it all.

Sandra pulled out a checkbook and scribbled an obscene number on a slip, holding it out with elegant indifference.

Presley raised a brow. “Plan A failed, so now you’re offering money to make me 'disappear'?”

“I’m giving you a way out. Go far away. Start fresh. My son doesn’t need you anymore,” she said flatly. “After months of persuading, he finally agreed to meet someone new… and they’re together as we speak.”

She handed him the check.

“Think of this as a reward. If you hadn’t dumped him, none of this would’ve been possible.”

Presley’s smile vanished.

“Be careful, Riley,” Sandra said with a cold smirk. “You may never get a chance like this again.”

...****************...

A FEW MINUTES LATER...

Presley stormed away, heart pounding with anger.

'I hope I didn’t miss him. That hag wasted too much of my time.'

He glanced toward the lot.

His car’s still here... thank god.

But then he stopped. Not far from the car, two figures stood facing each other.

One of them was Jamie.

And the other...

Presley’s eyes narrowed.

That must be Jaden.

His mind replayed Sandra’s words.

> “He’s with that person as we speak.”

His breath caught as Jamie’s gaze suddenly lifted—locking directly with his.

They stared at each other. But Jamie didn’t speak. Didn’t flinch. Just kept staring, as if trying to measure every emotion behind Riley’s eyes.

Meanwhile,Jaden continued talking, oblivious to TL to get ey

Then Jamie said something that made the omega stiffen with confusion.

Presley couldn’t hear it, but he was already having a bad feeling.

JAMES: “You wanted a second chance, right? Well... here it is.”

Presley’s gut twisted.

'What the hell is going on... there?'

Jaden seemed hesitant, but slowly nodded. He puckered his lips with flushed cheeks and shut his eyes.

Presley’s jaw clenched.

If only,Jaden had kept his eyes open, he would've seen the flat disappointment in Jamie’s face.

'Seriously...? 'Jamie inwardly sighed.

'Even Riley was never this awkward'

'From here, Anyone can tell this whole scene is forced.Ugh....He's gonna ruin this for me.'

With a quiet exhale, Jamie placed a hand on Jaden’s face.

The omega gasped, eyes snapping open.

Their gazes met—and while Jaden’s heart raced, Jamie felt... nothing.

'Do I really have to do everything myself?' Jamie thought, then leaned in and kissed him.

Across the lot, Riley stood frozen, fists clenched by his sides.

Jamie deepened the kiss, aware of every second Riley watched. It was deliberate. Like a performance. A taunt.

'Yeah...'

Jamie thought with a smug smile mid-kiss.

 '...watch this.'

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