And Still, He Loved.

Prologue

Prologue: June 5, 2025

The sky above a quiet coastal town in South Korea was washed in soft summer light, a silvery gold that shimmered on the rooftops and danced gently over the wide riverbank. Birds soared lazily overhead, and the scent of lavender and freshly baked bread spilled into the air from open windows.

Inside a grand but cozy estate on the city outskirts, laughter rang like a melody.

The house was alive.

The scent of three distinct pheromones hung in the air, braided like invisible threads of belonging. It was the scent of completion.

Ash stood at the center of the sunlit room, a soft white shirt rolled up to his elbows, revealing the tattooed initials of two names on either wrist. His dark hair was tousled, and his eyes—those stormy, silver-lined irises—were gentler now. Still fierce, still powerful, but no longer heavy with sorrow.

Across the room, Elinor adjusted the floral arrangements on the long wooden table. It was filled with candles, wild roses, and three-tiered cakes. The Omega's smile was constant now, bright and warm, blooming like the flowers he’d arranged. His hands wore the marks of healing—a wedding ring on one, a slim silver band of eternity on the other, gifted by Ash.

Zieth sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, sipping wine and watching them both. Even in casual slacks and an unbuttoned collar, he looked regal. But the cold sharpness that once defined him had melted away. He no longer ruled from a throne—he lived, heart first.

Zev entered with a chuckle, holding his toddler son by the hand.

Zev [A]

"You're going to ruin the suits before the photo if you keep chasing the ducks, little monster," he said.

Habel followed, smiling softly, fixing a small bow tie around their son's collar.

Habel [O]

"Let him be. He's having fun. It's a celebration."

Ash knelt and opened his arms. The little boy squealed and ran into them, giggling wildly.

Ash[A]

"Hey, you,"

Ash whispered, kissing the child's head.

Ash[A]

"You're the ring bearer today. You ready for your job?"

Ken[O]

"I'm gonna carry it real careful," the boy declared.

Everyone laughed.

Outside in the garden, dozens of chairs had been arranged in a circle—no stage, no hierarchy. Just people. Friends, family, allies, and strangers who had watched the story unfold in quiet awe.

Zev approached his brother(Ash) with a mock scowl. "Ash. You were supposed to let us handle setup. You're the groom."

Ash[A]

Ash shrugged. "I'm also the boss."

Zieth walked over then, wrapping an arm around Ash's waist and pulling him close.

Zieth[E]

"You were always the boss."

Elinor came next, looping his arms around Ash’s shoulders from behind.

Elinor[O]

"Can we start? Or do I need to kiss someone first to get this party going?"

Ash[A]

"Please do," Ash murmured, turning his head just slightly.

Elinor obliged. He placed a soft kiss on Ash's lips

Zieth rolled his eyes but leaned in to press a kiss to Ash's temple.

Zieth[E]

"Don't make me jealous."

The ceremony was not traditional. There was no pastor, no legal binding—it had been done already. Today was spiritual. Emotional. A vow renewed in front of those who mattered.

Zev and Habel stood as witnesses.

Zev, ever proud, gave a small speech.

Zev [A]

"Some stories begin with love. Some with pain. Theirs began with both—and still, it brought them here. That’s what makes them sacred. That’s what makes them unstoppable."

Ash read from a hand-written letter.

Ash[A]

"I was eighteen when I first tried to love you. I was twenty-one when you first broke me. Twenty-three when I lost what I never even had the chance to hold. And now, at twenty-five, I forgive you. I love you. I choose you. Not because fate says I must, but because I know I can."

Zieth, voice low, spoke next.

Zieth[E]

"I have broken every rule of pride to stand here. But I’ll break a thousand more, if it means I can be yours again."

Elinor held Ash's hand tightly.

Elinor[O]

"I spent years looking at you but never seeing you. Today, I do. Today, I see the man I was too blind to cherish. And I vow to never look away again."

They exchanged matching chains, not rings. A symbol of strength, not possession.

The crowd applauded.

Afterward, as golden hour settled across the garden, the music began. There was no choreography—just soft jazz, open laughter, spontaneous dancing.

Ash danced first with Elinor, slow and easy.

Then Zieth took his turn, hands careful, eyes shining.

And in a moment of tender chaos, the little ring bearer tugged on Ash’s shirt.

Ken[O]

"Can I have a dance too?"

Ash[A]

Ash grinned. "Only if I can step on your toes."

Ken[O]

"You’re silly," the child declared,

But took his hand.

Habel and Zev watched from a distance, arms wrapped around each other.

Habel [O]

"He’s happy now," Habel whispered.

Zev [A]

Zev nodded. "Finally."

Ash, in the middle of it all, twirled the child and glanced up at his two mates—his family.

The space between them had once been a battlefield. But now, it was a home.

And Ash, the boy who had loved too deeply and lost too much, was no longer alone.

He had everything.

And he had survived to enjoy it.

1

Chapter One: The Bond Before the Storm

20 Years back

In the lush countryside of Jeolla Province, South Korea, nestled between rolling hills and cherry blossom groves, stood the twin estates of two powerful families: the Rhaes and the Soos. The Rhaes, old money and silent influence, traced their bloodline back to the early dynasties. The Soos, newer in power but no less respected, built their fortune on innovation and commerce. Between them, traditions held fast and secrets ran deep.

Zieth Snow Rhae, the 2nd son of the Rhae patriarch, had always been different. An Enigma, rare and commanding. He walked with quiet authority even as a boy, his violet eyes unblinking, his words few but sharp. Even then, people called him the heir of silence and shadow. He was untouchable—except to one.

Elinor Soo.

They had met at a family alliance gathering when they were only five and nine, the kind of event filled with stiff bows and tight-lipped elders. But when Elinor walked in, soft curls bouncing and mischief dancing in his amber eyes, Zieth turned. And he smiled.

From that moment, they were inseparable.

young Elinor

“Come on, Zieth! I heard there’s a koi pond behind the east greenhouse. Bet you haven’t seen that yet.”

Zieth, ever calm and measured, allowed himself to be tugged along.

young Zieth

“You’re going to ruin your new shoes,” he warned softly.

young Elinor

“Then I’ll just take them off,” Elinor grinned, already halfway barefoot.

Through scraped knees, stolen snacks, first heartbreaks, and schoolyard fights, they grew together. Elinor with his charm, constantly surrounded by admirers, and Zieth—his quiet shadow, his guardian, his anchor.

When Elinor came into his Omega designation at fifteen, their bond sharpened. The scent between them intensified, intimate and familiar. And yet, neither said a word. Not out of fear, but out of reverence. They knew what it was. They didn’t need to name it.

Zieth had started taking on the family business around that time. Under his guidance, the Rhae Group shifted from passive real estate holdings into global conglomerates. At seventeen, he had already negotiated a multimillion-dollar merger. Elinor would wait at the back of every conference room, curled in a chair, sketching in his notebook.

Zieth[E]

“You’re always watching me,” Zieth had said once, not looking up from his notes.

Elinor[O]

“Because you’re beautiful when you work,” Elinor replied.

Elinor[O]

“Like a painting no one else gets to touch.”

Zieth’s pen paused.

Zieth[E]

“And what do I look like?” he asked, finally meeting his eyes.

Elinor didn’t blink.

Elinor[O]

“Like someone I’ll always come home to.”

On Elinor’s 18th birthday, the bond completed.

It was during the evening celebration at the Soo estate—a sprawling, ivy-covered mansion overlooking the ocean. Strings of lanterns floated above the garden, casting golden light over long tables and soft music.

Zieth arrived late.

He wore midnight blue silk, tailored perfectly. His presence stilled the party.

Elinor saw him from across the garden. Their eyes locked. The moment was electric. A pulse, a scent, a call. Their bond—once humming like a soft lullaby—roared into clarity. Elinor dropped his champagne glass. Zieth was beside him in seconds

Elinor[O]

“Do you feel it?” Elinor whispered, voice trembling.

Zieth[E]

Zieth nodded, eyes impossibly gentle. “Yes. I always have.”

Their families celebrated the news with immediate action. Fated mates among the elite were a rare blessing. A joint statement was released the next day. Stock prices surged. Invitations for the engagement ceremony flooded in.

The world saw a perfect match—beauty and brilliance, softness and strength.

And it was real. For all the public spectacle, the bond between them was intimate and sacred. At night, when the doors were closed and cameras gone, they were just two people who knew each other to the marrow.

Zieth would work late in his home office, and Elinor would curl on the couch nearby, reading his scripts, sometimes sketching future fashion lines.

Zieth[E]

“You know you don’t have to stay up,” Zieth would murmur, glancing over his glasses.

Elinor[O]

“Then who would remind you to eat?” Elinor would reply, sliding a small plate of fruit his way.

By twenty, Elinor was one of the most sought-after models in Korea. Graceful, expressive, and ethereal, he became the face of countless high-end campaigns. His name was whispered in Paris and Milan.

But his heart was always with Zieth.

Even when miles apart, they texted constantly.

Zieth[E]

[Elinor]: Did you eat today? 📲

Elinor[O]

[Zieth]: Yes. Grilled sea bass. You would’ve hated it. 📲

Zieth[E]

[Elinor]: Liar. Send a pic. 📲

Elinor[O]

[Zieth]: …fine. It was instant noodles. 📲

Zieth[E]

[Elinor]: Better go and eat something healthy 📲

Elinor[O]

[Zieth]: Yes your Majesty 📲

Their bond was not perfect. They fought. Elinor, emotional and impulsive, often accused Zieth of being too distant, too absorbed in work.

Elinor[O]

“You treat emotions like they’re business transactions,” he snapped once.

Zieth[E]

Zieth only nodded. “Because I don’t know how to lose you. And business is the only thing I’ve ever controlled.”

Silence fell.

Then Elinor stepped forward and kissed him, slow and trembling.

Elinor[O]

“Then learn to love me like I’m not leaving.”

And Zieth did.

On the surface, they were the perfect couple—the envy of the elite. But underneath, their love was deeper than aesthetics. It was forged in childhood, shaped by devotion, and sealed in fate.

They didn’t know that destiny would soon ask more of them.

Much more. But for now, the world was golden. And in each other, they had found their home.

2

Chapter Two: The Spark That Shattered Silence

Three years passed in a haze of luxury and love, the kind of life most people only dreamed of. Elinor, now a top-tier model in Asia and Europe, graced the cover of every fashion magazine imaginable. His ethereal beauty and emotional depth made him a muse for the best designers in the world. Yet, no matter how far he traveled or how bright the spotlight shone, he always returned to Zieth.

Zieth had become a legend in the corporate world. Rhae Group was now a global powerhouse. The media called him "The Silent Emperor"—a man who said little but ruled with precision. Together, they were an empire: beauty and intellect, devotion and dominance. But fate wasn’t done writing their story. It was the annual Imperial Affluence Gala—the grandest event in Seoul’s luxury business calendar. Held at the Skyglass Tower’s crystal ballroom, the event gathered tycoons, celebrities, and dignitaries under one shimmering roof.

Elinor arrived first, descending from the private elevator in a sapphire velvet suit with a plunging neckline. Photographers lost their minds.

Zieth followed thirty minutes later, in a sharp onyx suit, his cufflinks bearing the Rhae crest. They didn’t walk in together—but the moment they stood side by side, the room quieted.

Elinor[O]

“God, this is exhausting,” Elinor murmured as champagne was poured into his glass.

Zieth[E]

“You look flawless,” Zieth replied without looking at him.

Elinor[O]

“Flawless and dying inside.”

Zieth[E]

Zieth arched a brow. “Smile. We’re being watched.”

Elinor[O]

Elinor forced a grin. “When this is over, I’m eating an entire cake by myself.”

They shared a soft laugh. And then, everything changed. Across the room, a stir began. Whispers. Shifting gazes.

someone

The host stepped up to the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our keynote sponsor tonight… Mr. Ash Han, founder and CEO of ANIMA.”

Zieth turned first, mildly curious. Elinor followed.

And then he appeared. Ash walked in with calm grace—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in all black silk and metal accents. He didn’t smile. He didn’t need to. His presence spoke enough. He was younger than expected, with sharp, amber-flecked eyes and a jaw sculpted from fire and discipline.

But it wasn’t just beauty that made them freeze.

It was the bond.

The instant Ash met Zieth’s eyes, something snapped in the air. And when his gaze moved to Elinor—it was like gravity realigned.

Zieth’s hand tightened around his glass.

Elinor’s breath hitched.

Ash blinked slowly. His gaze softened—recognition? Fear? Wonder?

He approached them after the speech, calm and composed.

Ash[A]

“Zieth Rhae,” he said, extending a hand. “And Elinor Soo. An honor.”

Zieth shook it. So did Elinor. But their hands lingered longer than necessary.

Elinor[O]

“You’re ANIMA’s designer?” Elinor asked, blinking. “I thought you’d be… older.”

Ash[A]

Ash shrugged. “Started young. Had to.”

Zieth[E]

Zieth tilted his head. “You built an empire out of nowhere.”

Ash[A]

Ash met his gaze. “Sometimes, nowhere is the best place to start.”

The bond pulsed between them—unseen by others, but unmistakable to those three.

Later that night, Elinor pulled Zieth aside.

Elinor[O]

“Did you feel that?”

Zieth[E]

Zieth exhaled. “I did.”

Elinor[O]

“What do we do?”

Zieth[E]

Zieth’s eyes followed Ash across the room, watching him speak to investors. “We meet him again. Privately.”

The next morning, a formal invitation was sent from Rhae Group’s private estate. Ash arrived three days later. This time, they spoke in a sun-drenched room, no assistants, no press.

Zieth poured tea. Elinor watched silently as Ash took his seat.

Ash[A]

“Let’s speak honestly,” Ash said. “You felt it. I felt it. We’re fated.”

Zieth[E]

Zieth nodded. “Fate is only a start. The rest is a choice.”

Ash[A]

Ash smiled faintly. “Then let’s see if we want to make it.”

Elinor[O]

"We dont." Elinor said it flatly

Ash[A]

"Okay i will drop it"

Zieth[E]

"We will reject with our families permission"

Ash[A]

"Agreed"

That was how it began.

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