If you haven't read part 1 of chapter 10, please go back and do so! 

After dinner, the omegas went upstairs to the nursery. Cho Hwa stood in front of the mirror, fixing her makeup as Jaejin fed Minjun, Taeyong cooing over his shoulder.

“He gets cuter every day,” Taeyong whispered, reaching over to cradle one of his feet, marvelling at their tiny size.

Jaejin smiled and twisted the bottle for Minjun to continue suckling. “I know. It’s crazy to think it’s only been a few months,” he whispered and leaned down to kiss the top of Minjun’s head. “I feel like I’ve had him my whole life.”

Taeyong rested his hands on his stomach and smiled. Jaejin’s face lit up with every coo and mewl that came from Minjun, his scent noticeably sweeter. “So you’re happy being a stay-at-home mom?”

There was a pause. Jaejin continued to stare at Minjun to the point where Taeyong wondered if he had heard him. “Yeah,” Jaejin whispered, looking up when Taeyong’s shoulders sagged. “I want to be there for Minjun, you know? My old job wouldn’t have allowed that.”

Taeyong hummed. “That’s true.” Whether you were the boss or an employee, corporate jobs monopolize your time. At least Taeyong was his own boss. That way his kids could come and go, do homework in the back and bake with him while making the same fond memories Taeyong had with his grandparents. Taeyong smiled to himself. They were both making the right choices for their babies.

Minjun pushed the bottle away with a whine. “Okay, okay. Don’t fuss,” Jaejin said.

He lifted Minjun over the rainbow cloth over his shoulder before rubbing his back. A few moments later, Minjun let out a tiny burp that had Taeyong squealing.

“Jaejin, are these the new ones,” Cho Hwa asked, stepping out of the bathroom and holding a crystal tube.

Taeyong sat up and smiled brightly, watching Cho Hwa pop the top off to reveal the bold red lipstick bullet inside. “Yeah, I ordered four. They came in last week,” he said as he cradled Minjun.

Taeyong chuckled and reached out to hold it. “I still can’t believe you customize your own lipsticks,” he said as he closed the tube and examined the embossed ‘J’ at the top.

“What? It’s easier than trying a hundred different brands. And I have all the time and money in the world. Also, you know how I like being exclusive.”

“Don’t we all,” Cho Hwa said and returned the lipstick where she found it. “I should get going soon. Watching you with Minjun is making me miss Leon.”

“Yeah,” Taeyong said and stood up. “I have to be at the cafe first thing. And sleep hasn’t been great.”

Jaejin laughed. “Just wait until you start showing,” he said and placed Minjun in the crib, giving him one last kiss before leading them back downstairs.

Daehyun and Li Wei were chatting in the living room, getting up when the omegas came in. Taeyong walked over and pecked Daehyun’s cheek.

“Had fun?” Daehyun asked, wrapping an arm around his waist.

Taeyong smiled and nodded.

“Where’s Hyunwoo?” Jaejin asked casually, resting his hands on his waist.

“He had a call from work,” Li Wei explained. Taeyong glanced at the clock on the wall and thought the same thing that was written all over Jaejin’s face.

“Let me go get him before you all go,” he said with a faint smile before disappearing down the hall.

“So, what were you two talking about,” Cho Hwa asked, grinning at the two alphas. “Or is it a secret?”

Taeyong quirked his eyebrow at Daehyun, who merely chuckled. “No, nothing like that,” he said and held Taeyong closer.

“You sure you weren’t talking about anyone you found cute?” Taeyong asked, pursing his lips. The others laughed while Daehyun leaned over.

“There’s only so much I can talk about you before others get jealous,” he said in a low voice.

Taeyong bit his lip and forced himself to look away, hiding his red face against Daehyun’s shoulder as they laughed.

He suddenly pulled back, placing his hand on his stomach. “I will be right back,” he said and spun on his heels, hurrying down the hall.

“Run, Taeyong, run,” Cho Hwa whisper-yelled after him, Taeyong rolling his eyes when he heard the three of them laugh.

Taeyong shook his hands out over the sink before wiping them dry against the soft towel. He looked at his makeup and sighed. Right now he wanted nothing more than to be barefaced and cuddling up next to Daehyun.

As he stepped out of the bathroom, he stood in the middle of the hall, hearing faint, harsh whispers down the hall. Was Hyunwoo still on the phone with work? Surely he’d put it down for a few minutes to say goodbye.

Glancing around, Taeyong crept up the hall, stopping at an ajar door, listening.

“For fuck’s sake, what’s wrong with you? What were you trying to say at the table?”

“I was just making conversation. You’re overreacting.”

“I’m not,” Jaejin hissed. “Just because you’re an embarrassment doesn’t mean everyone is.”

Hyunwoo shot up from his chair and grabbed Jaejin’s arm. Taeyong gasped, slapping his hands over his mouth. “How dare you call me that? You’re the one that insisted on staying angry.”

Unfazed, Jaejin glared at him. “I have every right to be angry. I leave you with them for ten minutes and you’ve already hidden in your office. Do you think you’re on the same level as Daehyun and Li Wei? Well, you’re the least Alpha here, in your own house—”

“Enough!” The slam against the wall was unmistakably Jaejin.

There was a beat of silence. “I’m going to go see everyone out,” Jaejin said, his voice cool and collected. “Come when you’ve cooled down.”

Taeyong stumbled back, but before he could get very far, Jaejin stepped out of the office.

They froze, staring at each other. The silence was thick and uncomfortable.

“Um, I had to use the—” Taeyong pointed to the bathroom, which was too far up the hall to justify why he was standing right there.

Jaejin’s shocked expression turned into a frown. “Go. I’ll be right there,” he said and walked past with ghostly silence, locking the powder room door behind him.

Gulping, Taeyong could think of nothing to say. So he shook his head and headed back, plastering on a smile as he rejoined the others.

Saying goodbye wasn’t as awkward as he thought. Jaejin acted like getting caught a few minutes ago never happened, but Taeyong couldn’t shake off what he’d overheard. Now that he was aware of it, he noticed how tense Jaejin and Hyunwoo had been all night.

Jaejin hugged Taeyong with surprising strength. “You better not tell anyone."

Shocked, Taeyong nodded. “Couples fight all the time. It’s no big deal,” he whispered back, hoping to provide some comfort. Because it was true, right? It happened to everyone.

Jaejin smiled stiffly and nodded. They pulled away and Taeyong took Daehyun’s hand, looking back as the door shut.