Apex Predator - Chap 53

Qu Moyu looked at Shen Dai’s back in a daze, watching him vanish from his line of sight without so much as a backward glance.

Gazing upward, he noticed the red illuminated sign, bigger than a person in size, prominently spelling out the word: ‘Hospital’. At that moment, it seemed that he, too, became aware of exactly what Shen Dai was about to do. All at once he felt an unfamiliar and sharp pain in his heart. He gripped the door handle, resisting the urge to go after him.

In his heart he told himself: It was only the mark that was affecting him, that so long as he got rid of it, he would return to normal, with no one being able to control his moods and his judgement any longer.

Glancing at Qu Moyu in the rear-view mirror, Old Wu was startled by his pale complexion and the vicious look on his face. He had originally wanted to ask his boss where they should go next, but now he didn’t even dare breathe a sound.

The silence inside the car was practically enough to squeeze one’s heart. Though Old Wu felt incredibly lucky to be only a Beta who could barely sense Alpha pheromones, he was already feeling uncomfortable enough.

A long time passed before Qu Moyu finally muttered two words, “The company”

Seated in the office, Shen Dai listened with a blank expression as Lawyer Chen and the doctor performed their double act. Lawyer Chen explained the necessary terms in the patient consent form, while the doctor gave him the usual briefing on the procedure and its various risks.

“The removal of the mark is a surgery carried out under local anaesthesia. It imposes minimal strain on the body, so there’s no need for you to worry. Additionally, given the relatively short duration of your pregnancy, opting for a medically induced abortion will result in the fewest side effects. Following the procedure, you’ll only need to remain in the observation ward for a few hours, and if all is well, you should be able to go home that evening to rest and recover.”

Shen Dai, eyes hollow, gazed at the human anatomy diagram on the wall. As before, he had no reaction.

The doctor and Lawyer Chen exchanged a glance before the latter handed Shen Dai a form. “Mr. Shen, please sign here. Your doctors and medicine are the best, and this will be a minor surgery with minimal discomfort. Your body will recover very quickly.”

Shen Dai accepted the consent form, and then a pen, then stared at the densely written text. Signing it would not only represent that he was aware and agreed to the surgical risks, but even more that he was agreeing to remove the mark of his own accord.

Of his own accord.

Exactly the “accord” that Qu Moyu was referring to when he said “What I have are ways of making you do it “of your own accord.”

Except now he truly was doing it of his own accord.

Something acquired through illegitimate means that didn’t rightfully belong to him could only lead to an unending disaster. The very thing he had spent countless nights fantasising about, had finally fallen onto his lap only to transform into a curse. He no longer dared to want it, nor did he want it any longer.

If removing the mark meant being able to wake from this nightmare, then he would do it of his own accord.

He held the pen in his hand, its nib hung in midair above the space for the signature, feeling only that his fingers were weak and that he couldn’t for the life of him lower the pen.

Suddenly, circular watermarks started to appear on the paper, causing the edges of the black ink characters to bleed and diffuse, finally forming a large smudge that made it impossible for him to read anything clearly.

A force in his consciousness was doing its utmost to pull him back, shouting loudly, questioning him, asking him if he really wanted to kill his own child.

It wasn’t a child, he argued, only an embryo, no bigger than the tip of a finger.

But it will grow up. It will become a living person, connected to your bloodline, and a legacy through which your life will continue. It will be yours and love you unconditionally.

It is the sole proof on this Earth that you and Qu Moyu once shared a connection.

Seeing Shen Dai with his head bowed, tears streaming down his face, Lawyer Chen and the doctor stood stiffly aside, unsure of what to do.

By now Shen Dai could no longer see clearly. Hand trembling, he signed his own name through the power of his muscle memory, tossed the pen and paper aside then covered his face tightly. Tears spilled out uncontrollably between the gaps of his fingers. He tried to hold back, letting out soft sobs, even though his heart was hurting so much it seemed it would shatter.

He had never cried like this before—an explosive, gushing sadness and pain, unique in his lifetime. This was not a simple case of heartbreak; instead, he was standing at the crossroads of fate, with no clear path in front of him. Though he knew only too well that he should choose the less risky and damaging path, he still forced himself to turn away, to face the gargantuan tidal wave he could see with his own bare eyes, to break free from rational persuasion, and to set foot on a path of no return.

At that moment, he didn’t know whether to hate Qu Moyu for being unemotional, or to hate himself for not being unemotional enough. He also didn’t know if he wanted to keep the child out of love, or if it was merely reproductive instinct driven by the mark.

No doubt that in this lifetime, he couldn’t tread the same path to ruin as Shen Qin; his rational mind had no doubt rejected it thousands of times. But at this juncture, the most intense thought was that nobody could kill his child.

“Mr Shen …,” said Lawyer Chen, bringing over a tissue. “Please don’t be too sad.”

Shen Dai was shielding his face with his hands. Though his tears continued to fall, he said in an abnormally calm voice, “I will remove the mark, but I want to keep the child.”

Lawyer Chen and the doctor looked at each other in silence

The lawyer gave a light cough. “Mr Shen, you know that such an outcome is not possible,” he said, offering his advice earnestly. “I understand completely how you feel, but your breach of contract needs to be rectified. I hope that you can calmly collect your emotions and approach the situation with a rational mindset.”

“I want to keep the child.” Shen Dai brushed away his tears hastily and looked up. His pale, clear skin showed pink marks from being rubbed. There was no sign of pleading or self-pity in those glistening, reddened eyes – only determination. “All of you cannot force me to remove the mark or force me to have an abortion. I will accept any and all terms and cooperate with you all to have the mark removed. I don’t want any money. I just want to keep the child.”

“Mr Shen, once the mark is removed, there is no way of keeping the child,” explained the doctor helplessly.

Shen Dai was slightly startled. “Then, then let me have the child first….”

Lawyer Chen resumed his professional demeanour, appearing cold and indifferent. “Mr Shen, that’s impossible. As you have rightly pointed out, under the rule of law, we cannot go against your wishes and take any action that may be detrimental to your health. But should you insist that we find an alternative way for us to reach a common understanding, I believe that the ensuing proceedings and outcome will not be what you desire.”

Shen Dai glared fiercely at Lawyer Chen. “You are threatening me.”

Lawyer Chen gave him a polite smile. “I am not ‘threatening’ you. Although I, in my professional capacity as a lawyer, act on behalf of my employer, I am also happy to provide a course of action that is simplest and most advantageous to you.

“That course of action is the most advantageous one to you.”

“And to you as well,” said Lawyer Chen. “Mr. Shen, a well-educated and highly paid individual like yourself must know when to cut losses and recognise what kinds of choices capitalise on opportunities and avoid risks. To repeat what they say – getting divorced, having a mark removed, and having a child on top of it will hinder the happiness of the rest of your life. You’re still young. Don’t act on impulses at a time like this. Wouldn’t it be good to take the money and start anew without any entanglements and obligations?”

Staring directly into Lawyer Chen’s eyes, Shen Dai replied, “I don’t need you to help me define how to achieve happiness.”

Lawyer Chen narrowed his eyes. He glanced at his watch. The gesture he made to adjust his breathing gave away his impatience. Beside him, the doctor also frowned.

He pondered for a while, then once again started to speak, “Mr Shen, you…”

“You don’t call the shots,” said Shen Dai coldly. “Tell Qu Moyu to come and discuss things with me.”

For a moment, Lawyer Chen was taken aback by Shen Dai’s imposing presence. It was hard to read the expression on his face.

He spent some time outside the door making a phone call. When he got back, his entire face was tense. Evidently, he had been reprimanded. He arranged for a car to take Shen Dai back to the Qu residence.

Shen Dai spent a long time lost in his thoughts. All of a sudden he couldn’t believe that he was capable of saying such things or making such a decision. But contemplating it over and over, weighing out all the worst-case scenarios that could happen, the voice inside him remained resolute.

This was his child. Before he could even sense its presence, he had already begun to feel love. He had to give birth to this child.

He and Shen Qin were not the same. Their motives were not the same. So, their outcomes were also not going to be the same.

By the time Qu Moyu arrived at Shen Dai’s bedroom, seething with anger, the presence of those all-too-familiar ebony wood pheromones drawing closer was already enough to make Shen Dai’s entire body tremble.

What Qu Moyu said was true. There were countless ways to make him do it ‘of his own accord.’ Qu Moyu didn’t even need to employ any specific methods; merely using pheromone suppression could make him break down in tears and surrender.

He had already considered those consequences; only by overcoming his fears and defeating his instinct to submit to an Alpha would he be capable of protecting his own child.

“What are you trying to do? Was the money too little?” said Qu Moyu, sitting down on the sofa with his legs crossed. The pitch-black pupils of his eyes remained motionless as he fixed his gaze on Shen Dai, and an intangible pressure permeated the entire room.

Shen Dai took a deep breath and tried his best to keep his posture straight. Looking directly at Qu Moyu, he said, “First of all, I don’t want any money. Our assets have already been clearly divided; we don’t owe each other anything. Secondly, we are already divorced. This child is mine. The only way I will have evidence to claim maintenance is if I do a paternity test. I’m not going to do that, and you’re not going to give me the chance to either. So this child has nothing to do with you, and you won’t have to part with a cent of your money. Thirdly, I will remove the mark immediately after the child is born. Otherwise, I’m not going to cooperate.”

Qu Moyu let out a scornful laugh, filled with contempt: “Do you think yourself very clever?”

Shen Dai pressed his lips together tightly.

“Do you think you can threaten me? With yourself? With the mark?”

A surge of fury welled up in Qu Moyu’s chest. One by one, Shen Dai’s words and actions were confirming everything that was anathema to him. He could not tolerate an omega trying to manipulate him with a mark. This was a blatant challenge to his authority!

“I’m not trying to “threaten” you, but…” Shen Dai subconsciously shielded his stomach with his hand. With a trembling voice, he continued, “-you can’t kill our…my child.”

Qu Moyu narrowed his eyes slightly. The words: ‘Our child’ triggered a sensation of tightness in his heart.

He stood up and walked towards Shen Dai.

Shen Dai shrunk his shoulders. Each step that Qu Moyu took towards him made him want to turn around and run. He feared this man- from his status, to his gender, to his physique, down to his genes. He couldn’t find any means at all to fight back. And yet, he didn’t flee.

Qu Moyu stopped in front of Shen Dai. At the sight of the latter trembling in fear, his complexion pale and sallow, his heart softened a little. He gently lowered his voice, “Be good, alright? Don’t do things that are meaningless.”

Shen Dai bit hard down on his lip, using the pain to strengthen his resolve. He looked at Qu Moyu, tears in his eyes. “Back then, did your father also force your mother this way?”

The pupils of Qu Moyu’s eyes narrowed. “You aren’t worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as my mother,” he retorted coldly. ”She is my father’s rightful wife and a top Omega. She married into the Qu family and enjoyed a lifetime of glory and wealth. Giving birth to me was her mission in life.”

“Don’t you know…how painful it was for her to have to kill her own child?” asked Shen Dai, weakly.

“Only accomplished facts require a unique existence. It’s not that cause leads to effect, but rather that outcomes shape and determine the cause. She was never meant to have that child in the first place; otherwise, I would not exist.”

Qu Moyu’s gaze was icy, but with the most gentle voice, he uttered the most cruel words, “A-dai, I’ve already told you. As long as you are obedient, I will treat you well. I’m about to be engaged very soon. This marriage will help me to resolve a few critical challenges. You cannot bear my mark, and I cannot have an illegitimate child either. Be obedient, and don’t make things difficult for me.”

Shen Dai looked at Qu Moyu blankly. The more he looked at him, the more he felt like a stranger. Back when he admired this person from afar, he had always fantasised about his many virtues. He used to think Qu Moyu was the most perfect Alpha in the world, a god sent from heaven to rescue him. It was only now, as those dazzling halos shattered one by one before his eyes, that he realised that the Qu Moyu in his imagination truly existed only in his imagination.

The real Qu Moyu, wrapped in a beautiful exterior, was seated on a high platform. Callous, utilitarian, egotistical, unfeeling, in his eyes there was only the calculation of profit and loss and the fight for every inch of gold and land.

He positioned everyone on a chessboard, carelessly assigning each person a role and a function, deciding how to use each one at different intervals and in different situations – whether to charge forward, to castle, or ultimately discard the piece, it was all up to him.