Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 26

The name of his brother came from the mouth of an actress he wasn’t particularly close to, but it wasn’t surprising. Chase replied nonchalantly, watching her giggle as if recalling a memory.

“He probably meant it.”

“Oh really? Why? You’re so wonderful.”

Naomi asked, blinking her eyes exaggeratedly. Chase brought the champagne to his lips instead of answering. Grayson must have slept with this woman. Since it happened often, Chase’s reaction was nonchalant. He adorned himself with ridiculous claims like “a lonely wolf searching for true love,” but in Chase’s eyes, it was just the rambling of a jobless philanderer.

He had never even felt what emotions were.

It was obvious what Grayson had been saying about this role, even without confirming it with Naomi. For others, it might be true that he was “embarrassed and exaggeratedly bluffed,” but in Grayson’s case, it was absolutely not. He genuinely and intensely disliked it. And Chase was fed up with his brother like that.

When his reaction was lukewarm, Naomi gave an awkward smile and changed the subject.

“Have you read the script? There are so many series, I haven’t read them all, but honestly, I was surprised. Chase as Doctor Flame. Of course, there seems to be a lot of talk about my role too.”

The actress, famous for her complicated private life, seemed a little flustered about taking on a role that was the opposite of her established image.

“We both have to work hard, don’t we?”

Unlike her smiling face, her eyes momentarily flickered with unease. Even as a confident top actress, she seemed worried. But Chase only looked down at her with a frown.

At Chase’s almost silent reaction, Naomi gradually became uneasy for another reason. Could she really act with a man like this?

She had seen several of Chase’s films, so she knew he was a good actor. But that was merely the result of editing; actually filming with him was a different matter. Naomi subtly began to doubt.

Maybe he made an enormous number of bloopers, and they barely salvaged a few shots from them.

“Do you know what roles you and I are playing?”

Before Chase could answer the subtly skeptical voice, another voice interjected.

“Of course he knows, he signed the contract.”

Naomi, who had paused and turned around, brightened her expression. A familiar face stood there. The thought of finally escaping an awkward situation was clearly evident on her face, but Chase didn’t care. This experience happens every time.

“Keith.”

She greeted him genuinely and warmly. She was beginning to regret having acknowledged Chase.

“Long time no see, thank you for giving me the role. To be honest, it was a role I never even thought of.”

As she smiled and expressed her gratitude, Keith Pitman, as if already knowing, opened his mouth with an expressionless face.

“I just thought it suited you.”

“No one else seems to think so, though?”

When Naomi said playfully, Keith still replied nonchalantly.

“Then you just have to prove whether they’re right or I am.”

“Oh my.”

She laughed with a clear sound. It was a mischievous laugh, unlike the image of a representative Hollywood sex symbol. With a much brighter face, Naomi scanned Keith’s surroundings, then blinked.

“But what happened to your partner? I thought I saw them earlier, or did I?”

This man wouldn’t attend a party alone, Naomi thought. But Keith seemed to have no intention of answering. He simply took out a cigarette case and put a cigarette in his mouth. He either didn’t know where his partner was or simply didn’t care.

Just as she regretted asking a useless question, the film director came into Naomi’s peripheral vision. She greeted him and quickly left.

The murmuring continued faintly and incessantly. But the two didn’t speak. They just silently looked at each other. Keith was the first to speak.

“Grayson has been chasing me around for days, throwing tantrums.”

It was expected, so Chase merely gave a cynical laugh. However, he was a little curious about Keith’s reaction. He skillfully lit his cigarette and exhaled a long puff of smoke.

“If you really don’t want to, you don’t have to force yourself. Of course, you’d have to pay the penalty.”

His tone was completely devoid of emotion. Naturally, he was sincere, and Chase was the same.

“I have no intention of paying the penalty.”

“Okay.”

That was the end of it. Keith said nothing more. A moment of silence passed, and he brought the cigarette to his lips.

“Living as Grayson’s brother isn’t easy.”

Keith muttered to himself. Chase gave a short laugh.

“If you were my brother, it might have been a little better.”

Keith showed no reaction, his face expressionless, to words that were impossible to tell if they were a joke or serious. Hoo, a white plume of smoke cut through the air. Keith flicked the ash from the cigarette held between his long fingers a couple of times and then spoke.

“My siblings would never think that.”

If they had Grayson as a brother for just one day, they would thank God that Keith was their brother. Chase thought indifferently.

Just as he flicked the ash from his half-smoked cigarette into a passing waiter’s ashtray, Keith suddenly fixed his gaze on one side. A long stream of smoke rose from the cigarette held between his fingers.

Strangely, he stared intently in one direction as if frozen, then left before he could even say anything. Left alone, Chase lit a cigarette and stood there for a moment, as Keith vanished instantly.

The buzzing sound of people talking echoed in his ears. He drank champagne, but of course, he didn’t get drunk. He already knew that he would have to drink all the champagne in the party hall to get drunk.

Laughter and meaningless chatter continued here and there, but he was alone. Haa, he sighed. He blinked blankly with a cigarette in his mouth. Suddenly, he intensely longed for a cool breeze.

He turned to leave the hall, but a woman he had never seen before blocked his path. To Chase, who unconsciously frowned, she smiled and spoke.

“Hello, Mr. Miller. Can I call you Chase?”

Chase looked down at her with a frown. Anyway, no matter what he said, she would call him whatever she wanted.

“Nice to meet you, Chase. I’m Veronica Lee, we’re filming a movie together this time. Just call me Becky.”

As expected, she readily used his first name and then told him her nickname familiarly. But Chase still remained expressionless and unresponsive. All that was left in his mind was how to get out of this hall.

Becky was persistent, even though his indifferent reaction should have made her embarrassed. She continued to speak with a smile on her face.

“I wanted to meet you, really. It’s my first time seeing an Extreme Alpha. I saw Mr. Pitman today too, but you’re truly beautiful.”

Pure admiration gleamed in Becky’s eyes. It wasn’t the first time he had encountered someone who showered him with such blatant compliments, but it wasn’t frequent either. Chase narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out her intentions. At best, it was either curiosity at encountering a rare creature, or a scheme to form a connection by leveraging a top actor’s recognition, or both.

“When I heard Chase was starring in this movie, I begged the director to give me a role somehow. I really wanted to work with you. I’m truly a fan, Chase. Really, truly.”

Her enthusiastic voice was no different from that of an avid fan. She took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray and offered one to Chase. As if to make a toast.

Chase took it and emptied it in one gulp. That should be enough, he thought to himself. But the moment he moved, she immediately followed.

“Can we talk about the project? I’m your fan, but I’m also a fan of Doctor Flame. I’d like to hear your thoughts on Doctor Flame, Chase.”

With that, Becky grabbed Chase’s arm. Suddenly, the distance between them closed, and a scent he hadn’t noticed before wafted into his nostrils.

It was the scent of an Omega.

Chase stopped walking and looked down at Becky. He looked down at Becky’s shining eyes for a moment, waiting for his reaction, her face flushed, and then Chase spoke for the first time.

“…Are you an Omega?”

“Yes.”

She answered shyly. A blush seemed to rise on her cheeks, and her pheromone scent grew stronger. Becky was overtly trying to seduce Chase.

But that wasn’t the end of it. Another Omega’s scent was felt from behind. Chase was surprised for the first time. Were there so many Omegas at this party? Keith hadn’t said anything.

Ah.

He realized. Pitman couldn’t smell any other pheromone scents at all. So he wouldn’t fall into temptation, unless it was the Omega who marked him.

But I am.

Chase bit his lip, feeling cold sweat trickle down his back. Becky came even closer and hugged his arm.

“Chase.”

“Get off me!”

He suddenly shouted and shook off her arm. The surprised gazes of the people instantly poured towards them. But Chase was only panting, glaring at Becky with bloodshot eyes.

“Get lost, whether you’re my fan or whatever, don’t cling to me. It’s disgusting. Omegas make me sick!”

Becky’s face instantly flushed crimson. People around them, who had been exchanging meaningless small talk, glanced over. But Chase only glared at her once more, then left without another word.

I’m sick of it.

He gritted his teeth, leaving the incessant murmuring behind him.

I’m sick of it, all of it.

He went outside, but the dizziness persisted. Chase belatedly realized that his choice had been wrong.

He should have just gone back.

He regretted it, but it was too late. He chose the next best option. Barely enduring the churning in his stomach, he quickly fumbled for a cigarette. The lingering scent of pheromones in his nostrils continued to disorient him.

Damn, of all things, it had to be an Omega.

He gritted his teeth with a crunch, but all he could do was hold his breath and quickly light a cigarette. He intended to counteract the effects of the pheromones with nicotine.

Phew.

He quickly inhaled the smoke, held it deep, and then slowly exhaled. After inhaling smoke again, pausing, and exhaling two or three more times, the pheromone scent dulled.

But perhaps it was just his sense of smell becoming dull. The sudden inhalation of cigarette smoke made him dizzy, and his mind felt scrambled. It was the worst.

“…Fucking, this bastard!”

Finally, Chase cursed and rubbed his eyes frantically with his wrist. He was filled with uncontrollable rage. So much so that if anyone were in front of him right now, he would want to beat them until they died.

Rustle.

Just then, the sound of footsteps, different from rustling leaves, pierced his ears.

Standing there was the man from Chase’s dream.

Joshua Bailey.

Chase repeated his name in his mouth, looking at him with surprised eyes.