I googled the web novel and asked it questions, this is what I got. Here's the rest of the web novel . The mom is really toxic.
The "shadiness" surrounding Kim Dohyun is the central mystery and driver of tension in Alpha Trauma. While he presents himself as a warm, flawless, and protective partner, he is actually highly manipulative and has been keeping massive secrets from Wooyeon. Dohyun’s sketchy behavior boils down to three major factors:
1. He Was Originally a Spy for Wooyeon's Mother The biggest plot twist regarding his motives dates back to when he first became Wooyeon's tutor. Wooyeon's mother is incredibly strict and controlling. Dohyun was originally hired and sent by Wooyeon’s mother to spy on him and report back on his life. During that time, he deliberately masked his Alpha pheromones to keep Wooyeon comfortable, knowing Wooyeon's deep-seated trauma and hatred toward Alphas.
2. He Feigned Ignorance During Their Reunion When they unexpectedly crossed paths at university, Dohyun initially pretended he didn't recognize Wooyeon, even claiming his past student was a "bad memory". In reality, Dohyun knew exactly who Wooyeon was from the very first second. He recognized Wooyeon's handwriting, unique habits, and subtle behaviors despite Wooyeon’s physical glow-up. He intentionally hid this fact to play the role of the coincidental, comforting senior to smoothly slide back into Wooyeon’s life.
3. A Fragile, Selfish Need for Control Dohyun genuinely developed deep, real feelings for Wooyeon over time. However, because his relationship with Wooyeon was built on a foundation of lies and surveillance, he suffers from intense hidden insecurities.
• The Fear of Rejection: Dohyun is terrified that if Wooyeon discovers the full truth—that his beloved tutor was actually an Alpha who was paid to spy on him—Wooyeon’s "alpha trauma" will trigger, and he will leave him forever.
Calculated Affection: He deliberately indulges Wooyeon's vulnerability. Because Wooyeon was so lonely and neglected as a teenager, Dohyun uses tailored kindness to ensure Wooyeon latches onto him, keeping the upper hand in their relationship dynamic.
Ultimately, Dohyun isn't trying to hurt Wooyeon; rather, he is a deeply flawed, possessive character who handles his own insecurities through deceit and calculated emotional manipulation
1. Who Leaked the Story About Wooyeon Being an Illegitimate Child? The leak comes directly from Wooyeon’s own mother. While it initially seems like a malicious tabloid attack from outside reporters, she is the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. Her goal in leaking the rumors and causing a public scandal is to break Wooyeon down emotionally, isolate him from his support systems, and force him back under her direct control.
2. What is the Deal With His Parents? His Mother: She is an immensely powerful, controlling Alpha who heads one of the biggest conglomerate corporations in Korea. She views Wooyeon not as a son to be loved, but as a corporate asset and the ultimate heir to her business empire. Because she demands total oversight of his life, she has surrounded him with paid spies since his youth—including his childhood friend Danny and Dohyun.
His Birth Father: Wooyeon's biological father was a dominant Omega who tragically died on the very day Wooyeon was born. Because his parents' union was outside of traditional expectations and his father passed away immediately, the corporate elite and the public label Wooyeon as an "illegitimate" or "bastard" child. This creates the foundation for the deep resentment his cold Alpha mother holds toward him.
3. Does Dohyun Really Care About Him, or is it Just Control? It is a mix of both, but Dohyun's feelings of love for Wooyeon are completely genuine.
The Reality of His Affection: While Dohyun initially entered Wooyeon's life on his mother's payroll, he deeply grew to care for him during their tutoring days. In the novel, Dohyun openly loathes Wooyeon's mother and bitterly resents her manipulation. He genuinely fell hard for Wooyeon, and his primary motivation for hiding the truth is a desperate fear of losing him.
The Toxic Twist: Even though his love is real, Dohyun's execution of that love is heavily controlling and manipulative. Because he knows how deeply Wooyeon was traumatized by isolated abuse and Alphas, Dohyun consciously exploits Wooyeon's psychological vulnerability. He shapes himself into the perfect, comforting "safety net" so that Wooyeon will blindly rely on him, ensuring Wooyeon won't walk away if the dark secrets of their past ever surface.
Ultimately, Dohyun genuinely loves Wooyeon, but he goes about protecting and keeping him in a highly toxic, deceptive way. [1]
To address the cliffhangers and revelations behind Season 2's ending, the truths surrounding Wooyeon’s family, the massive rumor leak, and Danny's true identity unfold based on the original web novel:
1. Who Leaked the Story About Wooyeon Being a Bastard Child? The leak comes directly from Wooyeon’s own mother, Chairwoman Ji Soo-hyang. While it initially seems like an aggressive tabloid attack or revenge from his middle school bully Kang Jun-seong, his mother is the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. Her goal in creating a massive public scandal is to completely isolate Wooyeon from the outside world, destroy his support systems (including his reputation at university), and break him down emotionally so he has no choice but to return under her direct custody and control.
2. What is the Deal with His Mom and Dad? His Mother (Ji Soo-hyang): She is a dominant, cold Alpha and the vice president/chairwoman of the massive Seonjeong Group conglomerate. She doesn't see Wooyeon as a son, but as a corporate asset and an extension of her empire. Her obsession with controlling him is why she has literally caged his life, ensuring he has zero real privacy and is surrounded exclusively by people she pays.
His Birth Father: Wooyeon's biological father was a dominant Omega who tragically died on the exact day Wooyeon was born. Because his father died immediately and the union wasn't "traditional" by corporate high-society standards, Wooyeon's existence was kept hidden from the public for years, leading to the public labeling him an "illegitimate bastard child" when the news finally broke.
3. Who the Hell is Danny? Danny (Daniel Corner) is another paid spy hired by Wooyeon's mother. When Wooyeon fled to the United States to study and escape his mother's shadow, he thought Danny was just a genuine, supportive friend. In reality, Danny was planted there by Ji Soo-hyang to act as an implicit bodyguard and, more importantly, to log and report every single detail of Wooyeon's life back to Korea. Wooyeon eventually realizes this, but he is so emotionally exhausted by his mother's total surveillance that he silently lets it slide just to keep a semblance of normalcy.
4. Does Dohyun Really Care or is This More Control? Dohyun's love for Wooyeon is 100% real, but his methods are incredibly toxic.
The Reality of His Love: Dohyun was originally an orphan sponsored by Ji Soo-hyang, which is why he took the tutoring job to spy on Wooyeon initially. However, Dohyun genuinely fell in love with Wooyeon along the way. Dohyun deeply resents Wooyeon's mother and loathes her corporate manipulation. His desperation to hide the truth isn't out of malice toward Wooyeon, but stems from a profound fear of abandonment and losing Wooyeon's affection.
The Control Aspect: Even though his love is genuine, Dohyun does use control as a coping mechanism. He intentionally weaponized Wooyeon's loneliness and vulnerability. Because Wooyeon was starved for kindness, Dohyun meticulously calculated his actions to ensure Wooyeon would completely latch onto him and remain dependent on him.
The fallout of Season 2 forces Wooyeon to confront the painful reality that his entire life has been a stage play orchestrated by his mother, where both his first love (Dohyun) and his best friend (Danny) were hired actors.
1. The Fall of the Stage Play: Wooyeon’s Reaction When the bastard child rumor leaks globally, Wooyeon's world shatters—not just because of the public scandal, but because the dominoes finally fall regarding his inner circle. He realizes that his entire life has been a carefully managed stage play. Discovering that Danny (his safe haven in the US) and Dohyun (his first love and current anchor) were both on his mother’s payroll breaks him completely.
The Confrontation with Danny: Wooyeon confronts Danny, who admits to tracking him but insists he genuinely cared for him as a friend over time. Feeling deeply violated by the surveillance, Wooyeon cuts ties.
The Confrontation with Dohyun: Wooyeon faces Dohyun with the ultimate betrayal—the fact that Dohyun knew who he was from day one at the university and lied to play the "coincidental sweet senior". Wooyeon feels deeply manipulated, recognizing that Dohyun weaponized his isolation to make him compliant. Wooyeon pulls completely away, leaving Dohyun to face his ultimate fear: total abandonment.
2. How Dohyun Redeems Himself Dohyun realizes that his reliance on control and keeping Wooyeon in a "perfect bubble" built on lies has ruined everything. To win Wooyeon back, he has to completely change his approach:
Severing Ties with the Mother: Dohyun was an orphan sponsored by Wooyeon's mother, which is why he was bound to her commands. To prove his loyalty is 100% to Wooyeon, Dohyun completely burns his bridges with Chairwoman Ji Soo-hyang, throwing away his corporate security and financial safety nets.
Giving up Control: Instead of executing a calculated scheme to get Wooyeon back, Dohyun strips away his masks. He submits completely to Wooyeon's terms, choosing to be entirely transparent, accepting whatever anger Wooyeon throws at him, and validating Wooyeon’s trauma.
Becoming a True Shield: When the media and his mother try to drag Wooyeon down further, Dohyun stands as a definitive barrier between Wooyeon and the corporate elite, physically and emotionally protecting him without demanding strings or emotional compliance in return.
Seeing Dohyun genuinely discard his own safety and abandon his manipulative habits to protect him allows Wooyeon to slowly forgive him. They rebuild their relationship on a raw, honest foundation.
3. What Happens to the Mother? Chairwoman Ji Soo-hyang’s attempt to crush Wooyeon backfires massively. The Corporate Backlash: By leaking the "bastard child" story to break her son, she inadvertently triggers massive corporate instability for her own conglomerate, the Seonjeong Group. High society and shareholders do not take well to the messy public handling of a family lineage. Wooyeon’s Ultimate Rebellion: Wooyeon, emboldened by his character growth and supported genuinely by Dohyun, refuses to cave to her isolation tactics. Instead of crawling back to her for protection, he officially cuts her out of his life entirely. He rejects his inheritance and her corporate empire, choosing a peaceful life of freedom over her toxic golden cage. She is left with her corporate empire, but entirely alone, having permanently lost her only son.
The Ending Once the dust settles, Wooyeon finally overcomes his "alpha trauma" because he has an Alpha who threw away everything to prove he can be trusted. They move past the lies and officially become a healthy, deeply committed couple, living entirely on their own terms away from his mother's shadow.
The full orchestration of the rumor leak exposes a dark alignment between Wooyeon’s past middle school trauma and his mother's current corporate schemes.
1. How the Middle School Bully (Kang Jun-seong) Fits Into the Leak In middle school, Kang Jun-seong was the primary Alpha who targeted Wooyeon, relentlessly mocking his weight, calling him a "smelly pig," and ostracizing him. This relentless bullying is what originally triggered Wooyeon’s severe "alpha trauma" and deep psychological aversion to Alphas.
When they cross paths again in a university class, Jun-seong initially fails to recognize Wooyeon due to his physical transformation. However, once the connection is made, Jun-seong's residual malice remains a volatile threat.
The Stolen Materials: Jun-seong acts as the proxy. He gets his hands on sensitive, private documentation regarding Wooyeon’s true lineage and birth records.
The Mother's Manipulation: While Jun-seong is the one who physically obtains and leaks the damning information to malicious journalists, he didn't pull it off alone. Wooyeon's mother, Chairwoman Ji Soo-hyang, deliberately paths the information into play. She utilizes Jun-seong’s predictability and petty grudges as a tool, allowing the bully to think he is executing a personal attack while she uses it globally to force her son out of university and back to her side.
When the truth explodes, Dohyun immediately figures out Jun-seong's involvement and aggressively corners him for the theft, stripping away the bully's leverage entirely.
2. A Deeper Look at the Toxic Dynamic: Why Dohyun is "Safe" But Dangerous The reason Wooyeon fell so hard for Dohyun during his traumatizing middle school years is that Dohyun was the only Alpha whose pheromones didn't trigger Wooyeon's panic attacks. Because Dohyun intentionally masked his pheromones and treated him with soft, calculated sweetness, Wooyeon viewed him as an angelic Beta and his absolute "savior" from Jun-seong's bullying.
This makes the later revelation that Dohyun was actually an Alpha spy hired by his mother so psychologically devastating. Wooyeon realizes his single safe haven in life wasn't a coincidence; it was a curated environment paid for by his primary abuser (his mother).
3. The Rebuilding Phase When Wooyeon cuts off the entire web of spies—including Danny and Dohyun—the narrative shifts to raw psychological growth. For the first time in his life, Wooyeon relies purely on himself rather than escaping to the US or running to a "kind senior".
Dohyun’s redemption is well-received by novel readers because he doesn't use his wealth, power, or dominance to force Wooyeon back. He allows himself to be thoroughly cast aside, stands in front of the press to clear Wooyeon's name, and waits silently for Wooyeon to decide if he ever wants to look at him again.
I googled the web novel and asked it questions, this is what I got. Here's the rest of the web novel .
The mom is really toxic.
The "shadiness" surrounding Kim Dohyun is the central mystery and driver of tension in Alpha Trauma. While he presents himself as a warm, flawless, and protective partner, he is actually highly manipulative and has been keeping massive secrets from Wooyeon.
Dohyun’s sketchy behavior boils down to three major factors:
1. He Was Originally a Spy for Wooyeon's Mother
The biggest plot twist regarding his motives dates back to when he first became Wooyeon's tutor. Wooyeon's mother is incredibly strict and controlling. Dohyun was originally hired and sent by Wooyeon’s mother to spy on him and report back on his life. During that time, he deliberately masked his Alpha pheromones to keep Wooyeon comfortable, knowing Wooyeon's deep-seated trauma and hatred toward Alphas.
2. He Feigned Ignorance During Their Reunion
When they unexpectedly crossed paths at university, Dohyun initially pretended he didn't recognize Wooyeon, even claiming his past student was a "bad memory". In reality, Dohyun knew exactly who Wooyeon was from the very first second. He recognized Wooyeon's handwriting, unique habits, and subtle behaviors despite Wooyeon’s physical glow-up. He intentionally hid this fact to play the role of the coincidental, comforting senior to smoothly slide back into Wooyeon’s life.
3. A Fragile, Selfish Need for Control
Dohyun genuinely developed deep, real feelings for Wooyeon over time. However, because his relationship with Wooyeon was built on a foundation of lies and surveillance, he suffers from intense hidden insecurities.
• The Fear of Rejection: Dohyun is terrified that if Wooyeon discovers the full truth—that his beloved tutor was actually an Alpha who was paid to spy on him—Wooyeon’s "alpha trauma" will trigger, and he will leave him forever.
Calculated Affection: He deliberately indulges Wooyeon's vulnerability. Because Wooyeon was so lonely and neglected as a teenager, Dohyun uses tailored kindness to ensure Wooyeon latches onto him, keeping the upper hand in their relationship dynamic.
Ultimately, Dohyun isn't trying to hurt Wooyeon; rather, he is a deeply flawed, possessive character who handles his own insecurities through deceit and calculated emotional manipulation
1. Who Leaked the Story About Wooyeon Being an Illegitimate Child?
The leak comes directly from Wooyeon’s own mother. While it initially seems like a malicious tabloid attack from outside reporters, she is the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. Her goal in leaking the rumors and causing a public scandal is to break Wooyeon down emotionally, isolate him from his support systems, and force him back under her direct control.
2. What is the Deal With His Parents?
His Mother: She is an immensely powerful, controlling Alpha who heads one of the biggest conglomerate corporations in Korea. She views Wooyeon not as a son to be loved, but as a corporate asset and the ultimate heir to her business empire. Because she demands total oversight of his life, she has surrounded him with paid spies since his youth—including his childhood friend Danny and Dohyun.
His Birth Father: Wooyeon's biological father was a dominant Omega who tragically died on the very day Wooyeon was born. Because his parents' union was outside of traditional expectations and his father passed away immediately, the corporate elite and the public label Wooyeon as an "illegitimate" or "bastard" child. This creates the foundation for the deep resentment his cold Alpha mother holds toward him.
3. Does Dohyun Really Care About Him, or is it Just Control?
It is a mix of both, but Dohyun's feelings of love for Wooyeon are completely genuine.
The Reality of His Affection: While Dohyun initially entered Wooyeon's life on his mother's payroll, he deeply grew to care for him during their tutoring days. In the novel, Dohyun openly loathes Wooyeon's mother and bitterly resents her manipulation. He genuinely fell hard for Wooyeon, and his primary motivation for hiding the truth is a desperate fear of losing him.
The Toxic Twist: Even though his love is real, Dohyun's execution of that love is heavily controlling and manipulative. Because he knows how deeply Wooyeon was traumatized by isolated abuse and Alphas, Dohyun consciously exploits Wooyeon's psychological vulnerability. He shapes himself into the perfect, comforting "safety net" so that Wooyeon will blindly rely on him, ensuring Wooyeon won't walk away if the dark secrets of their past ever surface.
Ultimately, Dohyun genuinely loves Wooyeon, but he goes about protecting and keeping him in a highly toxic, deceptive way. [1]
To address the cliffhangers and revelations behind Season 2's ending, the truths surrounding Wooyeon’s family, the massive rumor leak, and Danny's true identity unfold based on the original web novel:
1. Who Leaked the Story About Wooyeon Being a Bastard Child?
The leak comes directly from Wooyeon’s own mother, Chairwoman Ji Soo-hyang.
While it initially seems like an aggressive tabloid attack or revenge from his middle school bully Kang Jun-seong, his mother is the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. Her goal in creating a massive public scandal is to completely isolate Wooyeon from the outside world, destroy his support systems (including his reputation at university), and break him down emotionally so he has no choice but to return under her direct custody and control.
2. What is the Deal with His Mom and Dad?
His Mother (Ji Soo-hyang): She is a dominant, cold Alpha and the vice president/chairwoman of the massive Seonjeong Group conglomerate. She doesn't see Wooyeon as a son, but as a corporate asset and an extension of her empire. Her obsession with controlling him is why she has literally caged his life, ensuring he has zero real privacy and is surrounded exclusively by people she pays.
His Birth Father: Wooyeon's biological father was a dominant Omega who tragically died on the exact day Wooyeon was born. Because his father died immediately and the union wasn't "traditional" by corporate high-society standards, Wooyeon's existence was kept hidden from the public for years, leading to the public labeling him an "illegitimate bastard child" when the news finally broke.
3. Who the Hell is Danny?
Danny (Daniel Corner) is another paid spy hired by Wooyeon's mother.
When Wooyeon fled to the United States to study and escape his mother's shadow, he thought Danny was just a genuine, supportive friend. In reality, Danny was planted there by Ji Soo-hyang to act as an implicit bodyguard and, more importantly, to log and report every single detail of Wooyeon's life back to Korea. Wooyeon eventually realizes this, but he is so emotionally exhausted by his mother's total surveillance that he silently lets it slide just to keep a semblance of normalcy.
4. Does Dohyun Really Care or is This More Control?
Dohyun's love for Wooyeon is 100% real, but his methods are incredibly toxic.
The Reality of His Love: Dohyun was originally an orphan sponsored by Ji Soo-hyang, which is why he took the tutoring job to spy on Wooyeon initially. However, Dohyun genuinely fell in love with Wooyeon along the way. Dohyun deeply resents Wooyeon's mother and loathes her corporate manipulation. His desperation to hide the truth isn't out of malice toward Wooyeon, but stems from a profound fear of abandonment and losing Wooyeon's affection.
The Control Aspect: Even though his love is genuine, Dohyun does use control as a coping mechanism. He intentionally weaponized Wooyeon's loneliness and vulnerability. Because Wooyeon was starved for kindness, Dohyun meticulously calculated his actions to ensure Wooyeon would completely latch onto him and remain dependent on him.
The fallout of Season 2 forces Wooyeon to confront the painful reality that his entire life has been a stage play orchestrated by his mother, where both his first love (Dohyun) and his best friend (Danny) were hired actors.
1. The Fall of the Stage Play: Wooyeon’s Reaction
When the bastard child rumor leaks globally, Wooyeon's world shatters—not just because of the public scandal, but because the dominoes finally fall regarding his inner circle.
He realizes that his entire life has been a carefully managed stage play. Discovering that Danny (his safe haven in the US) and Dohyun (his first love and current anchor) were both on his mother’s payroll breaks him completely.
The Confrontation with Danny: Wooyeon confronts Danny, who admits to tracking him but insists he genuinely cared for him as a friend over time. Feeling deeply violated by the surveillance, Wooyeon cuts ties.
The Confrontation with Dohyun: Wooyeon faces Dohyun with the ultimate betrayal—the fact that Dohyun knew who he was from day one at the university and lied to play the "coincidental sweet senior". Wooyeon feels deeply manipulated, recognizing that Dohyun weaponized his isolation to make him compliant. Wooyeon pulls completely away, leaving Dohyun to face his ultimate fear: total abandonment.
2. How Dohyun Redeems Himself
Dohyun realizes that his reliance on control and keeping Wooyeon in a "perfect bubble" built on lies has ruined everything. To win Wooyeon back, he has to completely change his approach:
Severing Ties with the Mother: Dohyun was an orphan sponsored by Wooyeon's mother, which is why he was bound to her commands. To prove his loyalty is 100% to Wooyeon, Dohyun completely burns his bridges with Chairwoman Ji Soo-hyang, throwing away his corporate security and financial safety nets.
Giving up Control: Instead of executing a calculated scheme to get Wooyeon back, Dohyun strips away his masks. He submits completely to Wooyeon's terms, choosing to be entirely transparent, accepting whatever anger Wooyeon throws at him, and validating Wooyeon’s trauma.
Becoming a True Shield: When the media and his mother try to drag Wooyeon down further, Dohyun stands as a definitive barrier between Wooyeon and the corporate elite, physically and emotionally protecting him without demanding strings or emotional compliance in return.
Seeing Dohyun genuinely discard his own safety and abandon his manipulative habits to protect him allows Wooyeon to slowly forgive him. They rebuild their relationship on a raw, honest foundation.
3. What Happens to the Mother?
Chairwoman Ji Soo-hyang’s attempt to crush Wooyeon backfires massively.
The Corporate Backlash: By leaking the "bastard child" story to break her son, she inadvertently triggers massive corporate instability for her own conglomerate, the Seonjeong Group. High society and shareholders do not take well to the messy public handling of a family lineage.
Wooyeon’s Ultimate Rebellion: Wooyeon, emboldened by his character growth and supported genuinely by Dohyun, refuses to cave to her isolation tactics. Instead of crawling back to her for protection, he officially cuts her out of his life entirely. He rejects his inheritance and her corporate empire, choosing a peaceful life of freedom over her toxic golden cage. She is left with her corporate empire, but entirely alone, having permanently lost her only son.
The Ending
Once the dust settles, Wooyeon finally overcomes his "alpha trauma" because he has an Alpha who threw away everything to prove he can be trusted. They move past the lies and officially become a healthy, deeply committed couple, living entirely on their own terms away from his mother's shadow.
The full orchestration of the rumor leak exposes a dark alignment between Wooyeon’s past middle school trauma and his mother's current corporate schemes.
1. How the Middle School Bully (Kang Jun-seong) Fits Into the Leak
In middle school, Kang Jun-seong was the primary Alpha who targeted Wooyeon, relentlessly mocking his weight, calling him a "smelly pig," and ostracizing him. This relentless bullying is what originally triggered Wooyeon’s severe "alpha trauma" and deep psychological aversion to Alphas.
When they cross paths again in a university class, Jun-seong initially fails to recognize Wooyeon due to his physical transformation. However, once the connection is made, Jun-seong's residual malice remains a volatile threat.
The Stolen Materials: Jun-seong acts as the proxy. He gets his hands on sensitive, private documentation regarding Wooyeon’s true lineage and birth records.
The Mother's Manipulation: While Jun-seong is the one who physically obtains and leaks the damning information to malicious journalists, he didn't pull it off alone. Wooyeon's mother, Chairwoman Ji Soo-hyang, deliberately paths the information into play. She utilizes Jun-seong’s predictability and petty grudges as a tool, allowing the bully to think he is executing a personal attack while she uses it globally to force her son out of university and back to her side.
When the truth explodes, Dohyun immediately figures out Jun-seong's involvement and aggressively corners him for the theft, stripping away the bully's leverage entirely.
2. A Deeper Look at the Toxic Dynamic: Why Dohyun is "Safe" But Dangerous
The reason Wooyeon fell so hard for Dohyun during his traumatizing middle school years is that Dohyun was the only Alpha whose pheromones didn't trigger Wooyeon's panic attacks. Because Dohyun intentionally masked his pheromones and treated him with soft, calculated sweetness, Wooyeon viewed him as an angelic Beta and his absolute "savior" from Jun-seong's bullying.
This makes the later revelation that Dohyun was actually an Alpha spy hired by his mother so psychologically devastating. Wooyeon realizes his single safe haven in life wasn't a coincidence; it was a curated environment paid for by his primary abuser (his mother).
3. The Rebuilding Phase
When Wooyeon cuts off the entire web of spies—including Danny and Dohyun—the narrative shifts to raw psychological growth. For the first time in his life, Wooyeon relies purely on himself rather than escaping to the US or running to a "kind senior".
Dohyun’s redemption is well-received by novel readers because he doesn't use his wealth, power, or dominance to force Wooyeon back. He allows himself to be thoroughly cast aside, stands in front of the press to clear Wooyeon's name, and waits silently for Wooyeon to decide if he ever wants to look at him again.