Omega Julian Hayes used his scent to stabilize his husband Ethan Vance for two years, but never received love in return. He filed for divorce, expecting to end a contractual marriage, only to uncover the control and abuse of his adoptive mother—he was bought, his heats controlled, and treated as a bargaining chip. After divorce, Julian rebuilt his career, while Ethan finally confronted his dependence on and love for his ex-husband. As family secrets surfaced, the two chose each other again amid power and emotional struggles. This is not love determined by compatibility, but a conscious mutual choice.
