KTS 32

At the unexpected words, Yu-jin made a blank sound with wide eyes. The Butler continued to speak in a businesslike manner.

“I will prepare something for the child to eat and bring it to you. Is there anything else you need?”

Yu-jin blinked dazedly and replied, “No, that’s all.” After hearing his answer, the Butler politely concluded.

“Understood. Then please wait in the waiting room.”

Soon after, he turned around and strode into the kitchen. Unlike Yu-jin, who had no courage to push his way through and could only hesitate, he skillfully navigated through the busy people and quickly opened the cupboard and took out the dishes. While watching the Butler quickly achieve his goal with precise movements without any unnecessary actions, Yu-jin was completely dumbfounded.

“Wow, he’s so cool.”

Next to him, his daughter exclaimed as if she was mesmerized. Yu-jin felt complicated at Angela’s reaction, who seemed to be completely captivated by the Butler and couldn’t take her eyes off him.

* * *

The ceremony didn’t take long. A priest from the church that had been sponsoring the family for a long time officiated the ceremony, and they exchanged rings prepared by the secretary after making formal vows. There wasn’t even a vow of a kiss. The priest skillfully skipped that part, probably having been told in advance. It was a relief for Yu-jin as well. If he had been asked to kiss in front of all these people, he would have refused in disgust.

Anyway, it was over. Yu-jin looked down at the ring on his finger with an unfamiliar feeling. He had only attended a handful of weddings in his life, but there would never be another wedding as gloomy and awkward as this one. If someone saw it, they might have thought it was a funeral. That’s how cold the atmosphere of the wedding was.

No one was smiling, no one was holding champagne, and no one was giving congratulatory speeches. It was even more puzzling why they had to hold such a lavish wedding without even taking pictures.

If it’s to show me that I don’t belong in their world, it seems like they’re just wasting their time.

Yu-jin thought indifferently as he looked at the people surrounding Winston. As soon as the ceremony ended, the guests flocked to Winston. Of course, considering that Yu-jin didn’t have a single guest, it was understandable. However, it was amazing in a way that they could ignore and completely exclude the other protagonist of the wedding to this extent.

It’s probably because it was just a choice to get the inheritance.

They were people who had never had any respect for the other person in the first place. It was nothing new to Yu-jin, who had been constantly ignored by them. Right now, his only concern was where his daughter was.

Kane said he would take responsibility earlier.

He recalled what the Butler had said just before the ceremony started, but he didn’t know what had happened after that. Feeling anxious, Yu-jin decided to find Kane first. He would be in charge of one part of the wedding and reception, so most people would probably know where he was.

“Yu-jin.”

As he hurried away, someone suddenly grabbed his arm. Forced to stop, Yu-jin turned around and was surprised to see Winston looking down at him with a frown.

“Where are you going? You have to greet the guests.”

“Me too?”

He asked without thinking at the unexpected words, and his brow furrowed even deeper. Yu-jin was startled, but soon remembered his purpose and tried to shake his head.

“I’m sorry, but I’m busy right now…”

Without giving him a chance to finish speaking, Winston pulled on the arm he was holding. Winston smiled as he embraced Yu-jin, who staggered for a moment, without leaving any gaps.

“Is there anything more important than this?”

Winston’s voice was much lower and quieter than usual. The others, who probably couldn’t hear what he was saying, would mistake them for whispering sweet nothings.

“I have to find Angie.”

Winston raised the corners of his mouth and smiled as he lowered his voice as well. It was nothing but terrifying to Yu-jin, but of course it would look different to other people.

“Honey, you have to think about the guests first.”

He sweetly coaxed him and leaned down to whisper in Yu-jin’s ear as if to kiss him on the cheek.

“This is your duty too. To mingle with people to suit me.”

Winston raised his head and added.

“Just like all other couples do.”

“We’re not like other couples.”Yu-jin frowned and protested, but it didn’t work on Winston.

“You have to at least try to fit in.”

It was like talking to a wall. Was Winston always this unreasonable? Winston smiled at Yu-jin, who was dumbfounded and speechless.

“Shall we go? Everyone’s waiting.”

“I can say hello at the reception…….”

Yu-jin resisted one last time, but it didn’t work. He reluctantly turned his gaze to Winston, who had already started walking, and saw a group of people watching them. Winston naturally put an arm around Yu-jin’s waist and walked towards them. It might look like a light skinship between a newly married couple, but Yu-jin knew very well that it was no different from restraining him with one arm so he couldn’t run away.

There was only one way to get out of this situation quickly. To obediently finish his ‘duty’ as he was told.

Yu-jin forced a smile and greeted them.

“Hello, thank you for coming. Nice to meet you…….”

Why do I have to do this?

Inside, he couldn’t understand any of this. Everyone here, no, the entire population of North America probably knows that they are not a real couple. But why do they have to put on this show?

While he was letting people’s words flow in one ear and feeling pathetic, Mrs. Campbell suddenly joined the conversation.

“Winston, guess who’s here. Goodness, it’s been so long.”

Yu-jin inadvertently turned his head at her unusually high-pitched voice, which was unlike her usual cool self, and froze. The tall woman standing next to Mrs. Campbell was definitely a face he had seen before. How could he forget? The memory of that day when he had fallen to the bottom.

Winston, who had turned his head with him, didn’t react much. He just let out a short exclamation, “Ah,” and then called her name.

“Evelyn.”

“Hello, Winston, it’s been a while.”

With dark hair and healthy, tanned skin, she blinked her long eyelashes and smiled beautifully. From head to toe, the woman was so elegant that anyone could tell she was from a good family. One might even think that she was the one who should be standing next to Winston right now. Not Yu-jin.

And she actually was.

Just as he felt a forgotten wound throbbing, Winston opened his mouth.

“Let me introduce you, this is my longtime acquaintance Evelyn Bennett and a friend of my mother’s.”

At the added words, Mrs. Campbell looked momentarily embarrassed, but she soon smiled as if nothing had happened.

“You’re being too playful, Winston. Evelyn is with you…….”

“This is my partner who married me today. Yu-jin Campbell.”

Winston ignored Mrs. Campbell’s words and introduced Yu-jin as he pleased. He put strength into the arm around his waist and pulled him close, smiling. He felt like the surroundings had become quiet. But that didn’t mean the atmosphere was uncomfortable.

Of course not. There couldn’t be a more exciting spectacle than this.

Yu-jin mulled over the thought.

Who wouldn’t enjoy having a past fiancée and a current partner in one place?

Mrs. Campbell and Evelyn stood there with expressionless faces. Only Winston was smiling.

I thought it was just a contract.

The future he had imagined would be easy and simple was going in a completely different direction than expected. For a moment, he wanted to turn around and run away, but it was impossible because of Winston’s arm, which was tightly wrapped around his waist.

What should I do?

Yu-jin couldn’t hide his embarrassment and lowered his gaze. He was already starting to fear what was to come.