By Zephyria Guests were arriving one after another. Yu-jin leaned against the railing on the third floor, looking down at the growing crowd.
Hoo…
An involuntary sigh escaped his lips. He tried to relax his shoulders, stroking his chest, but it wasn’t easy. It’s okay, I’ve memorized everything.
As he looked at each person entering, pulling up the information in his head, a voice suddenly came from behind.
“You don’t have to try so hard to get everything right. Just pretending to know them is enough.”
Startled by the indifferent voice, Yu-jin turned around to see Winston reaching out from behind and grabbing the railing. He naturally trapped Yu-jin within his arms as he looked down below.
“Most of the people here can’t even imagine that someone wouldn’t recognize them.”
Yu-jin’s heart was pounding from the warmth he felt behind him, and he couldn’t properly understand what Winston was saying. Why am I like this? He was flustered, but it wasn’t something he could control. When Yu-jin remained huddled and didn’t answer, Winston asked from above his head.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Huh? Yes.”
Yu-jin nodded hastily and quickly gathered his wits. This is no time to be spacing out. How important is this moment?
“Are you going to introduce Angie too?”
Quickly changing the subject and pretending not to notice, Yu-jin moved his body, and Winston belatedly removed his hand from the railing. Watching Yu-jin quickly slip away, he slowly opened his mouth.
“I was going to bring her.”
“You?”
Surprised by the unexpected words, Yu-jin asked in astonishment. Winston opened his mouth with a blank expression.
“I thought she might be playing in her room, so I was going to stop by on the way.”
“But?”
Winston remained silent, as if asking why he was empty-handed, after Yu-jin glanced down below and then fixed his gaze back on his face. In fact, he had even gone as far as opening the door. He thought it would be okay since he had come to greet them with Yu-jin, but he was wrong. The child, who had been playing with her dolls alone, raised her head at the sound of the door opening and recoiled in horror. Winston frowned, stopping in his tracks at the child’s reaction.
“There’s a party soon, I just came to pick you up.”
He definitely eliminated the pheromones.
Suppressing the uneasy feeling in his heart, he spoke, but Angela immediately hid behind the bed and shouted.
“I’m not going, I’ll wait until Daddy comes!”
“I’m taking you to Daddy.”
“I’m not going with you!”
Angela glared at Winston with all her might and screamed.
“I hate people Daddy hates!”
At those words, Winston froze for the first time. For a while, he just watched the child without saying anything. Angela, trembling with fear, stubbornly hid herself and glared at Winston. In the end, Winston had no choice but to turn around and leave without saying anything.
Yu-jin, completely unaware of this situation, waited for an explanation, but Winston remained silent. Eventually, Yu-jin sighed softly and opened his mouth.
“I’ll go.”
As he turned to leave, Winston finally spoke.
“Your daughter said you hate me.”
What is he talking about all of a sudden?
Yu-jin turned back to him with a scowl, dripping with sarcasm.
“Did you think she would like you? Are you out of your mind because of the pheromones?”
Scolding himself for wavering even for a moment, he headed towards Angela’s room. He must never forget how that man abandoned him. Or what he said to him after they met again.
Male prostitute, slut, public toilet.
Yu-jin took a deep breath and exhaled before opening Angela’s door.
“Daddy!”
Yu-jin smiled back as he scooped up the child who ran towards him with a bright smile. Angie is all I have left now.
* * *
The hall where the party was being held was now quite full. At the Butler’s words that more than half of the invited guests had arrived, Winston held out his hand.
“Give me the child.”
Startled, Yu-jin tightened his grip on Angela, hugging her close, and Winston continued.
“Listen to me today. I won’t do anything bad.”
At the quiet urging, Yu-jin hesitated and looked at Angela. Seeing his daughter shaking her head frantically with a face full of anxiety, he firmly refused.
“It’s okay, I’ll hold my child.”
“Suit yourself.”
Unexpectedly, Winston readily accepted. Just as he was about to wonder at the quick agreement.
“Eek!”
“Daddy!”
Yu-jin and Angela screamed simultaneously. Winston suddenly bent down and picked up Yu-jin. Yu-jin, who had been abruptly lifted up along with Angela, widened his eyes, and Winston glanced at him as if to say, “Is this okay now?” before striding down the stairs.
“Wait, wait a minute!”
Yu-jin cried out urgently, trying to keep his voice down.
“It’s dangerous, you’re not feeling well… Wait a minute!”
“Daddy!”
Angela also clung tightly to Yu-jin, looking scared. As Yu-jin pleaded repeatedly, Winston stopped on the landing. Panting heavily, Yu-jin looked at Winston and said.
“Just carry Angela. Put me down. Can we do that? Huh?”
“I’m fine right now, though.”
“You’re not fine at all!”
Yu-jin spoke urgently, looking at Angela, who had turned pale.
“I’m scared too, and look at Angie, she’s so scared. Right, Angie? It’s okay if Mr. Campbell carries you, right, huh?”
Please say yes!Yu-jin looked at the child with a pleading expression. Angela, as if understanding his feelings, hesitated and nodded. It would be better for everyone than going down the stairs so precariously. When Yu-jin looked up at Winston again, he finally bent down and put Yu-jin down. Handing his daughter over into the outstretched arms without a word, Yu-jin barely swallowed the sigh that was about to escape. Angela still looked terrified, but bravely bit her lip and tried her best to endure.
It’s okay, Angie. I’m here with you.
Yu-jin encouraged the child with his lips. Winston ignored Yu-jin, held Angela in one arm, and wrapped his other arm around Yu-jin’s shoulder, pulling him close. Dragged along unexpectedly, Yu-jin heard Winston say, looking ahead.
“From now on, just stay quiet and do as I say.”
What on earth is he planning? I don’t even know the purpose of the party, so it won’t be easy to make a scene.
If it’s about acting with dignity befitting the Campbell family name, it won’t be easy, but…
Yu-jin inwardly scoffed and started walking as he was told. As they reached the hall, a murmur of noise could be heard from all directions. Is it finally starting? He tensed up unconsciously.
“Mr. Campbell, thank you for the invitation. It’s a truly wonderful party.”
Yu-jin hurriedly tried to recall the face of the woman who greeted him first. Surely, this person is…
“I’m glad you could come. Mrs. Butler, Mr. Butler. Your interview this time was truly impressive. Everyone needs to be more concerned about the environment.”
Huh?
Yu-jin glanced up at Winston, who was smoothly leading the conversation. Yu-jin didn’t even need to think about who the other person was. He just had to nod along to the topic that had already been brought up, so Yu-jin gave an awkward smile and simply nodded. They talked to a few more people like that. Each time, Winston made sure to call out the other person’s name and either brought up a topic first or gave hints to guess who they were, so Yu-jin wouldn’t be flustered. Thanks to that, it wasn’t difficult for Yu-jin to join the conversation, and the other party also listened with a friendly attitude.
It didn’t end there. Winston naturally called Angela’s name in the middle of the conversations and even smiled.
It suddenly felt too picture-perfect. If a stranger saw them, they would think they were a really happy family.
That’s probably what he’s aiming for, but…
The purpose was very clear, but he couldn’t figure out the reason. What does Winston gain from doing this?
He would soon find out. When the party was in full swing, Winston suddenly took Yu-jin to the stage with a slight elevation and soon grabbed the microphone. A short beep sounded, as if trying to attract people’s attention, and as intended, the noise subsided, and everyone’s attention focused on one place. Only then did Winston smile and open his mouth.
“Thank you for coming today. This is the first party I’m hosting myself since I inherited the Campbell family. I am truly grateful to my partner, who put in a lot of effort to prepare for this party.”
He surprisingly clasped Yu-jin’s hand, lifted it, and gave a short kiss to the back of his hand. He didn’t forget to give a gentle smile. Leaving the dumbfounded Yu-jin behind, he continued to speak while still holding his hand.
“I wasn’t able to introduce my daughter last time. This is Angela Campbell.”
Yu-jin’s eyes widened. But Winston still looked straight ahead and said,
“I am happy to be able to show you my partner and precious daughter. I hope everyone here will warmly welcome my family.”
And he added with a strange smile.
“Now, my partner and daughter are also members of the Campbell family. Of course, I trust that you will not engage in any rude behavior, but…”
Winston’s gaze lingered particularly long. His slowly moving eyes were clearly pointing at someone. Winston, who had openly stared at a few faces, smiled again.
“If anyone insults my family, I will take it as an insult to the Campbell family. You know what will happen after that, of course.”
The excited atmosphere of the party hall suddenly turned heavy. Among the people who were glancing at each other, an employee came at the right time with two glasses of champagne on a tray. Seeing him take a glass, Yu-jin followed suit, and Winston opened his mouth.
“For the Campbell family.”
“For the Campbell family.”
Everyone said words of blessing in unison and drank the champagne. Yu-jin carefully looked up at the man’s face while tilting his glass. Winston put the empty glass on the tray and wrapped his arm around Yu-jin’s shoulder again. Yu-jin, who hurriedly emptied the remaining glass, also put down the glass and followed Winston.
The large hand holding his shoulder felt particularly hot. Was this what it felt like to have someone protecting him, to feel so secure? He never imagined Winston would do something like this.
For me…?
Yu-jin carefully looked up at Winston. Watching his profile as he talked to someone else, he felt his heart beating faster little by little.