By Zephyria It’s a relief that Angie has a good friend.
Even in his exhaustion, the corners of his lips loosened. It was a much more enjoyable time than he had expected. Not only Angela but also Yu-jin had a comfortable time for the first time in a while. He never thought he could laugh and talk like this with someone from the Campbell family.
Unlike what he had thought, that he only needed to show the minimum courtesy, Yu-jin also genuinely fell into the conversation. Charlotte also became somewhat accustomed to it and was able to talk to them without difficulty. Of course, she still seemed to be cautiously watching, but she was much more relaxed than at first. By the time they parted, she was seriously considering making plans to meet again next time.
I won’t be able to leave right away, so it’s okay to socialize in the meantime…
Even after they leave later, I thought I might be able to keep in touch with them if they wanted to.
I’ll think about the future later.
Yu-jin told the child to clean up her toys herself and quietly watched. Seeing her diligently move around the large room, cleaning up the mess, a happy smile naturally appeared on his face.
It was a peaceful day for the first time in a while. Suddenly, Yu-jin realized why. He hadn’t seen Winston from the moment he opened his eyes until now. He doesn’t know when he’ll be back. But it’ll take at least a day, right?
I’m free in the meantime.
As soon as he thought that, he suddenly realized. Could today be the perfect opportunity?
Yu-jin, who had unknowingly jumped up, reflexively looked at the closed door and soon slumped his shoulders.
Where am I going when I can’t even ride in a car?
Haa, Yu-jin sighed again and rubbed his forehead, and Angela called him, puzzled.
“Daddy?”
Yu-jin, startled by his daughter’s anxious voice, quickly shook his head with a nonchalant smile.
“It’s nothing, Angie. I just suddenly thought of something.”
Is there no way?
Besides, when leaving the mansion by car, there must be a suitable excuse. And I’ll have to shake off the bodyguards too.
What good are bodyguards to me anyway?
Yu-jin was furious, but he couldn’t make his daughter anxious again. He tried his best not to show his emotions and suppressed his anger. Before, he was only worried about riding in a car, but now he saw that there was something else to solve.
It won’t be as easy as I thought…
Feeling an ominous premonition, Yu-jin frowned. Angela tilted her head, looking puzzled at her daddy.
* * *
Thirty minutes had passed since the plane stopped on the runway. It was long past the time to get off, but the man was resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought, without even moving.
The secretary stepped forward, representing the flight attendants who were constantly watching him and not knowing what to do.
“Mr. Campbell, we have arrived. Is there anything you would like to instruct?”
Winston did not respond immediately to the question, which subtly avoided the main point. After a few seconds of silence, he finally opened his mouth.
“No, it’s okay.”
Everyone was nervous that he might not move, but fortunately, Winston understood the hidden meaning. Soon after, Winston got up from his seat and walked with large strides, and the waiting employees quickly lined up on both sides and straightened their posture. He greeted the employees briefly as usual, but he seemed to be thinking about something else. Everyone was puzzled by the way he casually mumbled and quickly walked away, and they hurriedly prepared to leave work. The secretary also hurriedly followed Winston, checked that he was getting into the waiting car, and then greeted him.
“Then, Mr. Campbell, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Winston nodded briefly, and the car slowly left. The secretary, who was standing there watching the bodyguard’s car move behind the sedan he was in, finally relaxed his shoulders only after they had completely disappeared from sight.Finally, the short business trip was over. Although, it was closer to Winston’s personal business than a business trip.
It was probably about his partner.
As she got into the car she had parked and headed home, the secretary thought. If it was to make an appointment to meet with the police officer he had been with, there was nothing else.
What on earth had happened?
She had been waiting outside, and she was shocked to see Winston’s face after a long time. His complexion had turned so pale, as if all the blood in his body had drained out. Since then, he hadn’t said a word except for a few basic ones. Considering how Winston had been lost in thought the whole time, something must have happened with that police officer. What could it have been?
It was something she couldn’t figure out, but she couldn’t stop being curious. Just as she had managed to put her thoughts aside and try to focus on work, another incident shook her up the very next morning. The secretary was preparing breakfast before work when she was startled by a call from her boss.
“Yes? Right now?”
It was an unexpected instruction, but she had no choice but to follow it. She panicked, hurriedly replied that she understood, and hung up.
What on earth is going on?
Unable to contain her curiosity, she ended up tearing at her hair.
* * *
“Ugh,” Yu-jin groaned softly and tossed and turned before slowly waking up. As he sluggishly opened his eyes, a familiar scene came into view. The walls and ceiling of his bedroom that he saw every day, the window, the curtains, the morning sun pouring in, and…
Winston.
Seeing the man sitting in a chair, lost in thought, Yu-jin was momentarily torn. Should he pretend to go back to sleep? Or should he just get up?
It was only a matter of a second or two, but there was no need to decide. Winston seemed to have noticed his movement and immediately turned his gaze to him.
Damn it.
Yu-jin thought inwardly, but he couldn’t pretend to be asleep now. Reluctantly, he met Winston’s gaze while still lying down, and a strange silence fell. The man who would sneer and hurl unspeakable insults at him just by looking at his face was unexpectedly quiet. Yu-jin was inwardly puzzled and slowly sat up.
“…When did you get here?”
He asked with an unwilling voice, but he also thought he might be ignored. He recalled it with self-deprecation, thinking it wouldn’t be surprising, but unexpectedly, Winston opened his mouth.
“In the early hours.”
Yu-jin was startled by his quiet voice and blinked. It was just one word, but for some reason, it felt foreign.
There’s no hostility.
Winston’s attitude, which was always sharp towards Yu-jin, was strangely subdued. Maybe it was just his imagination. It probably was. There was no reason for someone to suddenly change. As he resolved himself, Winston continued.
“Did anything happen?”
Yu-jin couldn’t hide his surprised expression and stared at him. He was sure he was wrong, but Winston’s attitude confused him again. Why is he being like this? What happened?
“…Did you go to the hospital or something?”
Yu-jin guessed that the sudden absence from his schedule might be related to that, and Winston tilted his head. As if asking what he was talking about. Yu-jin continued with a wary expression.
“Did you hear something bad from the doctor? You’ve suddenly become strange.”
Winston didn’t say anything. He just stared at Yu-jin. Yu-jin felt his heart pounding for no reason. Could it really be? Winston answered to his anxious gaze.
“No.”
Winston, who had opened his mouth after a long time, slowly added.
“I didn’t go to the hospital. I don’t have a terminal illness either.”
“Oh, really?”
Yu-jin mumbled, feeling somehow embarrassed. It would be strange to say he was relieved, and it was equally strange to apologize. He avoided eye contact and grumbled as if scolding.
“You suddenly became strange, so I wondered if something bad had happened. If not, then never mind…”
Winston suddenly chuckled at the words that faded away weakly. To Yu-jin, who paused, he casually concluded.
“Sorry if you were expecting something. Unfortunately, I’m very healthy.”
That’s more like it. Yu-jin belatedly realized that he had been worried for nothing and became upset. Instead, he decided to be as sarcastic as possible.
“I know. It would have been a good opportunity to become the heir to the Campbell family.”
He was prepared for another barbed sneer, but unexpectedly, Winston didn’t do that. Instead, Yu-jin felt uneasy as Winston stared intently at his face, causing him to stammer.
“Wh-what’s wrong?”
Silence fell again. Instead of answering, he just kept staring at Yu-jin’s face. With a gaze that was impossible to understand.
For some reason, Winston was too strange today. Yu-jin couldn’t help but be wary, and after a long time, he spoke.
“I met him, that person.”
“Wh-who?”
He asked, rushing in without realizing it, out of anxiety. For some reason, his heart kept trembling uneasily. As if something bad was about to happen. Just as his fingertips were tingling with a bad feeling, Winston finally opened his mouth. Very slowly.
“Sam Brown.”