By Zephyria Only the sound of sniffling could be heard occasionally in the quiet drawing room. Sam, sitting side by side on the sofa, smiled with a kind face and stroked Yu-jin’s shoulder. Yu-jin felt her warm body temperature, but it still didn’t feel real. Was it really Sam?
As if she knew Yu-jin’s still half-doubting heart, Sam gently wiped away the tears on his face. Seeing his nose tingle again and his eyes fill with tears, Sam gave her characteristic hearty laugh.
“Goodness, goodness, are you just going to cry the whole time after seeing me for the first time in a while? Stop it now, Angie is getting anxious.”
At her gentle scolding, Yu-jin finally held back his tears and quickly caught his breath. Realizing belatedly, he looked down and saw Angela clinging to Yu-jin’s leg, looking up at him with a worried face, just as she had said. Yu-jin quickly rubbed his cheeks and picked up the child, pulling her onto the sofa.
“Say hello, Angie, this is Sam Brown.”
“Hello, Angie. I met you when you were a baby. You don’t remember, but…”
Angela, who was watching her face and hands alternately with caution, clung tightly to Yu-jin as Sam smiled and reached out her hand. Angela cautiously relaxed her guard at Sam’s patient waiting. She gently took her hand, then quickly let go and burrowed back into Yu-jin’s arms, making Sam laugh again. Yu-jin felt relieved and embarrassed at the same time, so he naturally turned Angela in his arms to face Sam.
“Angie, she helped me a lot when you were in Daddy’s tummy. We stayed at her house until you were one year old.”
“Daddy and I took turns feeding you milk when you woke up crying at night. I’m so glad to see you again.”
Sam added, taking Yu-jin’s words, and smiled warmly. Yu-jin continued to speak in that state so that the child would get used to Sam’s face.
“What happened? What brings you all the way here?”
“Your partner invited me.”
Yu-jin’s eyes widened at the excited question. He had heard that Winston had gone to see her, but he had not expected to meet Sam like this. Seeing his reaction, Sam nodded and said.
“Yes, he asked if I would be willing to meet you. Of course, I said yes. There’s no reason for me to refuse, is there? Rather, it was such a good opportunity that I jumped at it.”
Yu-jin also laughed at her hearty laughter. What could be happier than meeting her again?
Just then, a knock was heard, and a moment later, the Butler opened the door and entered. He bowed lightly to the guest, then turned his gaze to Yu-jin and opened his mouth.
“I have prepared refreshments for the guest. Would you like to move to the tea room, or should I bring them here?”
“Ah…”
After thinking for a moment, Yu-jin turned his attention to Sam and asked.
“Sam, would you like me to show you around the mansion first? Or would you like to rest and have tea?”
“Oh, please give me a tour first. I’ve been very curious since earlier.”
Confirming Sam’s happy face, he soon turned his attention to the Butler.
“We’ll have refreshments in the tea room in an hour. Please, Cain.”
“Understood.”
The Butler answered readily, then straightened his back and left the drawing room. Following him, Yu-jin got up first and offered his hand to Sam.
“Sam, let’s get up. I’ll show you around the mansion.”
“Hoho, I’m so excited. I’ve only seen such a grand mansion in dramas.”
Yu-jin smiled and escorted the middle-aged woman, who was clapping her hands and didn’t know what to do with her excitement.
* * *
The tea room, bathed in the soft afternoon sunlight, was filled with the fragrant scent of black tea. After taking a sip of the hot tea and putting a piece of rich chocolate in her mouth, Sam let out a satisfied sigh.
“Oh my, my dream has come true.”
Seeing Sam’s flushed face with admiration and a dazed expression, Yu-jin chuckled softly. She had been exclaiming and sighing alternately with wide eyes while touring the mansion, and she was still looking around the room for the umpteenth time even after sitting down in the tea room.
“I can’t imagine you living in a place like this.”
She reached out over the tea table and held Yu-jin’s hand tightly.
“I’m so glad, Yu-jin. I’m so relieved.”
Looking at Sam, who had placed her other hand on her chest and was smiling broadly, Yu-jin vaguely trailed off. No one knew how long this life would last. What was certain was that it would be less than a year, no matter how long it lasted. When that time came, the fact that he couldn’t have children would be revealed, and he would naturally lose everything.
It was a bitter future, but he decided to focus on the present for now. Anyway, Sam would only remember him living well now, so it didn’t matter, did it? He would have to think about what to do in the future then.
“I was so worried about how you were doing, raising a child alone. I kept praying that nothing bad would happen. But I never imagined you’d be in the East.”
Sam’s eyes became moist as she recalled the past. Seeing her quickly dab her eyes with a napkin, Yu-jin stroked her arm in comfort.
“It’s okay now. Don’t worry about me anymore.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Sam smiled contentedly and said, looking at Angela, who was playing with a puzzle on the floor.
“Now that the family is back together, what could be happier than this?”
“Sam.”
Yu-jin’s eyes widened in surprise. There was no way Winston would have said that. Was he overreacting? As he wondered, Sam lightly glared at him and scolded him.
“How can you not even have that much insight? I’m a police officer, you know.”
So that was it. Yu-jin was surprised that Sam had noticed and stammered.
“Is it that obvious?”
Sam gave a strange smile at Yu-jin’s anxious appearance. Oh no, he felt a sense of despair and his shoulders drooped.
“It was a leading question.”
“I was sure of it.”
Sam smiled and continued.
“I had a feeling the moment I saw Mr. Campbell. Ah, this man is Angie’s papa.”
The last words were added in a whisper, as if conscious of Angela. Glancing at Angela, she seemed to be engrossed in putting together the puzzle and didn’t seem to be interested in their conversation at all. Feeling relieved but also somewhat empty, Yu-jin just looked at her. Sam continued to ask.
“He doesn’t seem to know, does he?”
Yu-jin paused and nodded slightly. Sam said, “I see,” took a sip of tea, and seemed to be lost in thought before opening her mouth.
“Are you two not getting along well right now?”
“Is that also a leading question based on conviction?”Avoiding the answer with a joking remark, Sam laughed and said,
“There’s a reason for it. The fact that Mr. Campbell called me all the way here is proof of that.”
Yu-jin tilted his head, and Sam added,
“If he was getting along with you, would he have contacted me through his secretary, asking me to come right away? Even sending a plane?”
“…He called Sam to mediate between us?”
To the cautious question, she nodded and said yes.
“What happened? He didn’t say much even when he came to me. He just introduced himself as your partner, that’s all.”
Yu-jin suddenly found himself speechless. It turns out you can’t speak even when you have too much to say. Realizing this, he just gaped for a moment before finally drooping his shoulders.
“It’s always like this. Don’t worry.”
As he cut the sentence short, Sam let out a pitiful “Oh.” Sam gently stroked Yu-jin’s cheek and continued,
“Don’t be too heartbroken. There are no smooth couples in the world, you fight and adjust.”
“Well, I don’t have any expectations that he’ll adjust to me at all.”
He couldn’t help but speak in a sarcastic tone. Yu-jin quickly shut his mouth, and Sam smiled as if she knew everything.
“He’s already doing that, isn’t he? Otherwise, why would he go to the trouble of calling me all the way here? That man is completely smitten with you.”
It was the most absurd thing he had ever heard. Yu-jin noticeably opened his mouth and wore a blank expression. Soon after, he let out a short sigh and replied with a frown.
“Sam, I know you like romance…”
“I still read it every night before I go to bed.”
Watching Sam wink, Yu-jin could only give an awkward smile. He never knew Sam had such terrible judgment of people.
“Um, Sam.”
Yu-jin tried to change the subject. But unfortunately, Sam didn’t cooperate.