By Zephyria He was particularly unlucky that day. There was a minor collision on the way to work, and when he had no choice but to take a taxi and arrived at the company, it suddenly started pouring rain. Even in the fleeting moment of running into the building, his whole body got soaked. The meeting exceeded the scheduled time without reaching a conclusion, and the sandwich he ate for lunch was missing toppings.
When he returned home after a long day, it was already 2 a.m. But there wasn’t much time to rest. He has to take a plane at 6 a.m. Winston opened the front door as quietly as possible. As the gap widened, he immediately felt the pheromone scent mixed with a strong alcohol scent. He wasn’t very surprised because it happened almost every day.
He quietly closed the door and moved his feet, and soon found Yu-jin lying asleep on the living room sofa. After putting down the suitcase he was holding in its place, he gently put his hand under his shoulder and skillfully picked him up. As the distance narrowed, the pheromone scent mixed with alcohol rushed in even more strongly. Winston slowly moved his steps, trying not to overwhelm the sleeping him. Even though he was moving very slowly and carefully, Yu-jin opened his eyes with a small groan when he put him down on the bed.
“…Winnie?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Winston answered kindly to the sleepy voice and kissed Yu-jin’s cheek.
“Sleep more, I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Again?”
Yu-jin frowned and asked. Winston answered in a soft voice, seeing him struggling to keep his closing eyes open.
“I have to go on a business trip. It will take about two days.”
“Two days…”Yu-jin soon mumbled in a voice full of dejection. Winston smiled to reassure him.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be quick. Did you have fun with your new friends?”
“Yeah…”
At the ambiguous answer, Winston continued, “Okay.”
“I’m fine, so call them and play as much as you want, okay? Just don’t drink too much.”
He added the reminder, but it was doubtful whether Yu-jin understood. Winston pulled the sheet up to his chin and covered Yu-jin, who was struggling against the constant drowsiness. Eventually, he couldn’t resist his instincts and soon breathed evenly. Winston looked down at Yu-jin for a while, then got up and headed to the bathroom.
While adjusting the temperature by moving the faucet under the cold water, his face showed no trace of a smile. Winston, looking in the mirror with a deep sigh, soon saw his tired face. He had been working almost non-stop since that day. He was prepared for it, but the reality before him unfolded several times more harshly.
After finishing their first trip alone together, Winston pretended nothing had happened and took Yu-jin to the Separate Residence/Annex. The company was still busy because of the series of events, and Harold was hardly ever home. Thankfully, the situation lasted much longer than expected. Tax evasion is a serious crime. Perhaps his father could go to jail, or in the worst case, the company could go bankrupt. Winston committed such a huge act only for Yu-jin. But he never regretted it. Thanks to that, his father couldn’t find Yu-jin for nearly two years, and Winston was able to continue his relationship with Yu-jin secretly.
Of course, secrets can’t last forever, and one day, just before graduating from college, they were caught by the Butler. And it immediately spread throughout the mansion, and the entire Campbell family found out.
Naturally, the most furious was Mrs. Campbell. She slapped Winston in front of the employees and, not satisfied with that, showered them with hysterical curses. Winston wasn’t very hurt or scared because he had already expected it. He was planning to leave this house with Yu-jin and live together after graduating from college anyway. In his honest opinion, he was going to announce it after getting Yu-jin pregnant, but this wasn’t bad either. He wanted to have children later and monopolize Yu-jin for a little longer.
Winston didn’t waste unnecessary time and left the family with Yu-jin. At first, they lived together in a small apartment, which wasn’t too bad considering it was obtained in a hurry. Above all, they were together. That alone was enough.
But that was just Winston’s thought. When he returned from being exhausted from work, Yu-jin greeted him with a bright face. He would follow Winston around and chatter about trivial things, as if a plant that had been left in a dark basement all day was finally absorbing the warm sunlight pouring down on it.
The problem was that Winston was too tired. He had little time or physical energy to deal with Yu-jin, as he had to come home past midnight and leave the house before sunrise. Yu-jin also knew this and stopped saying anything other than what was absolutely necessary.
Winston thought he needed to come up with a solution to Yu-jin’s withering appearance day by day, but that wasn’t easy either. When he thought of Yu-jin waiting for him until late and falling asleep crumpled on the sofa, he felt a deep sense of self-doubt about what he was doing.
After finishing his shower with a sigh, he received an unexpected call. It was his mother.
At this hour…?
He checked the time again and frowned as he pressed the call button. After a moment, a familiar voice flowed out.
“Mother, what’s going on?”
Did something happen to the family?
Maybe what he did was discovered. It doesn’t really matter, though. As he thought inwardly, his mother opened her mouth abruptly.
“Come home, Winston.”
Winston paused at the calm and composed voice, as usual. Mrs. Campbell continued to speak to him, who was silent.
“Harold has forgiven you. Come back to the mansion, I want you to come to the company and help Harold.”
It was unbelievable, but it was true. When he finally made time on the weekend to visit the mansion, Harold, who greeted him directly, repeated his mother’s words.
“It’s enough now, come back. The company needs you.”
“You’re allowing Yu-jin and me?”
When he asked again as if to confirm, Harold’s face quickly turned fierce, but it was only for a moment. Soon, Harold sighed and softened his expression before opening his mouth.
“Winston, you’re making a big mistake if you really believe that Yu-jin loves you.”
Winston frowned instead of answering. Seeing him, Harold continued.
“I know that child better than anyone else. After all, I’ve known him since he was very young, and I practically raised him. You don’t know how shrewd Yu-jin is.”
Winston said nothing. Not because he agreed, but because he didn’t feel it was worth answering. His father knows nothing about Yu-jin. What on earth is he saying about my omega, who is so pure and gentle? Harold chuckled as if his emotions were showing on his face. He narrowed his eyes and looked at his still young son.
“Winston, you’re too young. You don’t know the world enough. You’ll understand the meaning of what I said in the future.”
“If that’s all you have to say, then I…”
“Come back, to the Campbell family.”
Harold commanded. Feeling the pheromone scent around him intensify, Winston looked at him. Harold continued to speak.
“I won’t interfere with you two first. So come back. If Yu-jin is really the child you think he is, there’s no need to hold on, is there?”
Winston was silent for a moment. After a tense silence, he opened his mouth.
“What my father wants isn’t me, is it?”
At the quiet question, Harold stared at him without even moving. Thanks to that, Winston was convinced.
“If you want to get Yu-jin back, you’re wasting your time. We’re engaged. I’m going to propose to Yu-jin soon.”
In fact, that was something for later. But he had to warn his father now, or else. Feeling a sense of crisis for some reason, Winston brazenly lied. Harold stared at his son’s face for a moment before speaking.
“Do as you please, as much as you want.”
Winston paused at the tone, which was no different from usual. Harold continued indifferently.
“Then there’s even less reason for you not to come back. I’ll make a place for you, come starting next month.”
Next month was only three days away. It was Harold’s usual behavior to give orders without asking about Winston’s circumstances. Inwardly, Winston wanted to refuse, but just then, the face of Yu-jin, who was tired and asleep, flickered before his eyes. If he returned to his father’s company, his life would be much better than it is now. If he bought him a car and taught him how to drive, Yu-jin would have more things he could do, so wouldn’t that be better?
“I won’t move into the mansion. I’ll get a separate house to live in with Yu-jin.”
Harold readily accepted the condition Winston offered. Soon after, he suggested a luxury villa in the city. It was one of the family’s properties, worth tens of millions of dollars. And that’s how Winston stepped into hell.