By Zephyria Oh my god, what is going on?
Georgina almost screamed and jumped out the window. The man standing there looking at her was in a state so terrible that she couldn’t even imagine it. His body was emaciated, his cheeks were sunken, and the lines of his face were prominent. His hair was disheveled and his beard was growing wildly. He was wearing a suit, but his tie was nowhere to be found, his shirt was all wrinkled, his jacket was slung over his arm, and his vest was completely open.
Even though he looked like that, Georgina thought that he had gone to work or gone out. Anyway, he was wearing a suit. It was a mess, but still. Maybe Winston hadn’t been home for long. That must be it, she heard that he had been looking for Yu-jin all the time except when he was working. But even as she made her own reasonable guesses, she couldn’t believe it at all. The sight of Winston standing in front of her was something that she could never have imagined if it was the Winston she knew.Did Mrs. Campbell know? How her precious youngest son was doing right now. Georgina, suddenly recalling her grandmother’s cold face, felt a chill run down her spine. She shouldn’t have come here after all. Regret washed over her, but it was already too late. All she could do was find a way to escape this situation. As Georgina frantically racked her brain, she was horrified by Winston’s bloodshot eyes glaring at her.
“H-hi, Winston, you, you look good.”
Winston twitched an eyebrow at Georgina’s fear-stricken words. A chilling silence immediately followed. You stupid idiot! She almost slapped herself, but hastily clasped her hands together, barely preventing another mishap. Haha, Winston, thankfully, averted his gaze from his niece’s awkwardly smiling face. He looked utterly annoyed, but Georgina was grateful nonetheless. Whew, she let out a small sigh of relief as Winston finally spoke.
“What’s your business?”
He habitually reached for his chest, then lowered his hand. Georgina quickly realized that Winston had been reaching for a cigarette but gave up. Her father had also been a heavy smoker, constantly pulling cigarettes from his suit jacket pocket. She was puzzled by his familiar gesture, but escaping this situation was her priority.
“Oh, I was just wondering how you were doing. Everyone’s worried.”
This time, she didn’t stammer as much and did a decent job. Ignoring the slight tremor in her voice, Georgina even managed a strained smile. Winston glanced at her and smirked. As if she was talking nonsense. Georgina was startled, feeling like her true intentions had been exposed, and her eyes wavered. Ahem, she cleared her throat and barely managed to speak.
“Any news about Yu-jin?”
“You have something else you’re curious about, don’t you?”
Winston suddenly interrupted Georgina. She flinched again, and Winston continued in a cold tone.
“Tell Catherine exactly what you saw. If she’s worried about the company, she can sell her shares. I don’t care.”
He really doesn’t seem to.
Georgina thought to herself, scanning him again. If she didn’t know this man was Winston Campbell, no one would even bother with him. How could he fall apart like this? As far as Georgina remembered, Winston had always been perfectly handsome and flawless, but now he looked like he had given up on life altogether.
Because of Yu-jin…?
There was no other explanation. To think he loved Yu-jin that much, it was shocking in a different way. She knew they had been involved in the past, but could someone still love someone this much? Especially considering Winston had been betrayed so terribly.
“Do you still love Yu-jin…?”
Georgina asked impulsively. She knew this tendency of hers always caused trouble, but she couldn’t stop herself. At the sudden question, Winston’s gaze immediately turned to her. Gold flashed momentarily in his purple eyes, and a sweet scent intensified. Even though she was standing quite a distance away, Georgina could immediately sense Winston’s anger. Georgina barely endured the goosebumps that erupted all over her body. Or perhaps her body had frozen. Winston slowly opened his mouth to his young niece, who stood there staring at him.
“Do you think I’d fall for that male prostitute again?”
He still doesn’t know.
Georgina’s heart sank. Of course, no one had told him the truth. No matter what Yu-jin said, he wouldn’t believe it.
Who could deny what they had seen with their own eyes?
But.
“Have you ever considered that you might be trapped?”
Ah.
This was a real mistake. Georgina desperately covered her mouth with her hand, but it was already too late. Winston was staring at her with a deeply furrowed brow.
57
A heavy silence hung between them. Georgina’s heart was pounding so hard she couldn’t think straight. The silence continued. The time, barely a minute, passed so slowly that it felt like hours.
Suddenly, Winston smirked.
“Georgina, whatever that male prostitute told you, it’s all lies.”
He added in his usual cold tone.
“I saw it with my own eyes, what that male prostitute was doing.”
Of course, you did. I know.
Georgina barely swallowed the words that almost escaped her lips. I need to get out of here. Before I make any more mistakes, what should I say, how should I end this?
Frantically searching for something to say, she belatedly noticed the book she was holding. Without thinking, Georgina blurted out.
“Why is this book here? Did Winston read it too?”
Forcibly turning Winston’s attention to the book, she quickly continued.
“It’s so much fun. It’s also touching, I cried after reading it. It’s the best book I’ve read in a while. It’s a bestseller and super popular right now. It’s a big deal everywhere these days.”
Winston stared at Georgina with a blank expression. Georgina quickly put the book down and gave an awkward smile.
“I didn’t think it would be Winston’s taste, so I was surprised… um. Well, I’ll be going now. Take care, um…”
He simply watched his niece stammer and ramble her farewells. As if even exchanging greetings was a waste of time.
“Then goodbye! See you later!”
With those words, Georgina hurriedly ran across the hallway. Winston frowned at her back as she disappeared in an instant, as if being chased by something, and clicked his tongue briefly before turning around.
Angela’s room was as serene and cool as ever. He closed the door behind him and slowly walked towards the sofa. He plopped down on the chair, rubbed his tired eyes, and sighed. He was so exhausted his brain felt like it was melting, but he couldn’t sleep. Even the naps he used to take had become almost impossible lately. It was more like passing out than sleeping, and even that lasted less than 10 minutes.
His insomnia hadn’t started recently. It had begun exactly on the day Yu-jin betrayed him, clinging to him like a part of himself and constantly tormenting him. It was as if he had never had a deep sleep in his life, from birth until now.
Of course, that wasn’t true. He had been an active person, enjoying studying and all kinds of sports during the day, and sleeping soundly at night without dreaming. Yu-jin had completely changed his life. This endless insomnia, his inability to trust others, and his cynical personality had all started since that day.
How could he be the same as before? He had been betrayed by the person he trusted and loved the most.
Even now, when he closed his eyes, the memories of that day tormented him. What made it even more unforgivable was that Yu-jin had never properly apologized to him. Ironically, it was Winston who had to beg and plead.
And to think he even deceived me and ran away.
As he gritted his teeth, he suddenly remembered what his niece had said. A hollow laugh escaped his lips.
Love? Me? Yu-jin?
That male prostitute who abandoned me and ran away again?
No way, that was absurd. Georgina was still young and could naively talk about love and such. He himself had been briefly deluded, so how much more would a teenage girl be?
But it was over now. He wouldn’t let it go any further. He closed his eyes for a moment and took out his phone. This was enough. It was time to use the last resort.
“Yes, Mr. Campbell.”
Hearing his secretary’s voice on the other end, Winston spoke.
“Carry out the instructions, right now.”
“Understood.”
Listening to his secretary’s immediate response, Winston hung up the phone. He glared at the empty air with bloodshot eyes and thought. This boring game of hide-and-seek would soon be over.