By Zephyria “Angie, Miss Georgina.”
The Butler, who was already out on the porch, gave them a short nod. As if that was a signal, Angela stopped running and stood there. Georgina saw the child walking calmly and gracefully to stand next to the Butler, and she also took her place behind them. Meanwhile, the car slowed down and stopped in front of the mansion. Georgina waited until the Butler, who had readily walked over, bent down and opened the car door. Finally, the man she had been waiting for got out of the car and revealed himself.
In that instant, Georgina unconsciously held her breath. Even though it was a season when spring was approaching and a warm breeze was brushing against her cheeks, a chill still lingered around the man as if it were still winter. He was dressed in a suit that was impeccable and neat, and he showed no signs of weakness. He looked as perfect as if he had just finished preparing for work and came out of his room, but Georgina knew very well that he had returned from work. Even though it was impossible to believe that he was a man who had finished his day’s work and returned.
She had definitely seen him looking disheveled just a while ago.Winston was back to his perfect old self. He was so different that I was inwardly bewildered, wondering if I had dreamed it all, when suddenly Winston’s eyes met mine. A chill immediately ran down my spine. His coldly piercing eyes seemed to see right through me, so fierce as if he wouldn’t tolerate even the smallest secret. Perhaps this was the look of a judge in the Middle Ages. The cold, emotionless face of a man ordering a sinner to be burned alive easily overlapped in my mind.
Suddenly, Winston’s expression softened, and his long eyes narrowed slightly.
…Huh?
It was a sudden change, like watching an ice floe melt away in an instant due to a sudden change in the weather. Georgina, seeing the expression for the first time, widened her eyes in surprise. Why is he suddenly like this? She was bewildered, but Winston was no longer looking at Georgina. Georgina, who had already turned her head to follow his gaze, found Angela standing there.
It didn’t end there. Surprisingly, he skipped two or three steps at a time on the few stairs at the entrance of the mansion, and with large strides, he quickly reached them. “Eek,” Georgina gasped, startled, and stepped back, but Winston didn’t even look at her. His only concern was Angela. Winston immediately bent down, picked up the child, and smiled. So tenderly, so shockingly.
“Angie, did you have fun?”
Georgina gaped at him, asking as if it were the most natural thing in the world while holding Angela. It was the first time she had been so surprised. Winston was someone who could speak like that? With such a smiling face?
But Angela’s actions were just as surprising. As soon as Winston stood in front of her, the child raised her arms as high as she could and stood on tiptoe, as if her next action had already been decided. And Winston picked up the child’s waist and smiled brightly. As if this was a normal, everyday occurrence.
“Yes, a friend came over and we had tea together.”
Angela nodded and pointed to Georgina. Instinctively flinching, Georgina unconsciously straightened her constantly shrinking back, bracing herself for Winston’s gaze to turn to her. She was planning to greet him casually, make an excuse, and leave.
To Winston, I’m an unwelcome guest…
The moment she concluded that, her eyes met his. Georgina couldn’t help but shrink back at his cold face, which was incomparable to the one he had when looking at Angela. Her expectations were off. The stern gaze, as if looking at some object, made her uneasy.
“Um, well… I’ll be going now.”
As she stammered awkwardly, trying to say she was leaving, Angela, noticing her words, asked in a very dejected voice.
“Georgina, are you leaving already?”
At the voice full of disappointment, the eyes fixed on Georgina moved for a moment. It was a movement close to a fleeting moment, but she managed not to miss it. Winston’s eyes, which had been directed at Angela, returned to her, and then, unbelievably, something happened. Winston’s expression seemed to soften, and the corners of his lips turned up.
“Georgina isn’t going to leave, is she?”
He smiled at Angela, then turned his eyes to Georgina and added the last words. Unlike before, this time he softened his expression. Perhaps it was because the warmth of his gaze towards the child still lingered. But Georgina had experienced similar gazes several times before.
It was similar to the gaze that the parents of her close friends gave her when she went to their house.
A look of affection for their child’s close friend.
The moment she realized that, Georgina felt dazed, as if she had been hit by something. That Winston Campbell, of all people, towards me? Really?
Am I dreaming while standing here?
“Georgina.”
“Uh, uh?”
At the sound of her name, she was startled and stammered. There was another surprise. Winston proposed in a tone as gentle as his gaze.
“If you don’t have anything urgent, would you like to have dinner and go? Angela wants to invite you.”
This time, she was too shocked to even answer. That Winston Campbell was saying something that a normal parent would say? And with such a sociable smile?
Maybe there’s a power button somewhere on his body. Maybe he’s undergoing A.I. learning, she thought inwardly, rolling her eyes, when Angela, who had been sitting on Winston’s arm until then, said.
“Stay over, Georgina.”
“What?”
Angela, who had gone ten steps ahead instead of just one, took her eyes off the flustered Georgina and looked at Winston this time.
“It’s okay, right? Winnie.”
Georgina realized that the word ‘Winnie’ was a magic word. Of course, Angela probably knew it too. Because Winston’s lips widened even more, and he looked at Angela with eyes that seemed to drip honey.
“Of course, Angie. You can have anything you want.”
Winston took the child’s hand, smiled kindly, and added.
“Because you’re my daughter.”
Angela, as if gaining confidence from those words, turned to Georgina. As if there were no problems now. Georgina, who had been standing there blankly watching them until then, finally began to think.
What on earth is going on?
She instinctively felt that it was an urgent situation. She had already decided to go back early because of the unsettling feeling, especially after Andrew’s confession, and that judgment was still valid. Above all, her reason was telling her. She had to politely refuse the offer and go back. A warning that she should never get more deeply involved with them was ringing loudly in her head, but…
“Okay, Angie.”
Nevertheless, curiosity made her ignore that loud voice. Even though she knew it was her biggest problem, she couldn’t stand it. She wanted to know more about them. Above all, she belatedly realized that the smile Winston gave her was subtly different from the one he gave Angela. Maybe he really is ‘imitating’ affection. Given Winston’s nature, it was possible. If so, what’s the reason?
Besides, Yu-jin wasn’t pregnant, so what did that mean?
There were too many things she was curious about to go back like this. Georgina chose to satisfy her curiosity rather than her conscience, and she willingly stepped into the swamp, knowing that she was doing so.
“Please take care of me today, Winston.”
She mustered up the courage to smile boldly. She greeted him with a friendly expression and tone, as if she were dealing with her friend’s parents, and surprisingly, Winston smiled and said to Angela.
“That’s great, Angie. Isn’t it?”
Angela nodded happily, and Winston moved. As Georgina naturally followed them into the mansion, she felt her heart pounding with a strange sense of unease and excitement.