KTS 208

“A company?”

Catherine said, surprised. Winston nodded and continued.

“It’s a company that manages the family’s funds. To be precise, it’s a company to distribute our share a bit more.”

He deliberately paused, adding an explanation.

“Of course, we have to pay taxes faithfully, but there’s no reason for us to make unnecessary sacrifices, right? It’s only natural for us to receive that much benefit as a member of the family, isn’t it?”

“Oh, of course. Of course, it is.”

Catherine immediately agreed.

“We’re not evading taxes, but, um, trying to save in a legal way, right?”

“That’s right. You always understand me so well.”

Winston praised lightly, and her mouth soon fell open.

“You’re going to entrust that to George?”

Catherine’s voice was full of excitement. Anyone would feel their heart race at the thought of thousands, no, hundreds of millions of dollars coming and going before their eyes. Winston nodded and replied.

“It’s time for George to take on family matters now.”

“It’s long overdue.”

Catherine nodded, smiling brightly.

“You thought well, Winston. It’s the perfect job for George. He’ll gladly take it on.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Just as Catherine was about to turn around, excited, Winston suddenly spoke from behind.

“Ah, but there’s one problem.”

“What is it?”

Winston opened his mouth with a serious face to his sister, who turned around in surprise.

“George has a job right now, right? He’ll have to quit that, is that alright?”

“Of course, it’s alright!”

She shouted without a moment’s hesitation. Realizing that her voice was too loud, Catherine cleared her throat and put on a graceful smile.

“He was going to wrap it up soon anyway. Taking on this job is much more worthwhile, isn’t it?”

At Catherine’s question, Winston narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“I’m glad you think so.”

Catherine gave her brother a bright smile and turned around with a light step.

“Oh, right.”

Just as she was about to open the door and leave, she stopped and looked back as if she had suddenly remembered something. When Winston, who was still sitting behind his desk, turned his gaze to her, Catherine smiled awkwardly and spoke cautiously.

“You know, um, I heard a strange rumor.”

She avoided her brother’s gaze as he stared at her as if asking what she was talking about, and continued.

“That, you recently went on vacation with, that. With that, with the little leech attached. Of course, that’s impossible. Someone must have been spouting nonsense again. It seems our family is being talked about in an unsavory way these days…”

“It’s true.”

“Yes, I knew it. We all believe in you… What?”

Catherine, who had been rambling on, dropped her jaw in surprise. Considering how ridiculously high-minded she usually was, it was almost comical. But instead of laughing out loud, Winston replied with a straight face.

“The rumor is true. I went skiing with Yu-jin. With the child, of course.”

At the unwavering and clear words, Catherine couldn’t speak easily and just opened and closed her mouth. Unable to find the words to say, she couldn’t hide her confused expression and spoke.

“Ah, of course, that’s right. You can’t always just work, can you? You need a vacation, um, you need to rest, a vacation, no, I already said that. Anyway…”

Winston opened his mouth with a calm face to her, who seemed quite flustered and unable to speak properly.

“Don’t worry, nothing unsavory happened.”

Seeing her react as if her inner thoughts had been exposed, he added.

“She’s already pregnant. All that’s left is to fill the year. I just need to appease Yu-jin so she doesn’t have any other thoughts during that time.”

“That, is that so?”

Only then did Catherine brighten up and smile brightly.

“I believed you had something in mind. Well, what kind of person are you? You couldn’t have forgotten what that did to you.”

At Catherine’s words, Yu-jin’s eyes narrowed. There was a lot of meaning in them, but of course, Catherine didn’t know.

“Ah…”

Winston, who let out a long sigh-like exclamation, murmured as if whispering.

“Of course, I remember, everything.”

Then he smiled. Smiling with the most innocent face in the world, he said to his sibling.

“Don’t worry, Catherine, just tell George about the company.”

“Oh, of course. Don’t worry about that.”

Catherine, who was quickly in a good mood, gave a bright smile.

“Thank you for telling me the good news, Winston. Then I’ll be going now, sorry for disturbing you.”

She put one hand on her chest and added a smile, then turned to leave, but stopped again.

“Oh, right.”

Catherine smiled bitterly and turned back to her brother.

“You know your mother is throwing a party, right? You have to come, it’s to celebrate Gordon’s release.”

She wrinkled her nose and added.

“It’s just our family gathering, so no unnecessary additions.”

There was no need to explain who the unnecessary additions were. Winston smiled as if he knew too, and she opened the door and went outside without any regrets. With a lighter step than when she entered the office.

* * *

“A company? To me? Family money? Campbell family money?”

Catherine glared fiercely at her husband, who asked in a high voice, almost screaming in surprise.

“Be quiet, the servants have ears.”

George, pushed back by his wife’s fierce spirit, hunched his shoulders and quickly rolled his eyes around. It wasn’t that Catherine enjoyed her husband’s cowardly appearance. But he was usually a good husband, and above all, getting divorced twice was out of the question for her reputation. Besides, a huge amount of money would be coming in now. Thinking that, she felt more relaxed.

“George, don’t worry. Winston proposed it himself. Would he do anything that would harm us? Besides, it’s managing the family’s money, it won’t be that difficult.”

Moreover, taking over that company meant that he would practically be handling a significant portion of the family’s money. Even if he used a little of it, like pocket money, as a commission, no one would know. Because they were the ones managing the money!

Her heart swelled just thinking about it. She covered her mouth with one hand as it opened on its own, and just then, George’s appearance came into view. He was still holding his head with a worried face, lost in thought. This time, Catherine sat next to him and began to comfort her husband.

“Don’t worry so much, it’s absolutely safe. That company was created since Father’s time. Even with such harsh tax investigations, the money that passed through that company was never discovered.”

Only then did George slowly lower his hand that had been holding his head.

“Really? Are you sure it’ll be alright?”

“Of course.”

Catherine said with a bright smile.

“Now all the Campbell family’s money is as good as ours.”

* * *

“Welcome, dear.”

Mrs. Campbell couldn’t hide her affection when she saw her beloved son and hugged him tightly. Winston formally hugged his mother back and then gently pulled away. Nevertheless, Mrs. Campbell continued without paying attention.

“Did anything happen? The company must be very busy, you look a little thinner.”

“I’m fine.”

Winston replied nonchalantly to her, who was looking worried. His blunt tone and reaction were not much different from usual, so Mrs. Campbell didn’t particularly make an issue of it. There was something much more important today.

“Why are you so late? I’ve been waiting so long.”

Mrs. Campbell said, naturally grabbing her son’s arm and pulling him into the hall where the party was being held.

“There’s someone you need to meet.”

Winston became uneasy at her face, which couldn’t hide her smile.

Don’t tell me.

He suddenly thought, and then frowned. In front of her son, who was suppressing a groan in his throat, Mrs. Campbell spoke with a bright face.

“Evelyn, come here. Winston is here.”