By Zephyria “Ahem.”
Yu-jin cleared his throat to break the awkward silence. Winston’s gaze was fixed on him. Feeling uncomfortable for some reason, Yu-jin averted his eyes and spoke awkwardly.
“Um, what are you doing? Aren’t you going to come eat dinner?”
Winston slowly straightened up and opened his mouth slowly.
“I’m going.”
Having said that, he didn’t actually try to get up. Yu-jin hesitated and opened his mouth, feeling the gaze that seemed to ask why he had bothered to come.
“Um, I have something to tell you… we can talk about it while we eat.”
He was about to back away when Winston glanced at the empty seat across from him and made another suggestion.
“Shall we talk over a drink? Why don’t you sit down?”
Yu-jin belatedly noticed the whiskey and glasses on the table. Extreme alphas hardly ever get drunk no matter how much they drink, so it wouldn’t matter if he drank strong liquor, but Yu-jin was different. If he got drunk, he would just miss his chance.
But just talking like this…He lifted his chin, vowing to himself. Confidently, without wavering, never looking back, he went to Angela’s room and opened the door. He carefully lay down next to her so as not to wake the child, but he was still too excited to fall asleep easily.
What will I do when I leave this house?
He would have more freedom of action if he stayed in a hotel. They said they would send the contract by email, so there was no problem, and what he needed right now was a bank account. He had never made a bank account in his own name in his life, because there was never a situation for it, and he didn’t really need one. Jobs were always fluid, and Yu-jin always received his weekly wage in cash. In some ways, that was more convenient. It was only relatively recently that Yu-jin had managed to acquire even a small, humble abode. Even that was burned down now, though.
I’m glad I was able to get the deposit in advance.
‘This is usually paid after the contract is signed, but I’m giving you this check in my personal capacity to show you how sincere we are.’
Remembering the editor’s words filled his heart with gratitude. What a grateful person. He was already grateful that they were just going to publish it, but to give him a deposit like this, even before writing the contract.
He wanted to keep the check as a souvenir for the rest of his life without using it, but reality made that impossible. Yu-jin closed his eyes, keeping only the joy of the moment deep in his heart. Tomorrow, he will leave this mansion.
Sam, I did my best.
He recalled with his eyes closed. No matter what situation he faces now, he will never regret not trying harder to persuade him.
Because he had completely abandoned even the last remaining attachment. Now he was free.
* * *
Winston sat alone on the sofa, lost in thought. He couldn’t seem to move forward with his thoughts since earlier. Yu-jin is leaving? This mansion? Me?
Again?
It was something he had never imagined. Now the family and all the property belonged to Winston, but Yu-jin was saying he would give it up. Even Winston.
It wasn’t that important that Yu-jin was pregnant. He was taken aback, but as Yu-jin said, he could find out right away by doing a genetic test, so he wouldn’t have lied. What was more important was the fact that Yu-jin was leaving. And that he presented the fact that he was pregnant as a reason to leave Winston’s side.
He’s not wrong. From the beginning, they married and had sex countless times to carry out the contents of the will. That was what Winston insisted on. Therefore, there are no loopholes in Yu-jin’s words. Winston should accept it willingly.
Something’s wrong.
This wasn’t what he had in mind. Yu-jin leaving was completely out of the question. He thought Yu-jin wouldn’t be able to give up the money and would naturally stay in the mansion like this.
Yes, that’s what I wanted.
Only then did Winston reluctantly admit the desire he had hidden deep in his heart. What he wanted was to get Yu-jin back. To be exact, to have him as his own, not to be taken away by anyone else, and this time to have him as his own.
He thought he could do that.
But why did it turn out like this? He couldn’t figure out why. There was only one answer. He had another man.
Why? He should have been satisfying him every day.
He had tried to make sure he didn’t turn his eyes to another man. They had dinner together every day, had sex, and did their best to make sure there was no free time.
Could he be tired of sleeping with me?
Suddenly, he realized. That must be it. It must be the first time he’s been in a relationship with only one man for so long.
Yes, that’s the only reason. And as soon as he got a new man, he was trying to dump Winston. When he thought of the man Yu-jin had met during the day, it became clearer than anything else.
So what should I do now?
Tomorrow, Yu-jin will leave with the child. And he will never see him again. He will just go back to his old life. An empty and tedious daily life without Yu-jin,
And Yu-jin is with a new man…
At that moment, the glass he was holding cracked. Winston glared at one spot and gritted his teeth.
Hadn’t he vowed never to fall for the same trick again?
He wouldn’t be so mesmerized by Yu-jin and make a foolish mistake like he did back then. But that didn’t mean he was going to let him go.
Then.
Then…
He put down his whiskey glass and stroked his lips with a serious expression. The night was gradually deepening.
* * *
“Ugh…”
He had a good night’s sleep for the first time in a long time. Yu-jin groaned pleasantly and tossed and turned. The soft feel of the bed made him sigh with happiness. Little by little, his consciousness awoke. Yu-jin groped around on the bed with his eyes closed. He naturally thought his beloved daughter would be next to him. But no matter how far he reached, there was nothing to touch.
…Huh?
Only then did Yu-jin open his eyes and blankly roll his eyes before belatedly jumping up in surprise and sitting up. Then, an unimaginable situation unfolded.
Where am I?
It wasn’t Angela’s room where he had fallen asleep. Nor was it in another room in the mansion. He was bewildered by the scenery of the room he had never seen before. It was then that he realized the faint, regular sound he was hearing. And the moment he discovered the endless blue sea stretching out beyond the wide-open glass doors of the balcony, he froze completely.