By Zephyria Winston’s expression froze for the first time.
“…That’s a lie.”
He continued speaking with a dazed, blank look on his face.
“Pregnant? That’s a lie. …Whose is it?”
“Yours, of course.”
Yu-jin brazenly lied in a voice that seemed to tremble faintly.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me. We can do a DNA test, can’t we? They can do them during pregnancy these days.”
His heart pounded as if it would burst. It’s okay, I just need to leave this house before that. And I’ll never see this man again for the rest of my life. Yu-jin had decided not to tell this man any more truths. He had done enough. What difference would lying make to someone who would never believe anything he said anyway?
Winston looked completely dumbfounded. Even if Yu-jin had slapped his cheek with all his might, he wouldn’t have made such an expression.
Seeing the arrogant face that had insulted him so much until now frozen in confusion felt satisfying. While his heart was anxious and restless over his absurd lie, it felt like dopamine was exploding like fireworks in his head. Yu-jin continued speaking. His lips wouldn’t stop.
“Now there’s no reason to stay in this mansion anymore. Angie and I are leaving tomorrow.”
“Leaving?”
Winston, who had been staring at Yu-jin in a daze until then, suddenly stood up. Seeing his face pale with shock, Yu-jin was certain he had completely deceived him. How ironic. The man who wouldn’t budge when he begged him to believe so many truths now believed him immediately when he told a lie. Yu-jin stood up after him and glared at him with all his might before spitting out:
“That’s right, I don’t need to sleep with you anymore, do I? We can just meet at the hospital on the day of the DNA test. I’m sick and tired of you now! I don’t want to be with you for even one more second!”
“Wait, where are you going?”
Winston grabbed Yu-jin as he turned to leave, but he shook him off with all his strength.
“I told you, didn’t I? I have no intention of sleeping with you anymore! I’m going to sleep with Angela tonight. And I’m leaving tomorrow!”
“That’s complete nonsense…”
“Did you forget? The contents of the will.”
Winston flinched when Yu-jin snapped at him. He confidently recited the contents of the will clearly.
“You have to provide me with every convenience I want. I’m going to stay at a hotel starting tomorrow. Financial support is naturally included in that, so you have no right to object.”
I’m so good with words!
Yu-jin was secretly astonished. I really do have talent as a writer. Remembering the editor-in-chief’s praise from earlier in the day, his chest swelled with pride. Seeing Winston at a loss for words made him feel even more confident.
“Well then, goodbye, Winston. Sweet dreams.”
Yu-jin grabbed the door handle and gave him a final farewell.
“I hope we never see each other again.”
After even showing a smile to the frozen Winston, he opened the door and went outside. Left alone in the quiet hallway, a shiver ran through his entire body. He tried to calm his excitement with a deep breath, but it wasn’t easy.
I will never again be intimidated or anxious around anyone.
He made a promise to himself and lifted his chin. Confidently, without wavering, without ever looking back, he went to Angela’s room and opened the door. He lay down carefully next to the child so as not to wake her, but he was still so excited that he couldn’t fall asleep easily.
What should I do once I leave this house?
He would have more freedom of movement at a hotel. The contract would be sent by email, so no problem there, and what he needed right away was a bank account. He had never made a bank account in his own name in his entire life because there had been no situation requiring it and no particular need. Work had always been fluid and Yu-jin had always received his weekly wages in cash. In a way, that was more convenient. It was only relatively recently that Yu-jin had managed to get his own small, humble home. Even that was now burned down.
I’m lucky I can receive the advance payment.
“This is normally paid after the contract is finalized, but to show you how sincere we are, I’m giving you this check first in my personal capacity.”
Remembering the editor-in-chief’s words, his chest filled with gratitude. What a kind person. Just agreeing to publish it would have been enough to be grateful for, but to give him an advance payment like this, even before writing the contract.
He would have liked to keep that check forever as a memento without cashing it, but reality made that impossible. Yu-jin closed his eyes, keeping only the joy of this moment deep in his heart. Tomorrow he would leave this mansion.
Sam, I did my best.
With his eyes closed, he recalled. No matter what situation arose now, he would never regret not trying harder to convince him.
Because he had completely abandoned even his last lingering attachment. Now he was free.
* * *
Winston sat alone on the sofa, lost in thought. His thoughts simply wouldn’t move forward. Yu-jin is leaving? This mansion? Me?
Again?
It was something he had never imagined. Now the family estate, all the wealth, belonged to Winston, yet Yu-jin was saying he would abandon it all. Even Winston himself.
The fact that Yu-jin was pregnant wasn’t that important. He was startled, but as Yu-jin said, a DNA test would reveal the truth immediately, so he probably wouldn’t have lied about it. What was more important was the fact that Yu-jin was leaving. And that he had presented his pregnancy as a reason to leave Winston’s side.
His words weren’t wrong. From the beginning, they had married to carry out the contents of the will and had sex countless times. That was what Winston had insisted on. Therefore, there were no flaws in Yu-jin’s words. Winston should have readily accepted it.
Something’s wrong.
This wasn’t what he had in mind. Yu-jin leaving—this was completely unexpected. He had thought Yu-jin wouldn’t be able to give up the money and would naturally end up staying in the mansion.
Yes, that’s what I wanted.
Winston finally reluctantly acknowledged the desire he had hidden deep in his heart. What he wanted was to have Yu-jin in his hands again. More precisely, as his alone, without being taken by anyone else, this time truly as his own.
He had thought he could do it.
But why did it turn out like this? He couldn’t understand the reason at all. There was only one answer. Because there was another man.
Why? I must have satisfied him every day.
He had worked hard to make sure he wouldn’t turn his eyes to another man. They had dinner together every day, had sex, he had done his best to make sure there was no free time.
Could he have gotten tired of sleeping with me?
Suddenly he realized. That must be it. This would be the first time having relations with only one man for so long.
Yes, that’s the only reason. And as soon as a new man appeared, he’s trying to abandon Winston. Thinking of the man Yu-jin had met during the day made it more certain than anything.
So what should I do now?
Tomorrow Yu-jin would leave with the child. And they would never meet again. He would just return to his previous life. To that empty, tiresome daily life without Yu-jin.
And Yu-jin with a new man…
Suddenly, the glass in his hand 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 lose his mind over Yu-jin and make a foolish mistake like he did then. But that didn’t mean he had any intention of letting him go either.
Then.
In that case…
He put down the whiskey glass and stroked his lips with a serious expression. The night was gradually deepening.
* * *
“Mmm…”
He had slept soundly for the first time in a while. Yu-jin let out a pleasant moan as he turned over. A happy sigh escaped naturally at the soft feel of the bed. His consciousness gradually awakened. Yu-jin fumbled around the bed with his eyes closed. Expecting his beloved daughter to be next to him, of course. But no matter how much he reached out, he touched nothing.
…Huh?
Only then did Yu-jin open his eyes, rolling his pupils blankly before belatedly sitting up in shock. What followed was a situation he had never imagined.
Where is this?
It wasn’t Angela’s room where he had fallen asleep. Nor was it another room in the mansion. He was bewildered by the scenery of a room he had never seen before in his life. It was only after that he became aware of the regular sound faintly audible. And the moment he discovered the endless blue sea beyond the wide-open glass door of the balcony, he froze completely.