KTS 115

“What?”

At the unexpected question, Yu-jin frowned deeply and asked back. But Winston, regardless of Yu-jin’s reaction, repeated the same words again as if urging him.

“When is Angela’s birthday, has it already passed?”

“Ah, no…”

Yu-jin, who had answered absentmindedly, was secretly scared. Why is he suddenly asking? Could there have been something suspicious?

“Why, why…?”

As he asked with a nervous heart, Winston, still with a distorted face, crossed his arms and looked down at Yu-jin oppressively.

“If her birthday hasn’t come yet, we have to throw a party. Isn’t that obvious?”

“A party?”

Yu-jin was dumbfounded at the unexpected topic. Winston asked him arrogantly, repeating what he had said while blinking his wide eyes.

“Yes, Angela is my daughter too. Is there a problem?”

Of course there is, because she’s really your daughter.Yu-jin thought so, but judging from Winston’s attitude, it didn’t seem like he had noticed. Then there must be another reason, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. Winston tilted his head to the other side at Yu-jin, who was glaring at him with a wary face. They stared at each other intently for a few more seconds, as if having a staring contest, but in the end, it was Yu-jin who surrendered first.

“…October.”

“October when?”

As soon as he reluctantly spoke, Winston immediately pressed him. There’s no way he can know the exact date. Yu-jin thought. It was fortunate that he thought it was Harold’s child. Because then the date Angela was born would also match.

But that’s probably why the even more absurd misunderstanding solidified into conviction.

Yu-jin sighed with complicated feelings. He had never been able to withstand this kind of coercive method. Once again, feeling an unpleasant sense of defeat, he opened his mouth.

“Halloween.”

Winston was silent for a moment.

“…Halloween?”

He paused as if it was an unexpected date, then asked again. Yu-jin reluctantly nodded. Seeing Winston lost in thought again, Yu-jin looked at him suspiciously. But that didn’t mean he could know what was going on in his head. Unable to bear the frustration, Winston finally opened his mouth.

“Okay.”

Okay about what? You don’t know anything.

Yu-jin internally mocked him to his heart’s content, but that didn’t change the reality.

“Instead of just knowing yourself, why don’t you teach me a little?”

Yu-jin couldn’t help but sneer at his retreating figure as he turned to leave. Winston stopped walking and glanced back at him, but his expression remained unchanged.

“I told you, I’m going to throw Angela a birthday party.”

Was he serious?

Yu-jin blinked in surprise for a moment. That’s the only reason? Why all of a sudden?

“Wait, what about me?”

He hurriedly asked, chasing after him as he tried to leave again.

“If you’re having Angie’s birthday party, I should be there too, are you seriously planning to have a party without me?”

Suddenly, Yu-jin’s heart grew cold, wondering if Winston was ashamed of him. Of course he would be, to him I’m…….

“I’m thinking about it.”

Yu-jin’s thoughts came to a halt at the unexpected words. As he stared in bewilderment, Winston turned back to him and continued.

“There will be a lot of people at the party, and it will probably be chaotic. If you wanted to, you could easily run away with Angela. Of course, I’d find you in half a day anyway.”

“Then there’s no problem, right?”

Winston gave a cold sneer at his anxious question.

“There’s no reason to waste time.”

Looking at Yu-jin, who was speechless, he slowly added.

“Don’t be too upset, I’ll make a separate time for Angela to spend her birthday with you.”

That was the end of the conversation. Yu-jin watched him leave again, unable to stop him this time. Winston probably had no intention of taking Yu-jin to the party. He had ruined everything by acting rashly. Left alone, Yu-jin gritted his teeth and barely managed to restrain himself from shouting.

* * *

“Then be careful, Angie. Eat well, listen well.”

Before long, it was time to say goodbye, and Yu-jin had to let the child go. He forced a smile, barely suppressing the urge to cry, and Angela blinked her tearful eyes and nodded bravely.

“Okay, I’ll come play again, Daddy. Daddy, eat well too, and stay healthy. Baby, listen to Daddy and play nicely.”

The child, who had given mature advice while looking at Yu-jin’s stomach, soon hugged Yu-jin’s neck. Yu-jin, who had knelt on one knee to match the child’s height, hugged his daughter tightly as if he had been waiting for it. As he rubbed his cheek against the child’s and inhaled her scent, Angela suddenly whispered in his ear.

“Daddy, Mr. Campbell keeps giving me bribes.”

“What?”

Yu-jin almost pulled the child away without thinking, but Angela continued to speak, clinging on with all her might.

“He wants to be friends with me. But don’t worry, I’ll never give in. Trying to win my heart with money, what does he think I am?”

Angela snorted, as if her pride had been hurt, and then stepped away. Angela, facing Yu-jin’s bewildered face, confidently added.

“A princess never surrenders.”

And then the child kissed Yu-jin on the cheek and turned around and walked away lightly. Angela, with her chin raised high, opened the door and gracefully took the hand offered by the waiting pilot to board the helicopter, but it didn’t go as planned. The pilot readily lifted the child and placed her inside, as she was still far too short to climb into the helicopter like the adults. Yu-jin almost burst out laughing at the sight of his daughter’s puffed-up cheeks and pouting profile, disappointed that reality hadn’t unfolded according to the scenario she had imagined. Winston, who had approached him from behind, said to Yu-jin.

“Don’t worry about the child.”

As Yu-jin slowly stood up and looked up at him, he continued with his usual expressionless face.

“I’ll set another date soon. If you want, Angela can stay here for a day or so.”

Winston,

Yu-jin called his name in his mind.

It’s a lie, I’m not pregnant.

He tried to speak, but no sound came out. This would only prolong Angela’s suffering. He had to bear the consequences of the lie. He had to tell him, quickly.

Despite his desperate heart, he couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth and just stared at Winston, who hesitated as if reluctant to speak.

“…I’ll allow you to go out to buy her a birthday present.”

Huh?

Yu-jin’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words. But Winston left those words behind and turned and walked towards the helicopter. He would take Angela and come back. He did that almost every day.

Soon after, the helicopter soared into the sky. Yu-jin remained alone on the island, simply watching the helicopter disappear from view.

* * *

The streets were filled with pumpkin decorations and all sorts of ghost dolls. It was the ghosts’ festival, held once a year. Winston stared out the car window at the street, frowning deeply.

Halloween for a birthday.

He hadn’t anticipated that the event would overlap. For him, it was no different from having one less event to win Angela’s heart.

He had to show her even more clearly.

He had already prepared the costumes. He had sent invitations to the party to all the company executives, business partners he had interacted with, or even just social acquaintances who had children of similar age, so Angela would be able to enjoy it to the fullest.

If she makes friends, she’ll grow to love this place.

It was a good idea, even to himself. He decided to look into kindergartens as well. A place where she could start attending as soon as possible.

After stabilizing Angela’s life, he could bring Yu-jin over…….

Of course, his relationship with Angela would have developed a little more by then. Winston was hoping for that.

“Welcome, Mr. Campbell.”

Winston asked the familiar Butler’s face, who was standing at the door to greet him, in an indifferent tone.

“The party preparations are going well, I presume?”

“Of course. Angela has finished all the preparations as well.”

“Good.”

Winston, who had to go out due to a sudden meeting, walked towards his room at a faster pace than usual. He had to finish getting ready on time. He showered and changed clothes more quickly than ever. Guests were already arriving one by one.

“Is Angela waiting in her room?”

Winston asked, looking at himself in the mirror for the last time. The Butler replied yes.

“She will probably be the cutest witch at the party today.”

He smiled, which was rare for him. To melt the heart of the Butler, who only knew about work. Winston was newly amazed and left the room. He had not taken more than a few steps before he stood in front of Angela’s room, knocked, and waited. It was thanks to the Butler’s advance notice.

“Yes, come in.”

He heard the child’s voice, drawn out to its fullest. It was as the Butler had said. Only after receiving permission did Winston open the door. And when he found the little witch standing straight in the middle of the room, he stopped dead in his tracks.