By Zephyria It was a sunny day for the first time in a while. Winter was fast approaching, so there was a chill in the air from the morning, but it made him feel refreshed. The boring meeting ended quickly, and everything was going smoothly. Could there be another day like this? It was such a peaceful day that he couldn’t help but wonder, but Winston’s condition was not good.
“Mr. Campbell, are you alright? Shall I call the doctor?”
The secretary hesitated for a long time, noticing the stronger than usual pheromone scent and the deeper furrows in his brow, before speaking. Winston rubbed his forehead and answered with his eyes closed.
“Continue with the report.”
“…Understood.”
The secretary fixed her gaze on the documents with a displeased expression and continued what she was saying. Winston tried to concentrate on her voice, but the headache persisted. He had been suffering from this unpleasant headache for days now. The pain started very weakly and gradually increased in intensity. He knew the cause. He hadn’t released his pheromones for too long. He was reaching his limit. How long could he endure it? He had to release his pheromones before it caused a serious problem.
“…Party.”
“Pardon?”
The secretary, who was waiting after finishing the report, didn’t catch the low voice at first and asked again. Winston still didn’t look at her and opened his mouth.
“Find out if there’s a pheromone party. As soon as possible, preferably today.”
“Understood.”
The secretary finally realized why her boss was in such bad shape and quickly left the office. Until she returned with a report, Winston had to swallow a handful of pills to relieve the headache.
Damn it.
A curse escaped his lips involuntarily. When his pheromones built up, even the old scar on his back ached. It was as if it was testing how much Winston could endure.
But enduring this much was unusual. Moreover, he had been releasing his pheromones regularly in recent years, so it had been a long time since he had felt this pain. It was now at its limit.
“Mr. Campbell, I’ve found a place where a pheromone party is being held right now. Would you like to go immediately?”
At those words, Winston checked his watch. There was still a long time before he could leave work, but if he attended the pheromone party, it was unclear when he would return home. If he went into Rut and lost consciousness, he might not be able to return today.
He pondered with a serious expression, then soon took out his cell phone.
“Get ready to leave right away.”
“Understood.”
Behind the secretary who turned around immediately, Winston called the Butler.
“Yes, Mr. Campbell.”
“What is Yu-jin doing?”
As soon as he asked, the Butler answered in his usual businesslike voice.
“He is in the study. He seems to be reading books there often these days.”
Winston didn’t react immediately. He had to recall his thoughts, but his head wasn’t working properly. The Butler hesitated for a moment at Winston’s silence. He was about to mention that Charlotte was scheduled to visit, but Winston spoke first.
“I’m going to a party today, so tell Yu-jin as you see fit.”
Not that he’ll be waiting for me anyway.
He could tell just by looking at Yu-jin’s face how sick he was of him. What did it matter? He had obtained him anyway, so that was enough. That was enough.
“Understood. Have a safe trip.”
The Butler didn’t bother to elaborate and ended the conversation. His master’s condition was the most important thing to him. The fact that Charlotte was coming for tea was not something Winston needed to know right now.
Winston was pressing his temples after hanging up the phone when the secretary entered after a knock. She cautiously spoke, watching her boss’s expression.
“The car is ready, Mr. Campbell. It’s waiting now.”
Winston got up from his seat without answering, put on his suit jacket, and moved his feet. Damn pheromones. He gritted his teeth and strode down the hallway with large strides, suddenly remembering his father. He frequently went to parties to release his pheromones and sometimes bought several omegas to spend wild nights. Just like many other extreme alphas did. Harold, who lived as a slave to pheromones his entire life and was only freed when he died. Was it an unavoidable choice or his will? Winston would probably never know. Harold had already passed away.
Why, why.
Inside the elevator descending rapidly, Winston frowned and closed his eyes. Why was that memory resurfacing like this now? When Yu-jin’s face, smiling at him from Harold’s arms, came to mind with particular clarity, the bell rang and the elevator stopped. Thanks to that, Winston also stopped thinking and took large strides straight to the waiting car.
The important thing is the present. Anyway, he was dead, and Winston was alive. Inside the car speeding away with smooth movements, Winston thought. That would never happen again. There would be no one in the world with the audacity to take Yu-jin away from Winston.
The Campbell family belonged to Winston. Yu-jin, too, was his.
* * *
“Winston might not be coming home today?”
When he repeated what the Butler had said, he answered indifferently, “Yes.”
“The company is very busy, so he’s working late. He also has meetings all night… He told me to rest first today.”
“I see.”
It wasn’t a very meaningful message. He wasn’t particularly waiting for Winston, so he didn’t feel disappointed or worried about him. On the contrary, he was glad that he could rest comfortably today. Of course, that was evident in his expression, but the Butler didn’t say anything.
Just then, the sight of a familiar car driving across the garden was visible outside the window. It was Charlotte’s car. Yu-jin spoke to Angela, who was sitting on the floor playing with dolls.
“Angie, get up. Charlotte is here. Let’s go greet her together.”
Taking her hand willingly, they left the room and went halfway down the stairs when the front door opened and Charlotte entered. Yu-jin immediately picked up the child and hurried towards her as if running.
“Welcome, Charlotte.”
Yu-jin smiled warmly, catching his breath.
“Yes… Hello, Yu-jin.”
Charlotte greeted him in return, but her complexion was still pale. No, it looked even worse than usual.
What happened?
Yu-jin became worried, but he couldn’t rashly ask. One mistake was enough. There must be a reason why Charlotte, who had been so angry, came to him first. He thought he should focus on that more now. Angela, who was looking back and forth between the adults, opened her mouth at the right time.
“Hello, Charlotte.”
“Ah, aah… Yes, Angie.”
When Angela, who was standing next to him, greeted her, a faint smile appeared on Charlotte’s face. Thinking it was fortunate that her tension seemed to have eased a little, Yu-jin led her to the tearoom he had prepared in advance.
“I prepared rose tea, but if you want something else…”
“Ah, no, it’s okay. That’s enough.”
Charlotte quickly shook her head at Yu-jin’s words. Seeing her constantly looking anxious, Yu-jin tried to ease her tension by deliberately rambling on about unnecessary things. While he was talking about rose tea, the snacks that came with it, and the pranks Angela had played the day before, Charlotte only repeated “Yes,” “No,” and “I see.” Eventually, Yu-jin was the first to get tired of it.
“What do you want to talk about?”
Judging that there was no need to delay any longer, he asked directly, and Charlotte was startled as if she had been electrocuted. Seeing her face turn pale and tremble, Yu-jin felt a sense of guilt along with frustration.
If she’s originally that kind of person, there’s no helping it.
While reassuring himself, he brought up a topic first to make it easier for Charlotte to speak, but it was still not easy. Seeing her sweating and not knowing what to do, Yu-jin glanced at the child.
“Angie, would you excuse us for a moment? I think Charlotte wants to tell a secret story.”
At the gentle coaxing, Angela blinked and nodded. Since she had finished her cake, the child politely greeted them and walked out of the tearoom with small steps. Finally alone, Yu-jin gave Charlotte another chance.
“Now, tell me. Do you still need more time?”
Charlotte, who had been trembling, raised her head. When her eyes met Yu-jin’s, her frightened pupils shook greatly.
“…I’m sorry.”
Yu-jin didn’t understand the words that barely came out at first. He just blinked, but suddenly Charlotte jumped up and swung something at him.
“…Ah!”
Yu-jin was so surprised that he let out a short scream. Soon after, he saw red blood spurting out in front of him. It was only then that he realized it was his own blood. What is it? Am I hurt? He was so bewildered by the sudden situation that he couldn’t easily understand. In Yu-jin’s dazed vision, he saw Charlotte swinging a knife at him. A small knife that could be hidden in her arms, but its sharpness was no less than any other weapon.
The sight of her slowly approaching, like a slow-motion screen, filled his vision, and then, in the next moment.
“Ugh…!”
Yu-jin slumped down with severe pain in one side of his chest.