By Zephyria 67
“What is this ridiculous nonsense!”
At Mrs. Campbell’s harsh voice, Winston simply looked at her without saying a word. As soon as she heard the news, she had sought out Delights, but she couldn’t even enter the mansion, let alone pass through the gate. Seeing the cars standing haphazardly in front of the gate, she had no choice but to stop in the car far away and order the driver to go to the guardhouse and take action. Until then, Mrs. Campbell was only annoyed and impatient with the current situation, and she didn’t imagine that she would be denied entry. But the answer that the driver, who had rushed to the guardhouse, brought back was completely unexpected.
“How dare you ban me from entering?”
Mrs. Campbell, who had gone to the company, burst into anger as soon as she saw the face of her beloved youngest son. As expected, Winston still didn’t take his eyes off the documents and replied.
“Since I’m not at the mansion anyway, there’s no need for you to go there.”
“How can you say that…!”Mrs. Campbell raised her voice in anger, but soon bit her lip and suppressed her emotions. She felt embarrassed by her son’s indifference, as he continued his work without paying attention to her wounded pride and anger. Haa, she took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure, starting to speak in a subdued voice.
“What on earth happened? Gordon’s been arrested? You’ve already looked into it, haven’t you?”
“No.”
Mrs. Campbell’s face changed at the immediate response. She almost screamed, but her trust in her son suppressed the impulse. She counted slowly in her head to control her emotions. When she spoke again, Mrs. Campbell’s expression had turned as stern as usual.
“What are you going to do?”
She continued to speak calmly, deliberately using a slow tone.
“There’s chaos everywhere right now. There are reporters camped out in front of Delights, shouldn’t you do something about it? You’re responsible for the family now, so you have to do something. If Harold were here, this wouldn’t have….”
Mrs. Campbell stopped speaking and cleared her throat, then asked again.
“You must have something in mind?”
A brief silence followed. Winston, who had been looking at the documents until then, finally looked up and gazed at his mother.
“Of course, Mother.”
Mrs. Campbell raised the corners of her mouth as if relieved by the smiling face. Winston continued, speaking to his mother, who was looking at him with a much more relaxed expression.
“There must have been some misunderstanding. I’ll have McCoy look into it and take action, so don’t worry.”
“Yes, you should.”
Mrs. Campbell nodded, then frowned and asked.
“But what are you waiting for? Why haven’t you taken action yet?”
“McCoy has something more urgent to deal with.”
Something more urgent? What could be more urgent than the family’s honor? Mrs. Campbell was about to question him, but Winston spoke first.
“I gave him instructions regarding the will. That should be his priority.”
“The will? What about it?”
As expected, she reacted sensitively. When it came to Harold’s will, Mrs. Campbell immediately thought of Yu-jin. Was that lowly thing causing trouble again? Winston replied casually to his mother’s sharp tone.
“It’s nothing to worry about. It just requires caution, so I’m being careful.”
“So? What is it?”
Mrs. Campbell asked repeatedly. She clearly wanted to hear the details, but Winston repeated the same answer again.
“You don’t need to worry.”
The added smile seemed utterly innocent. Mrs. Campbell was uneasy that her son was not giving her clear answers, but she didn’t want to upset him by pressing him.
“Then I’ll have to wait.”
Forced to back down, she didn’t forget to add a warning.
“If, by any chance, you’re swayed by anything that lowly thing says, don’t. Never forget that he deceived you and did something to Harold.”
Winston’s eyes narrowed. A faint smile seemed to spread across his lips, then he opened his mouth in a gentle voice.
“How could I ever forget that?”
His tone was calm, but Mrs. Campbell didn’t miss the slight pressure he exerted on the pen he was holding. That reassured her and brought a smile to her face.
“Yes, of course not. My beloved son.”
Mrs. Campbell leaned over the desk to kiss her son’s cheek. But Winston naturally moved away, avoiding the kiss and changing the subject.
“I have a meeting soon. Don’t worry about Gordon and go back.”
“Alright, I understand.”
Mrs. Campbell stepped back with a satisfied smile.
“I’ve taken up too much of your time, I should be going.”
She greeted him lightly and walked towards the door with an elegant gait. Mrs. Campbell, who seemed about to leave, suddenly stopped at the door handle and turned around. When Winston, who had been watching her, met her gaze, she frowned slightly and asked.
“By the way, why did you ban access to Delights? Even for me?”
Her tone was laced with displeasure and a vague suspicion. Winston opened his mouth at an appropriate interval, neither too quickly nor lingeringly hesitant.
“It’s best to be careful since reporters are camped out in front of the mansion. I don’t want to provoke Yu-jin’s wariness, so please refrain from visiting for the time being, Mother.”
At those words, Mrs. Campbell smoothed out the wrinkles on her forehead. Then, with a brighter expression, she asked.
“Is what you’re looking into something I can look forward to?”
Winston responded with a smile instead of an answer. Gaining confidence from that reaction, Mrs. Campbell smiled more brightly than ever and said.
“I love you, Winston. You’re my everything.”
After declaring her ardent love for her son, she left the office with a lighter step. Winston knew what kind of expectations she had without having to ask. She probably believed that Winston had come up with something to exclude Yu-jin from the will and make him disappear forever.
Snap, the fountain pen broke in two in his hand. Winston glanced down at the broken pen and casually threw it in the trash. He wrapped his hand, stained black with overflowing ink, in a handkerchief and went into the bathroom. He slowly washed his hands under the running water, then suddenly looked at his face in the mirror. Eyes filled with murderous intent, as if he would kill someone right away, were staring back at him.
It won’t be long.
He whispered to himself. No one will hurt Yu-jin and Angie anymore. Because they will never be able to approach them again. Not his mother, not anyone in the Campbell family.
Not even me.
* * *
“Gordon’s been arrested? What are you talking about?”
As expected, as soon as Winston returned home, Yu-jin asked in a pale voice. Winston, who had taken a helicopter home because of the reporters camped out in front of the mansion, could only relax after first confirming that Yu-jin and Angela were safe.
“He’s just paying the price for what he did.”
Winston answered simply, sat Yu-jin down, and opened his mouth with a more serious expression than ever.
“A lot of things are going to happen. But it’s all Campbell family business, it has nothing to do with you.”
Staring at him, who looked bewildered, Winston continued to speak.
“Promise me, no matter what happens, I will trust you and protect you and Angie.”
Yu-jin’s eyes shook as if in confusion. It was only natural, since he was saying things that made no sense at all. But Winston decided not to explain it to him. This was not Yu-jin’s wish. It was solely what Winston wanted, his choice, and the Campbell family’s business. All Yu-jin needed to know was how happily he would live with Angela in the future. Winston changed his expression and smiled, asking.
“Have you thought about Angela’s kindergarten?”
“Ah.”
Yu-jin answered, flustered by the sudden change of subject.
“Uh, no… not yet.”
“For Angie too?”
“Uh, yeah.”
He had forgotten to tell Angela after seeing the article during the day. The fact that Gordon had been arrested out of the blue was surprising, but seeing a group of people camped out in front of the mansion made him feel confused and scared.
“I think it’s a bit… early right now. There are so many reporters outside…”
Winston opened his mouth to Yu-jin, who was stammering hesitantly.
“You don’t have to worry about that, I’ll assign a bodyguard. I’ve taken measures to prevent anyone other than authorized people from entering the mansion, so you can rest assured about that too.”
Yu-jin hesitated for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.
“Mrs. Campbell too?”
He asked confidently, thinking that he couldn’t possibly do this much, but Winston answered without any hesitation.
“My mother too, of course.”
Rather, it was Yu-jin who was caught off guard. As he blinked in confusion, Winston said casually.
“My mother already visited. If you’re suspicious, ask the security guard, she’ll be on the list of people who wanted to enter but were denied. You can check the CCTV at the front gate if you want.”
He rattled on as if he was sure that Yu-jin wouldn’t believe a word he said. Winston didn’t waste any time and readily moved, leaving Yu-jin still bewildered. As Yu-jin watched in confusion, Winston picked up the phone on the side table and ordered in a nonchalant tone.
“Bring me the list of people who applied for visits today and the security CCTV footage.”
It didn’t take long for the Butler to bring what the master had ordered. The employee who had been on security duty that day was also with him. Only after checking the screen on the laptop and reviewing the list himself could Yu-jin believe him.
“Anything else you want to know?”
Winston asked Yu-jin, who was closing the video screen. When Yu-jin shook his head, saying no, Winston dismissed the Butler and the employee from the room.
“I didn’t know you’d go this far…”
The blurred end of his words contained another suspicion. Winston answered calmly, as he had already expected.
“I have to do this much for you to believe me.”
That wasn’t what Yu-jin meant by his words. Winston smiled briefly at the gaze that asked ‘why’.
“I know. I know that I have to prove everything I say and do to you now, no matter how trivial.”
Then he added self-deprecatingly.
“I guess you could call this reaping what you sow.”
In the future, forever, maybe for life.
The price for not trusting the lover he thought was more precious than his own life.
Winston, who had been staring into the distance for a moment, changed the subject and asked.
“Then, shall we think about kindergarten later and go on a short vacation?”Yu-jin’s eyes widened at the sudden proposal.
“A vacation?”
* * *
“Kyaaaaa!”
Angela screamed as she ran across the snow. Yu-jin, still feeling dazed, looked around. The mountain, where snow piled up over his ankles, had only a secluded villa and nothing else in sight.
“You can rest assured here, no one will be able to find you.”
Winston’s words were unquestionable. It had taken them more than a full day to get here. First, they took a helicopter to the airport, then a private jet across the sea, and then another helicopter to the mountainside. Finally, they traveled in a large camper. Yu-jin had reflexively frozen when he first saw the car, but once inside, he felt like he was in a house, with the driver’s seat separated by a screen and all the windows covered with screens. The camper, equipped with a living room, bedroom, and shower, made him forget he was even in a car after overcoming the initial fear when it started moving.
“How is it? Is this a little better? Or not?”
Winston asked, constantly watching Yu-jin’s face. Yu-jin, seeing his expression, which seemed more anxious than his own, felt his tension ease.
“I think it’ll be okay.”
Leaving a little room was a kind of insurance. He thought that if he confidently said it would be okay and then he had a seizure, he might feel embarrassed later. He was nervous, but fortunately, no unfortunate accident occurred. Angela kept chattering and rummaging through the car, trying to distract him, and by the time he was dealing with the child and paying attention to her, they had arrived at their destination.
Thank goodness.
He felt relieved as he got out of the car and was greeted by a world covered in snow. And now, Yu-jin was watching the excited child running around in the snowfield.
“Are you feeling alright?”
Winston suddenly asked from behind. Yu-jin turned around without thinking and saw him looking at him with a still anxious expression. He averted his eyes slightly and replied to Winston’s expression, as if Yu-jin was about to vomit or faint at any moment.
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“Okay.”
He heard a sigh of relief. Glancing sideways, Yu-jin’s eyes met Winston’s, whose expression had relaxed as if he was genuinely relieved. Startled, Yu-jin hurriedly called out the child’s name and left. Winston simply watched Yu-jin, who was helping Angela make a snowman and laughing with her. Standing there, unable to approach them at all.
* * *
Haaah.
Yu-jin let out a long breath and sank into the lounge chair. Once the initial excitement subsided, boredom set in. Angela seemed excited to be learning to ski outside, but Yu-jin quickly became tired. He went inside under the pretext of resting, and soon a sense of silence fell.
It’s quiet…
The events that had occurred before coming here felt like a dream. Gordon’s arrest, the people surrounding the mansion…
As he was thinking about this and that, he heard footsteps, and a moment later, Winston entered the living room.
“Are you alright?”
That question again. Lately, Winston seemed to ask the same question every time he looked at Yu-jin’s face. Yu-jin replied briefly, “I’m fine,” and then fixed his gaze out the window. The mansion, with one entire wall of the living room made of glass, allowed him to fully see the snow-filled world from the warm indoors. The roof was also made of glass, so the sun came in unfiltered, which was a bit dazzling, but he felt good. He leaned back in his chair, feeling the warmth of the sunlight, when Winston suddenly came into view. Yu-jin followed his gaze, which was also fixed on the glass, and saw Angela. Yu-jin watched the child making a snowman with a bodyguard and opened his mouth.
“Isn’t it annoying to play with the child?”
“What are you talking about?”
Winston’s voice was louder than usual. Seeing his eyes widen as if he was truly surprised, Yu-jin continued calmly.
“It’s okay, don’t push yourself. I understand that it’s not easy to cater to a child.”
Dealing with a child requires considerable patience. It would be even more annoying and troublesome for Winston, who was not used to childcare. Yu-jin thought it was natural, but Winston’s reaction was completely different.
“That’s not why I came here.”
Yu-jin chuckled at his denial with a stiff face.
“Then? Did you come because you were worried about me?”
His tone became sarcastic, but he didn’t bother to apologize. What’s so important about this, Yu-jin thought, bracing himself against his weakening heart. Winston opened his mouth.
“I was worried about you, and…”
For some reason, he trailed off as if hesitating. What was he trying to say? Yu-jin, wary, heard Winston mutter to himself with a sigh.
“I thought you wouldn’t like me being with Angie.”
Huh?
Yu-jin was taken aback by the unexpected words and looked at him. Winston said, his gaze fixed on the child running around in the snowfield.
“You’re going to leave me with Angie once things are settled, right?”
Surprisingly, his voice sounded strained. Doubting his ears, he strained to hear, and even more surprising words followed.
“You’d be troubled if I got too close to Angie.”
“…I don’t object to you seeing Angie. It’s your right, too.”
That was true. Now that he had revealed the truth, he was planning to allow visitation rights. Once every two weeks, or even once a week, wouldn’t be too bad… He was vaguely thinking when Winston suddenly asked.
“How did Angie get pregnant?”