By Zephyria What on earth have I done?
Even after finishing dinner, Yu-jin continued to berate himself. Their kiss hadn’t been very long. It wasn’t particularly sensual either. It was just a matter of overlapping lips and licking inside. It was a kiss that was as cautious and hesitant as the first kiss between adolescent boys and girls, and even clumsy.
Nevertheless, Yu-jin was more nervous and excited than with any other kiss he had ever shared. He was almost disappointed that the moment had ended so quickly, thanks to the bodyguards who had come to find them.
What’s there to be disappointed about? You shouldn’t have done it in the first place.
Yu-jin scolded himself once more. Reason slowly returned while returning to the villa. Regrettably, it brought self-reproach and shame along with it. They are usually close friends and hang out together. This time, it didn’t come alone either.
“Daddy, Daddy.”
Hoo, just as he inadvertently sighed, Angela suddenly spoke to him.
“Huh, yeah?”
Surprised, he looked at her, and the child tilted her head, looking puzzled.
“What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?”
“Huh? Uh…”
Coming to his senses, he realized that everyone was looking at him. He realized that he had already finished saying goodnight and had entered the child’s room with Winston to put Angela to sleep, and his face flushed belatedly. Winston, who was standing by the bed like Yu-jin, whispered in a small voice.
“We were talking about kindergarten.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Yu-jin realize the topic and hurriedly opened his mouth.
“Yeah, Angie. It’s not urgent, so you can think about it slowly. You don’t necessarily have to go…”
In fact, he thought it would be better for the child’s safety if she didn’t go. But above all, Angela’s own opinion was important, so he decided to ask her first. Angela suddenly answered Yu-jin, who had subtly encouraged her not to go.
“I’ll go!”
“What?”
Yu-jin, momentarily flustered, asked without realizing it, and the child continued, her eyes sparkling.
“I want to go to kindergarten too. You have to go to kindergarten first to go to school, right? Phoebe said so. When I said I wanted to go to school too, she said I had to go to kindergarten first!”
That’s not necessarily true.
Yu-jin wanted to correct the child’s thinking, but there was no time. Angela, who was very excited, jumped up from the bed and sat up, asking in a raised voice.
“The kids I met at the party said so too. They told me to come to their kindergarten. They’ll be there if I go, right? And I’ll make lots of friends!”
The child was already full of thoughts of going to kindergarten. Would it have been better not to say anything? Yu-jin felt a momentary dizziness, but fortunately he didn’t collapse. But Winston, who had glanced at him, spoke to the child, perhaps because his worried heart was revealed on his face.
“You’re right, Angie. If you go, you can meet your friends again, and lots of fun things will happen.”
“Yay!”
“But there are things you have to be careful about too.”
Winston calmed the excited child with a slower and stricter voice than usual. He continued to speak to Angela, who was immediately paying attention.
“We saw from the helicopter that there were a lot of people gathered in front of the mansion, right? That will continue to happen in the future. Even when you go to kindergarten and come back, there might be dangerous people among them.”
“Then, am I going to get kidnapped?”
Angela interjected as if she couldn’t stand it. Leaving Yu-jin, who quickly turned pale at the chilling word, Winston said softly.
“That won’t happen, Angela. Bodyguards will always be by your side to protect you.”
“Yes.”
Angela also nodded with a tense face, as if she felt the unusual atmosphere. Winston stroked the child’s head and continued.
“You don’t have to worry that much. All you have to do is be with the bodyguards anytime, anywhere. That’s all, okay?”
“Yes.”
Angela nodded firmly and promised.
“I will never follow strangers. I won’t even say hello!”
“That’s right, you’re so smart.”
Winston chuckled briefly at Angela, who clenched her fists and made a pledge. He laid the child back on the bed, pulled the blanket up to her neck, and looked into her eyes.
“We have to go back tomorrow, so go to sleep quickly. We can talk about kindergarten when we get back.”
“Okay. Good night, Winnie. Daddy.”
“Good night, my daughter.”
Yu-jin kissed the child’s cheek and then lifted his back. After turning off the bedside lamp next to the bed and quietly stepping outside, he finally let out a stifled sigh.
“So, it’s decided then?”
At Winston’s question, Yu-jin quickly frowned and asked.
“Do you really have to send her to kindergarten at a time like this? She doesn’t necessarily have to go.”
“Yu-jin, it’s important for a child’s social development to mingle with peers.”
Winston tried to persuade Yu-jin with words that seemed to have been taken from a textbook. Of course, it was the right thing to say, but timing was also important. Winston continued, speaking to Yu-jin, who was still uneasy.
“I told you clearly, I will protect you and Angela no matter what happens. And this kind of life will become routine now, so it’s not bad to get used to it in advance.”
“If I just divorce you…”
“It’ll be quiet after that? Can you guarantee it?”
Winston asked mockingly. He continued to speak to Yu-jin, who was momentarily flustered.
“Who is the person who divorced the heir to the Campbell family? You’ll be tormented for at least a few months. Maybe for the rest of your life. You’ll be constantly asked to talk about the Campbell family. Can you handle that? Besides…”
“Besides, what?”
Yu-jin asked hastily at the suddenly stopped words. Winston quietly looked down at his face before opening his mouth.
“You’re a bestselling author.”
“What?”
Yu-jin’s eyes widened at the unexpected topic. Winston continued to speak with a frown.
“I don’t think you realize it, but your books are selling incredibly well. Everyone is curious about you. And if that bestselling author turns out to be the partner of the Campbell family’s heir, wouldn’t that be a huge scandal?”
“Bestselling? What nonsense…”
Yu-jin was about to shake his head, but then he suddenly remembered. Hadn’t Grant said it several times? That the books were selling incredibly well. Calling a well-selling book a bestseller wasn’t wrong…
“Anyway, if Angie goes to kindergarten, I’ll go with her.”
For now, the matter at hand came first. Winston seemed taken aback by Yu-jin’s declaration, but soon sighed as if he couldn’t help it.
“Do as you please. You won’t listen to me anyway.”“Of course. And if you can guarantee Angie’s safety, you should be able to guarantee mine too. Isn’t that what perfect security is all about?”
Yu-jin’s provocative retort left Winston speechless for a moment before he finally spoke.
“Of course, it is.”
Then, he slowly softened his lips and smiled.
“Yes, you’re right.”
A sudden chill ran down Yu-jin’s spine. Why was this man agreeing with him so readily? What was he up to? He suspected Winston had an ulterior motive, but there was no way to figure it out right now. Yu-jin glanced at Winston’s face for no reason and grabbed the doorknob.
“……Good night.”
“Sweet dreams.”
Winston greeted him as usual as Yu-jin mumbled quietly. He quickly entered his room and slammed the door shut, pressing his ear against it, his nerves on edge. He thought he heard footsteps, and soon after, the sound of a door opening and closing followed.
Whew.
Only then did Yu-jin exhale and trudge toward the bed. He collapsed onto it, staring at the ceiling, and a suffocating silence enveloped him. The very same silence that had found him lying on the snowfield a few hours ago.
Honey.
The soft touch that had reached his lips along with the whispering voice vividly resurfaced. It felt as if he was whispering right next to his ear, sending pleasant shivers down his spine. He slowly stroked his lips and lay there for a moment before abruptly sitting up again and heading to the bathroom.
It’s nothing, it wasn’t a big deal.
He vowed to himself as he washed and washed again. He hoped the memories in his head would be washed away along with the dirt on his body, but it wasn’t easy.