By Zephyria Winston, still fixing his gaze on the documents, asked casually.
“About what?”
“About that.”
Mrs. Campbell snapped irritably.
“Didn’t you hear how he’s been living? Are you going to keep that filth in the house? You need to take action immediately!”
Winston, who had been unresponsive until then, finally looked up. His face, still expressionless, held no emotion. Sensing an eerie feeling and hesitating, Mrs. Campbell heard Winston speak.
“It’s Yu-jin, not ‘that’.”
“What?”
Mrs. Campbell widened her eyes in disbelief and contorted her face. Winston continued, unconcerned by her expression.
“Anyway, I married him and announced to people that he is a Campbell. So, Mother, you should respect him too.”
Mrs. Campbell was speechless. Winston finished speaking to his mother, who could only stare at her son with her mouth as wide open as her eyes.
“Call him Yu-jin, from now on.”
“Winston.”
“For your information, the child’s name is Angela. They call her Angie.”
“Winston!”
Eventually, Mrs. Campbell lost her temper and jumped up from her seat. Winston showed no change in expression as he looked at her face, red with anger. Mrs. Campbell revealed her emotions and roughly cornered Winston.
“What on earth are you thinking? Get a grip, are you being swayed by that thing again?”
“Surely not, only a fool would do that.”
Unlike her vehement tone, Winston’s voice was calm as ever. Mrs. Campbell couldn’t understand her son at all. She was furious and lashed out in a sharp voice.
“Then why did you do that? It’s only been a little over a year of marriage, there’s no need to throw a party and bother to acknowledge it! You only need to have a child, you could just call him to the mansion when you do that!”
Winston chuckled briefly at his mother’s fierce outburst. He raised one corner of his mouth and gave a clear sneer, narrowing his eyes as he asked.
“Like Father?”
“Winston!”
Mrs. Campbell was truly enraged. The office echoed with her loud shout, but Winston only twitched his eyebrows slightly.
“You need to maintain your dignity, Mother.”
“How dare you say that to me… how dare you!”
The anger she had suppressed exploded all at once, and she raged like a madwoman. She raised and lowered her hands, spun around in place, and even pounded the back of the sofa with her fists. Winston only watched her with a cold gaze. In fact, he had known that was his mother’s true nature for a long time. She was only pretending to be as cold as ice, conscious of other people’s eyes. And through several experiences, Winston knew that the best thing to do in these situations was to leave her alone.
He ignored her as if she wasn’t there and reviewed the documents. Mrs. Campbell, who had been raging for a while, turned around. Her son’s reaction had been unsatisfactory, and she was exhausted. Still catching her breath, she opened her mouth in a much calmer voice.
“So, tell me why you did that. If you can’t convince me, I won’t stand still.”
Just how would she do that?
He was secretly curious, but Winston didn’t want to waste his time. He had already wasted enough.
“For the family, of course.”
Winston spoke in a monotonous voice, as if reciting a typical phrase written on a wall. Mrs. Campbell also let out a short exclamation of disbelief, but he continued nonchalantly.
“There’s no other reason. I hope you won’t read too much into it, Mother. I don’t like overinterpretation.”
Looking at the time, it was already ten minutes past lunchtime. Oh, the secretary must be waiting. He had decided to have a simple sandwich in the office while looking at documents for lunch today. They must have prepared the catering early, and she must be waiting without being able to eat.
He didn’t waste any more time and pressed the button on the phone. He instructed them to bring in lunch, and a moment later, there was a knock and the middle-aged secretary stepped in. She gave a quick nod to Mrs. Campbell and placed the well-packaged lunch box and coffee on one side of the desk before stepping back.
“Can I use more of my lunch break since it was delayed?”
“Go ahead.”
Winston readily agreed to the secretary’s question and sent her out. Mrs. Campbell, who had been watching her leave with light steps, snapped sullenly.
“You’re too lenient with your subordinates. Is there really a need to do that?”
“There’s no need to treat them badly either.”
Winston said again, casually. His attitude was consistently indifferent. Mrs. Campbell reluctantly accepted that further conversation was impossible.
“I understand. I’ll be going now, since you seem busy.”
Forced to retreat, she added as a last word.
“I’m relieved to confirm that you don’t have any special feelings for that thing. Well, if you were to be charmed by it again, you’d be the biggest fool in the world, wouldn’t you?”
Mrs. Campbell, who deliberately added a short laugh, left the room. As soon as the door closed and he was finally alone, Winston put down the documents he had been looking at and rubbed the inside of his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
That fool is right here, Mother.
He was furious with himself, but he had to admit it. He had been quite shocked when he first heard those words from Gordon. Prostitution and robbery, what on earth had he been doing?
I knew I was right.
He was always trash like that. He had already been hurt enough, and he wouldn’t be hurt anymore. Yu-jin had admitted it, hadn’t he? That it was all true.
But why does his heart feel so uneasy?
He was still half-doubting himself. It was an unpleasant thought, but perhaps he had been framed. Yu-jin may have been promiscuous, but he wasn’t a thief.
He could have had anything he wanted at Delights, so there would have been no need to steal.
But that sarcasm was soon overpowered by another thought that rebelled. Was he really that extravagant? The Separate Residence/Annex where Yu-jin had been left almost abandoned had almost nothing other than the bare necessities. Even his clothes were so outdated that it was impossible to tell if they were from years ago.
Even the sizes didn’t fit properly.
And yet he wore them without a care.
Recalling their first date, he felt dazed for a moment. Yu-jin, who had been mesmerized by the endless night view, the sound of his laughter ringing out, his cheeks reddening as he looked at Winston.
He might have been able to live like that when he didn’t know, but he can’t live like that after he knows.
He was appalled as he recalled all the gifts and praises he had given to Yu-jin. Yu-jin must have opened his eyes from then on. His desire for money and luxury must have arisen then.
…But still, he didn’t steal.
Father and I weren’t there back then, so of course he had no choice but to steal. No, still.
Lost in thought with a serious expression due to the constant repetition of his imagination, he soon picked up his cell phone and contacted his secretary as if he had made up his mind. Hearing the sound of her answering the phone urgently, Winston opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry to bother you during your break, but I have something to instruct you to do.”
“Yes, please tell me.”
This was the first time this had happened. The secretary, bewildered by her boss’s unexpected behavior of strictly adhering to break times and quitting times, replied. But what he said next was even more surprising.
“…A background check on Yu-jin Mr. Campbell?”
“Yes.”
Winston answered briefly and continued.
“Find out about his criminal record, who was in charge of this case. Also, when it happened.”
This is just to confirm that I’m not wrong. Winston thought. Once he knows exactly how far he’s fallen, he won’t waver anymore.
“…Yes, I understand.”
The secretary hid her bewildered feelings and hung up the phone. A criminal record for a partner who just got married, what on earth is going on?Yu-jin Campbell’s various scandals were known to her as well. However, due to her belief that she should never trust tabloid scandals, she had been ignoring them. But this was too huge an incident to simply ignore.
What on earth is going on?
As she blinked blankly, a waiter brought her ordered meal. After giving a rough thank you, the secretary saved the contents of her phone.
What does it matter? I just need to do the work I’m paid for.
Having had three children and now in middle age, she was able to continue working with the best treatment because she was tight-lipped and never questioned her boss’s orders under any circumstances. She had no intention of losing her good job by carelessly blabbing.
There’s also the confidentiality clause.
Hmm, the secretary took a deep breath and pressed down on the double-patty burger before taking a bite. It really is a restaurant good enough to be featured in magazines. Satisfied, she devoured one in an instant and ordered another.
And it was only two days later that the secretary reported on the results of her investigation.