That day, everything just kept going wrong.
On the way to work, there was a minor car accident, and after switching to a taxi, he arrived at the office only for a sudden downpour to drench him head to toe the moment he ran into the building. The meeting dragged on past its scheduled time without reaching any conclusions, and the sandwich he had for lunch was missing its toppings.
By the time he got home, it was already 2 a.m. But there wasn’t much time to rest—he had a flight to catch at 6. Winston quietly opened the front door, doing his best not to make a sound. As soon as the door cracked open, a strong mix of alcohol and pheromones hit him.
It wasn’t surprising. It happened almost every day.
He closed the door silently and took a few steps inside, only to find Yu-jin asleep on the living room sofa. Setting his suitcase down where he stood, he gently slipped a hand under Yu-jin’s shoulder and lifted him up with practiced ease.
The closer he got, the stronger the intoxicating blend of pheromones and alcohol became. Winston moved carefully, fighting the urge to take him right then and there. He walked slowly—painfully slow—but even with all that caution, the moment he laid Yu-jin down on the bed, the man stirred with a small moan and cracked his eyes open.
“…Winnie?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
Winston answered tenderly, planting a soft kiss on Yu-jin’s cheek.
“Go back to sleep. I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Why?”
Yu-jin furrowed his brows as he asked, struggling to keep his eyes open. Winston responded gently to his dazed expression.
“I’ve got a business trip. Just two days.”
“Two whole days…”
Yu-jin murmured, his voice heavy with disappointment. Winston gave him a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back before you know it. Did you have fun with your new friends?”
“……”
Yu-jin trailed off with an ambiguous hum, and Winston continued.
“I’m fine with whatever you want to do. Call whoever you want over, have fun, okay? Just… don’t overdo it with the drinking.”
He added the reminder, though he wasn’t sure Yu-jin even heard it. Fighting a losing battle against the drowsiness, Yu-jin looked ready to doze off again. Winston pulled the sheet up to Yu-jin’s chin, tucking him in carefully.
Eventually, Yu-jin gave in to his body’s instincts, his breaths settling into a steady rhythm. Winston stood by the bed, watching him for a while, then slowly rose and headed for the bathroom.
Beneath the icy spray, he adjusted the faucet to find the right temperature. His face had lost all trace of a smile.
Staring into the mirror with a deep sigh, Winston saw nothing but exhaustion. He hadn’t had a proper break since that day. He had expected it to be rough, but reality had turned out to be even more merciless.
After their first trip alone together, Winston had acted like nothing happened and dropped Yu-jin off at the annex.
The company was still reeling from the string of incidents, and Harold had barely come home. Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the situation had lasted far longer than expected.
Tax evasion was a serious crime.
His father could go to prison.
In the worst-case scenario, the company might go under.
And Winston had committed that enormous crime for one reason only: Seol Yu-jin.
But not once did he regret it.
He didn’t regret it.
Thanks to that, his father hadn’t been able to find Yu-jin for nearly two years, and Winston had been able to continue their secret relationship in peace.
Of course, no secret lasts forever. One day, just before graduation, they got caught by the butler. Word spread quickly, and soon the entire Campbell estate knew.
Naturally, the most furious of them all was Madam Campbell.
She slapped Winston across the face in front of the staff and followed it up with a hysterical tirade of curses directed at them.
But Winston wasn’t particularly hurt or scared. He’d expected this. He had always planned to leave the house after graduation and live with Yu-jin.
To be honest, he’d originally thought about getting Yu-jin pregnant first and then making an announcement. But this wasn’t so bad either.
Having a child could wait—he wanted to have Yu-jin all to himself a little longer.
Without wasting any unnecessary time, Winston took Yu-jin and left the family.
They moved into a small apartment together. For something they’d found in a hurry, it wasn’t bad at all. Most importantly, they were together. That alone made it enough.
But that was only true for Winston.
After grueling days at work, he’d come home to find Yu-jin lighting up with joy, following him around like a plant that had been left in a dark basement all day and was finally soaking in warm sunlight. He’d chatter endlessly, sharing trivial stories about his day.
The problem was that Winston was utterly exhausted.
He came home after midnight and had to leave again before dawn. He barely had the time or energy to engage with Yu-jin. And Yu-jin knew it, too. Eventually, he stopped talking unless it was absolutely necessary.
Winston knew he had to do something. Watching Yu-jin wither a little more each day, he couldn’t ignore it any longer.
He kept picturing Yu-jin curled up on the sofa, having waited for him until late, only to fall asleep in that cramped position.
It left him questioning everything—wondering what the hell he was even doing.
He stepped out of the shower with a long sigh—only to receive an unexpected phone call.
His mother.
At this hour…?
He checked the time again, frowning as he pressed the call button. A familiar voice soon came through.
“Mother, is something wrong?”
Did something happen at home?
Or had his crimes finally been uncovered? Not that he particularly cared. As he quietly wondered, Madam Campbell spoke abruptly.
“Come home, Winston.”
Her voice was as cold and composed as always, and Winston froze.
When he didn’t respond, she went on.
“Harold has forgiven the two of you. Come back to the estate. I want you to return to the company and support him.”
It sounded impossible—but it was true.
That weekend, when Winston managed to find time to visit the estate, Harold himself greeted him and repeated his mother’s words.
“It’s enough now. Come home. The company needs you.”
“You’re saying you’ll allow Yu-jin and me to be together?”
Winston asked again, as if needing to hear it confirmed. Harold’s expression instantly turned grim—but only for a brief moment.
With a deep sigh, Harold softened his features and spoke.
“Winston, if you really believe Yu-jin loves you sincerely… then you’re gravely mistaken.”
Winston didn’t answer, but a scowl formed between his brows.
Seeing that, Harold continued.
“I know that boy better than anyone. Of course I do—I’ve watched him since he was a child. Practically raised him myself. You have no idea how calculating Yu-jin really is.”
Winston said nothing.
Not because he agreed—but because it wasn’t worth responding to.
His father knew nothing about Yu-jin.
That pure, gentle Omega of his—what was he even saying right now?
Maybe his emotions showed on his face, because Harold let out a short, humorless laugh. Narrowing his eyes, he studied his still-young son.
“Winston, you’re too young. You don’t know the world yet. But you will. One day, you’ll understand what I meant.”
“If that’s all you called me here to say, then I—”
“Come back to the Campbell family.”
Harold cut him off, voice commanding.
Winston stared at him, sensing the pheromones thickening in the air.
Harold went on.
“I won’t make the first move when it comes to the two of you. So return. If Yu-jin is really the person you believe he is, then there’s no reason to resist, is there?”
There was a long silence. Winston finally spoke, his voice low.
“I’m not what you really want, am I?”
Harold didn’t flinch—he simply stared.
That alone was enough to confirm Winston’s suspicion.
“If you’re thinking of trying to win Yu-jin back, you’re wasting your time. We’re engaged. I’m going to propose to him officially very soon.”
That part wasn’t exactly true—it had been something he was saving for later.
But a strange sense of danger pushed Winston to lie, boldly and without hesitation.
Harold stared at his son in silence for a moment before speaking.
“Go ahead. As much as you like.”
His tone was as detached as ever, which made Winston pause.
Harold continued, unmoved.
“In that case, there’s even less reason for you not to return. I’ll have your position ready. Start next month.”
Next month—just three days away.
He hadn’t asked a single thing about Winston’s situation before throwing out a command. So very Harold.
Part of him wanted to refuse outright.
But then Yu-jin’s sleeping face floated into his mind—worn out, helpless, waiting.
If he went back to his father’s company, their lives would be better.
He could buy Yu-jin a car, teach him how to drive—give him something of his own. Maybe that would help.
“I won’t move back into the estate. I’ll find a separate place for me and Yu-jin.”
Winston laid down his condition.
Harold accepted it without argument, then promptly suggested a luxury villa in the city—one of the Campbell family’s properties, worth tens of millions of dollars.
And that was how Winston took his first step into hell.
