“You’re going to the shop yourself?”
After having lunch with his daughter, the butler asked in response to Yu-jin’s words. Yu-jin nodded and answered, “If I go in person, I’ll be able to see more things… and I also want to buy some clothes for Angie.”
“I want to get some fresh air too!”
Angela, who had been standing beside him holding his hand, quickly chimed in. Of course, it was a line Yu-jin had prepared for her in advance, but he was still nervous that the butler might find it suspicious. Fortunately, the man asked no further questions, simply smiling at Angela before saying, “I will prepare the car,” and turning away. Perhaps he hadn’t needed to involve Angela at all. Yu-jin felt grateful for the butler’s professionalism—he carried out orders without question.
“Daddy, Daddy.”
At the sound of her voice calling him, Yu-jin looked down to see Angela standing on tiptoe, trying to get even closer to him as she whispered, “Did I do well? Is it okay now?”
She cupped her hands over her mouth as she spoke in hushed tones, and Yu-jin smiled as he lifted her into his arms.
“You did wonderfully, Angie. Thank you for helping me.”
Angela beamed and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Just tell me anytime! Helping Daddy is my favorite thing in the world!”
How did I end up with such a wonderful daughter?
Yu-jin felt a lump in his throat, overwhelmed with emotion. If this child was the result of all the luck he had in his life, then he had no regrets. Even if he were given a choice a hundred, a thousand times over, he would always choose Angela. Unable to hold back the surge of affection, he hugged her tightly. Angela pressed her cheek against his.
I can do this.
Holding his daughter close, Yu-jin started down the stairs. Just then, the butler, who had been coming up, stopped in his tracks and said, “The car is ready.”
I can do anything—for Angela.
“Thank you.”
After giving his thanks, he continued descending the stairs. With each step, his legs felt ten times heavier, but he didn’t stop. He knew that if he hesitated for even a moment, he might give up on everything. He tightened his hold on Angela. She, too, seemed to sense his tension and instinctively shrank into him. He wanted to reassure her, to tell her everything was okay, but he didn’t have the composure to do so.
Haa, haa.
His breath came in short gasps, and he had no energy left for anything else. The butler, who had been following behind, quickly walked ahead and opened the front door. Through the wide-open entrance, a black sedan was waiting at the bottom of a few steps.
Haa, haa, haa, haa.
His breathing grew more ragged, and dizziness threatened to consume him. If he hadn’t been holding Angela, he might have collapsed right then and there. He forced his eyes to stay focused, struggling to keep himself together. The only thing keeping him upright was the thought that if he faltered, his daughter might get hurt.
“Daddy.”
As soon as he barely managed to settle Angela into the back seat and sat down himself, she immediately called him. Instead of answering, Yu-jin forced a smile and fastened her seatbelt. Buckling his own, however, took him several times longer than it had for her. He could feel the driver sneaking glances at him through the rearview mirror, but Yu-jin was doing the best he could.
Haa.
By the time he finally secured the seatbelt, a weary sigh escaped him. But it wasn’t over. In fact, this was just the beginning. The driver, who had been watching him through the mirror, confirmed that Yu-jin had adjusted himself before slowly starting the car. Yu-jin clutched the door handle so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His entire body trembled, cold sweat breaking out over his skin.
“Daddy.”
Angela grabbed his arm, her face on the verge of tears. Yu-jin tried to calm himself for her sake, but it wasn’t easy.
You have to endure this.
He shut his eyes and clenched his teeth. There was no way out of here without a car. He had to withstand this much. He could do it.
Please.
Holding his breath, Yu-jin fought desperately against the terror clawing at him. The car sped along, but the journey ahead was still long.
***
Haaa…
By the time they returned to the mansion, Yu-jin was completely drained. At the shop, which he had barely managed to reach, he had regained some stability while drinking coffee as Angela picked out clothes. But the moment he had to get back in the car, the symptoms returned. By the time they arrived home, he was so exhausted that he felt like collapsing right where he stood.
“Daddy!”
Angela, who had climbed out of the car right behind him, urgently clung to his leg. Yu-jin didn’t even have the strength to lift her; all he could do was weakly pat her head.
“Are you all right? You don’t seem well. Shall I call for the physician?”
The butler, standing by the open car door, belatedly asked. Yu-jin barely managed to shake his head.
“I just… need to rest… I got carsick.”
His voice was barely audible as he forced out a response. Stumbling, he made his way up the stairs. Angela stuck to his side, practically glued to him, but he had no energy left to reassure her.
This is bad.
Collapsing onto the bed, Yu-jin vaguely realized the severity of his condition. At this rate, escaping wasn’t even an option—he couldn’t even leave the mansion. What am I going to do? A headache began to throb in his temples. If he couldn’t ride in a car, then everything was impossible.
That idiot Harold. Why did he have to build the house on such a massive estate?
Even if he cursed the deceased now, it wouldn’t change anything. In this state, he might as well be imprisoned. Yu-jin groaned, covering his face with both hands.
“Daddy, are you really sick?”
Angela’s small voice suddenly broke through his thoughts. Lowering his hands from his face, he turned his head to see her clinging to the edge of the bed, her expression filled with concern. Standing on tiptoe, she stretched out her arms as far as she could.Â
Seeing Angela clutching onto the mattress, Yu-jin panicked and quickly reached out his hand.
“Why are you holding on like that? Come up here, Angie.”
As he pulled her up by both arms, Angela easily climbed onto the bed. She immediately snuggled into his embrace, and as he held her tightly, she lifted her head and asked,
“Daddy, are you really sick?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Yu-jin smiled and kissed her forehead. Angela, in return, kissed his cheek.
“How did you like the clothes today? Did you like them?”
At his gentle question, Angela nodded, but her face soon darkened.
“But… I don’t need new clothes. I don’t like it when Daddy is sick.”
Taking her out with him had only made her worry. He could have just gone alone. Regret surged through him, and Yu-jin softly apologized.
“Next time, let’s have them come to the house instead. Would that be okay?”
“Can we do that?”
“Of course.”
Remembering that this had been the original plan all along only made his guilt heavier. He lay on his side, holding Angela close, and patted her back.
“Let’s sleep together, Angie.”
“Okay.”
Before closing her eyes, she mumbled,
“Tell me a story.”
“Alright.”
Yu-jin paused for a moment, thinking of what to say, then slowly began to weave a story on the spot, just as he always did. As he spoke, Angela’s eyelids grew heavier, and soon, her soft, steady breathing filled the quiet room. Listening to the sound, Yu-jin, too, gradually drifted into sleep.
Footsteps echoed from afar.
Angela stirred awake, rubbing her eyes as she groggily turned around. Blinking in a daze, she listened as the footsteps grew louder. Then, after a brief pause, the door handle began to turn.
A faint scent reached her, snapping her fully awake.
Panic-stricken, Angela scrambled across the bed and jumped down to the other side. The door swung open wide, and the scent thickened, filling the room. Winston had returned.
Angela turned pale and hurriedly crawled under the bed.
A moment later, the man pressed a button on the wall, and the room flooded with bright light.
“…Mm.”
The sudden brightness stirred Yu-jin from his sleep. He let out a soft groan, furrowing his brows as he struggled to lift his heavy eyelids. Shielding his eyes with one hand, he finally managed to take in his surroundings.
Angela was nowhere to be seen.
Did she go back to her room…?
Still sluggish, he pushed himself up. The moment he did, his eyes locked with a pair of cold, violet ones staring straight at him.
Yu-jin froze.
Winston took a slow step forward, his face unreadable as he spoke.
“Did a little shopping spree make you lose all sense of reason? There’ll be plenty of money flowing in from now on, so why don’t you try exercising some restraint?”
It took Yu-jin a moment to fully grasp his words.
He watched as Winston casually shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of the sofa. Only then did Yu-jin finally manage to speak.
“……What did you just say?”
