“Heek!”
The sudden voice caught Yu-jin off guard, and he let out an involuntary scream. His chest heaved, his face drained of color as he stared in shock. Meanwhile, Winston casually sat up as if nothing had happened. It was then that Yu-jin noticed—his upper body was bare. Winston was undressed. Without realizing it, Yu-jin took a step back, his voice faltering as he protested.
“M-Murder you? What the hell are you talking about?”
Winston looked at Yu-jin with an indifferent expression and asked flatly, “So, you weren’t planning on it?”
“Of course not!”
Yu-jin’s belated anger flared, and he shouted, “I would never try to kill someone! Not you, not anyone!”
His voice grew louder, but Winston’s reaction remained lukewarm. That apathetic gaze drained Yu-jin of his energy. His shoulders slumped, and just as he was about to lose his momentum, Winston spoke.
“Then what are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to rest in another room?”
“I heard you.”
Winston frowned. His expression clearly asked—then why are you here? Feeling deflated, Yu-jin continued in a subdued tone.
“I heard you weren’t feeling well…”
The words he really wanted to say—I was worried—refused to leave his lips. There was no point in saying them anyway. If he did, all he’d get in return was Winston’s sharp tongue and relentless mockery. But Yu-jin was wrong this time. The moment his voice trailed off, Winston smirked and sneered.
“What, wanted to check if I was dead?”
Even without explicitly expressing concern, Winston was always ready to twist his words. How could he always be so cruel? He hadn’t been like this before. He used to be so gentle. A wave of anguish twisted Yu-jin’s expression.
What’s the point of remembering the past?
A voice in his heart scolded him. And it was right. Yu-jin steeled himself. There was no use in getting sentimental. That would only put him at a disadvantage. Coming here in the first place had been a mistake.
Yu-jin straightened his posture and looked Winston in the eye as he spoke. “That’s wrong too. You might be capable of something like that, but I’m not like you.”
Clasping his hands behind his back, Yu-jin carefully measured his tone and continued, “I just wanted to thank you for finding Angie. I also heard you weren’t well. That’s unfortunate. I hope you recover soon.”
With that, he had said everything he needed to. He finally released his clasped hands, and Winston let out a small chuckle before remarking, “You know where the door is, don’t you?”
“I had no intention of staying.”
With those final words, Yu-jin turned on his heel and walked away. He could feel Winston’s gaze on his back but refused to look back.
Hoo…
Only after closing the door behind him did Yu-jin finally let out the breath he had been holding. How can a person change so much? The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. No matter what, people still had their fundamental nature… didn’t they?
He couldn’t believe how much he had changed.
No, he had seen this side of him before.
When he suddenly recalled Winston screaming at him in anger, a loud crash erupted from inside. It was nothing like thunder—rather, a dull, heavy sound. Startled, Yu-jin instinctively threw the door open.
“What’s going—”
His urgent words trailed off as he gasped, covering his mouth with one hand. Winston was collapsed on the floor.
“Winston!”
Without hesitation, Yu-jin rushed toward him. He dropped to his knees, gripping Winston’s arms. Winston, who had been struggling to get up, spat out a harsh warning.
“What the hell are you doing? Let go.”
Yu-jin flinched but didn’t release his grip. Despite his sharp words, Winston’s face was deathly pale, beads of cold sweat forming on his temple. Yu-jin swallowed dryly and forced himself to speak.
“Are you feeling unwell? Should I call Kane?”
“Let go, goddamn it!”
Winston shouted and violently shoved Yu-jin’s hands away.
“Ah!”
Yu-jin cried out as he tumbled backward, landing unceremoniously on the floor. When he finally lifted his head, Winston’s ashen face filled his vision.
…What?
Blinking in confusion at Winston’s unexpected reaction, he heard him grit his teeth and mutter,
“Don’t try to help me. You’ll get hurt.”
Yu-jin couldn’t believe it. Winston had hesitated—just for a moment—before speaking. His voice, too, had dropped noticeably lower, almost as if he regretted yelling or pushing him away.
That can’t be…
Shaking off the thought, Yu-jin focused on Winston. He was reaching out, trying to grab the bedpost. And then Yu-jin saw it—a massive scar slashed across his bare back.
His heart pounded wildly, and his mouth went dry.
No way… because of that incident?
A wave of dizziness hit him, making him feel as though he might collapse. The memories of that day resurfaced in vivid detail—Winston, drenched in blood, unconscious.
“…Haah…”
A deep, labored breath pulled Yu-jin back to the present. Winston was still struggling to stand on his own, unable to properly use his legs, his face drenched in sweat as he clenched his teeth.
Yu-jin couldn’t just sit back and watch anymore.
“What… are you doing?”
Yu-jin ignored him and slid an arm under his shoulder, pressing his own body beneath Winston’s to support him. Immediately, Winston snapped.
“I told you to move! You’ll get hurt!”
Though he was furious, he didn’t push Yu-jin away. He probably wanted to—he was practically trembling with restraint—but he didn’t.
Because this time, if he pushed him away again, Yu-jin might actually get hurt.
He didn’t know. But he was sure Winston was thinking that way.
For some reason, Yu-jin felt certain—Winston would never do anything that would actually hurt him.
Even though his words were so cruel.
As Yu-jin stubbornly draped Winston’s arm over his shoulder and exerted all his strength to lift him, Winston finally gave up.
“Forget it. Just bring me my cane.”
“Call Kane?”
Momentarily confused, Yu-jin asked again, and Winston, his expression twisted in pain, slowly—without yelling this time—spoke again.
“My. Cane.”
Yu-jin was caught off guard. He hadn’t even considered that Winston was referring to an actual cane. He had assumed he had misheard him calling for the butler instead.
“Uh, where…?”
Hurriedly scanning the room, Yu-jin spotted the cane resting against the opposite side of the bed. He rushed over, retrieved it, and handed it to Winston. Winston reached out and firmly grasped the golden lion-shaped handle.
Yu-jin anxiously watched as he struggled to push himself up, his breath catching at the suppressed groan escaping Winston’s lips. Just in case, Yu-jin hovered nearby, hands awkwardly outstretched, ready to catch him if needed. Only when Winston finally sat on the edge of the bed and exhaled heavily did Yu-jin let out a sigh of relief as well.
“You… you okay? Do you want to lie down? I can help.”
When Yu-jin asked again, Winston swept his disheveled hair back and spoke in a low voice.
“There should be medicine on the tea table. Bring it to me.”
“Oh, okay…”
His exhausted voice lacked any strength. Yu-jin hurried to follow his request, fetching the medicine and a glass of water.
“Uh… is this the one?”
He picked up a plain, white pill and held it out hesitantly. Winston replied quietly.
“Bring all of it.”
“All of it?”
Yu-jin was startled, but Winston only gave a short nod, too drained to say more.
Does he have to take so much because normal doses don’t work on him?
Still unsure, Yu-jin did as he was told, handing over the entire bottle. He watched as Winston poured five pills into his palm and swallowed them all at once. Unable to hold back his curiosity, Yu-jin cautiously asked,
“Does it not work if you take less?”
A part of him worried that Winston would ignore him, but surprisingly, he answered without hesitation.
“For others, one pill is enough.”
The offhanded remark made Yu-jin suddenly realize something.
Wait… that means this is the kind of medication meant for Extreme Alphas. And Winston needs this much?
Does that mean his condition is really that bad?
Still caught between doubt and concern, Yu-jin watched as Winston swung his legs onto the bed and added flatly,
“Don’t even think about trying it yourself. Unless you have a death wish.”
“I—I wouldn’t!”
Yu-jin quickly denied it, but that only confirmed that his suspicions were right.
A chill settled over him, as cold as the sound of rain pattering against the window.
“By any chance…”
Watching Winston lie down on the bed, Yu-jin hesitantly spoke.
“Is this because of that accident…?”
