“Uh… Ah… Okay.”
Georgina couldn’t bring herself to meet Yu-jin’s gaze and awkwardly looked away, fumbling over her words. Her heart stirred with nervous unease. She was terrified that he might sense her earlier hesitation—how she’d just been about to turn her back and flee, pretending she didn’t know a thing about him.
Oblivious to Georgina’s internal struggle, Yu-jin continued speaking.
“You must be really busy. I’m sorry for being so insistent.”
His awkward smile carried a tinge of guilt. Of course, there was another reason behind it—something Georgina didn’t know—but inadvertently, he had touched a nerve, stirring her own sense of guilt.
“Ah, n-no. Don’t worry about it.”
Georgina quickly turned her head, stammering as she spoke. Her ears flushed red with embarrassment, and she hurried to change the subject.
“S-so, let’s head in. What was it we were shopping for again?”
As she turned around, holding Angela’s hand and leading the way with an air of ease, Yu-jin silently apologized while watching her back.
I’m sorry, Georgina.
Deceiving an innocent teenage girl left a heavy weight on his chest. Now, even Georgina—the only member of the Campbell family who had shown him genuine warmth—might end up hating him too. But Winston wouldn’t blame her. In a way, Georgina was a victim too. And in the end, she was still a Campbell.
Either way, Winston would place all the blame on Yu-jin. He might even ridicule himself for trusting a mere whore. That thought, strangely, brought a small sense of relief.
“Daddy! Hurry!”
Angela waved at him from beyond the wide-open door. Yu-jin forced a smile and walked toward her. His heart now thumped for an entirely different reason.
“You look adorable, Angie! Let’s try this one on too.”
Having shaken off her earlier concerns, Georgina now looked delighted as she pulled out another outfit. Dressed in white stockings and Mary Jane shoes, Angela wore a sky-blue dress trimmed with abundant frills, looking every bit like a fairy.
Georgina let out a deep sigh, placing a hand on her flushed cheek.
“I’ve never seen a child as cute as Angie.”
Saying that, she glanced absentmindedly at Yu-jin—and quickly understood. Of course. She was Winston and Yu-jin’s child.
She would grow up to be a stunning beauty, no doubt about it. Georgina was already looking forward to that day.
“I heard Angie might be starting kindergarten soon. Are you all getting ready for that?”
At her question, Yu-jin froze for a brief moment before flashing a sheepish smile.
“Ah, yeah… I guess…?”
His response quickly trailed off into uncertainty.
“Honestly, I don’t really know. I left all that to Winston.”
Well, that made sense. Georgina let the topic go without thinking much of it. Yu-jin probably didn’t know a thing about private kindergartens. It was better that Winston and the housekeeper took care of it anyway.
The school would be full of status-conscious parents…
Just as that thought crossed her mind, Yu-jin spoke up with a smile.
“Wait a moment—would it be okay if I help Angie change?”
“Ah, yes. Of course.”
Georgina nodded without hesitation and quietly watched as Yu-jin walked toward the fitting room. Once left alone, she let out a long, weary sigh. Shopping, usually a joyful escape, felt utterly exhausting today. She didn’t even want to imagine what it would’ve been like without Angela there.
I came out because of Angie, so in the end, it’s all the same, isn’t it?
She wrinkled her nose, caught in a chicken-or-egg kind of dilemma, when something occurred to her. Georgina glanced at her wristwatch. It had already been nearly thirty minutes since Yu-jin went into the fitting room.
Still not done?
Puzzled, she idly scrolled through her phone while waiting, but once the time stretched beyond the half-hour mark, she could no longer suppress her impatience.
“Yu-jin, it’s Georgina. Is everything okay?”
She knocked on the fitting room door and called out, but there was no response. Tilting her head, she cautiously reached for the doorknob.
“Angie? Yu-jin…?”
Calling their names softly as she opened the door, Georgina’s eyes went wide in shock.
The spacious fitting room was completely empty.
“W-What the…?”
She was too stunned to speak, merely blinking in disbelief.
***
As a monotonous performance report droned on in the background, Winston’s mind was elsewhere entirely. He couldn’t stop thinking about Yu-jin—naked, sprawled across the bed, gazing up at him with those sultry eyes.
Why did I even come to work today?
He cursed himself for it. It would’ve meant far more to simply stay and wrap his arms around Yu-jin. A day of mindlessly staring at numbers—wasn’t it fine to skip just one?
There were still several hours left until the end of the workday. Winston wanted to cancel all of his remaining appointments, but that wasn’t possible. He had to get through everything. Just as Yu-jin had said, the most perfect delight should be savored slowly, leisurely.
I’ll wait, completely undressed.
Just recalling that sweet voice sent heat rushing straight to his groin. His pheromones had grown so potent, even he could sense the shift in the air. But he wouldn’t touch himself. No, he’d bury himself deep inside Yu-jin and pour out every last drop of his built-up semen. He’d make Yu-jin scream in ecstasy beneath him. He’d lick and suck every inch of that body. Because Yu-jin belonged to him—every part of him.
My love, my life, my bride.
That forgotten line of poetry suddenly floated back into his mind. And then, his phone—silent until now—began to ring.
Even before answering, a cold shiver ran down his spine.
Winston didn’t want to take the call, but he had to. With a reluctant hand, he picked up—and was immediately met with a frantic voice reporting something that never should have happened.
Yu-jin was gone. And he had taken the child with him.
For a split second, Winston almost dropped the phone.
***
To Santa Claus,
Slam! The door burst open with a loud crash—but the room was empty. Winston stood in the doorway, his shoulders heaving with ragged breaths as he scanned the desolate space.
Only dolls and toys remained, lined up in their places like forgotten memories. But the owner of the room—nowhere to be found.
Hello. My name is Angela.
Winston rushed to the bedroom next, frantically searching for any trace of Yu-jin. Most of his belongings were still there. Most—except one. The suppressants were gone.
Staring at the empty spot in the cabinet, Winston froze for a moment before spinning around and racing downstairs.
I used to think the reason Santa never came to me was because I was a poor child.
Mr. Campbell said it was because I was patient and could wait, that Santa didn’t need to come because I was strong enough to endure.
“Did you file the missing persons report?”
Winston’s voice came out rough and strained. The butler responded immediately.
“It’s been filed. But since Angie is Mr. Yu-jin’s biological child, we can’t technically classify it as abduction—”
“I don’t care what you call it. Just find them. NOW.”
Rarely did he shout, but now his voice roared through the manor. The butler shut his mouth and stepped back in silence.
Winston wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his breath shallow and labored.
I don’t think Santa will come this year either.
Because I’m still a poor girl. And… I had bad thoughts, too.
The Christmas tree still stood tall in the corner, majestic and glittering. The star at the top still shimmered as if nothing had changed.
It made everything feel like a dream. Yu-jin, him, and the child they shared—
A dream so unbearably sweet.
Santa, I didn’t want to have a baby brother.
If I get a baby brother, Daddy won’t love me anymore, right? Then I’ll be all alone.
Yu-jin had vanished.
He left. Took the child, and disappeared.
But I don’t want Daddy to be sad either. He’s already suffered so much because of me.
He abandoned me.
So I decided I’d welcome my little sibling instead.
Winston collapsed right where he stood. His legs gave out beneath him, and he sank to the floor.
Yu-jin… left me.
Santa, I’m ready now to be a good big sister. So please, this year—please give me a present.
Haa… haa…
His trembling breaths shattered in his palms. Winston buried his face in both hands and shut his eyes tight.
Please… please make Daddy happy this Christmas. I’m begging you.
Haa… haa… haa… haa…
His breathing grew so ragged it made him dizzy.
The life he thought was perfect had unraveled in a single, fleeting moment. Just like that—so easily, so absurdly.
The image burned into his mind: Yu-jin holding the child, walking away from him. Like a vision he couldn’t reach.
Angela—a poor girl, temporarily staying in a rich man’s home.
“Aaaaaaagh…!”
The scream tore out of Winston like a raw, primal wail—one he could no longer hold back.
Yaaaasss!!! Run YUJIN RUN!!!!!