“Yu-jin.”
Winston called his name. Hesitating, Yu-jin slowly lifted his head, meeting the man’s gaze as he looked down at him. The arm wrapped around his waist loosened, as if Winston knew Yu-jin wouldn’t try to run anymore. Keeping one arm around his waist, Winston brought his other hand to Yu-jin’s face, gently grasping his chin and tracing his lower lip with his thumb. His eyes, filled with desire, fixated on Yu-jin’s lips as if he truly craved to kiss him.
Yu-jin felt the same. More than anything, his body had been aching with arousal for a while now. Winston must have been at his limit, too. If they kissed, would this man try to take him right here?
“Do you remember, Yu-jin?”
Winston whispered. There was no need to ask what he meant. Yu-jin parted his lips but could barely speak; his voice was hoarse, fading into nothing but breath.
“Yeah.”
They had once rolled around here, naked, as if they were the first humans on earth, lying atop a bed of clover.
Yu-jin tilted his head slightly. Winston barely had to move to kiss him. A slight tightening of the hand holding Yu-jin’s head would have been enough. Their breaths mingled, and when Yu-jin half-lowered his eyelids, locking eyes with Winston—
“If you want something, you have to pay for it.”
A hushed, low voice. Winston flinched. Feeling his reaction through their pressed bodies, Yu-jin continued.
“If you want to sleep with me, pay for it. Then I’ll fuck you.”
He spoke as if he were granting Winston some great generosity, then lifted his head. This time, Winston didn’t try to stop him. Yu-jin quickly pulled himself away and stepped back in a hurry. Winston, too, rose, albeit with slower movements.
The sweet atmosphere from moments ago had vanished completely. The two of them stared at each other in tense silence. Yu-jin wondered what Winston would say next, but there was no time to find out.
A child’s voice rang out in the distance.
“Daddy! Daddy!”
The mood shifted in an instant. Yu-jin froze, and Winston’s expression hardened. He couldn’t let the child see Winston—couldn’t risk even a sliver of suspicion forming in his mind. Panic surged through him, and he tried to make his escape.
Fortunately, Winston moved first.
“You should go. Your precious child is calling for you,” Winston said, deliberately mimicking the way Yu-jin had once mocked him. He climbed onto his horse.
So he’s really leaving. Relief swept over Yu-jin, but it was premature.
Just as he turned his horse, Winston added one last remark.
“I’m looking forward to it—seeing how the service changes depending on the price.”
His words were unmistakably taunting. With that, he rode off, disappearing into the distance. Yu-jin stared at his retreating figure before snapping out of it at the sound of the child calling him again.
“Daddy, look! There’s a birdhouse!”
“It’s called a nest, Angie.”
Seeing the child bouncing with excitement over the haphazardly built nest tucked under the roof’s corner, Yu-jin gently corrected her, relieved. Angela…
Showing up at that exact moment… If only she’d come a little sooner.
A shudder ran down Yu-jin’s spine at the chilling thought.
“Daddy?”
Sensing something off, Angela called out to him. Snapping out of it, Yu-jin quickly smoothed his expression and patted her head reassuringly.
“Did you finish looking around? Was there anything else you wanted to see?”
“There’s a squirrel family living in that tree over there! I saw a hole this big, and when I peeked inside, they were sleeping all curled up…”
Excitedly, Angela began chattering about her discovery. Yu-jin listened, nodding along, but his mind kept drifting to one thing.
Two weeks.
A chill crept down his spine. The wheel had started turning, and stopping it was no longer an option. All he could do was hope everything unfolded as planned.
Think about the good. At least now, there would be money.
He struggled to pull his thoughts away from negativity, forcing himself to focus on the practical benefits. According to the will, Winston would provide him with financial support while he stayed here. He had even promised a checkbook, meaning he could finally breathe a little easier.
The first thing he’d do was buy clothes for Angela.
There were so many things he hadn’t been able to give her. Not once had she lived in abundance.
She’ll be so happy.
“Daddy?”
Lost in the thought, Yu-jin instinctively pulled Angela into a tight hug, making her blink up at him in confusion. With a smile, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and asked,
“How about we eat some sandwiches and talk about what you want? You can tell me anything you’d like to have.”
“Yeah! That sounds fun!”
Angela eagerly nodded. This was a game they often played—listing things they wanted but never actually getting them. To her, it was just another round of that little game.
But this time, it was different.
This time, Yu-jin intended to buy her everything she wished for.
Not much longer now.
As Angela nibbled on her sandwich, Yu-jin listened with a contented smile, soaking in the moment. The soft chime of the distant church bell mingled with the occasional birdsong from the forest.
***
A small group had gathered in the spacious sitting room. Apart from Winston, the Campbell family members sat scattered across the room, each wearing an expression of grave concern, stealing wary glances at one another.
“Are you telling me Winston is actually going to marry that bastard? And even have a child with him?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Gordon—the eldest son—spoke up. His mother, Madam Campbell, responded with a stiff, icy expression.
“Haven’t you been listening? I explained everything already.”
“Well, yes, but…”
Gordon faltered, embarrassed.
Lady Catherine stepped in next.
“No matter what, how can we just accept this? You should have opposed it more strongly!”
At Lady Catherine’s resentful tone, Madam Campbell shot her a sharp glare. When Catherine hesitated, her mother finally spoke in a firm, unyielding voice.
“Since when has Winston ever gone back on his word? Once he’s made a decision, who could possibly stop him?”
“But still…”
Lady Catherine trailed off, unable to let go of her lingering frustration. Ignoring her daughter, Madam Campbell swept her gaze over her gathered children before making a declaration.
“This is the only way we can receive the inheritance. Don’t you see that Winston has sacrificed himself for all of us? If you can’t be of any help, then stay quiet!”
Faced with their mother’s stern reprimand, no one could argue. She wasn’t wrong. Thanks to Winston’s determination, they would all receive their share of the inheritance. Keeping their mouths shut wasn’t that difficult in the grand scheme of things.
But what truly unsettled them was something else entirely—the fact that his chosen partner was that filthy whore.
“Mother, even so… Are you really okay with this?”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
Madam Campbell frowned at Gordon’s question. Watching her expression carefully, he continued cautiously.
“This means that Yu-jin—or rather, that thing—and the child it gives birth to will inherit our family name. The child will be Winston’s heir. Are you truly fine with that? Can you accept it?”
It was the question that had been hanging unspoken in the air, the unspoken fear in all their minds. Uneasy glances darted around the room before Madam Campbell finally responded.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already taken that into consideration.”
“How?”
Lady Catherine gasped in surprise. Madam Campbell took a slow look around the room, ensuring she had everyone’s attention before speaking again.
“The simplest method would be to get rid of the child a year after we receive the inheritance. There are plenty of orphanages in the world, after all.”
The will made no mention of the child’s future. As long as the baby was born, its role would be fulfilled. Madam Campbell continued smoothly.
“After that, Winston can remarry Evelyn and have a proper child, and everything will be resolved.”
At her words, her children’s faces brightened. Seeing this, a faint smile formed on her lips.
“So there’s nothing to worry about. All we have to do is wait for it to get pregnant.”
“Of course, Mother. You always have a plan.”
Gordon let out a hearty laugh, and the others quickly followed, their laughter filling the room.
With a satisfied expression, Madam Campbell lifted her teacup and took a sip.
“But Mother, does that mean there’s another method as well?”
Lady Catherine suddenly asked.
Madam Campbell turned to look at her. Catherine faltered under her gaze, offering an awkward smile.
“You called it the simplest method, so I was wondering if there was another. It’s always good to have a Plan B…”
Setting down her teacup with a quiet clink, Madam Campbell let out a slow, knowing smile.
All eyes turned to her in anticipation.
And outside, beneath the bright, unchanging sky, the wedding day steadily approached.
