“It’s amusing. Keep going.”
That single line, spoken with a faint smirk, left Grant speechless. Was this man always so impossible to communicate with?
“How do you even run such a massive company with that kind of rigidity? Or is your so-called ‘flexibility’ something that only shows up when you’re doing business?”
Grant asked incredulously, frustration creeping into his voice. Winston responded with a soft chuckle. The sneer that cut through the silence nearly made Grant apologize on reflex. Thankfully, he caught himself before making such a humiliating mistake.
“I don’t think the man who snuck off with Yu-jin right under my nose has the right to talk.”
Winston’s tone remained eerily calm. If it weren’t for the heavy scent of pheromones thick in the air around him, there would’ve been no way to tell just how enraged he truly was. Grant silently thanked the fact that he was a Beta as he fired back.
“And why shouldn’t I? This is America. You’re not a king. Under our great Constitution, we’re all equal here.”
The nerve of this guy—barging into someone else’s home and acting like royalty. How arrogant could one man be? Grant puffed up his chest in defiance, only to see Winston smile back at him. But it was far from a friendly smile.
“It’s not a crime to crush an ant with your pinky finger.”
The color drained from Grant’s face.
“What the hell? Are you saying you’re going to crush my company like some bug?”
“Why not? If you think it’s unjust, then go ahead—appeal to the law you seem to respect so much. Of course, by the time the verdict comes, you’ll already be dead.”
Grant, now pale as ash, sputtered in disbelief, but Winston replied with the same casual ease. He was furious, but also speechless, the absurdity of it all leaving him stunned. Trembling, fists clenched at his sides, he could only glare as Winston slowly rose to his feet.
“I think that’s enough talk. Let’s wrap it up. And I assume I don’t need to spell out what’ll happen if you ever try to sneak Yu-jin away from me again.”
He said it—he actually said he’d crush my company like an ant!
As Grant glared and panted in disbelief, Winston straightened to his full height, casting a shadow over him. Overwhelmed by the sheer force of the man’s towering presence, Grant instinctively stumbled a step back. Then Winston spoke, voice cool and firm.
“You’d better think carefully. Unless you’d prefer to drop your little sandbox game and return to your family.”
It wasn’t just a threat—it was a promise. The thought of his fledgling company crumbling into dust right before his eyes made Grant feel as though he couldn’t breathe. He’d already lost his marriage over this. If he were to lose the company too, following Kate’s departure, he might genuinely lose his mind. As Grant stood there trembling, his face pale as death, Winston gave a broad, satisfied smile.
“Your parents must be thrilled.”
With a patronizing pat on Grant’s arm, Winston turned as if to leave—then paused. Grant, frozen in place, could only watch blankly as Winston casually picked up Yu-jin’s book from the table and walked out.
***
Back in the car, Winston slid into his seat just as his bodyguard shut the door and promptly stepped back. A moment later, as the vehicle began to move, Winston’s gaze fell upon the large teddy bear placed in the seat beside him.
It was the only trace Yu-jin had left behind. The faint lingering scent of his pheromones must have clung there because he had spent so much time with Angela. Angela had adored that teddy bear.
Winston gently ran his hand over the stuffed animal. The soft texture against his palm stirred something odd inside him. His mood was in complete shambles, and yet the plush was so soft—almost as if it were offering him comfort.
They say children love stuffed animals for this very reason. That the softness provides a sense of calm. But could that really apply to a grown man, too?
What a joke.
Winston let out a dry chuckle and pulled his hand away. By habit, he reached for a cigarette, placed it between his lips, and was about to light it when his eyes fell on the teddy bear. He froze for a moment, simply staring at it. Then, with a slow movement, he removed the cigarette from his mouth, returned it to the case, and sat up straight.
If the bear starts to smell like smoke, Angie won’t like it.
The thought came without warning. And right after, he became keenly aware of the thick haze of his pheromones still lingering in the car. Angela wouldn’t like that either. Pressing a button, Winston lowered the window to air out the scent that had filled the space. After letting the wind cleanse the cabin for a while, he closed the window again—this time, with no trace of his pheromones left.
Once the air was clear, he picked up the teddy bear and brought it close, breathing in. Thankfully, Yu-jin’s scent was still there.
Hoo. A sigh of relief escaped him before he even noticed. Winston stared down at the bear in silence. Memories surfaced—he remembered when he’d first bought that toy. He’d been told the weight of the bear mimicked that of a baby. That was why it gave children such a sense of security.
The weight of a baby.
He repeated the phrase inwardly, then slowly pulled the bear into his arms. As pitiful as it was, the only thing he had left… was this stuffed toy.
***
“What? You want me to go to Delights?!”
The sudden, thunderbolt-like order had Georgina shouting across the breakfast table. Lady Catherine scowled gracefully, her expression full of disapproval.
“What kind of behavior is that—raising your voice like a commoner? Compose yourself.”
Was there anything harder to do than to calm down right after being told to calm down? Georgina’s eyes widened with fury at her mother’s words, her agitation flaring up even more.
“It’s absurd! Why do I have to go to Delights? For what possible reason?!”
“Georgina, please. Just stay calm for now.”
Her father chimed in gently from beside her. She turned to him with a look of betrayal, but the moment passed—there was nothing she could say to argue with him. Her lips pouted in defiance, and she huffed loudly. Seeing this, Lady Catherine finally spoke again.
“It’s been nearly three months since that thing disappeared. You should go check on Winston, see how he’s doing. If something has gone wrong, we’ll need to prepare for it.”
“What do you mean, something goes wrong?”
Georgina scowled and asked, her father responding with an awkward look.
“It’s just a possibility, that’s all. Something could happen to the company…”
“So you’re trying to sell off the shares before it collapses?”
She cut in sharply before he could finish, making her father cough awkwardly and her mother frown in irritation.
“Georgina, mind your dignity.”
“Why? Is talking about money undignified now?”
Georgina couldn’t help but scoff. After all, no one in the world loved money more than her own parents—that much she knew for certain. Lady Catherine, however, offered a gentle chiding to her daughter.
“Of course you can talk about it. But flaunting it excessively? That’s what lacks dignity.”
There were a thousand contradictions in that, but Georgina knew she wasn’t in a position to argue them. She was still a minor, after all, and thanks to her parents’ protection, she had lived a life of comfort, rarely lacking anything she wanted.
“So then, why me? Winston probably hates my guts right now. If he sees me, he might actually wring my neck.”
She’d heard all about how desperately Winston had been searching for Yu-jin. If the person who had played a major role in helping Yu-jin escape suddenly showed up in front of him, how would he react? The very thought made Georgina shudder. Lady Catherine watched her tremble, then said calmly,
“Don’t worry. Winston knows it wasn’t your fault. Didn’t he tell you himself at the time that it was okay? That the real wrongdoer was Yu-jin, who used your innocence?”
“Exactly. Winston understands that much, I assure you.”
Her father nodded firmly in agreement, and Georgina couldn’t help but think, Really? Is that true? Even if someone told me it wasn’t my fault, if I were him, I’d probably still want to slap me at least once.
Granted, Winston was far more mature and far more cold-blooded than she was. He wouldn’t do something like that. Still, sending her to Delights to keep an eye on him seemed utterly reckless.
“Then why don’t you and Mother go instead?”
Her tone petulant, Georgina pouted as she spoke. Her father responded with a sigh.
“We already did. He wouldn’t even agree to meet us.”
“Then why me?”
“Because you have a reason.”
Her mother chimed in from the side. When Georgina looked at her with a sour expression, the couple smiled in unison and said,
“Just say you came to apologize about the whole Yu-jin situation.”
“Wha—Eugh?!”
Georgina let out a dramatic noise, her mouth hanging open in disbelief as she flopped back in her chair. But her parents only smiled at her more warmly than ever, their faces radiating sincerity.
OMG GEORGINA’S PARENTS GONNA MAKE ME END UP IN JUIVE ATP