The sky had been thick with clouds all day, and from time to time, it sounded like distant thunder was rumbling.
Standing before the towering mansion, Georgina wore a deeply disgruntled expression. It had been exactly three weeks since her parents had given her an utterly absurd task at the head of the dining table. Of course, Lady Catherine and her father had hoped their daughter would carry out her mission as quickly as possible—but it wasn’t that simple. Winston worked without a single day off, and no matter how many times she called his office, the secretary always gave the same bland response: “I’ll relay the message.” Not once had he returned her call.
Every single day, she called the mansion, asking when Winston would be off work. And the moment she heard today from the secretary, Lady Catherine pounced on her, pushing her out the door. That’s how Georgina ended up here, practically shoved along against her will. All that praying she’d done—yet here she was, reaping none of the rewards.
So I really came here after all.
It felt like she’d stepped into a horror movie, the kind where a hapless extra walks into a haunted house and dies in the first five minutes. But it was too late to back out now. This was the price she had to pay for the mess she’d created.
This is all Yu-jin’s fault.
Fuming, Georgina stomped forward. The more she thought about it, the more infuriated she became. Poking around out of sheer curiosity had led her to uncover an uncomfortable truth—a truth she could’ve lived without knowing. She’d brought this disaster upon herself, sure, but that didn’t let Yu-jin off the hook for using her as a pawn to escape. And it wasn’t as if Yu-jin didn’t know that Georgina had learned the truth.
If she counted the humiliation and hardship she’d endured because of it, then it was Georgina who’d gotten the short end of the stick. More importantly, she was an outsider—completely unrelated to all of it.
If anything, she was just the child of an accomplice.
With a bitter taste in her mouth, Georgina shook her head. This has nothing to do with me, she told herself. What good would come from digging all this up?
What if I end up telling Winston everything? Aren’t you even a little worried?
The memory of that day came rushing back. Her footsteps slowed, then came to a complete stop after only a few more paces.
Right before she’d handed over the pills, Georgina had taken a small step back and asked the question. In response, Andrew had simply chuckled.
“You’re never going to tell him.”
“Why not? Do I look like some petty liar to you?”
Stung by the remark, she’d snapped back with wounded pride. But Andrew only laughed louder and shook his head.
“No. You’re a clever girl. There’s no way you can’t do such basic math.”
Andrew had looked at her, his niece, frowning back at him, and said,
“You know damn well that if Winston finds out the truth, he’ll take everything from you. That’s why you’ll never say a word.”
Georgina hadn’t been able to refute him. As much as it stung, he was only stating facts. Even now, she was scrambling to justify keeping the truth from Winston.
Yu-jin left anyway, so what’s the point in telling him now?
Yu-jin lied and put me in this mess, so I owe him nothing.
This has nothing to do with me, so why stir up ancient drama I was never part of to begin with?
Thoughts like that kept spinning in her mind, one after another.
But she also knew—deep down—that all of this was nothing more than a cowardly excuse.
The truth was that Yu-jin had been falsely accused, and Winston had been completely taken in by it. Yet even knowing that, Georgina chose to stay silent. The reason was simple: the consequences for her would be far too severe.
I’ll lose everything I have.
She was certain Winston would seek revenge. That vengeance would be directed at her parents, Catherine and George—but Georgina would inevitably be swept up in it too. If her parents lost everything, then she would no longer be able to enjoy any of the privileges she’d taken for granted as a member of the Campbell family.
And so, she chose silence.
Turning a blind eye to the gnawing guilt that pricked at her conscience, she rationalized it all as a decision made for everyone’s sake.
“Miss Georgina, I really don’t think this is a good idea.”
The butler followed behind her, continuing in a cautious tone.
“Mr. Campbell just returned from London early this morning. It’s his first break in two weeks. I doubt he’ll appreciate an unannounced visit like this.”
“What do you expect me to do? No matter how many times I try to make an appointment, he never responds.”
Georgina snapped back, her voice sharp as if she were lashing out at the butler to vent her frustration.
“Well, maybe he should’ve picked up sooner. It’s not like I want to be here, either.”
“I understand that Lady Catherine is only concerned about Mr. Campbell’s wellbeing.”
The butler took a respectful step back and spoke more gently.
“But Georgina, I have to prioritize Mr. Campbell’s wishes. He specifically said he wanted to rest today. He’s not seeing anyone.”
Of course he did.
Georgina inwardly scoffed. Whether he’d truly been fooled by her mother’s fake concern or was just pretending to be, she didn’t know. Either way, the only thing that mattered to her was the fact that Winston had refused to see her.
She felt a powerful urge to just turn around and leave, but she couldn’t bring herself to act on it. If she did, Lady Catherine might literally drag her back by the collar. Not that she’d do it herself—she’d probably just dump her in front of the gate and disappear.
Ahem. Georgina cleared her throat and forced herself to speak in a more composed tone.
“I just want to check that Winston’s doing okay. It won’t take long.”
She frowned slightly as she said it, then crossed her arms with a huff.
“Unless… is there a reason I can’t see Winston right now?”
The butler hesitated, clearly torn. Georgina could sense his inner conflict—should he remove this unwelcome guest, or show her the respect due to a member of the Campbell household?
Honestly, she was hoping he’d choose the former and just send her away. But that wasn’t the path he took.
“…Understood.”
Letting out a quiet sigh, he continued.
“I’ll ask Mr. Campbell first. If he refuses to see you, then I’m afraid we’ll have no choice but to escort you out.”
“Yes, please. That’s all I’m asking. Please do that.”
Georgina replied earnestly, and the butler gave her a bitter smile before turning away and heading down the corridor.
Left standing alone, she felt a strange hollowness creep in. She looked around, rubbed her palms nervously against her skirt, then froze as her eyes caught on something.
At the end of the hallway—was Winston’s room. And the room next door had once belonged to Angela.
Since the butler had gone in the opposite direction, Winston was likely in the study or somewhere else in the house.
The hallway was utterly silent.
Standing awkwardly in the empty corridor, Georgina was suddenly swept up by a strange, impulsive urge. She stepped forward and grasped the doorknob. To her surprise, it turned easily—the door wasn’t locked.
As the room opened with a quiet creak, she stood frozen at the threshold.
Of course, the room’s occupant wasn’t inside.
Oddly enough, a faintly sweet scent lingered in the air.
Why does Winston’s pheromone scent linger in this room?
Georgina tilted her head in puzzlement, but quickly brushed the thought aside. Winston’s scent clung faintly to every corner of the mansion. There was no reason Angela’s room would be any different.
Welcome! I’m so happy you could join me for tea.
The image came flooding back—the bright face of Yu-jin, smiling alongside the little girl who’d lifted the hem of her dress and greeted her so sweetly.
Her chest tightened with an ache she couldn’t explain, and drawn by that uninvited sense of longing, Georgina stepped slowly into the room.
The scene inside was nothing like she remembered.
Toys were scattered haphazardly across the floor, and the tea table still bore the remnants of a recent gathering. It looked like two people had been sitting there.
Yu-jin and Angela must’ve had their last breakfast here, Georgina thought.
And they didn’t clean it up afterward?
That wasn’t like the butler at all—he was meticulous to a fault. She tilted her head again and glanced around the room.
That’s when she saw it: a single book resting on the living room’s coffee table.
Huh.
The cover looked familiar. Drawn to it like a magnet, she walked over and picked it up.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she confirmed what she was thinking—
Knock knock.
A sudden rapping at the door made her yelp.
“Eek!”
She whirled around in alarm—and there he was.
Framed in the doorway stood a towering man.
Winston.
Only then did Georgina realize that he’d gently knocked on the open door to announce his presence. Her throat tightened, and she instinctively swallowed.
atleast winston likes his niece i hope