“Mr. Campbell, welcome.”
As soon as Winston stepped out of the car and into the bank, an employee who had been waiting hurried over to greet him. Without wasting time, Winston glanced around the interior and asked,
“Where’s Yu-jin?”
“This way, sir.”
The employee, quick to pick up on Winston’s urgency, took the lead and guided him forward. It didn’t take long to spot Yu-jin. Winston first caught sight of him sitting behind a clear glass partition. And as if to confirm that it was truly Yu-jin, the child sitting beside him came into view right after. His steps, which had briefly hesitated, suddenly quickened. Practically breaking into a run, the distance between them vanished in an instant. Winston’s heart pounded wildly in his chest.
As if sensing something, Yu-jin froze. Then slowly—painfully slowly—he turned his head. At last, their eyes met. Winston saw it all clearly: the way Yu-jin’s eyes widened and his face turned ghostly pale.
Hoo…
He nearly let out a breath of relief—audibly. This time, it’s real. So many times he’d mistaken someone else for Yu-jin, only to be crushed by disappointment. But not this time. It was him. Right there.
The one who had abandoned him and run away.
“Hiiik…”
Just as Winston clenched his jaw against the rage rising in his chest, Yu-jin gasped in a near-scream and sprang to his feet. He looked like he might bolt again—but this time, he didn’t move. Frozen completely in fear, paralyzed, Yu-jin stood there like a trapped animal.
Winston’s fury surged uncontrollably. He couldn’t have cared less about all the eyes now turning toward them. His focus was locked on one thing. If I had a gun, I might’ve pulled the trigger right here. His teeth ground audibly as he clenched and unclenched his fists over and over.
Suddenly, Angela jumped down from her chair and shouted.
“Winnie!”
Winston flinched. Instinctively, he stopped in his tracks, wide-eyed, locking eyes with the child.
Did she just…?
“No, Angie!”
Yu-jin’s panicked shout rang out as he grabbed Angela just before she could run toward Winston. Scooping her up, he bolted from the office in the opposite direction of where Winston stood.
“Ha.”
Winston let out a short, incredulous scoff. Running again? From me? How dare you.
“Leave them.”
Just as the bodyguards moved to give chase, Winston stopped them. At his unexpected command, they hesitated. Still staring in the direction Yu-jin had fled, Winston finally spoke.
“There’s nowhere left to run now.”
Haa, haa, haa, haa.
Yu-jin, pale as a ghost, ran through the building in a panic. What do I do? What now?
He’d rushed out through the emergency exit he’d memorized just in case—but even there, men were already waiting for him. Shocked, Yu-jin darted across the hallway and sprinted up the stairs. The pounding of countless footsteps chasing after him echoed like a nightmare. He flung open the emergency door on the next floor and bolted down the corridor, thoughts spiraling in chaos.
That man might actually kill me.
He had seen it with his own eyes—Winston’s deep violet eyes glinting faintly with gold. That alone had sent chills down Yu-jin’s spine, throwing him into full-blown terror. Facing Winston’s icy wrath was beyond terrifying. Jumping out the window would’ve been the better option. If not for the child in his arms, he would’ve already done it.
“Daddy?”
Yu-jin finally stumbled into what looked like a supply closet, slammed the door shut behind him, and locked it before curling up in the darkness. Angela, who had been stunned into silence until then, cautiously called out to him. But Yu-jin couldn’t bring himself to speak. He only hugged the child tightly to his chest.
There’s nowhere left to run. He’s going to catch me. Soon—any moment now.
And when that happens…
The image of Winston wrapping his hands around his throat played in his mind with such vivid clarity it felt real.
Clunk.
The sound of someone turning the doorknob rang out. Or rather—the dull thud of it being stopped by the lock. Yu-jin’s eyes widened in horror as he stared at the handle jerking back and forth. It rattled a few more times… then fell silent. Yu-jin, tense as a wire, kept his gaze locked on the sealed door under the dim glow of a single overhead bulb. The silence dragged on. Maybe it was just my imagination… His frayed nerves were stretched to the limit, ready to snap at the faintest sound.
Click.
A cool, crisp sound echoed through the dark.
Holding his breath, Yu-jin saw the doorknob—once stubborn and unmoving—begin to slowly turn. Inch by inch, the door creaked open. And with it, bright light spilled into the room, cutting through the gloom.
The sudden flood of light hit his wide, dilated pupils, forcing Yu-jin to squeeze his eyes shut and instinctively curl tighter around Angela. Every sense now honed in on sound. Tap. Tap. Measured, ominous footsteps filled the air. But contrary to what he’d braced for, there was no sweet scent. He had expected Winston’s fury-laced pheromones to crush him, to drown him in dread.
The footsteps stopped right in front of him. He could feel the man crouching down slowly. But still, all he could smell was the dusty air of the storage room. Is it one of Winston’s bodyguards? the thought flickered in his mind. Trembling with fear, Yu-jin cautiously opened his eyes. Blinking a few times to sharpen his focus, he finally saw the man’s face clearly—and froze.
Winston was staring at him. That cold, hardened face locked squarely on Yu-jin’s.
This time, not even a scream escaped. His fear paralyzed him completely, making his body shake uncontrollably. Only now did he realize how insanely reckless he had been. I was wrong. Please, don’t hurt Angela! Yu-jin wanted to beg, but no sound came out.
Then he saw Winston raise a hand. Gasping, Yu-jin shut his eyes tight and desperately shielded Angela with his arms.
Winston didn’t move for a while.
Yu-jin had no idea what that silence meant—he could only tremble, helplessly. All he wanted was for Angela, nestled in his arms, to remain unharmed. Bracing himself, he waited for Winston’s next move. And then—suddenly—he felt warmth on his head.
…What?
A hand gently stroked Yu-jin’s head, freezing him for an entirely different reason. That hand slowly slid down to his shoulder, then wrapped around him, spreading warmth through his whole body. Only then did Yu-jin realize—Winston was hugging him.
“…Are you okay?”
Winston finally spoke for the first time. His voice was deeper than usual, rough and hoarse. Yu-jin noticed, belatedly, that Winston’s arms around him were trembling.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, right? …Everything’s okay now, isn’t it?”
The questions followed, and Yu-jin could hear it—his voice was faintly shaking. And as soon as he became aware of that, the fear that had been clutching his heart started to ease. His nerves slowly settled. Hesitating, Yu-jin carefully twisted his body and slipped out of Winston’s arms. To his surprise, Winston let him go without resistance.
They were so close, and yet—there was no scent of pheromones from him.
Why…?
Why is he holding back his pheromones?
As the thought struck him, Winston’s face finally came into view.
His expression was twisted, lips bitten hard, but there was no trace of anger. What Yu-jin saw instead was pain. Agony. Powerlessness. Total despair.
And it left him utterly shaken.
Why?
Why are you looking at me like that…?
“Winnie.”
Still speechless in his confusion, Yu-jin heard Angela call out suddenly. The uneasy silence broke—and then Yu-jin witnessed something he could hardly believe.
Angela reached her arms out toward Winston. And Winston, his expression softening, lifted her into his embrace.
“Thank God, Angie… You’re safe,” he said, holding her tightly, his voice raw with emotion.
It was the truth. Unfiltered, undeniable. And Yu-jin couldn’t help but acknowledge that.
As he stood there, blinking in stunned silence, Angela wrapped her arms around Winston’s neck and spoke.
“Winnie, I missed you.”
At her heartfelt confession, Winston inhaled sharply. After a long pause, he exhaled deeply and responded.
“I missed you too, sweetheart.”
Yu-jin could only watch them. Just watch.
