Madam Campbell stood by the window, arms crossed, gazing out.
The mansion’s beautiful garden stretched wide before her, but it didn’t register in her eyes at all.
Winston’s injuries were worse than I thought…
Even now, he was holding on with the help of strong painkillers. Just the thought that she’d nearly lost her precious son—more valuable than life itself—still sent chills down her spine. And along with that fear came a surge of fury at that lowborn thing.
She had gone through so much to separate them. There was no way she would let all of that go to waste now.
She had already heard that Yu-jin had returned to Delight. But the reason she hadn’t gone to meet him right away was because she knew—this had to be handled carefully. Winston still didn’t know. No—he couldn’t know. Everyone who had known the truth had already been taken care of.
Except for her own children, who had conspired with her.
But the children could be trusted. If they made even a single mistake, their lives would be in danger too. And now that Harold’s inheritance was at stake, they’d surely keep their mouths shut.
The only person weighing on her mind was Andrew. He had fallen for Yu-jin before and caused no end of trouble for Madam Campbell. He probably wouldn’t pull such a foolish stunt again, but under the influence of the drugs, it wasn’t impossible he might slip up.
In a way, it’s good he’s medicated right now.
Thanks to that, she’d been able to use it as a reason to have Andrew committed to the psychiatric ward. It wasn’t something she wanted to do—after all, he was still her child, just like Winston—but things had changed. With the inheritance on the line, there was no other option. If she told Andrew it was because of the inheritance, he’d understand.
Either way, there was no chance of that matter being exposed. None whatsoever.
***
Winston stared blankly at the changing digits on the elevator display.
He’d left the office two hours earlier than usual. Outwardly, he looked composed, but inwardly, his thoughts were tangled.
“There’s no particular reason.”
He recalled what Yu-jin’s primary doctor had said when he inquired. On the other end of the line, the doctor had spoken in a flat tone.
“His body’s a bit weakened, but there are no other abnormalities. Of course, that’s just based on a quick examination. If he can come to the hospital soon, we can run a detailed test using the machines.”
The doctor had added that, for now, he had given Yu-jin a nutrient injection, and ended the call.
Honestly, Winston had been planning to visit the hospital where Andrew was admitted after finishing work today. But now, he was torn.
Is there really a reason to see Andrew? It’s not like anything’s going to change anyway.
Of course, he knew the reason. Evidence wasn’t only for Georgina. Winston needed it, too. Proof that he had done everything he could. After all, he was planning to pretend to believe Yu-jin’s words anyway.
Maybe Yu-jin’s physical condition was due to stress.
Either way, he needed to schedule something soon. Once the detailed tests were done, they’d probably be able to pinpoint the cause.
Hoo… He let out a short breath without meaning to and ran a hand through his hair. Just then, a dull chime sounded, and he felt that strange sensation of his body floating slightly. The elevator came to a stop, and a moment later, the doors opened. His security team stepped out first, quickly forming a line on both sides, and Winston followed after them. He slid into the waiting car, and soon the massive vehicle began to move slowly. There was no need to say where they were headed—his secretary had already relayed the destination.
Winston didn’t bother to change the destination. He figured it was better to just get this tiresome business over with quickly. As he gazed absentmindedly out the window, his brows furrowed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone dart into the path of a slowly moving car as it exited the parking lot. The vehicle screeched to a sudden stop.
“I’m sorry!”
A loud voice rang out, and a woman quickly moved into view, right in front of the window where Winston was seated. In a flash, his bodyguards exited the vehicle and restrained her, pulling her away. Watching the scene unfold with a calm expression, Winston leisurely lowered the window.
“Georgina, what do you think you’re doing?”
His voice was calm, but there was a subtle thread of irritation woven into it. Georgina struggled against the guards holding her, shouting urgently.
“I have something to say—it’s important! Seriously, you’ll regret it if you don’t listen!”
She was desperate. Winston had never seen her this frantic before, and there was something oddly fresh about it. Instead of answering, he simply raised his hand. Instantly, the bodyguards let her go. Georgina shot them a sharp glare, then smoothed the wrinkles out of her clothes and began to speak.
“Just so you know, I’m not that late.”
Winston gave a dry chuckle and pointed out coolly, “I believe the condition was before my secretary reported to me.”
“I know, I said I wasn’t that late, didn’t I?”
She replied in a slightly raised voice, clearly stung by his jab. Winston leaned back into his seat with an exaggerated sigh, making no effort to hide how annoyed he was.
“So? What’s the reason you just had to show up this late?”
He added mockingly, “Even went as far as jumping in front of a car.”
“I have a very good reason.”
Georgina stood tall, wearing a triumphant smile as she squared her shoulders. There was something different about her energy, and Winston sensed it immediately.
“You’re not acting that smug just because you found out which hospital Andrew’s in, are you?”
At Winston’s musing, Georgina flicked her hair back haughtily and gave a confident nod.
“Of course not. I mean, why would I bother bringing you cheap info like that? It’s not like you’d trade anything for it, would you?”
“…Trade?”
He echoed her word slowly, drawing out the last syllable. Georgina leaned forward slightly.
“Yeah. Can we talk? Just the two of us.”
Georgina glanced meaningfully at the surrounding bodyguards. When Winston leaned back in his seat and closed the window, one of the guards promptly opened the opposite door. Georgina took a deep breath and quickly climbed into the car. The interior of the massive sedan was infused with a faintly sweet scent—unmistakably Winston’s pheromones.
Of course he wouldn’t suppress his scent in his own car.
Silently accepting that, Georgina suddenly wondered—then why in the world does he suppress it at Delight? It’s his estate, after all.
“So.”
Winston’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. His cool, piercing eyes were fixed directly on her.
“What’s this incredibly confident trade offer about?”
Did she get that nonsense from some cheap spy novel or something? Up to that point, Winston didn’t trust her. He’d only decided to listen out of the bare minimum courtesy. As if reading his mind, Georgina took a deep breath and began.
“Let me start with my terms. Whatever happens—I want to be left out of it. Especially, I want to finish college.”
“You want me to sponsor you until you graduate?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to spend my whole life paying off student loans.”
Winston’s brow furrowed faintly. Is it really that serious? That she’s worried even about tuition? Does she think I’d go that far—to destroy Catherine and everyone? No way. It had to be just a kid exaggerating. Or maybe she was panicking and spiraling into wild delusions.
“Wouldn’t you be able to afford that yourself? You’ll get your trust fund when you turn twenty.”
“Regardless. That’s that, but you never know what could happen.”
She was adamant. Winston nodded indifferently.
“Fine. I’ll give you that. Now talk. What’ve you brought?”
He told himself he might need to resist the urge to laugh at her. As he tensed his lips, bracing for disappointment, Georgina took another deep breath and spoke.
“Winston, have you ever considered… what if everything you think you know is a lie?”
Instead of replying, Winston furrowed his brow. Georgina’s breathing turned shallow with tension and fear; her shoulders trembled slightly as she tried to calm herself.
“I gave Andrew those drugs… because I needed to know what really happened that day.”
The crease in Winston’s forehead deepened. Georgina’s voice quivered as she reached into her pocket and pulled something out—something she’d kept carefully hidden.
“Here.”
She gently placed a small USB stick on the armrest. Winston stared at her, as if to say What the hell is this?
“It’s proof,” Georgina said, swallowing hard.
“The truth about that day is on it.”
Winston said nothing. He simply froze, staring at her, completely rigid—like the world itself had stopped.
Finaly!!!!!!
OMVJFNFNFNG
Let see how Winston Will beg for always doubting and blamed Yujin.