Winston nearly let his face twist in disgust. Quickly masking his emotions, he forced a bright smile as he watched Evelyn approach him.
“Winston, it’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Fine. You look well too.”
He gave her a quick, formal hug before stepping back just as swiftly, flashing a mechanical, polite smile.
“I didn’t expect you to be here…”
Drawing out the end of his sentence on purpose, he flicked his gaze toward Madam Campbell. Evelyn was quick to speak first.
“Why not? It’s a good chance to see each other. Right, Mother?”
“Of course, dear. I’m glad our hearts are in sync.”
Watching the two exchange cheerful pleasantries, Winston felt an inner wave of irritation.
Maybe this was an opportunity after all.
This wasn’t good for Evelyn either. Rather than letting his mother carry on unchecked, it would be better to speak directly with Evelyn. He forced another light smile, pretending nothing was wrong.
“Mother.”
Lady Catherine appeared out of nowhere and gently took Madam Campbell by the arm. Without a word, as if she already understood, Madam Campbell smiled and gave a small nod. Just as she was about to follow her mother, Lady Catherine paused and glanced between the two of them.
“You look good together. Should’ve been like this from the start. You really do make a lovely pair.”
As if reading from a script, she delivered the line smoothly, then gave a quick wink before disappearing after her mother. Moments later, Madam Campbell appeared at the center of the stage.
“Thank you, everyone, for joining us this evening.”
As Madam Campbell stepped into the spotlight and greeted the crowd, the guests responded with applause. Beaming with satisfaction, she went on to offer compliments and lighthearted remarks to the attendees. Winston, watching the crowd laugh on cue, turned his head slightly, disinterested. Evelyn, who had been looking toward Madam Campbell, seemed to notice and shifted her gaze—meeting his eyes.
“Shall we go out and talk for a bit?”
At Winston’s question, a faint blush crept across Evelyn’s cheeks. She gave a small nod, and he led her through the crowd toward the garden. From the stage, Madam Campbell caught sight of the two of them slipping away together, and the corners of her lips curled upward. After confirming the man who followed them at a distance, she resumed speaking as if nothing had happened.
***
The murmur of the crowd faded into the distance. As they walked in silence through the garden, Winston was the first to speak.
“I didn’t think I’d run into you here.”
“Your mother invited me.”
Evelyn responded with a smile.
“You came knowing I’d be here, didn’t you?”
At his question, she hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Winston barely managed to suppress a sigh.
“Evelyn.”
“Yeah?”
When they stopped a little distance from the mansion, Evelyn, who had been walking beside him, came to a halt as well. The sounds of the party could still be heard in the distance. Winston looked down at her and opened his mouth.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
At his ominous opening, Evelyn looked up at him, slightly tense. A flicker of guilt tugged at Winston’s conscience. She hadn’t done anything wrong. It was his mother, constantly using Evelyn, who was in the wrong. But this empty, pointless relationship—it had to end. He drew in a sharp breath and spoke.
“I don’t know what you’ve been expecting from me, but I’m married.”
Evelyn’s face suddenly turned cold, rigid. Winston continued as gently as he could, careful not to hurt her more than necessary.
“If we keep getting tangled up like this, it won’t do you any good either. I’ll speak to Mother again, but I’d like you to turn her down the next time she contacts you like this.”
His words were stripped of emotion, spoken in a businesslike tone. Evelyn blinked, clearly thrown off. Her gaze wandered as if searching for something, until finally, with a look of resolution, she spoke.
“Your mother… she said you’d be getting divorced soon…”
Her voice trembled faintly, then faded into silence before she could even finish the sentence. Winston replied flatly, almost dispassionately.
“Maybe. But even if that happens, I won’t marry you. I won’t marry anyone. Not unless it’s Yu-jin.”
As he said the words aloud, reality began to settle in. Yes—Yu-jin would leave him. He’d made sure of it.
Driven mad by jealousy.
“If Yu-jin chooses someone else and marries him, then I’ll stay alone for the rest of my life.”
A bitter smile crossed his lips. That future was already etched in stone. He could see it as clearly as if it were happening now—Yu-jin walking away, Angela gone, and himself, aging alone.
Just like Harold had.
“I love Yu-jin.”
He said it with unmistakable clarity.
“I loved him in the past, I love him now, and I’ll love him for the rest of my life. I’ll never be able to love anyone else but Yu-jin.”
Ah… was there any truth more absolute than this?
As the full weight of his feelings hit him once again, Evelyn finally spoke.
“You were all I ever looked at.”
Her soft voice quivered faintly. In her eyes, Winston could see the swirling storm of despair, sadness, betrayal—all tangled in one painful gaze.
“I’m sorry.”
He meant it. Deeply. Maybe he understood her feelings better than anyone else at this moment. A wave of bitterness passed through him. Evelyn’s eyes shimmered for a moment, then the tears finally fell.
“You were all I had.”
She had muttered it like a passing thought—then suddenly snapped, her voice rising with frustration.
“You said you were getting divorced! That boy doesn’t even love you, and you know it!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Winston’s reply was quiet. As Evelyn flinched, he added in a low voice,
“Yu-jin’s feelings don’t matter. Because I love him.”
Evelyn fell silent again. Watching her twisted expression as she struggled to hold back tears, Winston apologized once more.
“I’m sorry.”
Evelyn said nothing further. She lowered her head, shoulders trembling as she stood before him. Winston simply watched in silence.
Suddenly, she raised her fist—and gave him a weak, soft punch in the arm. Then, leaning against his chest, she began to cry in small, broken sobs. Winston held her quietly. There was no emotion in it. It was merely an act born of guilt.
He couldn’t place all the blame on his mother. He bore responsibility too—for giving up and getting engaged to Evelyn in the first place. Knowing her feelings, could he truly say he hadn’t used them for his own convenience?
And yet.
Ah, and yet…
Winston closed his eyes. Right now, more than anything in the world, he wanted to see Yu-jin.
***
“Welcome back, Mr. Campbell.”
Even before the butler could open the door for him, Winston had already stepped out of the car, prompting the quick greeting. He brushed past the butler and asked,
“Where’s Yu-jin?”
“In Angie’s room, sir. It’s just about bedtime, so…”
Winston didn’t wait to hear the rest. He took long strides, quickening until he was practically bouncing up the stairs two or three steps at a time. He couldn’t wait another second to see the two people he loved most.
Reaching the door in no time, he paused to catch his breath, shoulders rising and falling. A sliver of light leaked from beneath the door. He waited a beat, then carefully pushed it open.
Angela was lying in bed, and beside her, seated on a small chair, was Yu-jin. Both of them turned their heads at the same time.
Ah…
A breath of pure relief and joy slipped from Winston’s lips. Angela was the first to react, lighting up as she sat up in bed.
“Winnie!”
“Angie.”
Winston beamed as he approached them.
“I’m back.”
He kissed the child on the cheek and held her in a warm embrace, then cast a glance toward Yu-jin. Yu-jin watched them with a less-than-pleased expression, then looked away without a word. Winston hadn’t expected much else—so he wasn’t disappointed. Just quietly bitter.
“Why were you so late?”
Angela’s question snapped him back to the moment, and he quickly focused his attention on her.
“Work kept me busy. Thanks for waiting, Angie.”
When Winston spoke, Angela responded with a pleased smile.
“I was so sleepy I almost fell asleep. You have to come earlier from now on.”
My daughter.
The thought struck him so suddenly that Winston nearly pulled both the child and Yu-jin into his arms at once. He could’ve had it all—a happy home with this precious little girl and the only person he had ever truly loved. And yet, he had wasted years. He had thrown away every precious moment since Angela was born—no, even since Yu-jin was pregnant.
All because he had fallen for someone’s lies.
Winston clenched his fists and held back the overwhelming urge to destroy himself.
“What’s wrong?”
Yu-jin called out to him. Winston looked between the two sets of eyes fixed on him and shook his head.
“It’s nothing. …You were reading that to her?”
He nodded toward the fairy tale book in Yu-jin’s hands. Glancing down at it, then back at Winston, Yu-jin gave a small nod.
“Angie picked it. It’s her favorite.”
“I see…”
There was a pause before Winston spoke again, his voice low and hesitant.
“Would it be okay if I read it to her?”
