Winston was standing outside the door, just as expected. The moment Yu-jin saw his face, his complexion turned pale, but Winston spoke indifferently.
“Do you need anything else?”
There was no point in arguing any further. Yu-jin eventually slumped his shoulders and murmured quietly, “No.”
The moment the words left his lips, Winston scooped Yu-jin up in his arms and carried him back to the bed. This time, he placed Yu-jin on the inner side, positioning himself closer to the door.
“Go to sleep.”
Saying that, he wrapped his arms around Yu-jin’s waist. This time, he even tangled their legs together, leaving no room for escape. Yu-jin’s heart pounded with unease.
Did he notice I was trying to run away?
No, that’s impossible. Yu-jin quickly dismissed the thought. This man was only doing this because he doubted his fidelity. He had no choice but to marry him for the sake of the inheritance, but if rumors spread about him being promiscuous, Winston’s honor would be tarnished.
Of course, it was nothing but a grand misunderstanding, but the real problem was that there was no opportunity to break free like this.
What should I do?
Yu-jin was too preoccupied to sleep.
By the time morning arrived, he was already exhausted. But he couldn’t break his promise to the child. Just as he was about to force his heavy body up, Winston, as expected, caught him from behind.
“I told you—you’re not leaving.”
“It’s morning now,” Yu-jin replied, his voice drained.
“No matter how many men want to roll around in bed with me, even they have to work to make a living.”
It was a way of saying, It’s daytime, so stop this already, but of course, it didn’t work.
Just how much of a seductress does this man think I am?
The thought suddenly crossed Yu-jin’s mind.
Does he really believe the whole world is dying to sleep with me? How ridiculous.
An irritated scoff threatened to rise, but he was too exhausted to even laugh. Instead, he decided to be upfront with Winston, who showed no signs of letting him go.
“I promised Angela that I’d have breakfast with her in her room. If I don’t show up, she’ll worry.”
That finally earned a reaction. Winston stared at him intently, and Yu-jin, exasperated, continued in a weary voice.
“I wouldn’t lie using a child. If you don’t believe me, ask Kane. I told him yesterday to have breakfast set up in Angela’s room.”
Winston, who had been watching Yu-jin’s face, finally sat up. As Yu-jin looked on, thoroughly fed up, Winston reached for the telephone on the side table and called Kane to confirm.
“…Can I wash up now, Your Majesty?” Yu-jin asked sarcastically once Winston hung up.
Winston’s only response was a slight furrow of his brows. Taking that as permission, Yu-jin quickly slipped out of bed and all but ran toward the bathroom. Just as he reached for the door, he glanced back and sneered.
“If you wake up the moment I so much as move, wouldn’t it be better if we just slept separately?”
Winston looked just as fatigued as Yu-jin. But as he got out of bed, he replied in a detached voice.
“It doesn’t matter. I barely sleep anyway.”
That couldn’t be true.
Yu-jin was certain Winston was lying. Extreme Alphas might have pheromones that made them physically superior to ordinary people, but that didn’t mean they could go without sleep entirely.
As Winston poured himself another drink from the bottle on the tea table, Yu-jin turned away and stepped into the bathroom. He dismissed the matter as something that had nothing to do with him.
No wonder he looks like that.
Yu-jin ran a hand over his face, troubled. If nights like that continued every day, his body would give out first. He couldn’t understand what Winston was trying to achieve. Why was he so stubbornly forcing himself into something that was clearly exhausting for both of them?
…Ha.
A sigh escaped his lips before he realized it, startling him. He glanced at Angela in alarm, but at that moment, a sudden knock at the door drew the child’s attention elsewhere. Yu-jin silently exhaled in relief, but as soon as he saw who had entered, his body tensed.
His eyes darted to Angela’s face—she was staring at the doorway, completely frozen.
“Angie, come here,” Yu-jin whispered, reaching out a hand.
The little girl scrambled off her chair and rushed into Yu-jin’s arms, burying herself against him. Her gaze remained locked on the unexpected visitor, filled with fear. Winston had taken a few steps inside but halted as soon as he saw her reaction.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the room.
***
For a while, they simply stared at each other in silence. Winston, as always, was impeccably dressed in a perfectly tailored suit—flawless in every way. Despite staying up all night just like Yu-jin, there wasn’t a single trace of fatigue on his face.
Yu-jin couldn’t help but marvel at the difference. So this is the trait they revere so much.
“Daddy.”
Angela’s small voice called to him from his arms. Snapping back to reality, Yu-jin was the first to break the silence.
“What is it? Do you need something from me?”
He couldn’t help but sound sharp. Winston didn’t respond, merely shifting his gaze to the tea table before looking back at them.
At that moment, Angela flinched in Yu-jin’s arms, her eyes quickly welling up with tears.
“Angie, it’s okay. Calm down,” Yu-jin whispered, trying to soothe her, but it only seemed to make things worse.
Angela suddenly burst into loud sobs, burying her face against his chest. Yu-jin hurriedly wrapped his arms around her and snapped, his voice filled with anger.
“If you have nothing to say, then get out! You’re making her cry! This is your fault!”
“…What?”
Winston looked at him, dumbfounded. After all, all he had done was step inside and look at them. But that alone was enough to terrify the child.
Yu-jin kept trying to comfort Angela, but her wails showed no sign of stopping.
“Nooo! That smell—I hate it! It’s scary… Waaah!”
Her shrieking sobs filled the room, and at last, Winston turned around and walked out.
For the first time, he had conceded defeat.
Yu-jin was somewhat surprised but had no time to dwell on it. Calming Angela took priority.
“It’s okay, Angie. He’s gone. Campbell left, so you don’t have to be scared anymore. Let’s stop crying now, alright?”
He kissed the top of her head and whispered soothing words, and finally, her sobbing began to subside. Sniffling, Angela lifted her head and cautiously glanced around the room.
Only after confirming that Winston was truly gone did she stop crying—though her tears turned into quiet, shuddering hiccups instead.
“Here, drink some water, Angie. That’s it.”
He gently held a cup to her lips, and she obediently took a sip. Her breathing was still uneven, but at least she had stopped crying.
“Is Campbell really that scary?”
Now that she had calmed down a little, Yu-jin asked, and Angela gave a small nod.
It seemed Winston’s pheromones had left a deep trauma in her.
Yu-jin sighed, pulling her into a tight embrace.
***
By the afternoon, after all the commotion, Yu-jin was utterly drained. He sat in a chair, nodding off, barely able to keep his eyes open.
Angela, who had been reading a picture book, noticed and spoke up.
“Daddy, what’s wrong? Are you sleepy?”
Yu-jin opened his eyes at the sound of Angela’s voice and let out a sigh.
“Mm… Sorry, Angie. I’m just a little tired.”
“It’s okay, Daddy. Here, sleep. You can use my bed!”
With a determined expression, Angela grabbed his arm and tugged him toward the bed. Yu-jin gave her a faint smile and lay down as she directed. Climbing onto the bed, Angela carefully pulled the blanket up to his chest and patted him gently.
“Lullaby, lullaby.”
“Thank you, Angie. Then, Daddy will sleep for just an hour and get up.”
“Okay! Hurry and sleep. Close your eyes!”
With her tiny hands, she pressed Yu-jin’s eyelids shut. Obediently, he closed his eyes, and before long, he drifted into deep sleep.
Making sure not to wake him, Angela carefully climbed down from the bed.
Daddy must be really exhausted.
She gazed at his pale face, lost in thought.
Is there something I can do to help him feel better?
The little girl furrowed her brows in concentration, then suddenly, her eyes lit up as if she had an idea.
Raising herself onto her toes, Angela tiptoed out of the room and quietly shut the door. The moment it clicked shut, she took off running down the hallway at full speed.
“Angie, where are you going?”
Kane, who happened to be passing by, called out to her. Angela was already bounding down the stairs when she shouted back.
“I’m going to get a present for Daddy!”
“Angie!”
Kane yelled after her as she dashed across the vast hall.
“They said it’s going to rain this afternoon! Don’t go too far!”
“Okay!”
Angela called back, flinging open the front door and rushing outside.
Above, the sky was darkening as ominous black clouds gathered. A vivid flash of light streaked across the heavens, followed by the rumble of distant thunder.
