“Have you returned, Mr. Campbell?”
Winston gave a brief nod in response to the butler’s formal greeting before stepping inside the mansion. Tonight, he had returned much later than usual. The quiet estate became even more silent at night, exuding an eerie stillness akin to a grave.
As always, Winston climbed the stairs with long, purposeful strides, and the butler followed wordlessly behind him. The rhythmic sound of his footsteps echoed through the house, amplifying its somber atmosphere. The butler naturally assumed his master would head straight to his room—but tonight was different.
Before reaching his destination, Winston suddenly stopped. Standing in the corridor, he gazed at a particular door in silence. The butler patiently waited without speaking. Winston stared at the closed door for a long moment, as if debating whether or not to enter. The butler merely stood by, waiting for his decision.
After a brief hesitation, Winston resumed walking. He strode to the door at the end of the hallway and pushed it open. But upon stepping inside, he halted. Just as he had expected, the bed was empty. The pristine, undisturbed sheets indicated that no one had used it. As Winston silently observed the bed, the butler spoke.
“Mr. Yu-jin is resting in Angie’s room. I checked earlier and saw that they had fallen asleep together. Shall I wake him?”
Winston remained silent. A few seconds passed before he finally responded.
“No, leave him be.”
It was no surprise. He had already grappled with the decision while standing outside the child’s room. With a short reply, he entered the room fully, shrugging off his suit jacket and loosening his tie before carelessly draping them over the sofa’s backrest. The butler quickly stepped forward, gathering the discarded garments over his arm as he asked,
“How is your condition? I have your medication prepared.”
On the tea table beside the balcony door, as expected, the usual set of pills and alcohol awaited him. Without hesitation, Winston strode toward the table and poured himself a glass of whiskey. The butler quietly observed as he downed the drink in a single gulp.
“Shall I bring ice?”
Only after setting the empty glass down did the butler ask, but Winston shook his head. Without a word, he grabbed a handful of pills and tossed them into his mouth, chasing them down with another full glass of whiskey.
“I’m throwing a party next weekend.”
The butler blinked in surprise at the sudden announcement as Winston placed his glass back on the table. Without shifting his gaze, Winston continued.
“Invite as many people as possible. Make sure that everyone who attended the wedding and the reception is there. No exceptions. No absences. This party is important.”
The butler hesitated. The timeframe was tight—would it even be feasible? However, questioning orders was not an option. Rather than voicing concerns, he simply nodded obediently.
“Understood. Then… what about the hostess? Shall I inform Madam Campbell?”
Under normal circumstances, Yu-jin should take on that role. But given the current situation, that would be difficult. The butler suggested the most reasonable alternative in his mind—but Winston had other ideas.
“Yu-jin can do it. It’s his role, after all.”
“Ah… yes.”
With nothing more to say, the butler simply responded with an obedient acknowledgment and stepped back. If Winston had decided as such, then there was no room for argument.
What is he thinking?
Though baffled, the butler forced himself to focus on his duties. Starting tomorrow, preparations for the party needed to begin immediately. There was no time to send out formal invitations, so guests would have to be contacted by phone. But first, the guest list had to be checked…
“And one more thing.”
The butler, lost in thought as he mentally organized the tasks ahead, snapped to attention at Winston’s voice. As he focused, Winston lifted another glass of whiskey to his lips and continued speaking.
“Tomorrow…”
Hearing the next words, the butler inadvertently turned to his master in shock.
***
“Breakfast? With me?”
Yu-jin couldn’t hide his surprise as he repeated the maid’s words. The expressionless maid simply gave a small nod before speaking again.
“I will guide you to the breakfast room. Are you ready?”
“Oh, uh… no, just a moment.”
He had barely woken up. Carefully extricating himself from the bed so as not to disturb his sleeping daughter, Yu-jin slipped out and hurried to the bathroom.
Why the sudden decision to have breakfast together? What is he up to?
The night before, Winston had returned extremely late. Yu-jin had made sure to put Angela to bed early and stayed with her in her room, yet Winston hadn’t come back until well after Yu-jin had fallen asleep. He had even braced himself for the possibility that Winston might drag him out of Angela’s bed—but that hadn’t happened either.
All of his predictions had been wrong. And now, out of nowhere, Winston wanted to have breakfast together.
Yu-jin had no idea what went on in that man’s head. Sighing, he finished getting ready as quickly as possible and stepped back outside. After confirming that Angela was still fast asleep, he followed the maid down the hall.
Ah.
As they descended the stairs and walked through the long corridor, the rich aroma of coffee reached him before they even arrived at the breakfast room. The scent grew stronger with each step, signaling their approach. Yu-jin inhaled deeply, suppressing the nervous hitch in his breath as he continued forward.
Upon entering the breakfast room, the first thing he saw was Winston seated at the table, bathed in the morning sunlight as he sipped his coffee.
The butler, who had been standing beside Winston, noticed Yu-jin’s arrival and moved to pull out a chair for him across from Winston. The air inside the room was filled with the warm, inviting scent of coffee, and the large windows let in streams of golden light, accompanied by the occasional sound of birds chirping outside. The atmosphere was peaceful—almost idyllic.
But Yu-jin couldn’t relax.
With his jaw clenched, he forced himself to move toward the table. There was no doubt Winston was aware of his presence, yet the man remained fixated on his tablet, offering no reaction whatsoever.
“Thank you.”
Yu-jin waited until he was close enough before offering a brief word of thanks to the butler, who had pulled out his chair for him. The butler only spoke after ensuring Yu-jin had settled into his seat.
“Would you prefer coffee or tea?”
“Tea, please.”
“Would you like honey or lemon with it?”
“Either is fine.”
“Understood.”
The butler then went on to confirm how Yu-jin wanted his eggs cooked, how crispy he preferred his bacon, and what kind of juice he would like for breakfast. As he took note of each answer, he stole a brief glance toward Winston. Without drawing things out unnecessarily, he soon departed. Given his practiced demeanor, it was clear he had merely been making sure that his master lacked for nothing.
The sound of birdsong filled the room once more.
At last, they were alone.
Though the awkward silence unsettled him, Yu-jin had no intention of being the first to break it. Nothing good ever came out of that man’s mouth, after all.
But Angela was waiting for him alone in the room.
Summoning him here only to ignore him like this? Anger welled up inside him, but there was no avoiding it—he was the one at a disadvantage. In the end, Yu-jin had no choice but to speak first.
“What do you want? You didn’t call me here just because you wanted to have breakfast with me.”
Winston didn’t even lift his head as he responded.
“Wait.”
Again.
He had said the same thing before, and Yu-jin had already made it clear that he didn’t appreciate it. Yet Winston’s attitude remained unchanged.
Does he lack the ability to learn? Or does he simply think anything I say is beneath him?
The realization left Yu-jin with only one course of action.
“Winston.”
Reaching across the table, he grasped Winston’s teacup. The man had continued to ignore him up until that moment, but Yu-jin calmly pressed on, his voice low.
“Are you going to get changed, or are you going to talk to me?”
That finally made Winston lift his head, his brows furrowed in irritation. Yu-jin, unfazed, continued in the same measured tone.
“If I spill this, you’ll have to go change. Wouldn’t it be less of a hassle to just tell me why you called me here?”
From the corner of his eye, Yu-jin caught sight of the butler returning with his tea, visibly startled by the situation. But Yu-jin remained focused, still gripping the teacup as he locked eyes with Winston.
Winston, too, said nothing, merely holding his gaze in silent challenge.
Seconds passed.
The butler, standing behind them, hurriedly reviewed possible ways to defuse the situation, while Yu-jin and Winston continued to stare each other down, a quiet but undeniable tension thickening between them.
