Guests were arriving one after another. Yu-jin leaned against the railing on the third floor, gazing down at the growing crowd below.
Huu…
A shaky breath escaped him. He ran a hand over his chest, trying to release the tension in his shoulders, but it wasn’t easy. It’s fine. I have everything memorized.
As he observed each person entering, pulling up the relevant information in his mind, a voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
“You don’t have to try so hard to get them all right. Just pretending to know them is enough.”
Startled by the indifferent tone, Yu-jin quickly turned around, only to find Winston reaching past him to grip the railing. With a natural motion, Winston effectively caged Yu-jin between his arms, his gaze fixed downward.
“Most of the people here can’t even imagine the possibility that someone might not recognize them.”
Yu-jin’s heart pounded at the warmth radiating from behind him, making it difficult to process Winston’s words.
Why am I reacting like this?
He was flustered, but he couldn’t control it. When he remained silent, hunching his shoulders slightly, Winston’s voice came from above.
“Did you hear me?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
Yu-jin nodded hastily, snapping himself out of it. Now wasn’t the time to be dazed—this moment was too important.
“You’re introducing Angie too, right?”
Changing the subject, he moved as if nothing had happened. Winston hesitated for a beat before finally lifting his hands from the railing. Watching Yu-jin slip away so quickly, he spoke in a slow, measured tone.
“I was planning to bring her.”
“You?”
Yu-jin’s eyes widened in surprise. Winston, his expression unreadable, responded flatly.
“I figured she’d be playing in her room, so I stopped by on my way here.”
“And?”
Yu-jin glanced at him, as if asking why he was empty-handed. Winston remained silent.
Truthfully, he had gone as far as opening the door. He’d thought it would be fine—after all, Angie had come out to greet Yu-jin with him before. But he had miscalculated.
The little girl had been playing alone with her dolls when the door creaked open. At the sound, she lifted her head—only to recoil in alarm.
Winston had stopped in his tracks at her reaction, his brows knitting together.
“There’s a party soon. I just came to get you,” he had told her.
He had made sure to suppress his pheromones completely.
But despite his efforts to stay composed, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him.
Angie immediately hid behind the bed and shouted, “I’m not going! I’m waiting for Daddy!”
“I’ll take you to him.”
“I’m not going with you!”
She glared at Winston with all the defiance a child could muster and screamed at the top of her lungs.
“I hate everyone Daddy hates!”
For the first time, Winston stiffened.
For a long moment, he just stood there, watching the trembling child as she defiantly remained hidden, eyes locked onto his in hostility.
In the end, Winston had no choice but to leave without saying a word.
Yu-jin, completely unaware of what had transpired, waited for an explanation. But Winston remained silent. Eventually, Yu-jin let out a short sigh and spoke.
“I’ll go.”
Just as he turned to leave, Winston finally broke his silence.
“Your daughter said you hate me.”
What the hell is this now?
Yu-jin turned back with a scowl, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“And you thought I wouldn’t?” He scoffed. “Did your pheromones mess with your brain?”
Cursing himself for even wavering for a moment, he strode toward Angela’s room.
Never forget how that man discarded you. Never forget what he said to you when you met again.
Whore. Slut. Public toilet.
Yu-jin took a deep breath before opening Angela’s door.
“Daddy!”
The little girl ran toward him with a bright smile, and Yu-jin lifted her into his arms, smiling back.
Angela is all I have left.
***
By now, the banquet hall was almost full. When the butler informed him that more than half of the invited guests had arrived, Winston extended his hand.
“Give me the child.”
Yu-jin, who had been holding Angela the entire time, instinctively tightened his grip and pulled her close. Winston continued speaking.
“Just listen to me today. I won’t do anything bad.”
His quiet insistence carried a hint of urgency. Yu-jin hesitated, glancing down at Angela. Seeing the fear on her face as she frantically shook her head, he firmly refused.
“No. I’ll hold my own child.”
“Suit yourself.”
Winston unexpectedly accepted his answer without argument. It was so quick and easy that Yu-jin was about to feel suspicious—
“Ack!”
“Daddy!”
Yu-jin and Angela both screamed at the same time.
Without warning, Winston had bent down and scooped Yu-jin up.
Yu-jin’s eyes widened in shock as he suddenly found himself lifted into the air, still holding Angela. Winston barely spared him a glance before striding down the stairs as if nothing had happened.
“Wait—wait a second!”
Yu-jin’s panicked voice dropped to a harsh whisper.
“This is dangerous! I’m not in good shape—just, just stop for a second!”
“Daddy!”
Angela whimpered, clinging tightly to Yu-jin.
Desperate, Yu-jin pleaded over and over. Only then did Winston stop on the landing.
Panting, Yu-jin looked up at him and tried to negotiate.
“Just carry Angela. Put me down. That’s fine, right? Please?”
“I’m fine as it is.”
“You are absolutely not fine!”
Yu-jin looked at Angela, who had gone pale with fear, and quickly continued.
“I’m scared too. And look at Angie—she’s terrified. Right, Angie? It’s okay if Mr. Campbell carries you, isn’t it?”
Please, just say yes!
With a pleading gaze, he looked at the child. Angela hesitated, but upon realizing how desperate Yu-jin was, she gave a small, reluctant nod. It would be better for all of them than this precarious descent.
Yu-jin glanced up at Winston again, and only then did the man finally lower him to the ground. Holding back a sigh of relief, Yu-jin carefully passed Angela into Winston’s waiting arms. The little girl still looked frightened, but bravely pressed her lips together, trying to endure it.
It’s okay, Angie. I’m right here with you.
Yu-jin silently mouthed the words to reassure her.
Ignoring the exchange, Winston effortlessly lifted Angela with one arm—then, without warning, wrapped the other around Yu-jin’s shoulder and pulled him close.
Yu-jin, caught off guard, let himself be drawn in as Winston, eyes fixed ahead, spoke firmly.
“From now on, just stay quiet and follow my lead.”
What the hell is he planning?
Yu-jin had no idea what the purpose of this party even was, so even if he wanted to stir up trouble, he wouldn’t know where to start.
If Winston expected him to act with the dignity befitting the Campbell name, well… that wouldn’t be easy.
Internally mocking the thought, Yu-jin reluctantly followed.
As they stepped into the hall, murmurs rose around them. The event was truly beginning now.
“Mr. Campbell, thank you for inviting us. This is a wonderful party.”
The first person to greet them was a well-dressed lady. Yu-jin scrambled to place her face. That woman was…
“We’re delighted to have you, Mrs. Butler, Mr. Butler. Your recent interview was truly inspiring. More people need to be concerned about the environment.”
Huh?
Yu-jin glanced up at Winston, surprised by how smoothly he steered the conversation. He didn’t even have to struggle to recall people’s identities—he just had to follow Winston’s lead.
Nodding along, Yu-jin awkwardly smiled and went with the flow.
They continued greeting guests, and each time, Winston addressed them by name, effortlessly leading the discussions while subtly giving Yu-jin just enough information to keep up. He made sure Yu-jin was never caught off guard, guiding the conversations so that everything felt natural.
Thanks to that, Yu-jin had no trouble participating, and in turn, the guests responded warmly.
But that wasn’t all.
Throughout the evening, Winston made a point of mentioning Angela’s name in casual conversation, even smiling as he did so.
It was almost… picture-perfect.
To an outsider, they would look like an ideal, happy family.
That had to be the intention.
His goal was obvious, yet the reason behind it was still a mystery. What exactly was Winston trying to gain from this?
Yu-jin didn’t have to wonder for long.
As the party reached its peak, Winston suddenly led him onto a raised platform. Before Yu-jin could react, Winston grabbed the microphone.
A sharp beep rang out, silencing the crowd as all eyes turned toward them.
Only then did Winston smile and begin to speak.
