Angela quietly stared at Winston’s face. Seeing the child’s expression filled with confusion and hesitation, Winston spoke again—this ti slowly, with certainty.
“I’m by your side. No one will hurt you, and you won’t get hurt. I swear, I will protect you.”
Then, with intent, he added,
“I promised Yujin that.”
At the ntion of Daddy’s na, Angela visibly wavered. Noticing the child’s heart starting to soften, Winston pressed on more firmly.
“Keep the promise you made to Yujin. I’ll keep the promise I made to you. So trust .”
Any other child would have given in by now, relying on the man who said he would be on their side. Because the only person offering support was this man before her.
But Angela was not so easily swayed.
“I can’t trust you.”
Still trembling, her voice stubborn, the child said,
“You only said bad things to Daddy, and you fought with him. I still don’t trust you.”
That clearly struck a nerve, but Winston showed no sign of it, as usual. Although this ti, for so reason, it took more effort than ever, he still lied without a flinch.
“Right now, I’m protecting Daddy and your little brother.”
Though it was basically captivity, no matter how mature, a child can never see through an adult’s lies. Instead, he followed with the truth.
“You probably fight with your friends sotis too, right? Adults don’t always get along perfectly either. I’m trying to reconcile with Daddy now, and I want to get along with you too. So please, trust .”
“That’s not an easy thing to do.”
Angela spoke firmly, her trembling voice settling as so tension eased during the conversation. Winston smiled, glad at least for that much.
“Then how about this? Give a chance. Let’s see if I keep my promises at this party.”
For the first ti, Angela’s expression showed interest. Winston seized the opportunity to continue.
“It’s simple. If I fail this ti, you can hate forever and never trust . But if I do well, then trust from now on.”
Looking for her opinion, Winston gently gazed at Angela. Though no answer ca imdiately, he sensed it was only a matter of ti before the child agreed. Now it was ti for the final pitch in their negotiation. As usual, Winston saved the sweetest offer for last.
“After the party ends, let’s go see Daddy.”
Angela imdiately reacted to that.
“But we just saw him not long ago.”
Her eyes brightened and her cheeks flushed red. Winston smiled warmly and nodded.
“Daddy was very sad that he couldn’t co to your birthday party. So he promised we’d have our own party again after this one.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes.”
Now the child was almost won over. Winston gently stroked Angela’s cheek.
“So let’s do our best just for this party. I’ll stay with you the whole ti, okay?”
Angela fell into thought again. Though it lasted only two or three seconds, Winston waited nervously for her answer.
“...Okay.”
Finally nodding, Angela replied. In that mont, Winston kissed the child’s cheek without realizing it.
“Ah, sorry.”
Snapping back to his senses, he hurriedly apologized. Angela said it was okay. But Winston clearly saw Angela’s coy expression as she wiped the cheek where his lips had touched with the palm of her hand.
This was huge progress.
He scolded himself, turned his head as if not noticing. This was just the beginning. If the party went well, Angela’s wariness would soften much more. In fact, there was almost no chance anything bad would happen at the party. Who would dare harm Angela at a party hosted by Winston, and with him always nearby?
Confident that he could turn the child’s fear into trust, he descended the stairs without hesitation.
“Good evening, Mr. Campbell.”
“Thank you for inviting , Mr. Campbell.”
“Oh, is this the birthday girl? She’s so adorable.”
As soon as people saw Winston, they tried to catch his attention with comnts here and there. The sudden flood of words startled the child, who gripped Winston’s shoulder tightly. Winston could feel the fabric of his suit crumpling under the pressure, but he didn’t care and instead held the child even closer.
“This is my daughter Angela. We t before.”
People around laughed exaggeratedly and fussed over them at Winston’s words.
“Of course, yes. She’s even cuter than last ti.”
“So pretty. Anyone would fall under the spell of such a cute little witch.”
“Thanks to this wonderful Halloween party, our kids can enjoy it together. Thank you, Angela.”
Everyone praised Angela lavishly. Winston knew well that this was flattery aid at him, but if it made Angela confident and happy, it served his purpose just fine.
Sure enough, not long after, Angela relaxed and loosened her grip on Winston’s shoulder. Smiling at her noticeably more comfortable reaction, Winston asked,
“Angie, aren’t you thirsty? Want sothing to drink?”
At that mont, the eyes of the people around them widened. Among those clearly unable to believe what they were seeing and hearing, Angela answered politely.
“I want a chocolate shake. And a chocolate brownie too.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Winston was amazed that she had told him what she wanted so openly. He didn’t try to hide his delight. Barely restraining himself from kissing the child’s cheek again, he excused himself to the people and left. As he carried the child, those watching exchanged dumbfounded looks.
“Did I just see that right?”
“No way, that Winston Campbell...”
“I’ve never seen him smile like that before.”
“ neither.”
In the confused chatter, almost the sa thought settled in everyone’s mind.
If we cross that child, Winston Campbell might kill us.
“Could she be his real daughter?”
Suddenly soone spoke. When surprised eyes focused on her, she hurriedly continued.
“Of course, there are many who treat adopted children like their own. But look carefully, doesn’t she look like him?”
Everyone caught the hidden aning. Seeing that so many thought the sa, maybe it was true.
“But, like the rumors say, she might be Harold’s child too?”
At the cautious remark, everyone fell silent again. It was taboo. If Winston knew such talk was going around, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Does it matter whose child she is? The important thing is that Mr. Campbell clearly cherishes her like this.”
Soone sharp-witted concluded, and others nodded eagerly. Now their focus turned to how to win Angela’s heart. Of course, the person who most wanted that at the party was Winston himself.
“Ahh.”
After eating a piece of brownie with her chocolate shake, Angela sighed in satisfaction. Sitting beside her and watching her fondly, Winston asked,
“Was it good? Want so more?”
“No, thank you, but I’m okay, Mr. Campbell.”
Angela gracefully declined his offer.
“This ti, I want lemon sherbet. If you bring a piece, I won’t refuse.”
Winston imdiately stood up. Of course, he wouldn’t say no.
“Of course, Your Highness. I’ll bring it right away.”
Though it would have been easier to just call a waiter at their table, Winston acted differently than usual. The child asked him to ‘bring it’, so this wasn’t a difficult request. Just as Winston started to move, he paused and asked with a serious face,
“Are you sure you’ll be okay alone?”
Recalling the frightened, trembling Angela, he asked. She nodded confidently.
“Of course, Mr. Campbell. Thank you for worrying, but I’m fine. A princess must bear the weight of her crown.”
Though she still didn’t fully understand what that ant, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Angela’s condition was clearly improved. Winston smiled and left soon after. Left alone, Angela sat upright and looked around. People dressed as vampires, monsters, demons—everyone in various costus—were laughing and chatting.
I wonder what Daddy is doing...
The happy feeling she’d had suddenly vanished and loneliness ca instead. Behind the gloomy child, several pairs of eyes were watching Angela.
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