The weather was clear after a long ti. Although the chill of approaching winter was felt from the morning, it made the mood rather refreshing. The tedious eting ended quickly, and everything went smoothly. Could another day like this co again? It was a peaceful day to the point that such a thought occurred—but Winston was not in good condition.
“Mr. Campbell, are you alright? Shall I call the physician?”
The secretary hesitated for a long mont before speaking, noting the unusually strong pheromone scent and the deeply furrowed wrinkles on Winston’s brow. Winston rubbed his forehead, closed his eyes, and replied,
“Continue the report.”
“...Understood.”
With a displeased expression, the secretary fixed her gaze on the docunts and continued her report. Winston tried to focus on her voice, but the headache ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) persisted. For several days now, he had been tornted by this unpleasant headache. The pain started mildly but steadily increased in intensity. He knew the cause: he hadn’t released pheromones for too long. The limit was approaching. How long could he endure? He needed to release the pheromones before serious problems arose.
“...Party.”
“Yes?”
The secretary, standing by after finishing the report, didn’t catch the low-spoken word imdiately and asked again. Winston still did not look at her as he spoke.
“Find out if there is a pheromone party. As soon as possible. Today would be best.”
“Understood.”
Only then did the secretary realize why her superior was unwell and quickly left the office. Until she returned with a report, Winston had to swallow a handful of pills to relieve the headache.
Damn it.
A curse slipped out unconsciously. The accumulated pheromones even caused pain in old wounds on his back. It felt as if sothing was testing how long Winston could endure.
But enduring this was rare. Especially since in recent years he had regularly released pheromones, so feeling this kind of pain was unusual. Now, it was the limit.
“Mr. Campbell, I have located where the pheromone party is currently being held. Shall we proceed imdiately?”
Hearing that, Winston checked his watch. There was still plenty of ti before leaving work, but attending the pheromone party made his return ti uncertain. If the rut ca and he lost consciousness, he might not be able to return today.
He wore a serious expression, lost in thought, then pulled out his phone.
“Prepare to leave imdiately.”
“Understood.”
The secretary turned on her heel and left promptly. Behind her, Winston called the butler.
“Yes, Mr. Campbell.”
“What is Yujin doing?”
When Winston asked, the butler responded with his usual businesslike tone.
“He is in the study. Lately, he often reads books there.”
Winston gave no imdiate reaction. He needed to recall but his mind was not working properly. The butler hesitated briefly, about to ntion that Charlotte was scheduled to visit, but Winston spoke first.
“I am going to the party today. Tell Yujin yourself.”
He knew Yujin wouldn’t wait for him anyway.
Winston could tell just by looking at Yujin’s face how much he hated him. What did it matter? He had him now. That was enough.
“Understood. Please be careful.”
The butler ended the conversation without further words. His master’s condition was the most important thing. The news that Charlotte was coming for tea ti was hardly sothing Winston needed to know imdiately.
Winston pressed his temple as the knocking ca, and the secretary entered. She cautiously spoke, watching her superior.
“The car is ready, Mr. Campbell. It is waiting now.”
Without a word, Winston stood, put on his suit jacket, and walked out. Damn pheromones. Gritting his teeth, he strode resolutely down the corridor. Suddenly, his father ca to mind. Harold frequently went to parties to release pheromones, sotis buying many ogas for wild nights. Like many other extre alphas. Harold, who lived a life enslaved by pheromones until his death, was he making an inevitable choice or exercising his will? Winston probably would never know, since Harold was already gone.
Why, why?
In the elevator descending rapidly, Winston grimaced and closed his eyes. Why did that mory resurface so vividly now? When the face of Yujin smiling at him from Harold’s arms appeared clearly in his mind, the bell rang and the elevator stopped. Thanks to that, Winston stopped his thoughts and quickly moved with long strides to the waiting car.
The important thing was the present. Harold was dead. Winston was alive. In the car speeding smoothly, Winston thought: There would be no more such incidents. No one in the world would dare take Yujin away from Winston.
The Campbell family belonged to Winston. Yujin belonged to him as well.
“Did you say Winston might not co ho today?”
When the butler repeated the words, Winston answered nonchalantly.
“He’s very busy with work and will be working late. There’s a eting all night... He said to rest early today.”
“I see.”
It was a ssage with little aning. She wasn’t really waiting for Winston, so she wasn’t disappointed or worried about him. Rather, she thought it was good that she could rest comfortably today. Of course, her expression showed it, but the butler said nothing.
Just then, through the window, a familiar car running across the garden ca into view. It was Charlotte’s car. Yujin, sitting on the floor playing dolls with Angela, spoke.
“Angie, get up. Charlotte’s here. Let’s go greet her.”
Holding her hand, they went out, halfway down the stairs, when the front door opened and Charlotte entered. Yujin imdiately picked up the child and hurried to her.
“Welco, Charlotte.”
He breathed heavily and smiled warmly.
“Yes... Hello, Yujin.”
Charlotte greeted him in return, but her face was still pale. No, she looked worse than usual.
What could have happened?
Yujin grew worried inside but didn’t dare ask carelessly. One mistake was enough. Charlotte, who had been angry before, must have had a reason to co find him first. He thought he should focus on that now. Angela, looking between the adults, tily spoke.
“Hello, Charlotte.”
“Ah, uh... Yeah, Angie.”
Angela standing beside greeted after her, and a faint smile appeared on Charlotte’s face. Relieved that the tension eased a bit, Yujin led her to the prepared tea room.
“I prepared rose tea, but if you want sothing else...”
“Oh, no, this is fine.”
Charlotte hurriedly shook her head at Yujin’s offer. Seeing her still anxious, Yujin deliberately tried to ease the tension by talking nonsense—about the rose tea, the snacks that ca with it, and the prank Angela had pulled the day before. Charlotte only responded with yes, no, or I see repeatedly. Eventually, Yujin grew tired first.
“What do you want to talk about?”
Judging there was no need to waste more ti, he asked directly. Charlotte startled as if electrocuted. Seeing her suddenly pale and trembling, Yujin felt both guilt and frustration.
If that’s just her personality, there’s nothing to do.
He tried to ease her by changing the subject first so she might find it easier to talk, but it wasn’t easy. Sweating nervously and at a loss, Yujin glanced at the child.
“Angie, could you leave us for a mont? Charlotte seems to want to tell a secret.”
With gentle coaxing, Angela blinked and nodded. Since she had just finished the cake, the child politely said goodbye and hurried out of the tea room. Once alone, Yujin gave Charlotte another chance.
“Now, please talk. Do you need more ti?”
Charlotte, still trembling, raised her head. When their eyes t, her terrified pupils shook wildly.
“...I’m sorry.”
At first, Yujin couldn’t understand the barely uttered words. He just blinked, when suddenly Charlotte jumped up and swung sothing at him.
“...Ah!”
Startled, Yujin let out a short scream. Then he saw bright red blood spurt in front of him. It was his own blood he realized next. What? Was he hurt? Bewildered by the sudden situation, Yujin’s dazed sight caught Charlotte wielding a knife toward him. A small knife hidden in her clothes, but as sharp as any weapon. Slowly approaching like in slow motion, her image filled his view, then the mont—
“Ugh...!”
With a sharp pain in one side of his chest, Yujin collapsed.
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