“You want to go to the shop yourself?”
The butler asked after Yujin ntioned it following lunch with his daughter. Yujin nodded and replied.
“I figured there’d be more to see if we go in person... and I’d like to get so clothes for Angie too.”
“I want to get ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) so fresh air too!”
Angela, standing next to Yujin and holding his hand, chid in. It was a line Yujin had coached her to say in advance, though deep down he worried the butler might find it suspicious. Fortunately, the man asked no further questions. He simply smiled at Angela and said, “I’ll prepare the car,” before turning away. Maybe there was no need to involve Angie after all. Yujin felt a quiet sense of gratitude for the butler’s professional discretion — never questioning a master’s orders and carrying them out without comnt.
“Daddy, Daddy.”
When he looked down at the sound of her voice, Angela was tiptoeing, trying her best to get close and whispered,
“Did I do good? Was that okay?”
She covered her mouth with her hand and whispered softly. Smiling, Yujin picked her up.
“You did great, Angie. Thank you for helping.”
Overjoyed, Angela wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Tell anyti! Helping you is my most favorite thing in the world!”
How did I end up with a daughter like this?
Yujin’s nose tingled with emotion. If this child was what he’d received for using up all his luck, he’d never regret it. If he ever had to choose, a hundred tis, a thousand tis, he’d always choose Angela. Unable to contain his overflowing love, he hugged her tight, and Angela rubbed her cheek against his.
I can do this.
Yujin descended the stairs with his daughter in his arms. The butler, who had been coming up at that mont, paused and spoke.
“The car is ready.”
Anything is possible — if it’s for Angie.
“Thank you.”
He gave a polite nod and continued down the stairs. With every step, his legs felt ten tis heavier, but he didn’t stop. He knew if he hesitated even slightly, he’d give everything up. Yujin tightened his grip around the girl in his arms. Angela seed to sense his tension and curled up against him. He wanted to reassure her that everything was fine, but he didn’t have the strength for even that.
Haa, haa.
He was already breathless, barely able to hold back his panting. He had no energy left for anything else. The butler hurried ahead and opened the front door. Beyond the open entrance, a black sedan was parked a few steps down.
Haa, haa, haa, haa.
His dizziness worsened with each breath. If he hadn’t been carrying his daughter, he might’ve collapsed. Yujin strained to stay conscious, his eyes wide with effort. The thought that Angela might get hurt was the only thing keeping him on his feet.
“Daddy.”
After finally buckling Angela into the back seat, she imdiately called out to him. Yujin forced a smile in place of a reply and fastened her seatbelt. When it ca ti to buckle his own, it took him several tis longer. He could feel the driver sneaking glances through the rearview mirror, but this was the best Yujin could manage.
Haa...
A weary breath escaped as he finally clicked the belt into place. But it wasn’t over — this was just the beginning. The driver, having seen through the mirror that Yujin was ready, slowly started the engine. Yujin clutched the door handle so tightly his knuckles turned white. His whole body trembled with cold sweat.
“Daddy.”
Angela, on the verge of tears, grabbed his arm. Yujin tried to calm himself for her sake, but it wasn’t easy. I have to endure this. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. Without the car, I can’t leave this place. I have to withstand this. I can do this.
Please.
Yujin held his breath and fought back against the fear with all he had. The car sped along, but the destination was still far away.
Haaah...
By the ti they returned to the estate, Yujin was utterly exhausted. When they had finally made it to the boutique, he’d regained so stability over a cup of coffee while picking out clothes for Angie. But the mont it was ti to get back in the car, the symptoms returned. By the ti they reached the estate, he felt like he might collapse right there on the spot.
“Daddy!”
His daughter clung desperately to his leg as she jumped out behind him. Yujin didn’t even have the strength to lift her — he could only muster a feeble pat on the head.
“Are you all right? You don’t look well. Should I call the physician?”
The butler, who had opened the car door and watched quietly, finally spoke. Yujin just barely managed to shake his head.
“I’ll be... fine. Just need rest. It’s motion sickness.”
He answered faintly and staggered up the stairs. Angela stuck close to his side, practically glued to him, but he couldn’t even spare the energy to reassure her.
This is bad.
Yujin collapsed onto the bed, completely drained. In this state, there was no chance of escape — he couldn’t even make it out of the estate. What am I going to do? A headache blood behind his eyes. Without being able to ride in a car, everything becos impossible.
Stupid Harold. Why did you have to build the house on such a huge estate?
Blaming the deceased wouldn’t change anything now. In this state, it was practically imprisonnt. Yujin buried his face in his hands and groaned.
“Daddy, does it hurt a lot?”
Angela’s voice cut in suddenly. When he removed his hands and looked over, she was clinging to the edge of the bed, her expression filled with worry. Standing on tiptoe with both arms stretched up to grip the mattress — the sight made Yujin panic and reach out.
“What are you doing? Co up here, Angie.”
He pulled her arms gently, and she easily climbed onto the bed. She imdiately nestled into his arms, and he held her close as she looked up and asked again.
“Daddy, are you really hurt?”
“No, I’m okay.”
Yujin smiled and kissed her forehead. Angela returned the gesture with a kiss to his cheek.
“What did you think of the clothes today? Did you like them?”
When he asked kindly, Angela nodded — but her expression quickly clouded.
“But... I don’t need clothes. I don’t like it when you’re sick.”
I shouldn’t have taken her with . I just made her worry. I could’ve gone alone. The regret hit him hard, and he whispered an apology.
“Next ti, let’s have them co to the house instead. Is that okay?”
“Can we?”
“Of course.”
Rembering that this had been the original plan all along only deepened his guilt. Yujin lay down and hugged her from behind, gently patting her back.
“Let’s take a nap together, Angie.”
“Okay.”
Before she closed her eyes, she said,
“Tell a story.”
“Sure.”
Yujin paused briefly to think, then began speaking — slowly weaving a story from scratch, as he always did. As he spoke, Angela’s eyelids gradually drooped. Listening to her soft, even breaths, Yujin too eventually drifted off.
Footsteps echoed in the distance. Angela stirred and rubbed her eyes as she turned around. Still drowsy, she blinked sleepily until the sound drew closer — and then the doorknob slowly turned.
The faint scent that reached her in that mont snapped her fully awake. Alard, she scrambled across the bed and jumped down on the far side. As the door opened wide, soone stepped inside and the now-intensified scent flooded the room. Winston had returned. Angela turned pale and crawled frantically under the bed. A mont later, the man pressed a button on the wall and the room lit up brightly.
"......Nn."
Startled awake by the light, Yujin let out a small groan. His brow furrowed tightly as he barely managed to lift his eyelids. Shielding his eyes with his hand, he finally looked around the room. Angela wasn’t there.
Did she go back to her room...?
Just as he was awkwardly sitting up, his eyes t a pair of violet ones watching him. Yujin froze. Winston, expressionless, stepped forward and spoke.
“Did spending money again make you lose your damn mind? There's going to be plenty of money coming in from now on, so why don’t you try to keep it together?”
It took Yujin a mont to comprehend the words. He stared at Winston, who had just shrugged off his suit jacket and thrown it over the back of the sofa, and finally managed to speak.
"...What?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)