KISS THE SCUMBAG Chapter 26

Since they had spent almost the entire day inside the room, except for washing or going to the bathroom, it was only natural for her to be that happy. Still, my heart ached when I thought of the child who hadn’t complained even once. I had been so obsessed with the thought of leaving that I hadn’t had any room to spare. However, now that I was determined to run away with the child the moment an opportunity arose, it was crucial to inspect the inside and outside of “Delights” (Delight refers to the entire property, and Delights refers to the main mansion).

Yujin, who was about to wash up with the child and get her clothes to change, felt his heart grow heavy once again. Angela had very few clothes, and even those were all worn out and, without exception, had holes somewhere. After a moment of thought, he prepared the new clothes he had bought before coming to the mansion.

“I don’t want it, I’m not going to wear this.”

Seeing that, Angela suddenly shook her head, took the clothes from him, and put them back into the suitcase. Yujin was puzzled by this behavior from his daughter, who almost never complained, and asked, “Why? Do you not like the clothes?”

It was even more strange considering how Angela had been more careful than usual during the train ride, worrying that the new clothes might get dirty or ruined.

“I like the clothes. They’re so pretty.”

“Then why?”

When Yujin asked once more at his daughter’s honest reply, the child spoke with a sensible tone.

“We have to save them, they’re new clothes. What if they tear or something if I wear them at any time?”

Hearing his daughter’s confession, Yujin felt his heart sink. Even though she was only three, Angela understood their family’s difficult situation too well. Realizing that, my heart hurt so much I wanted to cry. But such weakness wouldn’t help at all and would only make the child anxious. Instead of bursting into tears, Yujin pulled Angela into a tight hug.

“It’s okay, Angie. You can wear them. I’ll buy you new ones again.”

At Yujin’s words, after he barely managed to suppress his emotions, Angela replied as if pouting.

“We don’t have any money, Daddy.”

“We do.”

Yujin pulled the child from his arms, looked into her face, and smiled.

“I told you, I decided to receive the inheritance.”

He thought his daughter would be relieved now, but Angela wasn’t easily convinced.

“Then save that money and buy a house. We don’t have a house.”

It wasn’t a bad thing for a child to be more sensible than her peers, but Yujin’s heart grew heavier with the thought that it was he who had made Angela that way.

“It’s a lot of money, enough to buy a house and your clothes, too. You don’t have to worry.”

As he forced a smile and stroked his daughter’s cheek, her eyes went wide.

“Really? Do you get that much? Then are we going to be rich?”

“Of course, we really are.”

It wasn’t a total lie. According to the will, their living expenses would be guaranteed during the contract period, and he would receive a certain amount of money as well. It meant that while they stayed here, he could raise the child a bit more abundantly. Yujin planned to save up cash little by little in preparation for when he would eventually run away.

“Are you satisfied now? Let’s put on the new clothes.”

“Okay.”

When Yujin lifted the clothes from the suitcase and spoke, the daughter couldn’t hide her joy and nodded her head vigorously. Seeing the child excitedly putting on the dress, it felt like the heavy burden on his heart had been lifted, if only a little.

Yes, sleeping with Winston isn’t such a big deal.

It wasn’t the first time, and there was nothing new about it. I just have to lie still and wait, for it to be over as soon as possible.

The Winston in my memory had been quite persistent, but I chose to pretend I didn’t know. It had already been about five years, and people are bound to change.

“All done.”

After tying the ribbon on the child’s waist nicely and brushing her long hair into a neat braid, she looked just like a protagonist from a fairy tale.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

Angela hugged Yujin, kissed his cheek, then excitedly sang and spun around. Yujin hurriedly cleaned up the room, changed his clothes, and went down to the kitchen. Having taken ingredients out of the refrigerator himself to make sandwiches for lunch, he went outside holding a basket with the packed lunch in one hand and his daughter’s hand in the other. The servants were all busy, so no one paid them any attention. Yujin confidently walked out of the mansion.

“Wow!”

The child was also exhilarated by the fresh air she was breathing for the first time in a while. I moved along, responding to every little thing Angela chirped about more than usual. The paths branching out in all directions connected to various buildings or facilities on the estate. Some led to the tennis courts, some to the greenhouses, and some to the sauna.

Where should we go first?

I needed to confirm the way out. Remembering entering the mansion in the lawyer’s car, the distance to the main gate was not insignificant.

It’s impossible to walk out of here.

Yujin had a grave expression as he thought about the massive grounds of Delights. It’s impossible without a car.

Can I… can I drive?

Just as a sense of anxiety washed over him, the mansion’s driver happened to pull a car out of the garage. Seeing the pitch-black sedan approaching at a slow speed, Yujin turned pale. His heart pounded like crazy, and his hands were clammy with sweat. His whole body suddenly stiffened, and he couldn’t move at all, as the large, dark monster that used to loom over him revived before his eyes.

“Daddy, Daddy!”

He was suddenly jolted back to his senses by his daughter’s voice. Looking down, Angela was shaking his hand urgently.

“Are you okay? Does it hurt again?”

“Ah….”

Yujin blinked belatedly. His whole body was already covered in cold sweat. If not for Angela, he might have fainted.

“No, Angie.”

Yujin forced a smile to reassure his daughter.

“I’m okay.”

However, even if he could fake the expression, he couldn’t help the pallor of his face. At Yujin’s face, which had turned white as a sheet, Angela was also filled with worry.

“Daddy, let’s go inside. Lie down on the bed.”

Seeing his daughter shaking his hand, saying hurry, Yujin felt pathetic. She had been so happy to finally be outside, and here I was, causing her to talk about going back.

Get a grip, Seol Yujin. Are you even a father acting like this?

Instead of slapping his own cheek, he scolded himself harshly in his heart, and this time, he smiled genuinely at the child.

“I’m okay, Angie. I just felt dizzy for a moment. I’m all better now.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

As if to prove it, Yujin readily bent over and scooped the child up into his arms. While Angela, now at eye level, inspected Yujin’s face from side to side, he stretched his mouth into a smile with all his might. Finally, as if passing a test, Angela giggled and wrapped her arms around Yujin’s neck. Only then did Yujin let out a truly heartfelt smile and speak.

“Shall we walk over to that garden over there?”

“Okay, I love it.”

With his daughter’s consent, Yujin readily began to walk. Trying his best never to look back. As if he had no idea of the existence of the dark monster crouching right behind his back.

Winston exited the mansion less than five minutes later. He walked past the car waiting for his mother and headed toward the horse that the stableman was watching. Yujin and the child’s figures had already disappeared without a trace.

“My goodness, Lancelot. You must have felt so stifled all this time.”

Winston’s lips softened as he looked at his beloved horse, which was snorting and pawing at the ground as if it couldn’t stand waiting to run. After gently stroking its nose, he readily mounted its back, and the horse grew excited as if it wanted to bolt immediately. Winston calmed the horse down, pulled the reins, and changed direction. By the time he rode once around the garden and finished his shower, it would be roughly the time McCoy was due to arrive. Winston started the horse off at a light walk before soon picking up speed and beginning to gallop.

On an exceptionally clear day, the wind rushing against his entire body was refreshing. Horseback riding was most effective for clearing the scattered thoughts in his head. Having started riding early in life, he usually rode when his mind was complicated, but that wasn’t the only reason. If he hadn’t inherited the company, Winston would have become an equestrian athlete. He loved riding that much, and the natural environment he was born into, where he could have any horse he wanted, was a blessing in many ways.