KISS THE SCUMBAG Chapter 3

“Is there really anything special to talk about? Money is the goal anyway, so if we just wait for the right moment and peel off a few pennies, he’ll naturally drop off and leave. In the meantime, watch what you all say.”

She looked around the room once and added.

“As you all know, ‘that matter’ must never, ever reach Winston.”

The surroundings fell silent in an instant. While everyone kept their mouths shut, Gordon tentatively watched the room and interjected.

“If Winston is in his right mind, he couldn’t have forgotten that he nearly died because of that brat. Even if he still has lingering feelings, they would absolutely not be good ones.”

He continued in a voice higher than usual, filled with conviction.

“Don’t worry, Mother. After all, the reason he broke off his engagement with Evelyn in the first place was due to the aftereffects of that accident, wasn’t it? Now that Winston is healthy again, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start talking about it again. As it happens, Evelyn is still single, and if it’s Evelyn, Winston won’t refuse.”

“That’s a good idea. There won’t be any room for Yujin to pull any nonsense. If that happens, it’s a good thing for everyone.”

George chimed in, looking delighted. As those gathered looked at Mrs. Campbell with excitement, she gave a short, fake cough as if she didn’t mind, then deliberately paused before opening her mouth.

“Not bad.”

“Great, then let’s proceed immediately.”

No sooner had Mrs. Campbell spoken than Gordon stepped forward. He went on and on about how they would get Evelyn and Winston to meet, when would be a good time, and who should make the contact. Mrs. Campbell listened to the excited, noisy back-and-forth—as if all problems would be solved just by the two of them meeting—and thought:

To think that thing would come back.

She secretly gritted her teeth. This was all Harold Campbell’s fault. From the moment she found out he had included that thing’s name in his will, Mrs. Campbell’s migraines had not ceased. In the beginning, this whole mess started because her husband had brought a fresh-faced, young lover into the house. Thinking about it, the root of all these disasters was one and the same. Mrs. Campbell prayed that her husband would, by no means, get into heaven.

#3

The train gradually slowed its speed as it approached the platform. Yujin stared at the familiar yet strange scenery beyond the back of his daughter’s head, which was pressed against the window. Just the fact that he had returned to this city made him break into a cold sweat, and his breath grew short on its own.

I vowed never to come here again.

The moment he saw the name of the station in the distance, he even felt dizzy, so he closed his eyes and leaned the back of his head against the seat, taking repeated deep breaths. As his breathing slowly calmed and he composed himself, his mind gradually became clearer. When he slowly opened his eyes, his daughter, having moved away from the window, was looking at him.

“Daddy, is your head hurting again?”

Yujin forced a smile and shook his head at the question, which was asked with a face full of concern.

“No, I’m fine now.”

“Don’t hold it in, take some medicine. It’s bad for your body to hold in the pain.”

Angela, his daughter, advised him in a tone more mature than a child her age. Yujin replied, “Okay.”

“When we get off the train.”

Just then, the train stopped at the platform, and the announcement came over the speakers. Yujin stood up, took his small suitcase from the overhead rack, and held out one hand to his daughter, who was waiting quietly.

“Come on. Let’s get off, Angie.”

“Okay.”

The girl, holding Yujin’s hand tightly, followed him as he took steps. Upon arriving at the stairs, Yujin carried the trunk in one hand and his daughter in the other arm as he stepped down onto the platform.

Standing on the ground and breathing in the fresh air, he finally felt a sense of relief. Putting the child down and taking a deep breath, Yujin held his daughter’s hand again.

There were quite a few people coming and going in the train station, but naturally, no one recognized him. Yet, every time someone passed by carelessly, he flinched and cowered; even after so much time had passed, the memories from when he left this place came back to life as vividly as if they had happened yesterday.

It’s okay.

Yujin kept his gaze straight ahead and repeated to himself.

It’s already been five years. I’ve forgotten everything.

As he walked holding his child’s hand, he made a vow. Hadn’t he told himself several times that he would never let himself be hurt by anyone again? It was different from before. He had a child to protect, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her sake. That had been his only conviction since the moment Angela was born and he held her in his arms for the first time.

The only reason he had set foot again in this place he had sworn he would never return to was for Angela’s sake. If he didn’t have his daughter, he would have never returned, even if it meant wandering the streets and starving to death, regardless of any will. But now, he needed money for Angela, and although Harold had been the one to cast him out so cruelly, if he were to show some kindness on his way out and offer even a little help, Yujin was willing to accept it. He had no room for pride at all right now.

Two months ago, a large fire had broken out in the old, decrepit apartment where Yujin was living. The fire that started in the unit below spread rapidly, and after it was extinguished, leaving the walls covered in black soot, several families were eventually left out on the street.

Unfortunately, Yujin’s home suffered the second-worst damage. He had woken up late at night, rushed to grab his daughter, and ran out with nothing but the clothes on their backs; he had literally become penniless. It was a huge relief that they had escaped with their lives, save for some minor burns on his back, and that it was him, not his daughter, who was hurt—but that was the extent of their luck.

To make matters worse, he was even fired from the restaurant where he worked due to financial difficulties. Why do misfortunes come all at once like this? Yujin, who had to beg the church to let him sleep huddled in an empty chapel while holding his daughter, shed tears that night for the first time in a long while.

He saw a small light of salvation when he returned to the apartment, wondering if anything might have survived. As he was sifting through the water-soaked ashes, someone approached him.

“Excuse me, hello. Do you happen to know… Mr. Yujin Seol?”

It was “Seol,” not “Sol,” but it had been a long time since he bothered to correct people, and he didn’t have the energy for it now. Yujin straightened his back, looked at him directly, and replied.

“That’s me. What is it?”

“Ah, I knew it! I wasn’t sure, but it is you.”

The man looked visibly happy, quickly took his wallet out of his pocket, found a business card, and held it out.

“I am attorney Joseph Brown. Man, this was really difficult. I thought I had finally found you, but the house was completely burned down, and I was at a complete loss as to what to do. I came back just in case, and to meet you like this—I really am lucky.”

Yujin watched him, who was laughing, with the same expressionless face. The boisterous laughter gradually died down, and the lawyer gave an awkward fake cough. Only then did Yujin open his mouth.

“I don’t know what this is about since you found me, but as you can see, we are in this situation, so I don’t have a single penny to give you.”

“No. That’s a misunderstanding, Yujin. It’s actually the opposite.”

The man who called himself a lawyer laughed sheepishly and waved his hand. He continued speaking to Yujin, who was still looking at him suspiciously.

“You know Harold Campbell, right? He left a will when he passed away.”

For a moment, Yujin faltered. The memory of the last time he saw Harold Campbell came back vividly, and at the same time, his heart raced like crazy.

That man is dead.

Should he be calm, or should he feel at least a little bit of regret? Yujin hesitated for a moment, unable to decide which way to react. Although the final memory still tormented him, it was also true that Harold had been his benefactor. Harold was the one who had taken him in and raised him when he had become an orphan and lost his way. Furthermore, Harold had cherished him quite a bit, and Yujin had followed him very closely.

At least, until that incident.

Yujin, having bitterly folded away the memory, tried to remain as calm as possible and waited for what came next. The lawyer looked around, but when he saw there was no suitable place to sit, he made a troubled expression and asked,

“Is there a cafe or a place to talk nearby? Or should we talk in my car?”

“There isn’t. Just tell me here.”