KISS THE SCUMBAG Chapter 8

“Causing a disturbance in the mansion is prohibited. If you persist, I will have no choice but to lead you to the guest house.”

Her expression was stern. It was clear that if he made the slightest bit of a scene, he would be dragged out immediately. Yujin already had an experience with that once before, and he knew better than anyone that they were more than capable of doing just that. To Yujin, who was momentarily struck with terror, the maid spoke.

“Do not worry. I will lead you to the child when morning comes. There was an order for you to use this room tonight.”

At those words, Yujin realized this had been planned from the start. They had likely prepared for this in case Yujin refused their offer. Thinking of it that way, everything from the butler observing his empty hands to this moment made perfect sense.

They intend to get back at me like this.

Yujin bit his lip, let go, and raised his head. They are still the same, belittling people in such a childish way. Perhaps they were waiting for him to throw a tantrum. To use it as an excuse to kick him out? Not a chance.

“I understand. Then I have no choice.”

Before stepping into the room, he once again urged the maid.

“Angela… please let me know when my daughter wakes up. Please.”

Even though he had left a message, Yujin couldn’t shake his worry for the child. Angela was calm and mature for her age, but she was still just a child. It was certain she would be anxious if she woke up alone in a strange place. But he had no other options right now.

“Understood.”

The maid answered briefly, without the slightest change in expression, and sealed her lips. At her reaction, which seemed to be waiting for something, Yujin said,

“Thank you. That will be all.”

As he spoke and closed the door, the surroundings turned silent. Yujin, who had spent some time standing there, counted to 1,000 in his head before cautiously opening the door. As if to mock his hopes, he met the eyes of the maid.

“Is there something you require?”

Faced with her still-stiff tone, Yujin had no choice but to say, “No,” and retreat. The face he wore as he closed the door was heavily distorted with disappointment. At this rate, visiting his daughter’s room was impossible. The maid seemed prepared to stand in that spot all night long, guarding the front of the door. He didn’t know whether the person who gave the order to the maid was the butler or Mrs. Campbell, but the intention was clear.

“Damn it!”

Yujin spat out the curse under his breath. If Angela had heard, she would have opened her eyes wide in surprise, but conversely, if he had been with the child, he would have had no reason to swear.

He wanted to run out immediately and guard his daughter’s side, but his feet wouldn’t move easily. Perhaps that is what they want. Yujin paced the same spot nervously, biting his nails. If he were to be dragged out of the mansion for even the smallest excuse, the situation would only worsen. He knew well that he had only one option. As the memories he had barely managed to forget resurfaced, his entire body trembled uncontrollably against his will. The people who despised him, the time they grabbed his limbs from all sides to drag him out of the mansion and throw him away, and…

Even the purple eyes, dyed pitch-black with rage and contempt directed at him.

Startled by memories that resurfaced as vividly as if they happened yesterday, Yujin closed his eyes and struggled to ignore the fear that came for him again.

I have no choice but to do as they say.

He was furious at his own helplessness, but reality was cold. The sense of victory he had felt, however small, just a moment ago vanished completely now that he was defeated by their tactics once again.

As expected, I…

The moment that sense of helplessness arrived, he hurriedly shook his head. Pull yourself together. This isn’t the time to sit here listlessly. He scolded himself and forced himself to recall his daughter’s face.

I can see her in the morning.

These childish tricks were all they were capable of. They wanted something from him, so they wouldn’t harm Angela.

Yujin turned around, soothing himself that way. Only then did the interior of the room come into his view, causing him to stop in his tracks.

It was a huge, magnificent room that couldn’t be compared to the one he had left his child in. The spacious interior, connected to a separate living room, was larger than the entire house Yujin used to live in with his child. The ceiling was so high he had to crane his neck to look up at it, and a painting by a famous artist was hung on the bedroom wall in a massive frame. Through the giant glass window that occupied one side of the bedroom, he could see a wide terrace with a marble floor; there, connected to the long living room, a circular table and chairs were set up, as if he could enjoy tea while admiring the view of the mansion grounds and the wide-open landscape at any time.

He was so dumbfounded by them giving such a fancy room to him that he was speechless. Was it intentional? My daughter is staying in such a shabby room, yet I’m staying in such a nice one—is this to make me feel guilty?

If that was their goal, they had succeeded this time. The countless insults he had faced until now hadn’t dealt him a single blow, but when it came to his daughter, it was a different story. Since returning to Delight, this was the first time Yujin felt a deep wound. He let out a sigh as if suffering, stood there blankly for a moment, and then slowly took a step. When he opened the glass door to the terrace and saw the scenery spread before his eyes, a sigh of regret escaped his lips automatically.

How happy would it be to eat breakfast here with Angela?

Yujin, lost in a happy imagination, was momentarily dazed by the longing and guilt for his daughter, but he soon shook his head. They would leave this place soon. This was not the time to be lost in absurd delusions. He had to keep his wits about him. He had no way of anticipating what kind of events they might have prepared for Yujin.

Yujin hardened his expression again and hurriedly took off his clothes. Let’s rest for now. As soon as the day breaks, I’ll have to ask them to lead me to Angie’s room. And I will never be separated from my daughter again.

I cannot lower my guard until the day the will is revealed.

With his resolve renewed, he entered the connected bathroom. As expected, his shoulders hunched automatically at the massive space that spread before his eyes. Feeling the cool air emanating from the all-marble interior with his entire body, he hurriedly turned on the shower.

After adjusting the cold and hot water to create a comfortable temperature, the tension in his body finally began to melt away. After washing his entire body and hair in the pleasant bathroom, he put on the bathrobe hanging there. The robe was ridiculously large, requiring him to fold the sleeves several times, but the texture was excellent. Yujin roughly dried his hair with a dryer and returned to the bedroom.

Oh.

It was only then that he realized he had no clothes to change into. It was his own fault for not bringing the luggage he had left in Angela’s room. He had thought, of course, that he would return to that room, but it had been a naive judgment. Even if it were natural to move his luggage if they had intended to keep him in this room from the start, that was a service only possible for guests who were welcomed in this house. In other words, one that fit the “Campbell family’s standards.” It was impossible for the butler or staff to show Yujin such consideration.

And he couldn’t call anyone now to bring his things. He had thought about wearing his old clothes again, but they were covered in dust from being worn since the crack of dawn, and when he thought about wearing them again right after finishing a shower and preparing to lie in bed, a feeling of immediate aversion welled up.

It can’t be helped.

Someone would come to wake him up in the morning, anyway. He would talk to them then and ask them to bring his luggage. He could just go see Angie as soon as he changed his clothes. It bothered him that he didn’t even have underwear on, but there was no other choice. Yujin reluctantly reached his conclusion and climbed onto the bed wearing only the bathrobe.

A gasp escaped his lips at the comfort of the mattress and sheets, which were softer than he had imagined. Only after crawling on the giant bed and positioning himself in the center did he finally let out a sigh of relief and lie down.