"Interesting, keep going."
His slight chuckle stopped Grant’s speech cold. Was he really such an implacable opponent?
"With such inflexibility, how do you manage that huge company? Or is your flexibility only applied when it comes to business?"
Grant asked in disbelief, and Winston let out a short laugh. The cynical sound slicing through the silence almost made Grant apologize for being wrong. Fortunately, he caught himself before making such a pitiful mistake.
"The man who stole Yujin right from in front of me isn’t one to talk."
Winston’s tone remained calm. Without the strong pheromone scent around him, no one could have guessed how furious he was. Grant, grateful to be a beta, retorted.
"What can’t I do? This is America. You’re no king, and under the great Constitution, we’re all equal."
Besides, who does he think he is, playing king after barging into someone else’s house? Grant relaxed his chest in relief, but Winston smiled—not a friendly smile by any means.
"Killing ants by crushing them with your pinky finger isn’t a crime."
The blood drained from Grant’s face.
"What? You mean you’re going to crush my company like an ant?"
"Why not? If you feel wronged, you can appeal to that very law you mentioned. Of course, the verdict will come after you’re dead."
Winston answered matter-of-factly to Grant’s ashen face. Grant was furious but also dumbfounded, unable to speak. Clenching his fists and trembling, Winston leisurely stood and said:
"I think the talk is over. Go back. If you steal Yujin away from me again, there’s no need to explain what will happen next."
I already told you—I’ll crush your company like an ant!
Breathing hard and glaring, Grant was looked down upon by Winston who straightened his back. The overwhelming presence from the towering man made Grant instinctively step back. Winston spoke again:
"Think carefully. Unless you want to stop playing house and go back to your family."
His words were no mere threat. The thought of the company they had just established disappearing like dust made Grant feel suffocated. He had even gotten divorced over this; losing the company after Kate might drive him insane. Winston smiled broadly, seemingly pleased by Grant’s stunned, trembling reaction.
"Your parents must be pleased."
Patting Grant’s arm lightly as encouragement, Winston turned to leave but paused. Grant just stared blankly as Winston took Yujin’s book from the table and walked out.
Back in the car, Winston sat down. Soon a bodyguard closed the door and quickly stepped back. Moments later, inside the moving car, Winston noticed a large teddy bear sitting next to him. It was the only trace Yujin had left behind. Faintly, his pheromone scent lingered—likely because he had been so often with Angela. Angela treasured that teddy bear greatly.
Winston gently stroked the bear. The texture in his hand gave him a strange feeling. How could he feel so awful but the bear be so soft? As if offering comfort.
They say children like dolls for this very reason—the soft texture gives them a sense of security. Does that apply to grown adults too?
Ridiculous.
Winston snorted and pulled his hand away. Habitually, he reached for a cigarette to light it, but the bear caught his eye. For a while, he just looked at it. Slowly, he took the cigarette from his mouth, put it back in the case, and straightened his posture.
If the bear smelled like smoke, Angie would hate it.
He thought absentmindedly, then noticed the strong pheromone scent lingering around him. Angela would dislike that too. Winston pressed the button to open the car window and let the scent out. After airing the car for a while, he closed the window again—no more pheromone smell remained. After eliminating his pheromones, he lifted the bear and sniffed it. Luckily, Yujin’s scent was still there.
A sigh of relief escaped him unconsciously, but Winston silently stared down at the bear. Memories of buying the bear came to mind. They said it weighs about the same as a baby, which is why children feel secure holding it.
The weight of a baby.
Muttering that to himself, he slowly hugged the bear. The only thing left to him was the hollow doll.
"What? You want me to go to Delight?"
Startled by the sudden order, Georgina shouted loudly while having breakfast. Lady Katherine elegantly frowned and scolded her daughter.
"What are you doing, shouting like that? Calm down."
Is there any phrase more impossible to calm down to than “Calm down”? Georgina’s excitement only grew, and she glared.
"This makes no sense. Why should I go to Delight? For what reason?"
"Georgina, just calm yourself," her father added from beside her. Georgina looked at him but could not argue further. Pouting and sighing, Lady Katherine spoke.
"It’s been nearly three months since that disappeared. Go see how Winston is doing. If there’s a problem, we need to prepare for it."
"What problem?"
Frowning, Georgina asked. Her father answered with a troubled expression.
"It’s just a possibility. Something might happen to the company..."
"Planning to sell your shares before it collapses?"
Quickly cutting him off, Georgina’s father cleared his throat, and her mother frowned.
"Georgina, keep your dignity."
"Why? Talking about money is undignified?"
Knowing her parents loved money more than anyone else, Georgina was dumbfounded. Lady Katherine gently reproached her daughter.
"Of course, it’s okay. But flaunting it excessively is undignified."
Georgina felt many contradictions but wasn’t in a position to argue. After all, she was still a minor and had lived under her parents’ protection, having most of what she wanted.
"So why do I have to go? Winston must hate me now. If I show up, he might strangle me."
She had also heard how desperately Winston searched for Yujin. If Georgina, who played the biggest part in Yujin’s escape, appeared in ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ front of him, how would he react? Seeing Georgina trembling, Lady Katherine said:
"Don’t worry. Winston knows it’s not your fault. Didn’t he tell you back then it was okay—that the blame lies with Yujin who used your innocence?"
"That’s true. Winston understands that much."
Her father nodded in agreement. Georgina wondered if that was really true. Rationally, she could think so, but inside she’d want to slap him.
Of course, Winston was much more mature and cold-headed than her, so he wouldn’t act on it. But even so, going to Delight to spy on Winston’s movements was too reckless.
"Why don’t you and Father go?"
Grumbling, Georgina asked. Her father answered:
"We already went. He didn’t even meet us."
"Then why me?"
"You have an excuse."
Her mother added. When Georgina frowned, they both smiled simultaneously and said:
"Say you came to apologize for Yujin."
"Eek?"
Georgina opened her mouth wide and let out a scream-like strange sound, leaning back. But her parents smiled at her with more sincerity than ever before.
