The sky was filled with clouds all day, and occasional rumbles of thunder seemed to echo faintly. Standing in front of the massive mansion towering before her, Georgina wore a deeply furrowed brow. It had been exactly three weeks since her parents had assigned her the absurd task while sitting at the head of the dining table. Of course, Lady Katherine and her father wanted their daughter to carry out the mission as soon as possible, but that was easier said than done. Winston worked without a day off, and whenever she called the company, the secretary always responded with the same phrase, “I will pass the message along,” yet never once returned her call.
She called the mansion every day, asking about Winston’s day off. The moment the secretary finally said it was today, Lady Katherine pushed her daughter relentlessly, and Georgina, reluctantly shoved forward, found herself standing here. Despite all her fervent prayers, it was all for nothing.
So, here I am.
She felt like an extra in a movie where one enters a haunted old house and meets death immediately, but there was no turning back. This was the price she had to pay for what she had done.
It’s all because of Yujin.
With a deeply annoyed face, Georgina took a step forward. The more she thought about it, the more infuriated she became. Though stirring up trouble out of mere curiosity and uncovering unpleasant truths was nothing short of inviting disaster upon herself, it did not absolve Yujin of using her to escape. After all, Yujin surely knew that Georgina was aware of the truth. Considering how much trouble Georgina had suffered because of that, it was actually Georgina who was at a disadvantage. Most importantly, Georgina was an outsider completely unrelated to the matter.
If anything, she might be considered the child of an accomplice.
Bitterly recalling this, Georgina shook her head. Anyway, it’s none of my business. What’s there to gain by digging it all up?
What if I tell Winston about this? Aren’t you /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ worried?
Suddenly, memories of that day came flooding back. Georgina’s steps slowed, and after only a few more paces, she stopped altogether. Just before handing over the medicine and stepping back one pace, Andrew had chuckled quietly at Georgina.
“You’ll never say a word.”
Why? Do I look like a filthy liar?
Feeling wounded, she sneered, but Andrew laughed out loud, shaking his head.
“No, you’re a smart kid. You can’t be that dumb.”
Frowning at his niece, Andrew said,
“If Winston finds out, you’ll lose everything you have, so you’ll never say a word.”
Georgina couldn’t deny those words. Though her heart burned with resentment, Andrew had only spoken the truth. Even now, she was desperately searching for excuses not to tell Winston about it. That Yujin had already left, so it was useless to tell him; or that Yujin deceived and troubled her, so she had no obligation to help him; or simply that she was unrelated and it was better not to dredge up old stories.
But she also knew all those were cowardly excuses. The fact remained that Yujin was falsely accused, and Winston had been played. Yet she chose silence, knowing full well the consequences that might come upon her.
She would lose everything.
Winston would definitely take revenge. Though his wrath would be aimed at her parents, Katherine and George, Georgina could not escape inclusion. If her parents lost everything, Georgina would lose all the privileges she had enjoyed as a member of the Campbell family until now.
That was why she chose silence, pushing away the nagging conscience, rationalizing it as a decision for everyone’s sake.
“Miss Georgina, I don’t think this is a good idea.”
The butler followed behind her, continuing.
“Mr. Campbell returned from London early this morning. It’s been two weeks since his last rest. I doubt he will welcome unexpected visits like this.”
“What can I do? No matter how much I try to make an appointment, there’s no answer.”
Georgina snapped brusquely at the butler as if taking out her frustration.
“If he had answered sooner, this wouldn’t have happened. I didn’t come here for fun, you know.”
“I understand Lady Katherine’s concerns for Mr. Campbell as well.”
The butler stepped back a pace.
“But Miss Georgina, I must prioritize Mr. Campbell’s wishes. He said he would rest today. He will see no one.”
Of course.
Georgina inwardly snorted. She couldn’t tell if he was truly deceived by her mother’s hypocrisy or merely pretending. In any case, what mattered to Georgina was that Winston refused to meet her.
An impulse to turn and leave surged within her, but she couldn’t act on it. If she did, Lady Katherine might drag her back by the scruff of the neck. Of course, the butler would leave her at the mansion’s front gate and depart.
Clearing her throat, Georgina suppressed her emotions and spoke calmly.
“I just want to confirm that Winston is doing well. I won’t take long.”
She frowned, then crossed her arms.
“Or is there some reason why I cannot meet Winston now?”
The butler hesitated briefly, torn between whether to remove the unwelcome guest or show respect to a member of the Campbell family. Georgina secretly hoped he would escort her out, but he chose the opposite.
“Very well.”
He sighed, then continued.
“I will ask Mr. Campbell first. If he refuses to see you, we will have no choice but to use force on our side...”
“Yes, please. I beg you.”
Georgina spoke earnestly, and the butler made a bitter face before turning and walking away. Left alone in the hallway, she felt an emptiness and glanced around while rubbing her palm against her skirt. At the end of the corridor were Winston’s and next to it Angela’s former rooms. Seeing the butler head in the opposite direction, she guessed Winston was in the study or elsewhere.
The hallway was silent. Standing awkwardly in the emptiness without any sign of life, Georgina was suddenly drawn by a strange impulse to move. Grasping the door handle, she slowly turned it, relieved the door was unlocked, and opened it with a creak. She suddenly froze inside. The room’s owner was, of course, absent. Yet a faint, sweet scent lingered.
Why does Winston’s pheromone scent linger in this room? Georgina tilted her head but quickly dismissed the thought. His pheromones permeated the mansion subtly everywhere. Angela’s room would be no different.
Welcome, I’m glad you joined my teatime.
Vividly, Georgina recalled Yujin’s face smiling alongside the little girl who raised her dress’s hem and greeted cutely. A sudden pang of longing tightened her chest as she stepped further into the room. The scene inside was much different from when she last saw it. Toys lay scattered messily, and the tea table bore faint traces of two having sat there. Georgina guessed that Yujin and Angela had last eaten breakfast there.
They didn’t clean it up?
As the mansion’s perfect butler, that was impossible. Georgina frowned again and looked around once more. Then she spotted a book lying on the living room sofa table.
Huh.
Drawn like a magnet by the familiar cover, she picked it up. Confirming her suspicion, her eyes widened suddenly as a sharp knock sounded on the door.
"Eek!"
Startled, she spun around to see a huge man standing just outside the doorway.
Winston.
Realizing he had lightly knocked to get her attention, Georgina swallowed dryly without realizing it.
