“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!”
Andrew, sitting alone in the room, was so lost in thought he didn’t know what to do and tore at his hair. It was hard for him even to consider what he had done. What if that damn bastard told Winston? Damn bastard, filthy bastard son of a bitch. To deceive and mock me like that...
“Andrew.”
“Eek!”
Startled by the sudden female voice, Andrew screamed and jumped up. Lady Katherine, who had entered through the door, looked at him wide-eyed in surprise. For a moment, they just stared at each other without a word. Then Lady Katherine sighed first, breaking the silence.
“What on earth are you doing? Didn’t even hear a knock. Don’t tell me you’re on drugs again?”
At his sister’s question, mixing contempt and concern, Andrew blinked blankly, then suddenly snapped.
“Don’t spout stupid nonsense when you know nothing!”
“How can you say that, Andrew?”
Lady Katherine covered her mouth with her hand, eyes wide in shock. Remembering how often her sister would faint, Andrew gritted his teeth.
“Whether you faint or not, just leave, leave me alone!”
“Andrew.”
Though Lady Katherine did not have any fondness for her brother, who behaved like a hooligan, she felt some pity out of family ties. Despite growing anger at his rude and vulgar tone, she spoke patiently.
“What happened? You look like you’re about to lose your mind. Cain said you suddenly ran in yelling? Did something happen that worries you?”
“Just leave me alone, I’m done! It’s all over for me...!”
Finally, Andrew collapsed onto the couch and burst into loud sobs. Seeing her brother like that, Lady Katherine hurried over and gently patted his back, her voice full of concern.
“Andrew, talk to me. Maybe I can help you, okay?”
If he had done something that could harm the Campbell family’s reputation, she had to know. Stopping a scandal as soon as possible was the priority. Feeling a sense of duty, she tried to comfort Andrew, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ who sobbed without answering for a long time, before he finally spoke.
“Mother won’t forgive me...”
“I’ll talk to her, Andrew.”
Lady Katherine quickly reassured him.
“Trust me. I’m the eldest daughter of this family. Mother is strict, but she still loves us, doesn’t she? If I explain properly, she won’t be too angry.”
Though it was a way of speaking that might not work even on a teenager, to Andrew—exhausted, terrified, and overwhelmed with uncertainty—it was enough. After some silent pondering with tightly pressed lips, Andrew finally spoke.
“The truth is...”
That crazy bastard, the insane drug addict, a fool with nothing but air in his head.
Lady Katherine cursed and swore at her brother with all the words she could muster as she hurried down the corridor. She was so furious she could barely contain herself. She repeated the unspeakable words silently in her mind, which only fueled her anger further. But she couldn’t calm down—her brother was so pathetic and disgusting.
How could he dare touch that kid?
The household atmosphere was already tense because Winston had stolen the father’s mistress. How could Andrew be so reckless as to even try to sleep with that woman? If Mrs. Campbell found out, she would rage like fire. She might even go find Yujin and shoot him.
Knowing all this in advance, Lady Katherine had no choice but to go see Mrs. Campbell. It was a matter of time before she found out anyway. There was nothing in the Campbell family that Mrs. Campbell did not know. If it was going to reach her ears sooner or later, it was better to confess early. From her lifelong experience, Lady Katherine trusted her judgment. So she strode swiftly, almost running, to her mother’s room and knocked urgently.
“Mother! Mother! It’s Katherine. I have something urgent to tell you!”
Her voice rose in anxiety. After a pause, a stern voice answered from inside.
“Come in.”
Though permission was granted, Lady Katherine hesitated before opening the door. After taking two deep breaths and shrugging her shoulders, she finally entered and faced Mrs. Campbell.
“Sorry for the sudden intrusion, Mother.”
Mrs. Campbell, sitting on the sofa reading a book, put the book down on her lap and stared intently at her daughter’s face. Lady Katherine, apologizing first and waiting nervously, was met with silence until Mrs. Campbell finally spoke.
“What is all this noise about?”
“Sorry, but it’s urgent.”
Lady Katherine inhaled and exhaled again before dropping the bombshell.
“Andrew tried to assault that girl but failed. If Winston finds out, he might kill Andrew.”
Mrs. Campbell’s eyebrows twitched briefly. Though it was just that, Lady Katherine could clearly feel the storm of emotions shaking her. When she felt a chill down her spine, Mrs. Campbell slowly opened her mouth.
“Explain it so I understand.”
Though her voice was not very different from usual, it was noticeably slower. Lady Katherine thought Mrs. Campbell was restraining herself as much as possible to control her emotions.
“It seems Andrew had given that girl drugs a few times...”
As she fired out the words rapidly, Mrs. Campbell remained silent, sitting upright and motionless, just listening. Lady Katherine felt nervous but had to continue.
“...So now Andrew is very worried.”
When she finished, silence fell again. Mrs. Campbell sat expressionless. Lady Katherine had no idea what her mother was thinking. She only watched nervously in suffocating stillness until suddenly Mrs. Campbell gave a small shrug. Just as if she were about to sigh shortly, she abruptly threw the book from her lap.
“Eek!”
With a dull thud, the book hit the wall and dropped to the floor. Startled, Lady Katherine flinched and gasped. She cautiously opened her eyes after closing them reflexively, then watched Mrs. Campbell, who looked at the wall with an indifferent expression and spoke.
“Men are so simple and crude.”
Her muttered words sounded like a lament mixed with sympathy, hatred, and resignation toward her sons—including the husband who had treated her as just a shell all her life. Lady Katherine, hesitating as she watched her mother’s expression, asked carefully.
“Mother... what will you do now...?”
Mrs. Campbell kept her gaze fixed on the wall and answered.
“What can I do but pull out a weed if it causes others to stumble?”
“So... what exactly will you do?”
Trying to hold back her curiosity, Lady Katherine waited for her mother’s next words. Mrs. Campbell gave a command.
“Call Andrew. Tell him I have something to say.”
“What?”
Andrew was taken aback for a moment and asked again. He doubted he had heard correctly. Could his mother really say such things to him? How? Why?
Staring dumbfounded at her son’s bewildered face, Mrs. Campbell repeated the words she had just said.
“To rape it. You probably don’t have many friends useful for that.”
Mother, I’m just doing drugs, not a criminal.
Andrew felt wronged for a moment but could not argue with his mother. Instead, he asked differently.
“Why? Even if I did that, I’d only make Winston hate me more...”
Yujin’s words came to mind suddenly. The wound in his heart flared painfully, twisting his face.
“If you plan to lie to split them up, it won’t work. No matter what happens, Winston will trust Yujin. He loves that kid.”
Knowing this would anger his mother, Andrew said it anyway. As expected, Mrs. Campbell glared coldly at her son. Andrew shrank back, startled.
“Andrew.”
Mrs. Campbell spoke slowly. As Andrew looked at her tensely, she continued.
“If love means trust, what happens when that trust is broken?”
“...What?”
Andrew blinked in confusion, utterly lost.
