Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 114

However, the child’s heart, which Winston had thought would be won over in half a day, remained unmoved for almost a week. Even when he took her to a toy store of her favorite brand, she only came out holding a single teddy bear. When he gifted her the clothes of a popular animation character favored by girls her age, she politely declined, saying it was fine. Growing anxious, Winston went so far as to prepare a table full of desserts that children her age would like, hoping to coax Angela.

“I’ll give you 1 percent of Campbell Investment Corporation’s shares. There won’t be a more shocking offer than this.”

Anyone else would have worshiped Winston like a god. But the other party was Angela, Yujin’s child.

Despite Winston’s declaration, Angela merely glanced at him without much interest and began picking at the treats in front of her. After carefully tasting each one, Angela placed a lemon cream tart she liked on her plate, took a bite, and gracefully sipped some herbal tea. Watching quietly, Winston finally lost his patience and blurted out,

“What exactly do you want?”

Even so, Winston tried hard to suppress his emotions, not wanting to lose Angela’s favor any further. Despite his calm, measured tone, Angela paid no attention and kept eating the desserts. Winston could do nothing but watch. It was only when the child’s stomach was full and she could eat no more that she finally spoke.

“Why do you ask me that?”

Her question was remarkably quick. Perhaps Angela had long harbored doubts about Winston’s kindness all along. Winston smiled and replied,

“Because I want to get close to you, of course.”

Angela looked at Winston with wide-open eyes, grabbed the cup with both hands, and sipped her herbal tea again. After exhaling softly, she turned her gaze back to Winston. Leaning leisurely against the chair, Winston watched as Angela finally spoke—her voice resolute.

“Mr. Campbell, that’s a very difficult thing.”

“What did you say?”

Winston furrowed his brow unconsciously. Angela shrugged her shoulders briefly but didn’t lose courage and spoke clearly.

“If you want to be friends with me, I’m sorry, but I have no such intention. Above all, trying to buy friends with money is wrong. If you want to make friends, you must sincerely try to earn their hearts.”

For a moment, Winston said nothing and stared intently at the child’s face. At first, he couldn’t quite grasp what he had just heard. Then, with a delayed reaction, Winston twisted his face into suspicion.

“You, are you really three years old?”

Disbelieving such sharp speech, he asked with full distrust. Angela raised her eyebrows and scolded him sternly.

“It’s very rude to judge someone by their age, Mr. Campbell.”

Folding the napkin she had spread out on her lap and placing it on the table, Angela lifted her chin. Her stubborn face resembling Yujin’s made Winston feel at once incredulous and less angry. And so Winston found himself at a loss again. It was absurd that he was still so deeply entangled with Yujin. He just couldn’t tolerate Yujin being happy somewhere he wasn’t. Someone who had thrown him into misery.

“Then Angie, how should I get close to you?”

Ignoring another question brewing in his mind, Winston spoke. Angela sat up straight and answered haughtily.

“If you want to get close to me, keep your promises well first.”

“Promises?”

Frowning again at this strange reply, Winston was immediately grilled by Angela.

“You said if I behaved well, I could meet Daddy once a week, right? I’ve followed all the rules so far. I haven’t caused any trouble. So now please let me meet Daddy!”

What the child wanted was clear. Winston also had no intention of separating them forever. He just wanted to build a bond with Angela first.

But if he dragged this out any longer, the relationship with Angela would become irreparable. She had just barely stopped bursting into tears when seeing him.

That was all the progress they had made.

Suppressing his growing frustration, Winston ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) nodded.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep my promise.”

“When?”

Without hesitation, the child asked again, as if determined to get a definite answer. Winston, not wanting to avoid the question, answered promptly.

“This weekend.”

Angela nearly shouted with joy at that moment. No matter how much she tried to act mature, she was still a child, and Winston saw right through it. Angela quickly composed herself and replied arrogantly,

“Then I’ll wait. I hope you don’t break your promise, Your Majesty.”

Winston raised his eyebrows, but Angela nonchalantly got up from her chair and walked out lightly. Left alone in the snack room, Winston let out an exasperated sigh.

“Your Majesty, now what the hell is that about.”

Roughly rubbing his face with one hand, his frustration did not ease. Eventually, the days passed, and the weekend arrived.

“Daddy!”

“Angie!”

The moment they saw each other, the two rushed over and hugged tightly. Winston stood a few steps away, frowning as he watched. Ignoring his expression completely, Yujin and Angela embraced with all their might, as if they had finally reunited after ten years apart.

It had only been less than a week.

Winston was displeased with the situation. He had kept his promise and brought Angela to the island on the appointed day, but nothing had gone according to plan. For Winston, the only thing that became clear was how strong the bond between the two was. After repeatedly exchanging kisses and hugging tightly, Angela finally asked Yujin,

“Daddy, how’s your health? Is the baby okay?”

“Uh, yeah. Of course. I’m fine. And you, Angie?”

Quickly returning the question, the child smiled brightly.

“I’m fine too. I behaved well and stayed calm. Even though I missed Daddy, I held it in.”

“That’s good.”

Yujin smiled back, but his heart ached terribly. That his reckless lie was causing Angela pain.

Should he tell her it was a lie now?

What good would it do since they were confined like this anyway? It would be better to confess honestly and beg to be allowed to return to the mansion...

“Daddy, a present.”

“Hm?”

Lost in thought, Yujin was suddenly brought back by the child’s voice. Blinking in surprise, he saw Angela holding out a doll to him. Blushing, Angela said,

“It’s a little sibling doll. I picked it.”

Yujin’s eyes went wide as he looked down at the doll she held. The teddy bear with a pacifier in its mouth was about the size of a newborn baby. It would be just right for a baby to hug. That is, if such a baby really existed.

“You said you picked it...?”

In a trembling voice, Yujin asked, and at that moment Winston, who had been silently watching the two, finally spoke.

“It’s true. I took Angela to a specialty toy mall and told her to choose whatever she wanted...”

Winston’s slow, ambiguous tone trailed off as he glanced at the doll.

“She only came out holding that. One is enough.”

That was a gift for the little sibling, after all. Yujin’s heart broke with guilt.

What to do.

Even if he confessed the truth to Winston, what could he say to Angela? If he told her the child that was there was gone, would she believe it? Even though she was a child, Angela was far more mature and intelligent than most.

Yujin covered his mouth with one hand, unable to continue speaking, then suddenly hugged Angela tightly. Winston watched the two embracing silently with a serious expression, furrowing his brows.

There was no place for me between those two.

Their bond was beyond imagination. If Angela even slightly accepted Winston, Yujin’s heart would soften too. But the child was like an impregnable fortress.

What to do.

What should I do.

Both agonized over completely different worries, with Angela caught in between. After wasting a frustrating amount of time unable to say anything, Winston was the first to think of a solution. While Angela had fallen asleep after eating snacks, Winston called Yujin aside and abruptly asked,

“When is Angela’s birthday?”