Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 112

“Daddy!”

Angela, unaware of anything, joyfully wrapped her arms around Yujin’s neck. Hesitating, Yujin embraced the child but quickly regained his senses and hurriedly pulled her away, checking around him.

“Are you okay, Angie? Nothing happened, right?”

Anxiously asking, Angela nodded with a puzzled look.

“Yes, I’m fine. I was playing quietly. Right, Mr. Campbell?”

Unexpectedly, Angela looked at Winston and asked. That wasn’t all. Winston gave a faint smile and nodded toward Angela.

“Yes, you were a very good child.”

As if to prove a point, Angela looked at Yujin confidently. Yujin could not understand what on earth was happening. Then, for the first time, he noticed the doll Angela was holding. The large teddy bear nearly reaching Angela’s waist was a recent trend, with the genuine article costing over a thousand dollars. Among parents who couldn’t afford the real one, the hundred-dollar knockoff was popular, but obviously, this was not the cheap fake.

“Angie, this is...”

Yujin trailed off nervously, but Angela immediately smiled brightly and hugged the doll tightly.

“Mr. Campbell bought it. He said he’s my friend while Daddy’s not here.”

“What?”

Yujin’s mind spun wildly. What had Winston told his daughter about the situation? Surely he hadn’t honestly admitted to kidnapping and imprisoning him. Moreover, the child’s innocent reaction was nothing like what Yujin had imagined. Bewildered and unsure how to react, Yujin was ignored as Angela continued speaking fluently.

“You came because you were worried, right? I’m fine though. I can endure anything!”

Yujin belatedly realized Angela’s voice was higher than usual, more excited than just meeting him. As he thought this, Angela’s face flushed red and she suddenly exploded like a nuclear bomb.

“It’s for my little sibling!”

A chilling silence fell. Yujin’s mind completely froze. He opened his mouth but no words came out.

“...What?”

After a long moment, that was all he managed to say. Unaware of Yujin’s stunned reaction, Angela answered innocently.

“They say I have a sibling now. But Mr. Campbell said Daddy’s body is weak and needs to rest. I want to see Daddy, but I can wait. It’s okay, if it’s for the baby!”

Yujin just stared blankly at the child’s face. Angela kept asking in rapid succession who would name the baby, whether it was a brother or sister, and if the baby could share the same bed with her, but he couldn’t answer a word. He only blinked. Then Winston, who had been watching until then, stepped forward. Calmly approaching Yujin, he bent down, grabbed Angela under the arms, and easily lifted her up. As his daughter’s figure suddenly moved away, Yujin hastily reached out, but Winston effortlessly took Angela from him.

“Now, Angie. Do you believe me now? Don’t worry about Daddy. He’s doing well.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Angela obediently nodded and looked up at Winston, saying,

“I’ll behave well and wait quietly from now on. Thank you for the gift, Victor.”

It seemed she had already named the bear. Winston merely nodded in response to the polite child. Yujin could only watch helplessly as Angela was deceived by the conman right before his eyes.

“What have you done to my daughter?”

After finally being alone with Winston, Yujin exploded with the anger he had been holding back. Closing the door behind him, Winston leisurely crossed the room, took out a cigarette, and put it in his mouth. After lighting it and exhaling smoke, he finally answered with a faint smile.

“You didn’t tell the truth either, did you?”

Of course not. If the truth—that Winston had kidnapped and confined him—were revealed, Angela would become anxious and confused. He couldn’t tell the truth for the child’s sake. But now was different. Yujin released the anger he had tightly suppressed all at once.

“Not only did you lie to my child, but you bribed her? Do you think one teddy bear would shake my daughter?”

“Of course it’s temporary, honey.”

Winston chuckled briefly, as if incredulous.

“But you made my lie the truth.”

Since it was true, Yujin’s anger surged even more. He couldn’t stand the fact that everything had gone according to this man’s plan.

“You knew I was going to escape?”

Yujin barely lowered his voice but couldn’t suppress his heavy breath. As he shrugged and glared, Winston laughed again. Yujin wanted to ask what was so funny, but there was no time. Suddenly, Winston reached out and Yujin reflexively shrugged his shoulders. Winston’s hand, which had stopped midair, furrowed his brows as if displeased with Yujin’s reaction.

His hand lingered briefly before moving again. Winston then grabbed Yujin’s arm and lifted it.

“...Ouch!”

Involuntarily, Yujin uttered an exclamation and grimaced, but Winston didn’t let go. Looking down at the bleeding wound on Yujin’s arm for a while, Winston exhaled cigarette smoke and said,

“There was no need to get such a wound, honey.”

His cynical face turned toward Yujin.

“Wouldn’t it have been enough to just say the baby was sick?”

Yujin was startled. Why hadn’t he thought of that? He’d even lied about being pregnant but forgotten the most important fact himself. Angela filled his mind, and he had acted too hastily.

Could they have figured it out? That it’s all a lie?

With his heart pounding fiercely, Yujin hastily shook off Winston’s hand. Afraid the wild heartbeat might ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ be noticed, he looked up with a pale face, but Winston only looked down at him with narrowed eyes. Seeing Winston mechanically bring the cigarette to his mouth, Yujin held on to a faint hope.

“Don’t you know you have to be careful what you wish for? What if it really goes wrong? Did you really want that?”

Yujin waited for Winston to believe him, but he said nothing. Wondering what he was thinking, Yujin anxiously watched as Winston calmly smoked.

“You saw Angie doing well, so that’s enough now, right?”

His voice was gentle, almost kind. Yujin felt he already knew what was coming next.

“You’re planning to send me back?”

“Isn’t this enough walking for today?”

Suddenly, Winston started walking away. Surprised, Yujin quickly stepped back, but awkwardly, Winston headed toward the table. Stroking out his cigarette in the ashtray, he stood upright and looked back at Yujin.

“I’ll give you time to say goodbye to the child. Don’t worry, I’ll let you see your daughter once a week.”

Yujin wanted to question how he could possibly trust that, but he wasn’t in a position to. All he could do was hope Winston kept his promise. Winston added one last statement like a vow.

“I believe I won’t say anything to make your daughter anxious.”

Though said softly, to Yujin it was nothing but a threat. He bit his lip and left the room silently.

There was no other way — I have no choice but to go back.

Yujin reluctantly accepted reality. Had he hurried and only raised Winston’s suspicions? He felt uneasy again, but for now, he had to obey.

Surely, another chance will come.

Yujin steadied his mind and moved forward. Before opening Angela’s door, he took one more deep breath. Inhaling deeply, then exhaling, he grasped the handle and pulled it open. His daughter, who was playing alone in the room, immediately ran up with delight.

“Daddy!”

Yujin tightly hugged the daughter who jumped straight into his arms and took a deep breath. He seemed to faintly smell the sweetness of the child. Kissing her face repeatedly, Yujin asked with a voice full of sadness.

“Will you be okay alone?”

“Yeah.”

The child nodded resolutely with a proud expression. Yujin deeply regretted how his lie had caused this mess and asked,

“Aren’t you scared of Mr. Winston?”

“I’m still scared.”

Angela answered honestly. Yujin froze for a moment, then the child spoke clearly and firmly.

“But it’s okay. I can endure anything.”

Unable to speak, Yujin heard Angela add with a mature tone.

“Mr. Campbell promised to keep Daddy and the baby safe and healthy. I can trust him, right, Daddy?”

Yujin couldn’t answer easily. Opening his mouth, he took a deep breath and finally said,

“...Of course.”

He couldn’t say anything more and hugged the child tightly. Feeling the warmth of the child holding him, Yujin vowed.

Next time, I will definitely succeed.