Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 49

The blinding flash and a thunderous crash that shook the world jolted Yujin awake. For a moment, he lay there blinking, dazed, but as the pounding sound of rain hit his ears, his tense shoulders finally relaxed.

Did I sleep too long?

Maybe the weight of exhaustion and strain had all caught up to him at once—he hadn’t even dreamed. Thankfully, both his body and mind felt noticeably lighter. He rose from the bed with rare clarity, a sense of freshness lingering. But when he checked the time, he saw it was only 8 o’clock.

And yet, it was already as dark as night outside.

"Angie?"

His voice echoed in the quiet room, puzzled. No answer.

Maybe she had gone out to avoid waking him.

Feeling guilty, he slipped out of bed. freewёbnoνel.com

"Angie? Angie, where are you? Are you in here...?"

He opened doors one by one, searching, but she was nowhere to be found.

Angela would never just wander into random rooms—but he couldn’t help checking each one, hope and dread battling inside him.

With growing unease, he started down the stairs, only to freeze when he saw the maids and footmen bustling about below.

"Cain?"

The butler, who was speaking into the phone, looked up at the sound of his name.

Their eyes met, and for a split second, he froze.

It was the first time Yujin had ever seen that reaction from him—and it only made his fear worse.

"Um, do you know where Angie is? I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find her. It’s already past dinnertime."

Forcing a weak smile while his heart pounded, Yujin asked.

Cain hesitated—only a second or two, but that pause was enough to chill Yujin’s blood.

"She went out a few hours ago and... hasn’t returned yet. We’re looking for her now."

Another rumble of thunder shook the house.

Yujin stood frozen, staring at the butler.

His mind wouldn’t work—he couldn’t make sense of what he was hearing.

"We’ve sent out everyone to search. She should be back soon. Please don’t worry too much and—"

"What did you say? You mean Angie’s missing? She’s out there—in this rain?"

Snapping back to awareness, Yujin shouted, panic rising fast.

Cain opened his mouth, trying to say more, but Yujin didn’t wait. He ran down the stairs.

"Mr. Yujin, it’s dangerous!"

The butler called °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° out, but he couldn’t hear him.

All he could see was Angela’s face.

The crashing rain roared in his ears. He couldn’t think straight.

"Ahhk!"

"Yujin!"

His foot slipped—he tumbled down several steps.

Cain rushed toward him, shouting in alarm. But Yujin didn’t even feel the pain.

He tried to push himself up—only to collapse again.

Cain caught him in time, supporting his body.

But Yujin shouted at him.

"Let go! I have to find Angie! Let go of me!"

"Everyone is searching! Please, Mr. Yujin, calm down—"

"I said let go! If we don’t find her now—Angie!"

"What the hell is going on?"

The frigid voice cut through them like a blade.

Both Yujin and Cain flinched and turned their heads.

Yujin stared, dazed, and whispered the name under his breath.

Winston.

His dark hair and part of his coat were soaked, as if he hadn’t completely avoided the rain.

The grand chandelier overhead reflected off the raindrops, scattering glints of light around him.

Yujin’s eyes, glassy with tears, watched Winston’s expression distort—and then Cain spoke up.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Campbell. There’s been a bit of a commotion—"

"What are you doing?"

Winston enunciated each word like he was grinding it between his teeth.

Thunder roared again.

Yujin finally burst out,

"Angela’s gone! It’s pouring out there—we have to go look for her right now!"

He shoved the butler away and tried to run outside, but Winston caught him easily and held him tight.

Holding Yujin’s struggling body against his, Winston asked coldly,

"Explain. What happened."

"Uh, well—"

Cain scrambled to respond.

"Angela went out about three or four hours ago and hasn’t come back. We’ve sent everyone out to search for her."

"She went out? Alone?"

"Yes, I saw her. I thought she might be restless staying inside, so I let her be. I told her to come back quickly since it was going to rain. She often plays alone near the house, so I didn’t think she’d go far, but—"

"Let me go! I need to find Angie!"

Yujin shouted before Cain could finish.

Still holding him with one arm, Winston said,

"Calm down. Everyone is out there looking."

"She’s my daughter!"

Yujin screamed.

"It’s been hours! It’s pouring out there! She’s only three years old, and she still isn’t back! If anything happens to her—my daughter, Angie—"

Just imagining it made his heart stop.

Yujin covered his face and cried out.

"If something happens to Angie, I’ll die too...!"

Winston stood there in silence, just watching.

Lightning lit up the manor for a brief second, followed by another crash.

"Get the horses ready."

"What?"

Winston’s quiet voice cut through the roar of rain.

Cain, startled, looked up in confusion, but Winston repeated himself.

"Didn’t you hear me? Ready the horses."

"But, Mr. Campbell, that’s—"

Cain tried to protest, but under Winston’s glare, he lowered his head and went to prepare them.

"Let go of me! I said let go!"

"Calm down."

Winston tightened his hold again as Yujin thrashed in his arms.

"I’ll go look. You stay here."

"I’m coming too!"

"Stay."

Winston crushed his resistance with that one word, still cold and firm.

"What if you’re out searching and she comes back here? Then what? You want her to go back out to look for you this time? Don’t be stubborn. You need to be here to reassure her when she returns."

He was logical—painfully so.

Yujin wanted to argue, to run, but he couldn’t deny the truth in those words.

When Winston felt his body go limp, he loosened his hold.

"If Angie’s gone, I can’t live anymore."

"I get it. That’s enough."

Yujin began to cry again, unable to hold it back.

Winston, tone flat, pulled a handkerchief from his coat pocket—but seeing that it was soaked, he put it back.

"We’ll find her. Don’t think like that. If you give up, it’s really over."

Yujin wiped his tears with the back of his hand and looked up at him.

His face was expressionless—completely unreadable.

"You wouldn’t give up, right?"

Yujin asked, voice trembling through his tears.

"If I thought it was pointless, then I would," Winston replied. "But you don’t think finding her is pointless, do you?"

"Never."

Yujin answered firmly.

"Then that’s all that matters."

"Mr. Campbell, the horses are ready."

Yujin wanted to say more, but Cain’s return ruined the timing.

Winston turned at once and gave a crisp order.

"Contact the family doctor. Have them come immediately and prepare for emergency treatment. The child could be hypothermic or worse—we need to be ready."

"Yes, sir."

"Winston...!"

Yujin called after him as he walked away, the butler following behind.

Winston stopped and looked back.

Yujin spoke in a trembling voice.

"Please... please bring Angie back...!"

His plea was desperate, every syllable a prayer.

Winston said nothing, just stared at him for a long moment—then turned away.

The front doors shut behind him.

Only Yujin was left, surrounded by the deafening sound of rain.