Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 5

He had completely misread the reason Yujin was shaken. But instead of correcting him, Yujin gave a faint smile and replied, “You're right.” The cold air helped. With a few deep breaths, his head started to clear.

Get it together. It was just a name. If you fall apart over this, how are you going to survive what’s ahead?

Instead of slapping his own cheek, Yujin downed the rest of the water in one go.

There’s only one reason I came back to this wretched place. Hear the will, get whatever money I can. That’s it.

Winston Campbell has nothing to do with my life anymore.

After one more long breath, Yujin finally turned and walked back to the car.

“Sorry about that.”

He apologized again for the delay. Brown smiled and waved it off as he started the car. Angela looked up at Yujin, unable to hide her worry. This time, he gave her a sincere smile.

“It’s really okay, Angie.”

There was no reason for it not to be. He had the most precious daughter in the world beside him.

4

They arrived at the estate late at night. Yujin stood silently, staring up at the towering mansion silhouetted against a dark sky littered with stars. A tangled mass of emotions twisted in his chest.

During the drive, evening had fallen. Brown had taken them to a modest roadside diner. Yujin ordered grilled cod, Angela had a kids’ cheeseburger and strawberry ice cream. He didn’t have much appetite, but he knew better than to skip a meal when the opportunity came. It was a lesson born of harsh experience—and now, more than ever, he needed energy for whatever came next. It was obvious nothing ahead would be friendly.

While Yujin forced down his fish, Brown devoured a thick steak with ease. Afterward, they got back in the car and drove for several more hours before finally reaching the estate.

When they arrived, Angela was already asleep. Yujin carried her out of the car and stood motionless, gazing up at the mansion. Brown handed his keys to an approaching staff member and walked over.

“Let’s head in. Hopefully they’re all asleep by now.”

Without waiting for a reply, he started up the steps. Yujin followed silently. On the way, Brown had told him he’d joined McCoy’s firm three years ago, having transferred from another city. Which meant he had no idea what had happened when Yujin was cast out. No one—McCoy or the family—would’ve told him.

They probably erased me like I never existed.

Yujin thought, but didn’t feel especially wounded. He had erased them, too. It could have stayed buried forever, if not for Harold Campbell’s will dragging it back up.

What the hell did he write in there?

The fact that McCoy went out of his way to find Yujin and said not attending would be a loss made it clear: the will had something in it for him. And in Yujin’s desperate state, that meant everything. Without that belief, he would never have come back.

Not when he knew exactly how he would be treated.

“Good evening, Mr. Brown.”

The butler greeted the lawyer first as he crossed the hall. Though it was clear he saw Yujin standing behind him, he didn’t acknowledge him at all. Not a glance, not a nod—as if Yujin didn’t exist. Yujin stared at the man expressionlessly.

If the butler had his way, he would’ve simply turned around and left, pretending he hadn’t seen anything. But that wasn’t possible—not with a third party standing between them.

“Kane, this is Yujin Seol. The man we spoke about on the phone. Yujin, this is Kane, the Campbells’ butler. He’s been here a long time—do you know him?”

“Of course.”

Before Kane could respond, Yujin spoke first.

“He was already the butler when I lived here. It’s been a while, Kane. Still alive, I see.”

He smiled faintly, like it was a joke—but only Brown chuckled. Of course. It wasn’t a joke. Kane’s face remained a stoic mask. Yujin’s smile disappeared as he returned the man’s stare. Brown finally noticed the tension between them and looked uneasily between the two.

“Well, I’ll be off now. Kane... I’ll leave everything to you, then. Good night.”

With that, Brown gave a quick nod to both men and hastily exited the mansion. Yujin didn’t look away from Kane.

He hadn’t changed much since the last time Yujin saw him. Back then, he had devoted himself entirely to Harold Campbell. And now that Harold was gone, it didn’t take a genius to guess where his loyalty lay. Of course Kane would treat him coldly—he was simply following orders.

“Where’s my room? I’d like to lay my daughter down.”

Yujin asked plainly, holding Kane’s gaze. He wasn’t here by choice—he was here because the will demanded it. I’ll disappear soon enough. No need to worry. He thought bitterly.

Kane glanced briefly at the sleeping girl in # Nоvеlight # Yujin’s arms, then looked back at him.

“This way.”

He turned and began walking without another word. Yujin followed in silence, his arms starting to ache from holding Angela—but the child’s warmth and weight gave him strength. In this world, it was just the two of them. Always had been. Always would be.

At the end of the hall, Kane opened a side door and began climbing a spiral staircase. Yujin couldn’t tell how many floors they ascended. He was exhausted, but kept going without complaint. Back then, he had never been allowed inside—not even near the mansion itself. All he’d ever seen were its grand exteriors and the rare slivers of interior glimpsed through an open door or window.

Not much has changed.

Still, the fact that he was walking inside it now felt strange and surreal. The mansion had wide, elegant staircases and even an elevator, but the one Kane chose was steep, narrow, and windowless—as if deliberately hidden.

This must be the servant’s route.

They clearly had no intention of treating him like a guest. Once, that kind of humiliation might’ve made him cry. Now, it barely registered. All he could think about was getting his daughter somewhere she could sleep.

Finally, the butler opened a door at the top. Yujin exhaled in relief.

It was so quiet the only sounds were their footsteps. They walked down a long corridor that felt endless until Kane finally stopped in front of a room. Yujin almost let out a sigh before catching himself. Kane pulled a key ring from his pocket, selected one, inserted it into the lock, and twisted the handle. Yujin stepped inside, still holding Angela.

The room was... not what he expected. The estate was over a hundred years old, and most rooms reflected that, but this space looked hastily thrown together. It was small, with one piece of furniture: a single bed shoved against the wall.

The message was clear.

Despite the obvious contempt behind the arrangement, Yujin felt nothing. If they thought they could get to him like this, they were wasting their time. Angela and he had always shared cramped beds, holding each other tightly to sleep. This was nothing new.