Kiss the Scumbag

Seol Yu-jin was a stark contrast to Winston, who exuded an air of composure. He took a slow drag from his cigarette before letting out a dry chuckle. Just as a chilling sensation crept up Yu-jin’s spine, Winston finally spoke.

“I saw the child’s birth certificate.”

The languid tone of his voice made Yu-jin jolt.

“You looked into my background?”

Winston twisted his lips into a cynical smirk.

“Of course. Did you really think I’d still be playing into your hands?”

The balance of power had completely shifted. But Yu-jin refused to acknowledge it, clinging desperately to denial.

“So what if you know the birthdate? That doesn’t mean—y-you don’t know anything! Stop talking nonsense!”

The more he spoke, the more he felt like he was digging his own grave. His voice trembled, his words stumbled, and it was utterly pathetic. Not even a three-year-old would believe him right now—let alone Winston Campbell.

“Darling.”

Winston narrowed his eyes teasingly, his voice dripping with mock affection.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t anticipate this reaction from you?”

The ease in Winston’s demeanor only made Yu-jin more anxious. He instinctively hunched his shoulders, and Winston, maintaining his gentle tone, offered a proposition.

“If you’re so determined to feign ignorance, then there’s only one way to settle this. Let’s do a DNA test.”

Yu-jin went deathly pale. A DNA test?

“That’s right.”

As if he had heard the panicked scream echoing in Yu-jin’s mind, Winston curved his lips into a faint smile.

“It’s the most definitive proof, isn’t it? If I’m wrong, the results will prove it. In fact, it would serve as evidence in your favor—assuming, of course, that you’re telling the truth.”

The unexpected turn of events left Yu-jin’s mind spinning. And Winston didn’t give him a chance to recover.

“Not that it would matter. You have zero chance of winning.”

He continued smoothly, without hesitation.

“If this goes to court, you will lose. Not by 100 percent—no, by 1000 percent. You’ll lose the child and be left with nothing. Are you prepared for that? You’re quick with calculations, aren’t you? Surely, you don’t think you could actually win against me.”

Yu-jin stood frozen, his face blank as if he had just been struck by lightning. Was this real? Did Winston truly know?

If they did a DNA test…

His vision darkened. If the results confirmed that Angela was Winston’s child, then what?

Did you really think I would ever entrust my child to you?

The words he had just heard replayed vividly in his mind, sending a wave of fear coursing through him. Goosebumps prickled over his entire body. If Winston took Angela away, Yu-jin would never see his child again. The one person who meant everything to him—gone forever. The thought was suffocating, as if the entire world were crumbling beneath his feet.

Wh-what do I do?

His mind refused to function. He never should have come here. He regretted it, but it was too late now.

“Are you… threatening me?” His voice was a wreck, shaking uncontrollably. “Are you saying you’re going to take Angie away from me?”

Winston’s expression became unreadable, his face nearly devoid of emotion as he gazed down at Yu-jin. It was a subtle change—one that Yu-jin failed to notice.

“I don’t see why not.”

“No! Angie is my daughter! I can’t live without her!”

Yu-jin shot up from his seat, his voice cracking into a desperate shriek. Winston, unshaken, slowly opened his mouth.

“Do you want to keep the child?”

Tears welled up in Yu-jin’s eyes almost instantly. Winston, watching the way his gaze wavered uncontrollably, finally stood and walked toward the desk. It took him only a few steps to reach his destination. Picking up a sheet of paper, he held it out.

“Sign this. Then the child is yours.”

Yu-jin didn’t need to read the document to know what it was. His mouth went dry, his tongue feeling like sandpaper. His face drained of color as he stood frozen in place, and Winston continued speaking in a detached tone.

“You just have to marry me and bear my child. A year later, we divorce, and it all ends.”

He deliberately emphasized the words before adding nonchalantly, “Simple, isn’t it?”

There was no flaw in his reasoning. There was no easier or more straightforward way to fulfill the conditions of the will. If Yu-jin stalled, Winston might change his mind. Right now, he was offering to let Yu-jin keep Angela.

How merciful.

This was the very opportunity Yu-jin had been desperately hoping for.

And yet…

Accepting this contract was impossible. Winston still didn’t know something—something crucial. And if he ever found out… how would he react?

Yu-jin was terrified. But he had no choice but to say it.

“…I can’t.”

The words scraped out of his throat, barely audible. Winston’s brows knitted together.

Yu-jin’s voice trembled as he forced out his confession.

“I… can’t give birth to your child.”

A stunned silence filled the air.

“…What.”

The response was a breath of disbelief. Winston let out an exasperated sigh and ran a hand through his neatly combed hair, his irritation palpable.

Yu-jin hesitated, about to speak again, but before he could, Winston suddenly slammed his fist down on the desk.

Bang!

The deafening noise made Yu-jin flinch and snap his mouth shut. Fear took over his expression as Winston, in an eerily quiet voice, spoke again.

“You had Harold’s child, but you can’t have mine?”

“…What?”

Yu-jin’s breath hitched. He stared at Winston in confusion.

What did he just say?

“Harold’s child?”

Yu-jin numbly repeated the words, unable to process them. Winston spat out his response harshly.

“Have you already forgotten everything we’ve talked about? Do you need me to spell it out again from the beginning?”

“N-no, that’s not what I—”

Yu-jin’s brain finally started working again.

This conversation had been wrong from the start.

He doesn’t know.

A chill ran down Yu-jin’s spine.

Winston didn’t know. He had figured out the birthdate, but the conclusion he had drawn from it was completely wrong.

Why had Yu-jin assumed he knew everything? Winston didn’t trust him in the slightest.

Yu-jin’s heart pounded so violently it felt like it would burst. But that deep-rooted distrust Winston held toward him had, ironically, become his greatest stroke of luck.

He would never even imagine that Angie was his child.

Yu-jin quickly clasped his hands behind his back, his fingers interlocking tightly. This time, his body trembled for a different reason. It was too soon to feel relieved. He had to calm himself. Winston could still reach the truth at any moment. This was nothing more than a temporary reprieve.

If Yu-jin outright refused to marry him, Winston would go through with a DNA test. And if that happened, he would find out that Angela wasn’t Harold’s child—she was his.

That would be the same as fulfilling the conditions of the will.

Yu-jin felt the blood drain from his legs. The will explicitly stated that he had to bear a child within a year of marriage, but that condition was open to interpretation. If McCoy got involved, he could twist the wording to exploit that loophole. The outcome was obvious.

Dread clawed at Yu-jin’s chest, paralyzing him.

Think. Think fast.

How could he turn this situation to his advantage?

There was only one way.

Yu-jin parted his lips, but it took even more courage to force the words out.

“…I’ll marry you.”

His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. But once the plan solidified in his mind, the trembling stopped. Slowly, he unlinked his hands and took a deep breath.

“I’ll marry you,” he repeated, firmer this time.

He needed to buy time. Lay low. Do exactly as Winston wanted, at least until the man let his guard down.

And when that moment came…

Winston’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. His piercing violet eyes bore down on Yu-jin, scrutinizing him.

Yu-jin met his gaze head-on, his resolve hardening.

I’ll take Angie and run.

***

Before Yu-jin had even entered elementary school, his parents had died in an unexpected accident.

He was passed around between relatives before eventually ending up in an orphanage. Over the years, he watched as many children—especially those younger than him—were adopted and taken away.

It was rare for children Yu-jin’s age to be adopted. And in the end, Yu-jin wasn’t adopted either—but he left the orphanage for a different reason.

A wealthy foreign businessman took him in.

Yu-jin had no idea what kind of procedures had been involved, but he didn’t have to wait long before he left the orphanage behind.

And at last, he arrived at the grand estate known as The Most Perfect Delight.