Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 58

"Huh?"

Winston glanced around, confused by the odd atmosphere. The household staff moving between the main mansion and elsewhere seemed unusually flustered and tense. He tilted his head, but a sudden dread seized him. This better not have anything to do with Yujin. The timing was ominous, and his gut churned with unease. Spotting the butler walking by, Winston quickly stepped forward and stopped him.

"Is something going on?"

The butler paused and looked down at him, then replied with his usual impassive tone.

"No, sir. Nothing at all."

Of course Winston wasn’t going to fall for that. But before he could press further, the butler frowned and asked instead:

"Are you feeling unwell, young master? Your face is quite red. And your breathing sounds... strained."

"A-ah, no! I’m fine!"

Winston quickly stepped back, dodging the hand that reached for his forehead in concern, and surrendered.

"I’m really okay. You look busy, so go ahead. Sorry for stopping you."

He tried to act casual, even putting on a smile, but the butler remained motionless, his brows still slightly furrowed. If this really was some kind of contagious illness, it would be trouble for Yujin. Not wanting to give them any excuse, Winston hastily turned and made his way toward his room.

As he walked, he glanced back from the stair landing and saw the butler’s figure disappearing down the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» hall. Whew. Relieved, Winston slowed his pace and climbed the rest of the stairs.

It was near the top when he spotted his eldest brother, Gordon. The man was leaning against the railing, watching the floor below with an expression of interest. Winston hesitated. Normally, he would’ve ignored him and walked right past—but not today.

Maybe Gordon knows something.

"This house feels unusually chaotic today."

He said it as casually as he could, feigning indifference. Gordon glanced sideways at him and smirked.

"Why? You curious?"

Winston knew Gordon's nasty temper too well to trust him easily. But unfortunately, there was no one else around who might tell him anything.

Then a memory he’d forgotten suddenly came rushing back—that moment when everyone had fallen silent together. Something everyone but Winston had already known.

I forgot to ask Yujin.

He realized it too late. What mattered now was figuring out what was happening. He kept his expression neutral as he looked down over the railing and said:

"It’s the first time the annex has caused such a stir, isn’t it?"

His voice was even. Gordon paused and looked at him. If Gordon had asked what he meant, Winston planned to play dumb and say he was just guessing. If it wasn’t about Yujin, there was no point in pursuing it.

But, unfortunately, that didn’t happen. It was about Yujin. Winston stood a few steps away from Gordon, masking his rising panic by leaning against the railing. Gordon looked at him again, then resumed watching the staff below with a similar posture.

"I’m eating in my room tonight. No good can come from running into Mother."

"Maybe I should too."

Winston chimed in casually, and Gordon immediately took the bait.

"You too? Don’t be ridiculous—like Mother would say anything to you."

"You never know. This is about the annex, after all. I’m not necessarily exempt."

Just a little more. Winston furrowed his brow, acting oblivious. Gordon seemed to relax, sensing camaraderie, and asked with excitement:

"Can you believe it actually manifested? What a damn event, huh?"

Manifested? Yujin?

The only one in the annex was Yujin. Winston’s heart, already pounding, felt like it would rip through his ribs. Why hadn’t he realized it sooner? That scent—it was the pheromone scent that came during manifestation. Yujin flushed with heat, the way he spoke, all of it suddenly made sense. There was no other explanation.

"Are you sure? Did the doctor confirm it?"

He asked, keeping his voice low to hide the tremble. Gordon, too eager to brag, answered with enthusiasm.

"Of course. Why else would the whole house be in such a frenzy?"

To him, this was nothing but entertainment. Winston wanted to rush to Yujin immediately, but he knew he couldn’t. Instead, gripping the railing tightly to stay composed, he spoke:

"Mother must be beside herself."

He tossed the line out, and Gordon took it.

"Naturally. They say she collapsed onto the sofa the moment Cain reported it."

No further prompting was needed. Gordon began rambling on his own, thrilled.

"It already pissed her off that Father brought his first love’s child into the annex, but now he’s manifested too. She might’ve turned a blind eye while he was just a kid, but if he grows up and becomes Father's pheromone partner? No way she can sit still for that. Father’s little flings at those pheromone parties are one thing, but a fixed partner? Right in front of her face?"

Gordon snickered.

"Mother will never forgive that."

Winston listened to all of it with a blank, mask-like expression. He was too stunned to react. And now it all made sense—Mother’s coldness, Yujin being kept isolated in the annex.

Even what might happen next.

A terrible future unfolded before his eyes like it was already real. He couldn’t stay calm. His father... with Yujin? No. No way. There were plenty of people out there for his father to release his pheromones on. He wouldn’t need to touch Yujin.

Unless Yujin... would accept someone else besides me...?

Suddenly, a strange scent hit him. Winston frowned and turned his head, scanning the air.

"...Do you smell something?"

Gordon sniffed and replied absently:

"That’s Father’s pheromones."

Like most extreme alphas, Harold frequently emitted his pheromones. Whenever you got close to him, there was always that faintly sweet scent lingering in the air—and it soaked into every corner of the mansion like a beast marking his territory.

But what Winston smelled now was different.

"No... this one’s something else..."

It was sweet too—but not his father’s scent. Just as he inhaled deeper, a sudden wave of dizziness struck.

"Winston?"

Gordon called out, surprised. But Winston couldn’t respond. His breath caught in his throat, his body suddenly unsteady. Gasping, he sank to the ground. His vision blurred to red, and he couldn’t think. What the hell? What’s happening to me?

"Hey, get a grip! Winston! Somebody—hey! Somebody come here! Something’s wrong with Winston!"

Gordon’s shouts were so loud Winston’s ears rang. Shut up, Winston tried to yell, but the words never left his mouth.

"Winston!"

Gordon yelled again. But Winston couldn’t take it anymore—he collapsed fully to the floor. Heat spread through his entire body, his skin burning. That strange sweet scent thickened, muddling his senses. Voices echoed from far away.

"Gordon, move! Get out of the way—now!"

Amid the murmurs, Mother’s voice rang out.

"Call the physician! Cain, what are you doing?! Move Winston to his room, now!"

Gasping for breath, Winston’s thoughts started to blur. His memories cut in and out. Through the haze, he heard her voice.

"As I thought, Winston. I knew you’d succeed. I always believed you’d become an extreme alpha like your father...!"

She sounded... elated. That was the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness completely.

And when he opened his eyes again, days later, the very first thing he learned was that he had manifested.

Even when he saw his new violet eyes in the mirror—eyes just like Harold’s—he couldn’t believe it.

But that was only the beginning. His entire life shifted from that moment on.

"I’ve already picked out a good school."

His mother said with a bright smile. It was the same boarding school in England his father had attended. Despite Winston’s fierce protests, it was already too late. While he was still unconscious, she’d had him loaded onto a private jet and flown across the sea.

And just like that, four years passed.