Chapter 3
“Agh, no way. The more I think about it, the less likely that sounds.”
Chloe shook her head playfully, scrunching her nose as she did. Then she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
The movement revealed the earring that had been partly hidden — a pearl earring that shimmered with a delicate violet hue.
“Delapho’s pearl earrings.”
Delapho pearls were famous for their unique color — rare and precious precisely because there were so few of them.
The same earrings — the exact same design — had been gifted to me by Hayden when he returned from his business trip.
Ironically, that tiny earring stirred a storm in the calm waters of my heart. My pulse began to race uncontrollably.
“There’s no other woman around him but you and me…”
Right. Just you and me, Chloe.
Could it be…? No, it couldn’t. But what if—what if Hayden’s lover was…?
My mind spun wildly, searching for meaning in Chloe’s offhand words. A strange unease began to swallow me whole.
No, it couldn’t be. I told myself it was irrational — but the seed of doubt had already sprouted.
My eyes refused to leave the earring that swayed lightly with her every movement.
My hand trembled as I hastily set down my teacup. The porcelain clinked loudly against the table. I tore my gaze away from Chloe, but my eyes wandered aimlessly through the air. I was anxious.
Foolish thoughts kept crawling through my head, making a mess of everything.
“What’s wrong, Winter?”
I forced an awkward smile, folding my hands neatly over my knees.
I couldn’t think of what to say. I couldn’t focus.
“You haven’t, by any chance…”
Have you seen Hayden lately? The question rose to my throat, but I swallowed it back down.
Only moments ago, I had been doubting my husband’s fidelity — and now, if I were to ask Chloe that, it would reveal everything.
Whatever I said next could only make this worse.
So I bit my lip hard. Shame and suspicion gnawed at me from the inside.
Still, I needed it — proof that my terrible imagination wasn’t real.
“That’s a new pair of earrings, isn’t it?”
I blurted out the question, my voice trembling slightly. I stared intently at Chloe’s lips, praying Hayden’s name wouldn’t come out of them.
“Oh, these?”
She touched the round pearl with her fingertip and smiled bashfully.
“A fan gave them to me after my last show. Pretty, right? They’re Delapho pearls.”
“A… fan.”
Her answer hit me like a blade.
“They said they’re really rare — something about the color being unique?”
“…Yeah. They suit you.”
The formless fog of suspicion flared into flame. I forced a smile, hiding the disgust and self-loathing boiling inside me.
How pathetic — to doubt my best friend and my husband over a single word.
“So, how was Kelton? Did you have a good time?”
I tried to change the subject naturally, though my throat felt parched. My hand holding the cup was white from the tension.
Chloe, ever the actress, began describing her trip in vivid detail, her expressions lively and bright.
Stop it. Stop imagining awful things. Chloe is your best friend.
I tried to calm myself and focus on her cheerful stories.
Then, suddenly, Chloe glanced at the clock and jumped to her feet.
“Oh my gosh! Look at the time. I have to go!”
“You’re leaving without dinner? Hayden should be back soon.”
I asked, disappointed, as she quickly gathered her things. But she smiled radiantly and shook her head.
“Nah. Who knows when he’ll get back?”
“He’ll be here soon. It’s been a while since you two met.”
“It’s fine. I’ve got dinner plans anyway.”
“Plans?”
She usually loved spending time with the three of us together. I had assumed she’d left the evening open, so her words caught me off guard.
“I see. I almost held you up for nothing, then.”
“Sorry, Winter. Oh! By the way — I heard a fancy new hotel restaurant opened up. You should go check it out!”
She tied the ribbon of her bonnet, smiling brightly.
“Mm-hm. Let’s do that sometime.”
“Tell Hayden I said hi! I’ll call soon!”
Chloe waved energetically before heading out.
“Don’t walk too far — see you soon.”
I waved back, still dazed by her sudden rush.
Must be something important, I thought as I watched her hurrying off.
When I turned back toward the mansion, a heavy silence greeted me. My steps faltered. I grabbed the banister for support and let out a long sigh I’d been holding in.
…It had been a dreadful day.
A tepid wave of self-loathing escaped with my breath.
Even though I’d smiled through the whole visit, I felt as though I’d done something unforgivable to Chloe.
Disgusting thoughts kept crawling back — calculating whether they could have met secretly, trying to find gaps in my days. But it made no sense. There was simply no time it could’ve happened.
And yet, that small root of doubt refused to die.
By the end of it all, I could only reach one miserable conclusion: I must have developed a case of paranoia.
It was revolting — like catching the faint stench of something rotting at the edge of my thoughts.
The sunlight from the window above the entrance spilled across the stairs, making golden dust dance in the air. It all looked frozen in time, surreal.
I stood there for a long while before forcing myself to move again.
There was no time to wallow. Hayden would be home soon, and I had to be ready to greet him as a proper wife.
“Madam.”
Just as I placed my foot on the first step, the butler, Victon, called to me. As always, he stood perfectly straight, impeccably dressed.
“The master called earlier — he said he’ll be a bit late.”
“Oh… I see?”
So that was the phone I’d heard ringing while talking with Chloe.
“He asked me to tell you he’s sorry, but the meeting is running longer than expected.”
Victon added gently, seeing me freeze mid-step. His calm explanation stopped the spiral of thoughts that had begun to rise again.
I managed a small smile and nodded.
“In that case, I’ll just have a light dinner in my room.”
“And, Madam… a letter arrived from the Olivier estate.”
He handed me a plain white envelope. The sight of it — so simple, yet so suffocating — made my nerves twitch.
The word “family” alone felt like a weight pressing on my chest. Fatigue that had been building all day suddenly washed over me.
“Madam…?”
Victon tilted his head slightly, waiting, as I hesitated to take it.
“Oh, thank you, Victon.”
I finally took the letter from his hand and went upstairs.
The south-facing window was filled with red light from the sinking sun.
By the time I sat at my desk, the once-smooth envelope was crumpled in my hand.
My fingers trembled as I opened it — part of me hoping this one might be different, part of me already knowing it wouldn’t be.
I blinked tiredly as I read the familiar handwriting — my mother’s.
It was filled with her usual complaints: how the house was too old and she wanted to move; how she was thinking of leaving the estate and returning to the capital; how she didn’t have enough money to pay the servants.
And then came the true reason for the letter.
She wrote about my brother Austin’s new business venture — how promising it was, but how luck hadn’t been on his side, and perhaps my husband could lend a little help.
That, as the most well-off and “kind” daughter, I should try to persuade him.
I felt my chest tighten as I reached that part.
It wasn’t the first time my family had asked for help like this — and, to his credit, Hayden had never turned them away.
But my brother Austin had already failed at several ventures, even endangering the family once. Hayden’s family, of course, didn’t appreciate that.
“We thought we were marrying him a respectable noblewoman — who knew she’d be the sister of some delusional, bankrupt dreamer?”
That was my mother-in-law Melinda’s opinion of my family. And truthfully, I couldn’t disagree.
Austin’s business sense was awful.
He’d fallen into one scam after another, more times than I could count.
I had begged him to stop chasing foolish schemes and just manage what he had — but he always talked about “doing great things as a man.”
I thought he’d changed after the last disaster two years ago…
“Sigh…”
My mother’s letter reminded me again what kind of man my husband truly was — patient, generous, endlessly kind.
He never turned his back on my family, even when he should have.
How could I, then, be such a miserable woman, doubting him?
To suspect the very man who endures my family’s burdens…
The thought crushed me.
I closed my eyes and let the wave of despair wash over me. When I opened them again, the red glow outside had already faded.
Then — scratch, scratch — a soft, familiar sound came from behind the door.
Just when I needed it most.
I hurried to open it, and before it was fully ajar, a familiar silhouette slipped through the crack.
“Myang-ssi. You’re back?”
“Myaaang.”
Myang, my cat, rubbed his face against my leg before padding silently to the sofa.
With a graceful leap, he claimed his usual spot and began pacing in circles, looking at me expectantly.
“Myaaaang.”
That meow was less a greeting and more a command to come pet me.
Smiling faintly, I sat down beside him. Myang promptly climbed into my lap.
The rumble of his purr and the warmth of his body melted away the day’s misery in an instant.
“Have you gained weight, Myang-ssi?”
I teased, kneading his soft belly. He licked my hand in protest, clearly unimpressed.
Ever since the vet had warned he was overweight, I’d been keeping a close eye on his diet.
I sighed, running my fingers over the pendant hanging from his neck.
(To be continued in the next episode)
