Chapter 4
When I opened the round pendant, a tiny folded note slipped out.
[It wasn’t me. Myang tore open the pouch where his treats are kept and stole them himself.]
The rushed handwriting made me laugh out loud.
It was on one of those days when my little cat, Myang, came home after one of his long wanderings that I discovered the existence of his “co-owner.”
Ever since Myang had started going out, his absences had been getting longer and longer, and my worries had grown with them. Then one day, when he finally came home, there was a small note tied to his collar.
It said that Myang seemed to be staying at their house during his long absences, so I shouldn’t worry — a gentle, considerate message that made me smile.
And so began our strange arrangement of shared cat custody.
We didn’t know each other’s faces, names, or ages — we only communicated through the notes hidden in Myang’s pendant.
Sometimes, the notes even turned personal.
[By the way, I heard your wedding anniversary is coming up soon? How lovely. Does your husband treat you well? Oh—maybe I shouldn’t ask that. It’s just… it’s been so long since those happy days, I got curious. Are you happy?]
When I read such messages, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Right, the anniversary was soon.
Not long ago, I had been looking forward to it like a fool, thinking about what to wear, how to celebrate.
When did things change so suddenly?
I let out a long sigh, and Myang, who had been licking my hand enthusiastically, suddenly stood up and moved away.
After gently stroking his soft fur a few times, I went to my desk.
I took out one of the small sheets I used for our notes, held my pen for a moment, and began to write.
[My husband… treats me well. But lately, I think something’s wrong with me.
I heard a rumor that he’s having an affair. I know he’s not that kind of man, but I keep doubting him.
Why is that? Have I developed some kind of paranoia?]
I stared at the gloomy lines for a moment before folding the note neatly and tucking it inside Myang’s pendant.
It wasn’t that I expected comfort — I just wanted to share this unbearable thought with someone, anyone.
As I flexed my stiff fingers, I sighed again and lay down beside Myang.
Letting a single bad rumor consume me like this was exhausting.
As Chloe had said, there wasn’t even any proof. The only thing that had changed was my own heart.
“How ridiculous… Not long ago, we were just a normal couple — waiting for our anniversary, feeling happy.”
But the tiny seed of doubt had taken root, and now it had grown too large to pull out.
Even as I sighed at myself for being so pathetic, I couldn’t stop wondering where Hayden was and why he hadn’t come home yet.
“I’ve been thinking I might move.”
Chloe said this as we sat facing each other at one of those famous new hotel restaurants.
The appetizers hadn’t even arrived yet. The place was packed, full of people and bustling waiters weaving between tables.
It was such an ordinary tone — the kind you’d use to talk about the weather — that I blinked in surprise and tilted my head.
“Move? All of a sudden? Did something happen?”
A few people passing by turned to glance at our table, recognizing Chloe. She seemed to enjoy the attention, as always.
She pouted cutely and fiddled with the napkin in front of her.
“Nothing serious, exactly… but something feels off.”
She swirled her water glass slowly and frowned. Then she leaned forward across the table, lowering her voice.
“I think someone’s been watching me lately.”
“…Watching you?”
Chloe sighed deeply and nodded, looking up at me with a pitiful expression.
“Yeah. It started a little while ago — someone’s been leaving flowers in front of my door. At first I thought it was harmless, but… the day before yesterday, there was a note too.”
Chloe’s parents were commoners who had made a fortune in business before returning to their hometown, Tensia.
Chloe had chosen to stay in the capital alone to pursue acting.
There had been some friction about it, but with Hayden’s support, her parents eventually gave in. She had since moved into a brand-new apartment by herself.
She pulled a folded note from her small tote bag and handed it to me.
“At first it creeped me out, so I threw it away. But when it kept happening, I decided to keep one — just in case.”
[The red skirt you wore yesterday suited you perfectly.]
The handwriting was neat — yet there was something chilling about it. I frowned as I handed it back.
“Shouldn’t you report this?”
“Right? It’s weird, isn’t it?”
Chloe pouted again and slipped the note back into her bag.
“Haah. Honestly… the world’s changed a lot, but living alone as a woman is still scary.”
She said it lightly, almost as if it weren’t her own problem.
“I really think you should report it to the police.”
She made a low sound, scrunching her nose.
“Maybe. But I’ve heard from senior actors that this kind of thing happens all the time. They say it’s just fans being obsessed — and that getting angry about it only makes it worse.”
She smiled faintly, eyes curving into crescents.
“It’s uncomfortable, but… what could they really do?”
Her casual attitude worried me.
“What about that guy you were seeing before? Did you tell him?”
“Daniel? Oh, we broke up ages ago. Didn’t I tell you?”
She tilted her head, speaking lightly.
“No, I didn’t know. Then… are you seeing anyone now? It might help to have someone around, just in case.”
Chloe had always been surrounded by admirers — even after graduating from the academy, she was rarely alone.
But when I said that, her expression shifted — a flicker of surprise.
“Oh? N-no, not really. I’m not seeing anyone. But don’t worry, I’ll take care of it properly this time. Don’t stress yourself, Winter.”
Just then, the freshly baked bread arrived. Chloe quickly grabbed a piece and tore it open. The warm, buttery scent filled the air.
“Alright. But if you need anything, promise you’ll tell me. I’ll help however I can.”
She smiled faintly, lowering her gaze as she bit into the bread. Her cheeks were softly flushed pink.
I tilted my head, smiling.
“Chloe, don’t tell me… there is someone you like?”
“Wha— No! Of course not, Winter.”
She flinched and quickly tucked her hair behind her ear, looking away.
Her ears turned bright red. I couldn’t help but laugh — she looked so adorably flustered.
Maybe it was someone I knew — and she just didn’t want to say. I decided to let it slide.
“Alright. But when you do find someone, promise you’ll introduce him to me.”
Chloe avoided my gaze, taking a sip of water. For a moment, her eyes clouded — distant, thoughtful. Then she smiled again and rested her chin on her hand.
“Actually, why don’t you introduce someone to me, Winter?”
“Huh?”
“Who knows? Maybe the man you introduce me to will turn out to be my soulmate. I want to fall in love like you and Hayden.”
Chloe chuckled softly.
“I was so shocked when I heard you two were getting married. I nearly fell over.”
“Our marriage was a bit sudden.”
“Yeah! I didn’t even know you two were that close back then.”
She laughed again, light and carefree.
But somehow, something about the air between us felt different — heavier, quieter.
I studied her face carefully. She had turned away, sipping her wine with an unreadable expression.
When the waiter arrived with our main dishes, the brief silence between us broke, and we both busied ourselves with new topics.
“Oh, by the way,” Chloe said suddenly, “did you hear? The Duke of Felterwyn’s second son is attending the upcoming banquet.”
“The second son of Felterwyn?”
“Yeah — that mysterious man everyone’s been talking about. After a whole year of rumors, he’s finally showing up at the last banquet of the season.”
Now that she mentioned it, I remembered hearing about him — that the Felterwyn family’s second son had returned to the capital about a year ago.
I hadn’t paid much attention, but among noble families with unmarried daughters, it had been the most talked-about subject for months.
“They say he doesn’t have a title, but he’s incredibly wealthy. You heard the rumors that the Felterwyn family was on the verge of bankruptcy, right?”
“Yes, I read about it in the papers.”
“Well, apparently he was the one who saved them.”
Ah yes — that story. A perfect example of how reckless expansion could destroy even the most ancient houses.
It had been in the news several times: “In an age when titles no longer guarantee dignity.”
And along with it came another rumor — that the mysterious second son was actually the duke’s illegitimate child, abandoned long ago and only recently reclaimed.
(To be continued in the next episode)
