Chapter 13
In that moment, the sharp edge of jealousy I’d held toward her melted away like snow beneath the spring sun.
“Really?! The lead role?”
At my question, Chloe nodded, her face flushed with excitement. We clasped hands and began jumping up and down together like children.
“Oh my god! The final performance of the year, and you’re the lead?”
“I still can’t believe it! It feels like all the hardships I went through were leading to this moment!”
“I’m so happy for you! I can’t believe it…!”
My eyes began to sting with tears. My heart swelled as I thought of all the time Chloe had spent struggling to establish herself as an actress.
The final performance of the year carried immense weight—not just because it drew attention from the public, but because it was a stage reserved only for those who were truly recognized as actors.
And Queen Viola was one of the few plays where a woman held the sole leading role. For Chloe to stand in that spotlight meant her talent had finally been acknowledged.
“Hey, Winter, why are you the one crying?”
“I’m just so happy for you!”
Seeing my tears, Chloe’s nose turned red. Ridiculous as it was, we clung to each other and wept openly, crying and laughing at the same time.
“Winter, actually… there’s something else I need to tell you.”
After a long bout of tears, Chloe sniffled, her voice trembling. Her deep brown eyes glistened with lingering tears.
Something in her expression made my heart skip. The unease I’d felt on my way here returned in full force.
“Something to tell me…?”
I asked carefully. Chloe put down her teacup and sat upright.
“I need to apologize to you.”
“Apologize? For what?”
“For that day. The day at the palace… when that awful gift showed up.”
“……”
I hadn’t expected her to bring that up first.
My face must have betrayed the stiffness I felt; I could feel it prickling across my skin.
That day—just the thought of it replayed the worst possible scenarios in my mind.
‘I’m sorry. I slept with your husband.’
‘Hayden was such a comfort to me that night.’
Horrid, filthy imaginings burst into my thoughts, hot enough to make my head spin.
I swallowed hard. I didn’t want to hear whatever was coming next.
I was terrified that the reason I’d avoided seeing her would finally take form in reality.
“Chloe, you don’t have to say anything. It’s—”
“No. I have to say this properly. Hayden shouldn’t have been with me that night.”
“……”
Oh, dear God.
I silently prayed to a god I didn’t even believe in.
Please. Please, don’t let what comes next be what I think it is. Don’t make my ugly thoughts come true.
“The truth is, that night… I was jealous of you, Winter.”
“…What?”
My heart pounded violently. The joy I’d felt for her success only moments ago was gone without a trace.
The jealousy that I thought had vanished like melting snow returned—this time as thick, suffocating suspicion.
Still, I waited. I needed to hear the rest.
It’s not that, right? It can’t be that, I pleaded silently, my mind swinging between heaven and hell.
A few days ago, Hayden had flatly denied anything happened between them.
But right now, I didn’t have the strength left to believe him.
I waited for Chloe’s next words, fearing them, doubting them, disgusted with myself for even thinking such things—yet utterly unable to stop.
“I was the one who received that horrible gift, but out of everyone there, the only one who showed concern was Hayden.”
“…And?”
I sucked in a breath, willing her to just get to the point. Chloe looked straight at me—and I thought I saw a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
“I felt so alone, like I was the only person left in the world. I was scared. So even though I knew I shouldn’t…”
Chloe stopped.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
She hadn’t finished, but I already felt like I knew exactly what she was going to say.
“I couldn’t send Hayden away. I was too afraid to be alone.”
She folded her hands neatly in her lap.
“……”
So… you did, then?
My breath hitched. I couldn’t ask the question aloud—saying it would make it real.
“That’s why I wanted to apologize to you, Winter.”
“…For what, exactly?”
I asked quickly, desperate for clarity. It felt like the moment before a guillotine fell.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Chloe tilted her head, puzzled.
“I mean, even though Hayden’s a friend, he’s still your husband. It was wrong of me to keep him with me all night. I’m really sorry, Winter.”
She explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
I blinked, staring blankly at the air in front of me, my mind struggling to catch up.
“So… that night, you and Hayden…”
Nothing happened, right?
It felt awkward even to say it, but I forced the words out.
“You mean, he just… stayed with you?”
“Hmm? Ahaha! Winter, what are you even thinking?”
Chloe laughed out loud, patting my shoulder.
“Did you actually think something happened between me and Hayden?”
“……”
“Oh, goodness, no! There’s nothing like that between us, Winter.”
Her firm tone finally broke the tension. I let out a long, shaky sigh—half relief, half exhaustion.
My spine, stiff with fear, finally relaxed as I leaned back against the sofa. Above me stretched a pale white ceiling.
“What, Winter—you really thought that? That Hayden and I betrayed you?”
Chloe looked down at me, her wide brown eyes gleaming as she spoke.
“Come on, you know we’d never do that to you. After everything we’ve been through together?”
She rested her small head on my shoulder. I repeated her words in my mind and nodded faintly.
Right. After all these years together… how could she ever betray me like that?
A soft laugh escaped from above my shoulder.
“I swear on my life, nothing inappropriate ever happened between me and Hayden.”
Her certainty settled my heart completely. I wet my dry lips and exhaled.
“I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you or Hayden. I just…”
“It’s okay. I get it. It’s natural to have doubts sometimes. But I hope you don’t truly believe I’d ever do that, Winter. You’re my best friend.”
Chloe rubbed her cheek against my shoulder affectionately. I gently stroked her silky hair.
And then the guilt came rushing in—harsh and heavy.
I loathed myself for being unable to trust the people I loved most.
“Yeah. I’m sorry.”
I nodded quietly. The shame lingered, but beneath it flowed a calm, fragile relief.
Chloe giggled softly, leaning into me.
“I feel so much better after talking about it. Honestly, I’ve felt awkward seeing you ever since that night. I kept feeling like I’d done something wrong.”
“You were under a lot of stress that day. I’m fine, really.”
The scent of her perfume drifted up to my nose—sweet, almost comforting. For the first time in a while, it didn’t sting.
Later, as we chatted, I stopped by the bathroom before heading home.
As I washed my hands, something caught my eye—two toothbrushes sitting neatly side by side.
‘Huh. Has she started seeing someone?’
The way they stood together looked almost affectionate.
The sight made me feel a little foolish for having doubted her and Hayden at all.
If only I’d understood that night better, I thought, I wouldn’t have tortured myself with all those thoughts.
I smiled awkwardly at my reflection and stepped out, meaning to tease her about it.
“Winter! Let’s head out together—I’ll give you a ride. I’ve got errands near your place anyway.”
Chloe hooked her arm through mine, smiling brightly. I welcomed her warmth and nodded.
“Sure. But Chloe, did you… start seeing someone?”
“Hm?”
She blinked, wide-eyed. I grinned knowingly.
“I noticed an extra toothbrush in your bathroom.”
“Oh.”
For a split second, Chloe’s face went red. She looked away, hesitating, then nodded.
“Yeah… actually, there’s someone I’ve been getting to know lately. I wasn’t sure enough about it to tell you yet.”
The idea of her inviting a man over already made me a little worried—but I bit my tongue.
Oddly, the existence of someone else brought me a strange sense of relief.
“Really? Are you going to see him today?”
“Mm-hmm. He said he wanted to see me.”
Chloe smiled bashfully, her eyes glinting as they swept over me. Then she chuckled softly.
“I hope I can introduce him to you someday, Winter.”
“Ha, I’d love that.”
I brushed it off lightly, not thinking much of her words.
When I returned home, I bathed and came out to find the maid, Vivi, waiting.
As I sat down before the vanity, Vivi approached and began drying my damp hair with a towel.
Just then, Myang-ssi, who had been lounging on the sofa, lifted her plump body and padded over.
Despite her heavy frame, she leapt lightly into my lap, purring softly.
(To be continued…)
