# 20
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The doctor hurriedly examined Chloe. He took her temperature, checked her breathing, then used a stethoscope on her chest and abdomen.
After examining her for a long time, the doctor raised his head, his forehead wrinkled.
“May I know?”
The doctor looked directly into Eric's eyes.
“Is there another clinic where the lady has been examined before?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I can't be sure because I don't know enough, but...”
The doctor stopped talking.
He spoke cautiously, not hiding his nervousness.
“I don't think the lady is well.”
[Dear, I'm sick.]
Why?
Why were Chloe's words coming to his mind at this moment?
He couldn't understand.
* * *
Chloe could barely open her tired eyes.
She couldn't breathe because of her fever. There was a ringing behind her ears. Because of that, she couldn't maintain her balance.
Everything was shaking, and in the past, she herf felt that she was the one who was shaking.
With that, Chloe sat down. She could endure this much pain because she was already used to it. Even as she writhed in pain, she needed to know what had happened.
Chloe looked at the calendar on the desk.
Day forty-three. The day of her collapse was the 41st, meaning she was bedridden for three days. She realized that her body had become extremely weak, and she could only think about this.
She wanted to get out of bed, but her body wouldn't respond.
I made a lot of effort even just to reach the glass of water on the bedside table and drink it. As she exhaled, she touched her forehead. She still had a fever.
Then at that moment.
The door opened, and Eric entered. His eyes widened for a moment, surprised that Chloe was awake. But soon his expression returned to its usual normal.
Chloe wasn't disappointed when she saw him. In other words, she did not feel any sadness or resentment about him leaving her in that place and breaking his promise.
She knew deep down that Eric wouldn't come.
She knew this, and yet hope was growing inside her again. Like a fool.
How long will this situation continue?
Why doesn't her heart listen to her mind?
Chloe mused to herf as Eric entered the room.
"What is this."
Eric said, narrowing one eye in a frown.
“What's your problem?”
jingle.
Chloe felt like her heart fell to the ground.
Should I call a doctor?
He must have done it.
Did he then know what illness she was suffering from?
no. If he were, he wouldn't have asked.
Then she would have to pretend she didn't know.
Eric didn't like her being sick, and at the same time, she didn't want to say she was sick either.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You know.”
Eric ran his hand through his hair, leaving it disheveled.
“What I'm talking about now – I know you're familiar with it.”
Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, Eric's eyes twitched.
“So tell me, what is the disease? What is the problem?”
The voice sounded like a pleading tone.
Chloe couldn't help but wonder: Why?
“…why?”
So I asked.
“If you knew, would anything change?”
"renal".
“What's the difference?”
Chloe clung to the blanket.
“You don't love me anyway.”
“What a vile love!”
Eric screamed, finally unable to take it anymore. He gritted his teeth and hit the ground with his foot.
"I don't know what love is. All my life, I haven't known what love is! But at least I know this—I can't leave my wife sick! Now tell me at this moment, what is your illness?!"
“I told you!”
Chloe didn't back down either. She closed her eyes and cried out in a broken voice.
"I've told you dozens of times that I'm sick. But what did you say every time? That you would send a doctor. Then you would forget about it. No one ever visited me in the north! I was always alone!"
The hands holding the blanket were shaking. Those hands were so pale that they seemed to be devoid of blood.
“I was sick alone, I suffered alone, and...”
...I loved you, alone.
Chloe muffled her last words and closed her lips. Then I breathed deeply.
“But you're asking now?”
Eric looked at Chloe again. However - for an unknown reason - his eyes were trembling.
“Eric.”
Chloe smiled desperately.
“It's too late.”
She placed her hand on her broken heart.
“It's already over.”
* * *
"the curse ."
Eric walked out of Chloe's room cursing as he ruffled his hair.
He wanted to talk to Chloe more, but she interrupted him, saying she wanted to rest.
Never done that before. This was the first time Chloe had blatantly ignored him.
He felt suffocated in his chest. The more he thought about Chloe, the more upset he became.
He was annoyed by her foolishness and stubbornness, and if that were not enough, everything to do with her illness annoyed him. However, on the other hand, what angered him the most was that she brought up the topic of divorce again.
Good. He was angry. He was almost mad with anger!
Was their marriage so cheap that it could be ended so easily? What divorce? How dare she simply say that she wanted to end their relationship?
Eric couldn't pinpoint why he was angry. Maybe it was because of Chloe's condition, or because she was hiding her illness, or because she was preparing to leave him. Or perhaps all of these reasons combined.
Why do you want to leave me?
What type of disease do you suffer from?
These two questions were running through Eric's confused mind. After living his entire life surrounded only by machines, and even gaining a robotic mind, it was as if a gear inside him had malfunctioned due to an obstacle called Chloe.
So he had to figure it out right away.
The reason that drives her to want a divorce.
This is the cause of her illness.
“Daniel!”
Daniel appeared even before Eric's scream could echo throughout the place. Eric motioned for him to come closer.
“Yes? Why did you call, sir?”
“Find the doctor in charge of Chloe in the north.”
Eric pulled out a cigar as he said this.
“I need to know what's going on.”
This was his right as a husband.
Of course, his behavior may have stemmed from his guilt over being a cruel husband who neglected his wife. But that doesn't matter. No matter how he felt, Eric was determined to uncover the secrets Chloe was trying to hide.
“And-”
He also had to know why she wanted a divorce.
But will Daniel be able to discover the reason for this?
He already knew that was impossible.
“No, it's okay. I'll take care of it.”
Eric frowned as he inhaled deeply on his cigar.
It's too late.
What do you mean by too late?
“It's already over.”
Nothing is over.
Eric clenched his fist and walked away quickly.
* * *
Chloe blinked slowly.
After she slept without knowing how much time had passed, her temperature dropped a lot. Fortunately, she can now move on her own.
So, Chloe was thinking about it now. What if Eric actually came to meet her?
She wanted to believe it wasn't just a dream. At that time, she was extremely delirious due to her fever, so the conversation between her and him was blurry in her mind.
But maybe it wasn't a dream. It didn't seem like a dream when she could still clearly feel the heartache, sadness, and grief she felt while talking to him.
This is correct. It wasn't a dream. In fact, I yelled at Eric.
When she remembered this fact, her cheeks became redder despite her rising temperature.
Why did you do that? Why did you do that specifically?
Maybe it was because it was too hot. That's why she was delirious. This is how Chloe explained it to herf.
But she quickly shook her head and pulled the rope.
"my lady!"
Shortly after that, Andrea knocked on the door. Chloe could barely raise her voice enough to let her in. Then the door suddenly opened.
"You're finally awake, ma'am! Are you okay? Oh, my God, this isn't the right time. I'm going to call the doctor!"
Andrea spoke in a noticeably agitated voice. She was usually calm and collected. This is how she was affected by what happened to Chloe.
“Andrea.”
Chloe called her name carefully.
“How long have I been unconscious?”
Let me see. It was…
Andrea looked at the ceiling for a moment, then answered.
“It's been four days since the lady briefly woke up. So, in all, it's been a week.”
Chloe bit her lower lip. Has all this time passed? Her husband already suspected that she was ill. It was clear that she could not dispel those doubts just yet.
“Where is my husband?”
“Master went out for a while.”
"truly?"
Chloe cleared her sore throat for a moment, then continued.
“Do you know when he will return?”
“The master mentioned that he will return this evening, but it is not certain. He is a person who does not attach much importance to time.”
"Good."
Chloe was thinking it was lucky Eric wasn't home right now. She knew that they would not quarrel again unless they met.
Why did they become this way?
She tried to think of a reason, and the answer quickly occurred to her.
Because he didn't love her.
Because she loved him so much.
Love was a terrible feeling. Even if she wanted to get rid of him, she wouldn't get rid of him.
The same was true of the hope that would come back to life thanks to that love. No matter how hard she tried to let go of him, she couldn't let go of him completely.
Chloe spent several years like this. Alone, she loved and hoped - but to no avail.
Maybe her life will not be complete without love. That is why, throughout her life, she only wanted love and did not look for anything else she might want – she only looked to her husband.
With a faint smile on her lips, Chloe blamed herf for being so pathetic.