# 22
---
William had a lot to say to Chloe. But these were not words he could say in front of her husband, Eric. When he realized this, William only nodded.
“Then please come back.”
Eric pointed to the door in a polite but firm manner.
“I also have a lot to discuss with my wife.”
William wanted to say something about Eric's rude behavior, but he couldn't help but be angry in front of Chloe. In any case, Eric was about to become a divorced man.
The woman William loved would abandon Eric. What could be happier than this?
William lifted his spirits happily. Then he turned to Chloe.
“I will call you soon.”
Chloe smiled slightly.
“I'll wait.”
As she was saying this to William, she didn't notice it – the kind of expression that was on Eric's face as he watched them.
* * *
After William left, Eric sat across from Chloe. Maybe he came in a hurry because his clothes were a bit messy.
A fleeting thought occurred to Chloe. She wanted to adjust his skewed tie, but she quickly gave up on that idea. He wouldn't appreciate the gesture anyway.
Chloe sat quietly and stared at Eric. Then Eric spoke.
“I think you're fine now.”
He crossed his legs and crossed his arms together as well.
“You have another man here at home.”
Chloe frowned subconsciously. How could Eric think that way about Chloe and William?
“William is like a big brother to me. There is no reason for you to say that.”
“You must be completely recovered by now.”
Eric said this annoyed.
“No. Even when she’s sick, you must have a lot to talk about.”
“What do you want to tell me?”
Chloe couldn't understand what he was thinking. Eric raised his head, mocking her.
“What did you talk to him about?”
It was an even more confusing question for Chloe. Why did he insist on interrogating Chloe and William? I sighed quietly.
"He asked me what I was going to do after the divorce, and I said I was going to go to the West Coast. That's it."
"That divorce. How long are you going to be this obsessed with him?"
Eric's tone was laced with venom. Chloe frowned.
“You said we could get a divorce after the Fourth Princess gets married. Didn’t you agree to that?”
Eric remained silent. Instead of answering, he just stared at Chloe.
His gaze was so piercing that Chloe subconsciously shrank and lowered her shoulders. But, knowing he wouldn't hurt her – fortunately, Eric wasn't that kind of man – she lifted her chin more confidently. But suddenly Eric's lips parted.
“This is why you are asking for a divorce from me.”
He looked at Chloe with a cold look.
“Is it just because I don't love you?”
“She says: ‘Just’.”
Chloe frowned and lowered her eyes.
only.
How can love be just that?
For her, love was...
“Love is everything to me.”
This was her life. That's all you have.
How could he talk about it so simply?
“You took all of that from me.”
She gritted her teeth as she said that. As for Eric, his expression was cold and indifferent, as he stared at her without any emotion.
“I'm completely fed up with this.”
He mumbled under his breath.
“How long will you continue to live in the illusion of love?”
Upon hearing the word “illusion,” Chloe became extremely angry. She raised her voice somewhat.
“You don't know anything.”
“Should I know?”
“Even this attitude you're taking is something I don't like.”
Chloe clenched her fist.
“You don’t want to know anything about me. Why do you want me by your side when you treat me like a doll? I’d rather you divorce me.”
“And I'm telling you I don't want a divorce!”
The sound of a loud shout filled the room.
Chloe's eyes widened, but then slowly closed them. She clasped her hands together tightly.
“Why?”
Chloe spoke with her eyes closed.
“Why don't you want to divorce me?”
Eric loosened his tie, feeling frustrated.
"I already told you. There's no reason for that."
“And I repeat to you clearly why. Countless times.”
I repeated that over and over again.
She wanted a divorce because he didn't love her.
But why was he saying there was no reason?
And Chloe thought he was ignoring her feelings.
“You don't listen to me at all.”
She continued talking with her eyes closed.
Because she didn't want to see Eric's cold expression.
If she saw his indifferent looks here… she might have gone crazy. I avoided that. She just wanted to avoid him.
Silence fell before them.
Eric didn't say a word. Instead, he clenched and unclenched his fists, breathing hard.
"Good."
After a long silence, one word was finally spoken.
Chloe opened her eyes and looked at Eric.
“I'll do it for you.”
"What?"
“Divorce.”
Eric said as he got up.
“I promise you that. The moment you marry the Fourth Princess, we will separate.”
His gaze was firm. It was much colder than Chloe thought.
A fleeting thought occurred to her.
Instead of loving her...
It would have been much easier for this man to divorce her.
“Satisfied?”
…Yes. That's all that matters.
Chloe swallowed those words and nodded.
Her heart was hurting. Her mouth was dry.
* * *
Finally, he said that they would separate.
Her husband said so.
Of course, she had to wait until the Fourth Princess married someone, but in the end, he agreed to divorce her.
Chloe sat on the couch, alone in the empty room, staring blankly into space. Her eyes were as empty as a room, as lonely as the bitter cold of winter.
That was something she didn't want to do.
She came to D.C. to get a divorce, and eventually served the papers to her husband.
She should be happy with the current situation.
But Chloe couldn't feel it. The strange thing is that her heart was in pain.
She couldn't breathe properly.
Was it because she was sick?
But the pain was very severe. She didn't have a fever and wasn't coughing, but her heart was beating hard with pain. She felt like her heart had been torn apart.
Is the reason for divorce?
Yes, it was because of that.
She didn't know it would hurt this much. Finally, her husband agreed to divorce from his mouth, but she did not know that she would be left alone to this extent.
Did she want him to oppose her until the end? Did she want him to tell her that he would divorce her only in the end?
no.
She came here specifically for the divorce. She had to get a divorce. She had to break up with him.
But why was it so painful?
“Heck…”
Chloe wailed as she squatted down.
Maybe you don't want a divorce. She had also almost lost hope when she was waiting for him outside while the blizzard was blowing hard, but just as she waited for him until the bitter end…
She was weak.
She wasn't able to do anything on her own. She always needed someone else's help. That's how she lived all this time.
That's why she wanted her husband to have a weak moment as well. She wanted him to ask her for help. She wanted him to be someone who couldn't live without her.
She was very fish.
“How stupid.”
She was a foolish woman.
The word suited her perfectly at this moment.
But there was no way back.
Now that she had lost hope and love, there was nothing else she could do.
* * *
The next day—
Chloe didn't want to leave her room. All she wanted was to lie like this. She didn't want to think about anything.
In fact, she was already weighed down by her thoughts.
But she couldn't stay like this.
Because today was the day of a banquet at the Duke of Aintree's palace. It was strange that Eric would tell her that same day, and send the notice through Daniel, but she couldn't refuse.
It was known to everyone that she was in the capital, so if she allowed her husband to go to the banquet alone, rumors would spread as a result.
Chloe said she would attend.
She didn't know how involved she would get.
It was going to be a divorce anyway, so she thought it best to avoid rumors with her husband until then. Even now, she still thinks about Eric's reputation.
She would be dead and gone from this world within two years, but Eric would stay. He would continue to live even after her death, so even if they broke up, she couldn't hurt him.
Thus Andrea greeted Chloe and hurriedly prepared.
She wore the dress Eric had bought her, the accessories, and the shoes. Everything was a gift from Eric.
Chloe looked at her reflection and laughed sarcastically.
The locomotive was quiet.
After she met Eric the next day, he didn't say anything to her, didn't even say hello. This was something Chloe had already expected.
Either way, she didn't talk to him either because she had nothing to say.
The place was silent, and the atmosphere seemed like a stormy night. Chloe sighed, feeling the dampness of her hands inside her gloves.
Then at that moment.
From the window, she saw another locomotive stop. Smoke was coming from its engine, which appeared to have broken down.
When Chloe looked at the logo on the locomotive, she realized it was Count Gassen's vehicle. The Count had recently established a cotton mill and had achieved great wealth.
Chloe looked out the window and spoke cautiously.
"I think we're going to the same place. Shouldn't we help?"
“It doesn't matter.”
Eric flatly refused.
"Let them handle it themves. It'll be okay even if they don't show up."
"What?"
And while she was wondering what he was talking about... Squeak! The locomotive stopped suddenly, accompanied by a loud sound. The horses neighed too.
Someone suddenly jumped in front of the locomotive!
Chloe barely put her hand on her beating chest. Who was that?