Chapter 19 (1/2)

Chapter 19

That’s why Eric wasn’t so interested in things like birthdays. Even if someone wanted to celebrate them, he tended to just give formal greetings.

The same went for Chloe’s birthday. Being with her on such a day was nothing but annoying for him.

But this year was different. He would need to celebrate her birthday.

Because he didn’t want to divorce Chloe.

Why?

The answer was simple.

Divorce was not an option.

But again, why?

’Do you love me?’

It’s not because of feelings like love. Eric did not love her. No, in the first place, he didn’t know what love was.

What was love? Was it the affection between parents and children? Then Eric wouldn’t know that.

Was it the bashfulness that men and women felt towards one another? Then Eric also did not know that.

He didn’t know what love was. To be exact, he didn’t know what emotions were. Therefore, he couldn’t tell what kind of feelings he had or in which direction they were heading.

Perhaps the reason why he refused to divorce Chloe was truly because he wanted to prevent his marriage with the Fourth Princess. In fact, this reasoning came to his mind only after Chloe had said it, but that seemed to be the only plausible thing. If the Fourth Princes would marry another man, then the divorce with Chloe…

Eric’s forehead wrinkled again.

No. He had no intention to divorce.

Eric didn’t want Chloe to leave. It’s not because of a trivial emotion like love. This was because he couldn’t possibly let go of what was already in his hands.

If anything like divorce was going to happen between them, Chloe would have to persuade him first. That’s what he thought.

Leaving his lab, he took out a pocket watch. The time now was half past nine. It was enough time to dress up and stop by a shop, then he’d meet Chloe after.

While thinking this, he went on his way. However, he encountered Daniel, who had been looking for him.

“Your Excellency!”

As soon as Daniel saw Eric, he rejoiced and clasped his hands together.

“Oh my god, you’re finally here! Thank goodness. You don’t know how fast I was running to get here!”

He pulled Eric in a hurry.

“What’s going on?”

“Someone from Jiren Guild came!”

Jiren was the guild that was holding the largest commercial district in the eastern region, however, Eric had yet to secure a deal with them because they had been snobbing him.

But someone from that place came here? Eric’s eyes grew wide.

“They came here to buy the prosthetic leg you’ve made! No, wait, this isn’t the time. Hurry up and change your clothes and come out to meet them! Wash up first!”

Daniel pushed Eric back. Eric looked stunned for a moment, but he soon rushed to his feet, his expression truly like a successful businessman.

And so he had forgotten about Chloe completely.

“Huu…”

The moon had already risen high up the sky.

After his meeting with Jiren guild’s representative, Eric loosened his tie and sat back on the sofa as though he was burying himself there. As a button was loosened, a long scar could be seen on his chest.

Eric tilted his head back. He was the only one in the room.

It was a success.

From now on, he would start trading with Jiren Guild. This was an enormous achievement.

He’d only been able to reach customers in the west, but now that he could expand to the east, he’d be able to gain wealth from the entire continent.

He grinned as he thought about this bright future.

Today was a great day for a toast. He took out the 53-year-old Valentino that he’d been saving.

At that moment.

—Knock, knock.

He heard a knock on the door. He said that no one should come in, so who could this be? Buttoning his loose shirt up once more, Eric answered with a sharp voice.

“Excuse me, Your Excellency.”

It was Andrea, the lady-in-waiting that he had placed beside his wife. Eric raised his head, erasing his earlier delighted expression.

“What’s wrong?”

Andrea hesitated, then she carefully spoke.

“The Madam hasn’t returned yet, sir.”

“What?”

Eric jolted to his feet. Now that he thought about it, he had an appointment with Chloe… that he had forgotten. He completely, utterly forgot.

“Sh*t!”

Eric hurriedly took out his pocket watch to look at the time. It was already nearing midnight.

His gaze went out the window.

It was snowing heavily.

Snow had piled up in the town square. It was not piled up to the knees like it was back at the house, perhaps because there were sweepers here. But it was still high enough that it was freezing.

Eric hurriedly looked around. Everything was a blur because there was not a single lamp lit in the square.

As his vision adapted to the darkness, he could gradually see clearer. A flowerbed. An empty bench. A towering clock tower—and standing in front of it… was Chloe.

“You foolish woman!”

Running to Chloe’s side, Eric clutched her shoulder hard.

Looking at her, she was so deathly pale. Her blue lips were quivering, and it looked like her skin was already chapping.

She was out here in this cold weather for twelve hours. It was natural.

Eric was livid seeing Chloe like this—it was like she was a living corpse.

This stupid girl!