James did not resent his wife’s innocent belief that the world was full of kindness.

However, he did find it troublesome and sometimes even irritating. After all, it created more work for him.

He knew that Lorina Winclaire had a habit of wearing extravagantly expensive clothes and accessories, and he expected her to dress even more lavishly than usual today, especially as she had a romantic companion by her side.

If Eliza were to attend in her simple, modest attire, she would only feel out of place and retreat further into herself.

When he saw the dress she had chosen, he was relieved to be home. Clearly, she had mistaken their destination for a convent charity gathering.

Yet, even in nothing more than a vividly patterned dress, she still drew attention under his touch.

The bracelet on her wrist shone as if new, adding to her elegance.

He thought she should have worn slightly more glamorous makeup, but he chose not to interfere for a very masculine reason.

If Eliza were to reveal all her beauty, the men at the Swan Club would not be able to take their eyes off her — and he was far too tired to endure that.

James found most things about Eliza irritating, yet he usually chose to suppress his displeasure.

If anyone provoked him more than Eliza did, it was the young Marquis of Phelin.

Even now, James’s brow tightened at the memory of the marquis’s eyes lighting up at the mention of his wife.

He still could not fathom how Eliza, who was so reclusive, had managed to meet the marquis without Miss Winclaire knowing.

Learning of his wife’s secret from someone else was humiliating, especially since he had believed her to be utterly transparent.

‘I’ll have that question answered today.’

Now that the two of them were finally alone in a quiet space, he thought it was the perfect time to ask.
But when he saw her sitting stiffly, staring out the window in tension, he changed his mind.

‘What if Eliza breaks into tears under my questioning? That would be troublesome.’

James fell silent again, his expression hard, as he looked at her slender, delicate neck.

‘I should buy a few more pieces of jewelry suitable for light gatherings.’

Meanwhile, Eliza felt as though she might throw up.

From her perspective, he had been shooting her sidelong glances the entire time, pretending otherwise in the cramped carriage.

Had it not been for the wind coming through the window, she might have struggled to breathe.

‘You bastard… If you dislike me that much, then just kill me yourself!’

***

On the second floor of the Swan Club, Lorina looped her arm through Aedrin’s and cheerfully made her way toward a private room.

“Aedrin, I’m so excited to meet the friend you’re introducing!”

Aedrin smiled, entranced by Lorina’s beauty, vitality and magnetic charm. Dressed in the latest fashion, she shone brilliantly.

Unlike James, Aedrin was a man who knew how to appreciate the dazzling and the extravagant.

“You’ll be surprised. It’s someone we don’t need to keep our relationship a secret from.”

“…What?”

Lorina stopped short in shock. They had agreed to be cautious about their relationship—one entangled with both affection and money—so his words felt almost like a betrayal.

“Please, don’t worry at all, Lorina.”

Aedrin smiled as he led her forward, and the moment Lorina recognized the familiar faces ahead, she forgot even how to breathe.

Aedrin greeted them brightly.

“Mr. Ashton, Mrs. Ashton.”

“…!”

The instant her eyes met Lorina’s, Eliza felt a tingling excitement along her scalp. Seeing Lorina frozen, unable to even manage her expression, was that thrilling.

‘Lorina, are you surprised?’

With a natural motion, she shifted her gaze past Lorina and glanced sideways at James. His face was as composed as ever—calm and impenetrable—giving no hint that the two of them might one day fall into an affair.

‘It seems it hasn’t started yet.’

Aedrin approached Eliza as though they were meeting for the first time, carefully concealing the fact that she had helped him in the past. He gently kissed the back of her hand.

Unused to such a gesture, Eliza flushed and quietly took her seat.

The moment James noticed the color rising to his wife’s cheeks, he frowned.

He was not a man who questioned himself, so it never crossed his mind that his aversion to seeing her blush for another man might be excessive.

‘Did I make a mistake?’

James had no idea that his words had once made Eliza feel small and uneasy.

In his view, there were only two situations in which his wife was allowed to blush: when he spoke to her and when she was in his bed.

There was no room for another man in either situation.

Meanwhile, unaware of the storm brewing within James, Aedrin simply enjoyed the stunned look on Lorina’s face.

James, for his part, quickly tore his gaze away from Eliza and offered Lorina a brief, curt nod.

“Miss Winclaire.”

He did not offer a hand-kiss. He was not of noble birth, and he found such old-fashioned etiquette somewhat distasteful.

Lorina, who had expected to receive a hand-kiss just as Eliza had, felt the corner of her lips twitch slightly.

“James… to run into you here.”

Watching Lorina’s awkward demeanor, Eliza clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘That’s not it, Lorina. You can’t show that much fluster in front of the marquis.’

“Lorina, welcome.”

As Eliza greeted her, Aedrin said to Lorina,

“I told you you’d be surprised, didn’t I? I already knew Mrs. Ashton is your friend.”

“Yes… I expected James to make an impression on my father and on you from the start, but to see you here together as a couple—honestly, that’s unexpected, Aedrin.”

As she spoke, Lorina kept her gaze fixed on Eliza. Eliza could clearly read the vivid anger hidden behind those smiling eyes.

‘Who do you think you are, showing up here? Both of these men are mine!’

To maintain a positive view of the world, perhaps it was better not to know certain things.

Eliza returned that gaze with a sincere smile.

‘Fine, you can have them both. I won’t stop you.’

As Aedrin pulled out a chair for Lorina, he cast Eliza a brief but meaningful smile.

‘See, Mrs. Ashton? Your advice worked perfectly.’

Eliza quickly lowered her gaze, as if fleeing from the secret intimacy of his expression.

She could feel James’s gaze piercing her cheek.

From the outset, he had watched Aedrin send suggestive glances at his wife.

James understood Aedrin’s behavior perfectly well on a rational level.

He was grateful to his wife for helping him win Lorina’s heart and wanted to repay her somehow.

However, James found that manner distasteful.

‘Where do you think you’re looking when you smile like that?’

Meanwhile, Lorina felt a strange mix of emotions as she watched James fix his gaze, almost resentfully, on his wife’s profile.

James rarely displayed his emotions so openly that others could read them.

Seeing just how much he seemed to dislike Eliza had always thrilled her, especially when she could witness it first-hand.

However, the intensity of his fixation on Eliza, even if it was laced with disdain, irritated Lorina to the point that she was tempted to yank the tablecloth off and cause a scene.

James Ashton had always been that kind of man for her — one who unsettled her in all the worst ways.

At the same time, she forced herself to remember that she was seated beside Aedrin, the man she might soon become engaged to.

He was the most eligible bachelor in Athern — a man who possessed everything she could desire.

Even if he didn’t stir her the way James did.

Before Aedrin could notice her lapse, Lorina steadied herself and regained her composure.

“I’m truly happy we can spend such a pleasant evening with my friends, Aedrin.”

“Oh, I would say it’s thanks to you that I’m able to enjoy such a pleasant time with my friends here.”

This time, Aedrin spoke while casting a meaningful look at James.

“Mr. Ashton is someone who will become an important advisor to my future business—and a loyal friend. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Ashton?”

“With pleasure.”

James replied with a mechanical smile as he draped his arm over his wife’s shoulder. It appeared to be a casual gesture between husband and wife, but his thoughts were anything but.

‘If you want to make me your friend, then give up the idea of becoming friends with my wife.’

Still smiling, James said,

“I hope I can become a good acquaintance to the young marquis, and that my wife can do the same for Miss Winclaire.”

“Well then, we simply must raise a toast.”

As Aedrin rang the bell with delight, Lorina’s gaze remained fixed on James’s arm, which was draped over Eliza’s shoulder.

The Swan Club was undoubtedly the most prestigious social venue in Athern.

Guests could enjoy the finest dining, drinks, performances and gambling, as well as accommodation. The only thing missing was family.

And yet, on that day, it failed completely to satisfy one of its most important guests: Miss Winclaire.

Although it wasn’t her first time dining with the Ashtons, Lorina found it almost impossible to sit across the table from them with any composure.

Today, Eliza looked brighter than ever — almost at ease.

Rather than shrinking under James’s gaze as she usually did, it was as though he was the one shielding her.

Just like a husband protecting his wife.

While Aedrin praised the meal eagerly, Lorina felt as though shards of glass had been swept onto her plate.

It was as if her mouth was filled with blood.

Above all, she hated James.

‘You used to be disgusted just looking at Eliza!’