‘…So that’s how you want to play it?’

Eliza suppressed the surge of irritation rising within her and spoke calmly.

“James isn’t the type to allow anyone but me to call him by his name, so I was a little surprised. He once said that when people act overly familiar without permission, he mentally cuts ties with them. You know how much he dislikes rude people.”

“……”

Eliza could tell that Lorina—sitting upright—had lost control of her breathing for just a moment, like someone who had already crossed the line into unwarranted familiarity.

“But I’m glad he’s making an exception for my friend. Oh, this is really delicious.”

Eliza deliberately sipped her tea, pretending not to notice anything.

After a moment, Lorina responded.

“I’m glad to see you’re adapting well to this club. You never really managed to blend into Athern’s social circles before, did you? It must have been difficult for your husband to watch.”

‘That hit deeper than I expected.’

‘Wasn’t all my misery the result of your gaslighting?’

She wanted to grab Lorina by the hair and shake her.

But the moment Lorina began attacking her weak points, it was no different from a declaration of defeat.
It meant she had been cornered.

‘If I push any further, she might actually kill me here.’

Eliza decided this was enough for today.

“No, it’s not like that. This place is so dazzling it still makes me a bit dizzy.”

“……”

Lorina stared at her, unblinking, before abruptly rising to her feet.

“I wonder if those two men have started arguing. I’ll go check.”

“As if. James is not the kind of man who would ever cross the line.”

Whether Eliza intended it or not, her words could only sound like this to Lorina: ‘So he won’t fall for your temptations.’

Intentional or not, the door slammed loudly behind Lorina as she left.

“Phew…”

Left alone, Eliza sank deep into the sofa and stretched out.

In her previous life, conflicts with others had been unbearable. But now, hiding her true feelings and striking back just as Lorina had once done to her—it was strangely satisfying.

‘Still… I can’t do this twice a month. It’s exhausting.’

She let out a sigh and rubbed her full stomach.

She pretended not to notice that her own actions had led her to overindulge in dessert.

At that moment, the door opened and Eliza sat bolt upright in shock.

The person who entered was neither James nor Lorina.

For a moment, she felt as though her own downfall had walked in through that door.

“Vi—Vis—”

She couldn’t even finish saying viscount, but Deonar Goodwin understood on his own.

“Mrs. Ashton.”

Deonar greeted her in a weary voice that betrayed his irritation and exhaustion. He then sank heavily into the seat that Lorina had just vacated.

Eliza could never have anticipated this, but it was only natural that he looked so exhausted.

The turmoil he had just endured was far too vast and chaotic for an ordinary, disciplined person to comprehend.

However, Eliza was driven to the brink of frustration by the sudden appearance of this ‘great fool’ in such a deflated state.

“My lord…!”

“Deonar.”

“…Pardon?”

He spoke gloomily.

“My father, my grandfather, and even my great-grandfather were all Viscounts Goodwin. So if you’re going to address me, call me Deonar. Or Deo.”

‘…Good grief.’

Eliza could hardly believe her situation.

She had already decided to end her relationship with Deonar; it was the best she could do.

She could not be held responsible for him appearing out of nowhere like this!

She pressed her palm to her throbbing forehead, then suddenly remembered that James might be nearby and froze in alarm.

‘At this rate, it’ll look like I’m the one having an affair!’

Fighting back the urge to cry, she forced the words out.

“My lord, I came here today with my husband… This is a women’s tea room!”

Deonar only seemed to shrink further, replying in a subdued tone,

“Do you think I don’t know that?”

“……”

Eliza steadied her breathing as she stared at the ceiling. Gradually, her gaze shifted to the wallpaper, the curtains, and the other details of the room.

She and Eliza had first met at the bank in her previous life, and the second time was at the abandoned villa where Eliza had been left to die.

From that day on, he had stayed by her side, taking risks and never asking for anything in return until the very end.

This time, however, she had wandered into places such as the racetrack, where she had met him.

What was there to explain?

Everything — every single part of it — had gone completely and utterly wrong.

The frustration built inside her until she felt like she might burst.

Yet somehow, Deonar looked even more troubled than she did.

‘What’s with him… he’s making me feel soft!’

In a dull, heavy voice, she asked,

“How did you know I was here?”

He shrugged.

“I saw you. By chance.”

“And then?”

“If you’re asking why I’m here right now… I’d rather not answer.”

‘Because I don’t know myself.’

“…What?”

That was when Eliza realized.

‘This man has no sense of shame.’
‘He’s poured whatever should’ve been shame and conscience entirely into misplaced sympathy.’

And slowly, she began to feel afraid.

Just as Lorina couldn’t let go of her obsession with James…was Deonar, too, somehow fated to be drawn to her?

Meanwhile, Deonar was locked in fierce internal conflict—though none of it showed on his face.

‘If I don’t speak to you tonight, I know I’ll regret it. And I’ve never regretted anything in my life!’

But he couldn’t possibly say that he had barged into a women’s tea room for such a reason. Even to his own ears, it sounded like madness.

Suppressing his agitation, he stared at Eliza—who was glaring at him with wide eyes—and thought,

‘Perhaps… I wanted you to tell me why I’m acting like this. That must be why I opened that door.’

Eliza spoke sharply.

“Do you realize how rude you’re being right now?”

Lost in his tangled thoughts, Deonar answered bitterly,

“I hear that often.”

“……”

At those words, her mind suddenly cleared.

‘He really has no sense at all… Am I in serious trouble? Of all times, we had to run into each other just as he was leaving…’

Then, as if irritated, he suddenly asked,

“By the way, what exactly is your relationship with Miss Winclaire?”

It was an abrupt question. She should have answered friend, but the word wouldn’t come out.

Eliza hesitated, stumbling over her reply.

“Th-that… we occasionally see each other and exchange small talk… I suppose?”

As if relieved, Deonar nodded.

“One must be cautious when forming acquaintances.”

The way he spoke—as though it were fortunate she wasn’t close to Lorina—startled Eliza and stirred a strange curiosity.

‘Does he know what Lorina is really like?’

But she couldn’t keep having this conversation with him.

“P-please… you should leave now, my lord.”

In truth, Deonar wanted to do just that.

He wanted to apologize, leave, and then meet her somewhere else at a later date where she wouldn’t be afraid, so they could talk properly.

But if he left like this, how would she remember him?

There probably wouldn’t be a next time.

Eliza stepped closer to him and said,

“I don’t understand your actions at all right now… but I do believe they weren’t done with ill intent.”

“…Madam.”

Despite his impulsive nature, Deonar had a surprising depth of understanding.

He knew there was no reason for her to trust him.

If anyone else in Athern had said the same things, he knew they would have been lying.

And yet, he found himself unable to doubt her, not even for a moment.

It was because of her eyes.

He couldn’t quite explain it, but the emotion within them was unlike anything he had ever seen before: clear and untainted.

She truly did not see him as worthless.

Something tightened in his chest, followed by a quiet confusion.

He found himself caught and bound by that rare gaze she had turned towards him.

“But if you don’t leave this room now, then it will be no different from committing a wrongdoing against me, my lord.”

Eliza had no idea, but her attempt to coldly drive him away only served to bind him further.

He wanted to say, ‘Of course. I never intended to harm you.’ But he chose not to.

Because she already knew.

Rising from his seat to follow her wishes, Deonar said,

“To be honest, when I first spotted you, I thought you had gone up to the casino. I was worried—since I didn’t know you were with someone.”

“Gasp—!”

‘He thinks I’m a gambling addict!’

Eliza was horrified, while Deonar found himself entranced by the deep red flush of embarrassment that spread across her face.

He had always felt that she was not the type of woman to be involved in something as dangerous as gambling.

She was far too delicate for that.

‘Corruption suits people like me, not someone like you, madam.’

Only then did Deonar Goodwin realize why he had become so fixated on a woman he barely knew.

She seemed as fragile as a candle in the wind, someone he simply couldn’t ignore.

Her husband was a cold banker with the heart of marble.

Trashy acquaintances.

And within all that, there was her.

Gambling was an escape she had fallen into just to breathe in such a life.

He felt as though he could understand her a little better.

Before leaving the room, Deonar spoke once more.

“You said that day at the racetrack was your first time placing a bet, didn’t you? Then there is something you cannot possibly imagine.”

“…!”

“The thrill of winning money.”

He looked at her—completely frozen—and stood before her with a deliberately solemn expression.

“For someone like you, it must have been an indescribable sensation. What about that fragile little money pouch that looked as though it might tear at any moment? Is it still intact?”