Chapter 72

“I didn’t know the subject was still you. I thought…… it must be someone else. I deceived myself into thinking it was probably someone else. Then, when I heard about your marriage to Lennox, I realized. That obsession was still there.”

“So… that’s why you secretly warned me at the restaurant.”

Harriet sighed heavily. Lowering his head, Eugene slowly admitted.

“I wanted to alleviate my guilt, even just a little. Although it was already too late.”

“What good is an apology after everything has happened?”

Her anger, with nowhere else to go, was directed at the person sitting right in front of her. Harriet glared at Eugene with sharp eyes and gritted her teeth as she criticized him.

“If you were going to intervene clumsily, you shouldn’t have gotten involved at all. Interfering out of a shallow sense of guilt and justice.”

“…I have no excuse.”

Eugene sighed deeply at the criticism, which was not wrong in any way. Harriet, grumbling, suddenly stood up.

“Do you still feel sorry for me? Do you feel any responsibility?”

“…Yes.”

“Then help me.”

“Help you?”

“I’m going to leave Lennox. I’m going to file for divorce.”

“Duchess!”

Though he expected it, Eugene, startled by the words he didn’t want to hear, grabbed her.

“There has never been a precedent for divorce in the Duke’s family. Even the late Duchess couldn’t divorce until the day she died.”

“I know. I don’t care about that. I’m not afraid of being the first case of everything.”

Harriet replied coldly, raising her head confidently. When she had intervened in the management of the family business as a woman, there had been nothing but opposition.

But what about now? With results and performance improving day by day, those who opposed her had all fallen silent. They criticized her for her affairs with men but couldn’t fault her business acumen.

“Even if I divorce, I have my wealth and the ability to live well. So I’m different from the late Duchess in many ways. I’m prepared to go to court if necessary.”

“……”

As the conversation continued, a fog settled over Eugene’s face. It was pitiful, her pure belief that she could divorce because she had ability and wealth. What she knew was only part of Lennox, just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, which even he could only guess at, there was likely an unimaginable darkness.

“But…”

“But I can’t just end it like this.”

As Eugene hesitated to speak, Harriet interrupted him with a resolute face.

“Eugene. I’m pregnant. This child also deserves a father.”

“Harriet…?”

It was an unexpected twist. Eugene, wide-eyed, quietly stared at Harriet. Harriet, sighing, said what he wanted to hear.

“So I’m going to give him a chance. A chance to confess everything to me and sincerely ask for forgiveness.”

“If…… he does that?”

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Eugene cautiously asked. After a brief silence, as if contemplating, Harriet replied.

“It would be difficult to forgive and accept him immediately. But…”

“But…?”

“With time, I will eventually accept and reconcile with him. Provided he changes.”

Eugene internally celebrated at the softening of Harriet’s complexion. Though she harbored confusion, anger, and hatred, her words and expression revealed an undeniable tenderness and affection.

Harriet loved Lennox too!

It wasn’t just Lennox’s one-sided feelings. Overwhelmed with surprise, pity, and hope, Eugene swallowed dryly.

“What can I…… what can I do to help?”

* * *

Lennox narrowed his eyes as he looked around. The soft orchestral music filled the space, and the only light in the dim atmosphere came from the candles burning on each table.

It was the very restaurant where he had once rented the entire place to have dinner with Harriet.

But now, the situation had changed. They weren’t the only ones in the restaurant, and the person sitting across from him was not Harriet but Eugene.

“Why did you suggest dining in such a place?”

Two men sitting idly across from each other in a restaurant meant for couples or lovers inevitably felt out of place. Though the surroundings were dark and everyone was lost in their own world, not paying attention to them, Lennox felt an inexplicable discomfort at the awkward atmosphere.

Ignoring Lennox’s feelings, Eugene smiled and cut his steak, putting it in his mouth.

“I heard the food here is quite good. As you already know.”

“…What’s your business?”

Unlike Eugene, who had already consumed more than half of his meal, Lennox, who hadn’t touched his food, crossed his arms and questioned him.

“Why did you call me here? If you had something to say, you could have come to the Ducal Mansion or called me to your clinic after your consultations.”

“I felt a bit reluctant to talk in such places. It’s scary being alone with you.”

“What?”

At the enigmatic words, Lennox raised an eyebrow. Eugene, having put down his fork, suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“What you did three years ago.”

“……”

“You haven’t told your wife yet.”

In an instant, the sounds of people’s voices, clinking utensils, and the soft melody in his ears stopped. Lennox’s expression, devoid of any emotion, was as chilling as looking at a doll. Eugene swallowed hard.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lennox reached for his wine glass and took a sip. Watching his Adam’s apple bob, Eugene clenched his fist on the table.

“As an old friend, I’m advising you. Confess your sins to your wife and apologize before it’s too late. Beg for forgiveness.”

Eugene’s words were a suggestion but were closer to a plea. He wanted Lennox to repent and apologize to Harriet. Regardless of whether she forgave him or not, he wanted him to desperately beg for forgiveness.

However, the response was as sharp and cold as a blade.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Lennox.”

With a hissing sound, Lennox let out a small laugh and twirled his finger next to his temple.

“Have you gone a bit crazy from studying too much, Eugene?”

“Lennox…!”

“I was wondering why you were setting such a serious mood, but this is ridiculous.”

Rummaging through his pocket, Lennox took out a cigar and lit it. Eugene, growing more anxious, pleaded earnestly.

“Lennox. It’s not too late yet. So please, confess honestly and ask the person involved for forgiveness.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t you regret anything? Don’t you feel any guilt?”

“Regret? Guilt?”

Lennox laughed sardonically and stubbed out the cigar he had taken a long drag from in the ashtray.

“I don’t regret it.”

“What…?”

Eugene froze in shock.

“Shall I say it again? I don’t feel regret or guilt.”

“How can…?”

Eugene, at a loss for words, gaped and asked with a pale face.

“How can a person be like that?”

“……”

“You were the one who told me about your parents. I thought at least you wouldn’t follow a similar path…”

“I put in this much effort to avoid that path, Eugene.”

Spitting out the words as if chewing them, Lennox took out some bills from his wallet and placed them on the table.

“Let’s have the meal another time. I’ll be leaving first.”

Informing him, Lennox quickly walked away. Eugene, who had been staring blankly at his retreating figure, wearing the coat handed to him by the attendant and leaving the restaurant, slowly turned around.

“Harriet…”

Harriet, who had been sitting with her back to him, put down the utensils she had been holding.

“Ha…”

She felt as if all the energy had drained from her body. Like Lennox, Harriet stood up without finishing her meal, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.

Eugene, who had been sitting dumbfounded in shock, belatedly chased after her. He barely managed to catch up and sit across from her in the departing hired carriage, exhaling the breath that had risen to his chin.

“Huff… Huff… Harriet, just now, that was… I mean.”

“Don’t try to make excuses for him.”

“It was too sudden. It wasn’t something to bring up in such a place.”

Instead of answering, Harriet gave the coachman the destination. The coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage started moving.

“Harriet…! Please, listen to me. Just now…”

“Then where and how should it have been said?”

Cutting off Eugene, who kept trying to make excuses for his friend, Harriet spoke firmly.

“Your old friend is the man you just saw. A shameless cold-blooded person with no regrets or guilt despite committing an unforgivable act.”

“……”

“His abnormal obsession is probably inherited from his father’s side. Knowing well how his mother lived, he seems determined to repeat it.”

With each word she uttered, her mouth felt bitter as if chewing on gall, and her stomach churned. The words, like self-inflicted wounds, flowed from her lips like blades.

“I don’t intend to unilaterally criticize and curse. Of course, I was foolish too. Acting smart only to be deceived like this. A scam that cost me my life.”

“Harriet…”

Cursing his friend internally, Eugene rubbed his face with his hands.

“I can’t presume to guess your feelings. But… can’t you give him one more chance? It’s been 15 years. The years Lennox has lived looking only at you.”

“……”

Instead of answering, Harriet looked out the window. The gas lamps illuminating the streets flickered, casting light on the passing pedestrians. As if rain was coming, people began to open their umbrellas one by one in the cloudy weather.

While the carriage rattled towards its destination, Eugene calmly defended his friend.

“That day at the restaurant, the two of you looked really good together. You loved each other. Anyone could see that you were a loving couple. And you’re married, too.”

“A loving couple…”

Harriet slowly turned her head towards Eugene. Thinking his words had gotten through, Eugene added hopefully.

“You know Lennox loves you. And you love Lennox.”

“Love… Love, huh.”

Harriet let out a hollow laugh and moved her lips with a twisted face.

“Let me ask you this time.”

“……”

“If you love someone.”

The following words were almost inaudible.

“Is it okay to do anything?”

In the end, Eugene couldn’t answer Harriet’s last question.