“I thought you were just going out for a walk. You were gone longer than I expected.”

Grey’s gaze measured her instinctively, as if by habit. There was no need, as she had no intention of hiding anything.

“I happened to meet an unexpected face, that’s all.”

“I take it that face wasn’t me.”

“I was speaking of Nadeira Beaufort.”

“Ah.”

A short, subtle sigh hung in the air. When she turned to look at him, his eyes were dull with boredom, as if he had had enough.

“She’s made herself quite comfortable, despite not being welcome. Even though the Cabil estate already has a mistress.”

Grey took her hand and brushed his lips against her fingertips.

She hated the way her heart instinctively fluttered at the gesture—especially when she knew it meant absolutely nothing.

“So what did Miss Beaufort say?”

There was no need to hide it. She repeated what she had heard, word for word. His beautiful eyes narrowed like a waning moon.

“Sounds like she’s hoping to drive a wedge between us.”

“I got the same impression.”

“And you just sat there quietly listening to this nonsense?”

“Of course not. I pushed back.”

“I’m curious – what did you say?”

Regina was curious too, wondering how Grey would react to her words.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I spoke coldly on purpose – because I was worried that she might try to take advantage of my concern for you.”

“I understand.”

“I was just saying… I’m not neglected by my husband. I’m just not interested in your affairs. That you’re the one to deal with this tiresome mess and I’ll just sit at home and spend the money you bring in.”

It wasn’t hard to pretend to watch his reaction. She’d done it the whole time they’d been married.

Having heard everything, Grey said nothing. His lips, slightly tightened, made him look angry – but in truth he was holding back a smile.

“You’re not angry, are you?”

“Why would I be angry?”

He finally let out a low, amused laugh and wrapped his arms around Regina.

“Even if you weren’t joking, I wouldn’t mind. Frankly, it’s even more attractive when you mean it. I hope you continue to live like this – spending my money without a care in the world.”

Don’t interfere with my affairs.

There was a chilling warning in his words that seemed to freeze her heart in place.

And that smile—radiant and bright as a full moon—made something sting deep behind her eyes.

She had long since learned to wipe away the tears before they could fall, forcing a smile to cover the ache.

If Grey had been the one to hear those same words from her, it would have broken her.

Because she loved him far too deeply to ever take even a joke lightly.

Love is like a seesaw—when one side bears all the weight, it can never understand how light the other side feels.

‘How light must your feelings for me be, Grey, if you can smile so easily… even now.’

“Don’t worry about Miss Beaufort. If she causes any more trouble, I’ll abuse my authority as Lord and have her banished.”

“Alright.”

“The same goes for the matter of the harbour. You need more rest. Leave everything else to me.”

“Okay.”

She cleared her mind and smiled like a doll.

Grey’s cool lips pressed against her cheek and then pulled away, seemingly satisfied.

The sound of the carriage wheels didn’t feel like they were rolling over the road—it felt like they were grinding over her heart. Regina struggled to breathe.

As long as she kept lying stubbornly across the road of love, this pain would never stop.

She couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Your breathing is a bit labored. Are you still not feeling well?”

His large, shapely fingers touched her forehead as if to check for a fever.

But when the carriage shook, her cheek involuntarily brushed against his hand.

“Like a little puppy.”

“Today was… a bit rough, I guess.”

“I haven’t been by your side lately, have I?”

It wasn’t true.

He had never really been by her side.

Like someone standing alone in a cold, sinking swamp, Regina was being pulled down – slowly, steadily, with no escape.

The fear of suffocation rose to her throat and she felt the desperate need to cling to something – anything.

Whatever he saw in her hesitant movement towards him, a flicker of unfamiliar heat sparked in Grey’s eyes.

“Would it be all right… even here, in the carriage?”

“What are you…”

Before she could finish, his lips were on hers.

It was a short, gentle kiss, as if he simply wanted to taste her.

“So… sweet.”

‘And you don’t even like sweet things.’

Even knowing that, she remain like a dish never chosen – always set before him, yet never touched.

Perhaps it was his beauty that was to blame.

Skin as smooth and flawless as polished marble, a frame that seemed delicate yet held unmistakable strength, eyes like precious stones and lips that exuded quiet sensuality…

There was something about him – a dark, irresistible allure that drew women like blind moths to a flame.

And even then, he just watched as she writhed in the flames, smiling coolly as if none of it concerned him.

Every time his lips met hers, her consciousness faltered.

The scent of his woody cologne – cool and perfect for summer – mixed with his masculine presence and a surge of pheromones that hit her like a storm.

It was like being on a dangerous drug – her mind couldn’t stay clear.

Her vision blurred in and out, making her dizzy.

When she closed her eyes, bursts of light exploded behind her eyelids like fireworks.

Every time he took her in both hands, fingers tangling in her hair, tracing the delicate line of her neck and shoulders, another firework went off inside her.

“Ah!”

The sharp sting of his teeth sinking into the soft cartilage of her ear brought her back to consciousness.

He bit gently, again and again, then soothed the spot with the heat of his tongue, sending shivers through her.

She couldn’t tell if the heat that gathered in her eyelashes was from pain or pleasure – but tears threatened to spill all the same.

“Perhaps it’s because you’re such a refined lady… even your tears look like jewels.”

His tongue swept over her lashes, as if it could slide right into the smooth membrane of her eye.

She squeezed her eyes shut in instinctive revulsion, and his arms around her body rocked her gently from side to side as if to reassure her.

“Even if you wrinkle your nose, it’s like a crease in silk.”

He was always so shameless when they touched.

Nibbling lightly on her nose, breathing in the scent of her skin, pressing his lower body against hers.

It was like being swept away by a powerful wave – she couldn’t think straight.

She wasn’t sure if her body was shaking from the movement of the carriage or from the insanely sexy man in front of her.

She clung to him in a daze.

Though he was always the one to strike the match, it was Regina who burned hotter each time.

‘Maybe… maybe I am as lecherous as he says I am.’

Through her tear-filled eyes, she caught sight of his neck.

The long, elegant line with its protruding Adam’s apple took her breath away, and through the open collar of his shirt she could see his collarbones – so sharply defined that it looked as if water might pool between them.

Almost without thinking, her lips brushed against the taut skin as if drawn to it.

“…Hng.”

Startled by the moan that escaped her lips, she quickly drew back.

When she raised her head, his blazing eyes looked down at her like the sun.

“What exactly are you doing, Regina?”

His return to formal speech felt like a signal that his excitement had cooled.

She looked away awkwardly – but in the next instant, her body was suddenly lifted from the carriage seat.

“Ah!”

In an instant she found herself straddling his lap like a colt in spring.

His face, now so close, was expressionless, but the gaze that looked up at her was burning hot.

Before she could react, she felt a tug at the back of her neck – then a tear, her clothes ripped open.

She didn’t even have time to feel the chill on her exposed back before his other hand slid up under her skirt.

His fingers brushed hastily along her thigh, but were blocked by the garter belt that held her stockings in place.

The moment his brow furrowed, the garter and stockings were torn apart together.

She opened her mouth in surprise at the roughness of his hands – so unlike the usually composed man he was.

Perhaps mistaking her expression for fear, Grey pressed a kiss to her temple as if to reassure her.

“I’ll buy you new ones. As many as you want.”

Before she could reply, her underwear was pushed aside.

The sensitive inside of her thigh – touched only by soft fabric – flinched at the cold feel of a zip.

Sensing this, he lowered his trousers.

The cool metal that had lightly brushed her skin moved away, only to be replaced by the firm bulge beneath his briefs, pressing sharply against her.

There was only a thin layer of cloth between them.

It felt like holding burning coals against her skin – so hot it was almost scalding.

As if catching the heat, her cheeks flushed.

Grey buried his lips against the soft curve of her br*ast, calling to her softly.

“My lady.”

“Yes.”

“My lady.”

“Yes.”

“Regina.”

She inhaled sharply, confused by his insistence, but still responding faithfully.

Then Grey planted a kiss just above her heart, on her delicate skin, and looked up at her with only his eyes.

“Your heart races when I call your name.”

“Ah.”

“And down here you get wet too.”