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“You were the one who told me to meet anyone.”
And she was the one who encouraged her to get along with Theron Cox.
“That’s true. But it’s also true that marriage should be approached with caution, and there’s something suspicious about Mr. Cox.”
Selene didn’t like the way this conversation was going.
“Evelyn. Do you know something?”
“Umm… no.”
Evelyn answered, subtly avoiding her gaze.
Selene narrowed her eyes at her suspicious attitude but didn’t ask again.
She knew that Evelyn was also quite stubborn and wouldn’t reveal her inner thoughts unless she opened her mouth herself.
‘But I can make a declaration before I hear anything else.’
“I trust Theron.”
She understood that Evelyn was worried about her, but she was the type to worry about trivial things.
Above all, Selene trusted Theron.
Theron had given her conviction through his various actions and behaviors.
Just a few months ago, she would have been swayed by Evelyn’s suspicions, but not now.
At Selene’s firm words, Evelyn’s eyes widened.
“What…? When did your relationship develop to that extent?”
“It’s been a while.”
Even at her indifferent reply, Evelyn was serious.
“If even you have started to like him, we have to hurry…”
“Forget it. It’s probably nothing, so stop. Theron is not a person who would do anything suspicious.”
Evelyn’s brow furrowed.
“No, Selene. I’m not suspicious of Mr. Cox.”
Evelyn’s mood became even more serious as she said something she didn’t understand.
Evelyn, who had been hesitating with her lips parted, finally let out a small voice.
“…I’m suspicious of my dad.”
“Uncle?”
“I don’t want to say this, but my dad is not as good a person as you think, Selene.”
Selene wondered what Evelyn knew to be saying such a thing, following her grandmother’s negative assessment of her uncle.
However, her expression was really bad, and she even looked a little pained, so she decided to keep her mouth shut for now.
She also had faith that if it were something that would cause her great harm, Evelyn would not have hesitated to tell her.
“…”
As Selene watched her quietly, Evelyn forced a smile.
“But don’t worry, Selene.”
Evelyn wrapped her hand around Selene’s.
“If anything happens, I’ll definitely find out.”

“Selene!”
On the day of her discharge, Theron came to pick Selene up.
As if such a big fire had never happened, the sky was blue and clear, and looked peaceful.
Theron’s face, standing under it, was as bright as the cloudless sky.
So much so that she didn’t even think of Theron’s averted gaze from last time, or Evelyn’s suspicions.
So, Selene felt more at ease when she faced Theron directly.
It was wise to believe what she saw with her own eyes, regardless of what the people around her said.
Selene, who had gotten into the car with Theron’s escort, said, “You didn’t have to come pick me up.”
“How could I not? Then you would have had to go back to the mansion all alone and lonely.”
“I’m used to being alone. I’ve lived like that my whole life, and strictly speaking, Philip would have come to pick me up, so I wouldn’t have been going back alone.”
Philip was Selene’s old driver.
Theron had a displeased look on his face.
“Yes, actually, I came because I missed you. If I don’t see you for a day, your face flickers in front of my eyes to the point of being annoying. Still, can’t you just say you’re happy I came to pick you up for once? Anyway, it’s always me who’s anxious.”
‘Because I’m not actually anxious.’
A retort immediately came to mind, but the reason she didn’t spit it out honestly was probably because she had come to think of Theron that much.
“Thank you for coming to pick me up.”
At Selene’s magnanimous remark, Theron finally fell silent.
Theron, whether he wanted to hide his rising smile at her thanks or was embarrassed by the answer he had gotten, hurriedly started the car.
“I won’t be able to see you for a while.”
Theron spoke as the car was smoothly crossing the empty road.
“Why?”
“I don’t know if you’ve seen it in the newspaper already, but the work that has increased since our company’s investment was confirmed will start in earnest.”
Theron forced a smile.
“It’s a good thing. It’s also a time when you have to concentrate on the competition. I’ll try to finish it as quickly as possible so that we can celebrate together when the competition is over.”
Selene would sometimes forget that Theron was one of the busiest businessmen in the empire.
And for good reason; he would come and go from the ducal estate as if he were an unemployed man with time to spare, and he would always pop up when she called.
So, while accepting his words that he would be busy for a while and they wouldn’t be able to see each other, she already felt a sense of boredom.
Selene hid that feeling and spoke.
“I saw that article in the newspaper.”
Theron gave a fleeting glance.
“What?”
“That Cox Corporation’s second building will be completed this summer.”
Selene had heard before that Theron’s company was building a second building, but since his business was growing day by day, she had just thought it was one of many things.
But what made her think of it as special was probably because Theron had briefly confessed his past in the hospital room.
Theron had grown up under a violent father in a poor environment completely different from hers.
So, for him, building a second building might be a much bigger deal than what the newspapers were exaggerating.
And she had seen the news in the newspaper that that great thing would be completed this summer.
“When the completion ceremony is held, I want to be there to congratulate you.”
Theron, who she thought would boast a little, was calmer than expected.
“It’s no big deal…”
‘No, is it closer to being awkward?’
Selene stared at Theron, who seemed listless for some reason, and then turned her attention away as the ducal estate, which she had been away from for a few days, came into view.
‘It might be a boring story for Theron.’
Finally, the car stopped in front of the main gate.
“Would you like to come in for some tea?”
To Selene’s suggestion, which he would have readily accepted in the past, Theron stalled.
“I’d like to, but I’ve been away for a while, so I think I have to go back to the company.”
‘It seems he’s really busy with work.’
Selene nodded without being disappointed.
“Alright.”
“Selene.”
And just as she was about to close the car door and leave, Theron suddenly called out to her.
When she turned around, she saw Theron, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, leaning his body close to the window.
Theron, who had been parting his lips as if he had something to say, lowered his gaze with a short sigh.
“…Be careful on your way in.”
“This is in front of my house.”
‘What are the chances of something happening while walking from the main gate to the house?’
“Yes, that’s right… I just called you because I was thinking I wouldn’t be able to see you for a while.”
Selene looked into Theron’s eyes.
His blue eyes, which were like the clear sky, were clouded somewhere.
“Theron.”
“…Yes?”
“Is something wrong?”
It wasn’t that she was suspicious of Theron, but it was true that he had been acting strangely lately.
So she asked, and Theron surprisingly opened his mouth easily.
“Selene… I’m sometimes afraid of what’s to come.”
Selene thought for a moment about what Theron might be afraid of.
‘Is he afraid of his business growing?’
‘Or maybe it’s related to the story of his violent father he brought up in the hospital room.’
Theron, who had been staring at the ground all along, slowly met Selene’s eyes.
“…But I believe everything will be sorted out someday.”
“…”
“So please wait until then. I will definitely… definitely find the courage.”
A question mark still hung in Selene’s mind.
But it wasn’t to the point where she would grab him and make him spit it out right now.
“I’ll wait.”
At Selene’s nonchalant answer, Theron brushed away the haze that had been covering his eyes and smiled.
After a light greeting, as soon as she entered the main gate, the sound of the car leaving was finally heard.
Even though the conversation had ended well, Selene looked back at the place where the car had left, perhaps out of disappointment that she wouldn’t be able to see him for a while.
Of course, Theron was nowhere to be seen in the empty space.

“My goodness. You really could have been seriously hurt! I’m so glad you’re safe, my lady…!”
Gwendolyn had an aghast look on her face as she saw Selene, who had returned to the mansion.
She had wanted to come to the hospital right away, but she had been guarding the mansion until now at Evelyn’s dissuasion.
The deep wrinkles in Gwendolyn’s eyes told her how worried she had been.
“I’m fine. I was lucky.”
“Of course. God must have helped you.”
Gwendolyn took Selene’s luggage and, unlike herself, rambled on about various things.
Most of it was about the situation and the aftermath of the department store fire.
Selene, who had been silently listening to Gwendolyn, asked, “By the way, Gwen. Was everything alright at the mansion?”