# 28
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Chloe arrived at the bank.
There were armed security robots patrolling. After a simple body search, Chloe went inside. The operation was not difficult because she did not carry a weapon.
The weapons have become popular ever since Eric's factory started manufacturing them. Mass production became possible, so each member of the working class bought one gun to protect himf, and each member of the aristocracy bought several weapons for luxury. Because of this, gun-related incidents have become widespread.
Many people from the working class and the aristocracy were affected. Eric and his factory were the only ones who benefited from the weapons.
Chloe knew what Eric was called – a dog obsessed with capitalism.
I somewhat agreed. After he became a prominent figure and started building his factories, the gap between the classes widened.
Moreover, his factory paid low wages. Sometimes, individuals from the left protested, demanding their right to a decent living, but Eric did not care about that. Yes, it was unfair. Unjust to capitalism.
But Chloe wasn't going to criticize Eric. He made his own decisions for his own reasons. Living this way does not necessarily mean that he has a lot of money...
Chloe did not know how the factory was run, and more importantly, she did not know how much profit the capitalists were making. So, I naturally assumed that Eric was poor. Anyone who saw his old palace would think so!
Anyway, Chloe had to pay back the debt she owed Eric. Only then will you be able to revive his deteriorating life.
I sat face to face with the banker as instructed. But the surprise was that the banker was a woman she knew. It was Anne, a maid who took care of Chloe before her marriage.
"that?"
"my lady?"
Anne also called out to Chloe, her eyes wide open in surprise.
“Oh my God, I can't believe I'm meeting you here, Madam! But you know, a few days ago, Madam appeared in my dream. I think it's because I heard that you came to the capital. You gave me some cake just like you did before in my dream. It was really delicious… No matter how much cake I eat now, it doesn't taste like it did then! I think it's because of Madam's love, right?”
Anne began speaking in her unique, easy style.
"By the way, I missed you so much, ma'am. Oh, right! My name's no longer ma'am. I have to call you ma'am now, don't I? Ma'am, ma'am. How are you?"
With this unexpected meeting and unexpected friendly words, Chloe felt warmth fill her heart. Chloe smiled gently and placed her hand on Anne's.
“That's right, I'm fine. What about you? Are you still in a relationship with that guy who flirts with women?”
“Oh! Please don’t even mention him! It’s been so long since we broke up, but you still remember him!”
“Remember, the last time we saw each other was five years ago.”
"It ended more than three years ago. What a terrible man! How long did it take me to get rid of him? But it's over now."
Anne sighed.
"Hmm. It's time to say goodbye. But really, ma'am, it's been five years since we last met! Time flies. But you haven't changed at all. You look the same as you do now. Oh, this is not the time. If we keep talking like this, the general manager will scold me. I will send a letter to your residential address later."
“Okay. I’ll wait.”
"Yes! But what brings you here?"
Anne returned her facial expression to that of a banker, and showed seriousness in her work. With a slight smile, Chloe took a piece of paper out of her bag.
“I came because I wanted to l this mine.”
“Chloe – I mean, ma’am, is this the Wisset mine you have here?”
"Yes."
Anne didn't quite understand it. The Wisset mine was not very profitable, but if it was well located, its price would certainly rise.
The lady couldn't possibly be ignorant of this, but why was she trying to l it now? Even if she sold it now, it wouldn't even l for £2 million. Anne mumbled it privately, but that didn't mean she could say it publicly.
She searched through the documents and pulled out a sales contract.
“You will need a guarantee before you can buy it. May I check your bank balance?”
"Help yourf."
She was a little worried that Anne would find out that she had no money, but it couldn't be avoided. When Anne saw Chloe giving her approval after nodding her head, she stood up from her seat for a moment.
After fiddling with the abacus-like device several times, Anne quickly printed out a document. Then she turned back to Chloe with a bright face.
“You have £800,000. I think the lady can l it immediately after receiving the guarantee.”
"…What?"
Chloe was surprised. 800 thousand pounds sterling! It is unbelievable that she has such a huge amount in her account. Chloe shook her head.
“I checked it not long ago while I was up north, and the account was empty. Please check it again.”
“But...”
Confused, Anne held out the documents to Chloe.
“The amount was deposited in the name of Marquis Aslan. Please, take a look.”
Anne underlined her husband's name in the document, where details of the deposit as of yesterday afternoon were also written. Chloe bit her lower lip gently, then sighed anxiously.
“I guess I'll have to come back again another time.”
While Chloe was packing her bag, she got up. Her movements seemed to be in a hurry, but that did not mean she was clumsy. If it's possible to stay stylish despite this rush, it's Chloe.
Anne was impressed by Chloe's graceful appearance, and clasped her hands together.
“It was a pleasure to see you again, Anne.”
“Yes ma’am. Please be careful on your way.”
After Chloe received Anne's greeting, she left the bank, and as she was making her way to the exit, the security robots searched her again. Even then, Chloe was still in a daze.
Why do I have money? Because my husband said goodbye to him, why did my husband give me money? What is he thinking? Oh, my God!
Her thoughts were very scattered, as if they were scattered pieces that could not be linked together. At that moment, Chloe thought that she should go home as quickly as possible to meet Eric. So I hurried to the carriage.
* * *
After returning home, Chloe went straight to Eric. When she learned from Daniel that he was in the lab, her steps led her there. As she looked at the cobwebs and moss in the corridor all the way, Chloe felt uneasy again.
Chloe was determined to get a housekeeper to clean this place one day. Eric certainly wouldn't approve of this, but as the housewife, she couldn't let this happen.
What will others say when they see this? Just thinking about it made her nauseous. Chloe pushed the visible trash with her feet and strode forward.
“May I come in?”
Shortly after that, Chloe heard Eric reply. She pushed open the cracked iron door of the laboratory. As soon as she did, she was overcome by the strong smell of gunpowder. Chloe walked into the lab and covered the lower half of her face with a tissue.
Eric was elegant looking. The messy features Chloe had seen before were gone. As she glanced at his clean jacket, Chloe approached Eric.
"What is this?"
Eric said these words without hiding his feeling of annoyance and dissatisfaction with her.
“I've asked you to refrain from meeting me while I'm in the lab.”
"I have something to say. I don't think it can be put off until dinner time."
“Is it necessary?”
“Lee,”
Chloe cleared her throat.
“Did you transfer some money to me?”
Eric didn't answer. For Chloe, this silence was answer enough. She took a deep breath, recalling the details of the deposit Anne had mentioned.
“Why did you do that?”
“Is there a reason why I can't do that?”
Eric asked back. Chloe frowned.
"You do this all the time. Whenever I try to talk to you about anything, you always turn around and answer with another question. Isn't that tantamount to avoiding the topic?"
“You're helpless if you think that. But you should know that I've always talked this way. It can't be changed now.”
“Eric!”
Chloe raised her voice.
“I'm serious. I'm telling you I can't receive this money. I can't.”
“Why? It is not against the law for a husband to give his wife money. Just like it is with inheritance tax.”
“Because we will be separated soon.”
Hearing Chloe's firm words, Eric frowned. But Chloe didn't stop.
“We're going to break up anyway. What will I do with this money?”
“Shouldn't you be spending all this money so we can break up?”
"Then the burden I carry in my heart will increase. I can't take this money. I won't use any of it."
“It is not a burden you carry in your heart.”
Eric let out a sigh, pushing his hair back.
“Isn't it because you don't want to owe anything to someone like me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Correction. Even if he is not a scoundrel like me, you do not like to be indebted to anyone at all. Isn’t it because you are the youngest daughter of a duke? Isn’t it vanity that drives you to act condescendingly towards others?”
Eric stared at Chloe sharply as he said this.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Chloe bit her lower lip. Eric wasn't wrong. Chloe hated being indebted to others, and had been that way since birth.
But she could not agree with what he said about vanity, that is, that she thinks she is superior to others. This had never occurred to Chloe, and she was pretty sure she would never act like this, even unconsciously.
But of course, even if she had this conviction, doubt still lurked deep inside her.
Because she didn't trust herf.
So, instead of answering, Chloe avoided Eric's gaze and looked away.