# 41
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Oh, what did I expect from my husband?
Chloe covered her face with both hands and sighed. When Eric came looking for her, she thought he was worried about her because he was worried she hadn't left her room for days.
That's why she let him into her room even though the swelling on her cheek hadn't gone away yet. She was expecting him to have kind words for her one way or another.
But, what is the result? Eric was actually protecting her mother! All while he believed all her nonsense...!
“Shouldn't you be in my class?”
She could barely get her voice out.
Although her hoarse voice clearly revealed how shocked she was, Eric did not notice it. He was always inattentive and unresponsive to changes in others.
"I do not take the Duchess's side. I simply believe it is right for a child to reach a compromise with their parents in the parenting relationship."
Chloe opened her mouth, then closed it tightly.
He had already come to the conclusion that she had wronged her mother, and that she had to ask for forgiveness. Given his tendency not to back down from his decision, it seemed that she could not change him.
So, she was exhausted. She was quite tired and stumbled, holding on to the edge of the window.
“Please, go back to where you are now.”
"renal".
“It seems that my mother coming home early would be better, so I won’t leave the room before she leaves.”
Eric was about to tell her that she shouldn't do it, but he noticed her extreme determination, and finally closed his mouth.
Meanwhile, he looked at her face – her slightly puffy face reflected deep sadness and great anxiety. It looked like he was the one who made the mistake!
...Did I make a mistake?
Eric asked himf.
From Chloe's actions, he thought there was a deep problem between mother and daughter. However, he knew nothing about that at the moment. As is always the case in such situations, she was a woman who preferred silence.
Yes. Eric found her wrong again. He thought that this problem was exacerbated because she did not admit her mistake and never talked about it.
“I think I know why the Duchess hates you.”
He answered sharply and deliberately.
“Because you're a woman who won't accept it even when you're treated kindly.”
Eric saw Chloe catch her breath for a moment. At that moment, Eric felt momentarily sorry to see the cracks in her calm expression. He felt like something was going completely wrong.
Was that what he said?
After thinking carefully about his words and actions towards Chloe, he realized that he was right. As he said, she is a woman who does not accept kindness as it is!
He rejected her again and again, and felt a strange and uncomfortable feeling deep in his heart as a result, but he diligently ignored it.
...Because he was not a gentle enough person to be able to search for his own feelings, as we mentioned.
* * *
The day has come when the Duchess returns.
Chloe didn't come out until finally, and Eric called Andrea to tell her to come down. She had to say goodbye to her mother.
It wasn't long before she sent him word that she was coming down. His pride increased a little, as he thought he was a considerate and affectionate husband, because he had helped reconcile the mother and daughter who were not getting along.
Eric was sure he was doing his best in his marriage. Most of the time, ordinary husbands do not care about the relationship between their wife and her mother, and are even unable to form any idea about it at all, to be more precise!
It was this thought that made the disagreement with Chloe a few days ago something he did not expect. He thought he was very protective of her, but she didn't understand it that way at all.
So, after a few days of thinking, Eric came to the conclusion that Chloe was more narrow-minded and stubborn than he thought.
On the other hand, there were days when he felt a little f-doubt or uncomfortable. The thought that he was making a wrong decision constantly occurred to him, which was why he felt embarrassed facing Chloe.
However, he was determined to become a good husband, and so he had no other choice but to greet Chloe, who was coming down the stairs, albeit with some effort.
“Long time no see, wife.”
She stared at her instead of answering. Her face was thinner than it was before. Eric assumed that her pale skin was due to her staying in her room out of the sun.
“You...”
Chloe slowly opened her lips.
“They don't seem to respect my opinions at all.”
Eric's eyes narrowed. What happened suddenly?
"What do you mean?"
I told you very clearly that I will not leave my room until my mother leaves. However, you did not listen to my desire to send Andrea many times and made me feel uncomfortable…!
“We do not know when you will see the Duchess again if you part now. We must bid her farewell.”
Eric said quietly.
He decided that there was nothing wrong with his thoughts. This stemmed from his belief that no matter how great the misunderstanding between mother and daughter was, this relationship could not be broken easily.
“I have no intention of meeting my mother again.”
But that wasn't the case for Chloe.
Her relationship with her mother was like a glass that could break at any moment, and she decided that there was a crack in it that could not be repaired. Moreover, death was near, and there was no chance of her meeting her mother again before then.
There must be none.
But Eric, her husband, kept bringing up the topic of love for the family. This made Chloe crazy, as she had never felt the love of her family as she should! How could she love them when she had not received any love from them?
…One had to have something to give back in return.
Chloe wanted Eric not to do anything.
But-
“You are so fish.”
Eric frowned and spoke.
“I don't have a family.”
Hearing his words, her eyes trembled.
Eric continued, "That's why I have so much respect for love within a family. Yes, I'm jealous too. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a family. However, I gave up on the idea because it in itf made me miserable."
“You complain when you have what I so desire.”
He stared at Chloe, straight into both eyes, and then spoke.
“Do you know how much your actions hurt me?”
Her eyes widened. She swayed, unable to keep her balance. She gasped for breath as she held on to the railing.
“I didn't think about it that much.”
Chloe spoke after a while, after she had regained her breath.
From the bottom of her heart, she felt very sorry for Eric. She never knew he had such beliefs regarding family. This was something she was not considerate of.
Eric doesn't even know his parents' faces. It is not known who gave birth to him. Amazingly, she announced that she would never see her mother again after a dispute between them, right in front of his eyes! Would he have felt so much pain from that?
Chloe couldn't stand the embarrassment. Because of this, she felt guilty towards him, and she could no longer stay angry with him.
“I'm sorry. I'll be more careful from now on.”
She answered meekly.
Although she acted this way to calm Eric's anger, she felt that he was in a worse mood instead.
He was supposed to feel superior because he was able to give up her desires, but he felt strangely resentful.
...This wasn't what we wanted, and this wasn't the reason he said it.
He only wanted to help mend the relationship between Chloe and her mother. To do so, he wanted to be a good husband who cared about even the smallest details of her family's affairs. However, Chloe looked hurt, and this hurt Eric's heart deeply.
Chloe apologized to him again, not knowing what was on his mind. Because he no longer wanted to talk about this topic, he ended the conversation by saying that he accepted his apology.
There was an awkward silence between them.
Shortly after, the Duchess came down from the second floor. She looked surprised when she saw Chloe.
“I didn't know you were coming.”
In fact, she didn't do that.
It was because she didn't think that stubborn Chloe would bend her will and show up. It appears that the Marquis was the one who brought it. It can also be assumed that she said something about it.
Therefore, the Duchess's feelings, having been so unpleasant throughout her stay here, were somewhat abated.
She shrugged her shoulders proudly and pointed her chin at Chloe.
"You must have thought to yourf. Isn't that why you came to see me off like this?"
“I…”