When Aiden woke up, Erin was sound asleep next to him.
Aiden sat up cautiously without falling back asleep.
He gazed at Erin, lost in thought.
Aiden’s hand touched Erin’s face.
He realized something for sure after this incident.
Until now, it had been natural for Erin to be by Aiden’s side.
He had never imagined Erin disappearing.
But now, he realized that Erin might actually vanish from his side this time.
Simultaneously, he made up his mind.
That kind of thing would never happen.
If, in the worst-case scenario, Erin tried to leave, Aiden was determined to hold onto her, even if it meant forcing her to stay.
In fact, he had prepared for that.
Even if it meant their relationship fell apart and Erin resented him.
Even if seeing that made Aiden miserable too . . . .
He couldn’t bear Erin leaving.
Just imagining it felt like someone was squeezing Aiden’s heart tightly. He couldn’t breathe.
So, when he thought Erin had left, he had prepared himself for what might truly be the worst-case scenario.
The very last.
Aiden had made a harsh but desperate resolve.
When he looked into Erin’s face, Aiden’s rationality was about to snap.
If, at that moment, Erin had given a different response, a completely different situation would have unfolded, not this peace.
It was fortunate for both Aiden and Erin.
Thanks to that, they became a complete couple.
Just looking at the sleeping Erin made a smile naturally appear on his face.
After staring at her like that for a while, Aiden slowly moved to get up carefully, ensuring not to wake Erin and stepped out of the bed.
As he opened the door and stepped out, Felix, who seemed to have been waiting as if he knew Aiden was coming out, greeted him lightly.
The smile Aiden had been wearing while looking at Erin a little while ago disappeared after he hid it.
Aiden gestured to Felix with a stern face and spoke in a low voice, “There are some things to take care of. Make sure to keep it quiet so as not to disturb Erin.”
Aiden, conscious of the room, instructed Felix in a low voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, Felix stepped back.
Then Aiden returned to Erin’s side.
Lying next to her, Aiden closed his eyes and lightly laid his arm across her stomach, looking at Erin.
***
Erin woke up feeling groggy.
“When did I fall asleep again?”
She remembered waking up in the early morning, watching Aiden, but then her memory became hazy.
It seemed like she had been watching Aiden sleep, and then she must have drifted off without realizing it.
“Did you sleep well?”
At that moment, a sweet voice echoed from very close by.
She met eyes with Aiden, who was right next to her.
The corners of her mouth curled up. Erin bit her lip but soon relaxed it again, smiling.
“Did you sleep well?”
This time, Erin asked the same question.
Instead of answering, Aiden kissed her.
Then, as if their lips had parted, he still maintained a seductive smile, as if they were still close enough to touch.
“Yeah, very well.”
Aiden answered, lightly kissing the bridge of Erin’s nose while maintaining that fatal smile.
Erin’s face, which had been gazing at that sight absentmindedly, slowly turned red in sync with her heartbeat.
“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Seriously…”
Erin muttered into her pillowcase.
Then, she turned her head to look at Aiden and sighed.
“No wonder I can’t resist you.”
Erin lamented, burying her face in Aiden’s chest.
Really. Aiden had never been like this before.
How did he become such a shameless and audacious man, capable of seduction?
“I love it.”
Aiden’s unexpected actions left her flustered, but she didn’t mind. In fact, she was thrilled and delighted.
“I was supposed to devour Aiden.”
But it turned out to be the other way around.
Last night, she was completely captivated by Aiden, to the point of having to admit it.
Moreover, it seemed like there would be many more days like yesterday in the future.
“Still, at least once, I must…!”
While Erin was kindling her determination in her heart, Aiden kept his gaze fixed on her.
“Aiden, good morning.”
Erin raised her head, sweetly greeting Aiden as their eyes met, thinking that she wanted to spend every morning together like today.
The two of them exchanged similar greetings several times and lingered in bed for a while, not coming out until it was time for breakfast. Even then, they remained together as if they were one until they had their morning meal.
TL/N: They had their morning meal at night ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
***
After returning to Lienster with Aiden, Erin walked through the mansion alone, taking her time.
The human heart was strange.
Even though she had lived here for 10 years, everything felt new and different today.
The familiar corridors, the framed pictures on the walls – they had never caught her attention before, but today, everything seemed to stand out.
Despite having lived there for ten years, she had always felt like she was just passing through, with a predetermined departure time in her heart. But now, this place truly felt like her home.
Every space felt meaningful and precious.
“Madam.”
When Erin turned around, she saw Mona and several other servants standing together.
“They all have something they want to say,” Mona said on behalf of the servants, then stepped aside.
Not knowing why they had come, Erin looked at the servants around her.
“Actually, this time, we were very worried as well. We never could have imagined that you, madam, were considering a divorce,” one of the servants said, expressing their concern.
“I know it’s a matter we shouldn’t dare to involve ourselves in, but… we have always been glad to have you, madam.”
Erin understood what they were trying to say. The servants carefully continued, observing Erin’s expression.
“So, we really wanted to express that we would like you to continue being our lady in the future.”
“Yes, thank you for coming back. We are grateful,” Erin replied. The servants all had a united expression as they looked at her. Seeing them like that, Erin felt the time she had spent with them.
“Thank you, everyone,” Erin said, feeling a surge of emotion in that moment. She felt valued and embraced as a person.
She realized that her reason for not leaving this place was not just Aiden.
Everything she needed was already here – Aiden, Logan and Isabella, and even the servants she had spent time with since she was young.
***
After entering the room, Erin never expected her smile to fade. She had been smiling for no reason, and Mona, finding it heartwarming, approached her.
“Isabella sent a letter,” Mona said.
“Oh, really?” Erin naturally accepted the letter from Mona.
“And Logan sent one too.”
Mona offered another letter.
“Both of them? Sent separately?” Erin asked, puzzled.
“Yes, they sent them separately.”
Erin received both letters. Something must be going on. Although they often exchanged letters, it was usually just one.
It was rare for them to be sent separately. She worried that something might be wrong between the two of them.
As she unfolded the letters to check, the contents were completely unexpected.
The contents of the letters were about Erin and Aiden’s divorce.
[The two of you getting a divorce. I want to believe there is some misunderstanding, but I couldn’t help worrying, so I had to ask. If something upsetting happened or if Aiden did something wrong, tell me. I’ll rush over and give Aiden a piece of my mind. So, Erin, if something’s wrong, won’t you talk to me for advice?]
A bitter laugh escaped her. Isabella’s sincere concern was palpable. She felt sorry in a way. Remembering how worried Isabella must still be about the current situation, Erin thought she should reply, asking her not to worry. Before replying, she also opened Logan’s letter.
[Don’t try to handle it alone if something’s wrong. Talk to me, I’ll handle it.]
It was a short and concise message.
Isabella and Logan expressed similar sentiments, but in different ways.
Moreover, Logan’s forceful expression made it clear that it was not just empty words.
“Reassuring.”
Divorcing Aiden was definitely out of the question.
It was inconceivable for there to be anything that would upset Aiden. Just having both of them firmly on her side felt so comforting.
It felt empowering, as if she had a strong support system. The feeling of fullness in her belly, gave her the confidence that she could accomplish anything going forward.
She happily wrote a reply to Logan and Isabella. Afterward, Erin unfolded another blank piece of paper without putting down her pen.
As she brought the tip of the pen to the paper, Erin paused for a moment just before writing.
Her eyes glistened as she stared at the blank page intently.
To make it through a day like today, she knew she had to be even more focused.
So she planned to fill the paper with the new plans she would develop from now on.
