MHCM 09

Chapter 9

“Wh–what are you doing, Eugene?”

Without hesitation, his hands reached down and slipped off my shoes. A rush of relief spread through my swollen feet.

“Ugh…”

When I winced, Eugene looked up at me and sighed. Then his hands, unexpectedly gentle, began to massage my sore feet.

“Stop it, Eugene. They’re dirty!”

Startled, I tried to pull my foot away, but his large hand caught my ankle in a firm grip.
There was no room to escape—the rough calluses on his palm pressed against my skin.

“Stay still.”

His voice came low and commanding. But even as he warned me, his hand didn’t stop easing the swelling.

“…Haa.”

Eugene’s gaze stayed fixed on my foot, his jaw tightening until his temples flexed.
He said nothing for a long time, silently working the tension out of my muscles as if wrestling with his own emotions.

Then, taking out a white handkerchief from his pocket, he folded it neatly and wrapped it around my heel with practiced precision.
Once done, he slipped my shoe back on and looked up at me with a face still clouded in anger.

“If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let you go earlier.”

“…This just sort of… happened.”

At my awkward excuse, Eugene swore under his breath—words far from befitting the second son of a duke. His violet eyes glinted coldly.

“So you ‘just happened’ to leave your wife behind and run after another woman?”

“Chloe was… really shaken up.”

“Ha. And that makes it fine, does it?”

Eugene exhaled sharply in disbelief.
The more I spoke, the more pathetic I felt. I didn’t want him to see me like this—small, miserable, defensive.

“Stop acting pathetic, Winter.”

His tone turned harsh, his face dark with barely controlled anger. I stared at him in shock.

“When you act like an idiot, it makes me furious.”

“…”

Emotion surged in my chest like a wave. I bit my lip and glared back at him.

Do you even have the right to say that?

From deep inside, anger began to rise.

“And what right do you have to be furious?”

“What?”

“Whether I act like an idiot or not—what right do you have to care?”

Eugene’s eyes wavered. I clenched my jaw, refusing to look away.

You, my so-called savior… the one who abandoned me.

His eyebrows twitched slightly.

“Mind your own business. Whether I’m pathetic or my husband leaves me behind—it’s none of your concern.”

My voice came out trembling with anger and exhaustion.

Eugene stood there, taking in the blame and bitterness I poured out at him.
Then, without a word, he rose to his feet.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

And just like that—calm, as if nothing had happened—he took my wrist and started leading me out.

And once again, pathetically, I couldn’t shake his hand off.
I simply followed, helplessly, as if I had no will of my own.

* * *

Late that night, silence blanketed the mansion.

Sensing movement, Bicton came out to greet me. His fingertips were stained with ink—he must’ve been working late.

“Welcome home, Madam.”

“Yes. Bicton, you’re still awake?”

My voice came out barely above a whisper, choked and fragile.
The clock hands pointed close to midnight. As always, Bicton smiled politely.

“Is the Master…”

His eyes shifted toward the space behind me. I forced a faint smile.

“Ah… Hayden had some work. He’ll be late. You should go to bed first.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say the words He left to take another woman home.

Not wanting to continue the conversation, I gave him a polite nod and climbed the stairs to the second floor.

“Madam!”

Bicton called out, sounding unusually hesitant.

“I—there’s still hot water, ma’am. Shall I prepare a bath for you?”

“I’ll do it myself. Don’t worry.”

I smiled softly, grateful for his thoughtfulness. Bicton nodded slowly.

When I entered my room, a small, warm creature greeted me.

“Meow.”

Myangshi blinked up at me with round, reproachful eyes—as if scolding me for being late.

I scratched her under the chin, and a deep purr rumbled from her throat. She lifted her hindquarters, asking for more attention.

“Myangshi, just wait a little. I’ll wash up first.”

I patted her plump backside before dragging myself toward the bathroom, though all I wanted was to collapse right there.

Then I caught sight of the handkerchief still wrapped around my foot.

Eugene’s rough yet steady touch came back vividly, and I frowned, shaking my head.

Always doing as he pleases…

Even this—Eugene was infuriatingly unpredictable.

The tangled mess of old longing and resentment twisted inside me.

I clicked my tongue softly and looked down at the handkerchief again, my toes fidgeting from the awkward mix of emotions.

Still… I should’ve thanked him.

Despite my harsh words, he’d insisted on driving me home.

During the entire ride, I hadn’t said a word—just stared out the window until we arrived.
And when we stopped in front of the house, I’d gotten out immediately, not even saying goodbye.

The thought of how small and petty that must’ve looked made my chest tighten.

“I’ll apologize properly next time.”

I untied the neatly wrapped knot and folded the handkerchief carefully, setting it on the nightstand.

After that, I checked the clock.

I calculated how long it should take Hayden to return after dropping Chloe off, then headed to the bathroom.

By the time I finished filling the tub, bathing, and changing, he still hadn’t come home.

Two in the morning.

I frowned at the clock hands.

“He should be back by now…”

Maybe he’d be even later. My teeth sank into my lip as unease churned inside me.

I sighed and sank into bed.

There was no reason to stay up any longer.
I didn’t want it to seem like I was waiting for him—like I was a suspicious wife keeping tabs on her husband’s fidelity.

So I shut my eyes tightly, trying to block everything out.

The ticking of the clock filled the still room, in sync with the loud pounding of my heart.

Even as I listened, hoping desperately for the front door to open, sleep refused to come.
The night deepened—and Hayden still hadn’t returned.

* * *

I slipped quietly into the kitchen, avoiding everyone’s eyes.

After glancing around to make sure no one was there, I spotted what I wanted on the upper shelf.

Dragging a small stool over, I climbed up carefully. Just as my fingertips brushed the object—

Crash!

The stool wobbled, and I fell backward along with everything on the shelf.

Pain flared across my small body, white light bursting in my vision.

“Oh my goodness! Miss!”

A maid came running at the noise, stopping to gasp at the chaos.

I scrambled upright, hiding the object behind my back.

“Joanna, don’t tell Mother…”

“Winter! I told you to stay still—your brother’s sick!”

Mother’s sharp voice cut through the air.

Her tired eyes darkened, not with anger but with something worse—disappointment. I shrank back, trying to hide the pain in my leg.

“But…”

“Your brother’s been ill for days and only just fell asleep. Can’t you think of anyone but yourself?”

She sighed heavily.

“But today’s…”

My voice was small, trembling. Today’s my birthday.

But she didn’t even seem to hear me. Her tongue clicked impatiently.

“Please, Winter. Just one quiet day. That’s all I ask.”

She shook her head and left the kitchen. The maid, flustered, guided me out after her.

My ankle throbbed—maybe sprained—but no one noticed.

“I’m hurting too…”

I bit my lip, swallowing the sob that rose. Crying would only earn more scolding.
The ache of neglect made my chest tighten painfully.

At least I got the cookie tin…

It wasn’t worth much, but I’d wanted it so badly—the one with the rabbit illustration.

I ran to the garden, clutching it to my chest, and hid under a marble statue.

Prying open the lid, I shoved a handful of cookies into my mouth.

The dry, powdery crumbs mixed with tears until it all turned soggy.

Mother’s cold eyes lingered in my memory, making my heart ache—but even so, I told myself it was fine.

Because soon, that boy will come…

When I opened my eyes, I was staring at a familiar ceiling.
My hand brushed the dampness on my cheeks—had I been crying?

For a moment, I couldn’t tell dream from reality.

It felt as if I’d seen a large hand… wiping away my tears.

Blinking sleepily, I sat up. Then—

The sound of the front door opening snapped me fully awake.

Morning light seeped faintly through the curtains.

Hayden had stayed out all night.

(To be continued…)