Chapter 6

“What is the meaning of this? Are you attacking me, Duke?”

He didn’t even know what real violence was.
It wasn’t Baldwin who used violence—it was Egbert.

Baldwin slightly frowned, like a statue getting a small crack.

“Hah.”

Egbert turned his head and muttered under his breath.

“Stupid jerk who can’t even hear.”

He turned away so Baldwin couldn’t read his lips—acting so childish and petty.

Who was the stupid one here?

Then the Duke stepped closer and pulled Egbert away from me.
Finally, someone entered this ridiculous scene where no one had dared to help.

He did it casually, confidently.

Egbert’s face turned red with anger and he hissed,

“What does this have to do with you, Duke? Don’t you think you’re stepping out of line?”

But Duke Baldwin didn’t say anything.
He just stared coldly at Egbert, who couldn’t stand the pressure.

“…What a jerk.”

Egbert muttered again. The murmurs from the crowd grew louder.

Now the people around us began to praise the Duke—to cover up their own cowardice for not stepping in earlier.

“As expected! He’s worthy of the Constantine name!”

“Of course! He’s the head of an old and noble family. The Graham Marquis needs to step down now.”

I sighed quietly.
I didn’t know why the Duke stepped in to help me.
But one thing was clear—it helped me.

He gave me space to breathe and think.

“Alright, Anais. Just answer one thing and I’ll leave. I can be reasonable. I’m a gentleman, after all.”

As if. “Gentleman” my foot.

I took a step forward from behind the Duke, but he held me back with his cane.

“It’s okay, Your Grace. Thank you for your help.”

He looked at me for a second, then gave a small nod and stepped back, lowering his cane.

It felt strangely comforting—like I suddenly had a strong wall protecting me.

“If you have something to say, say it, Marquis Graham. But I won’t tolerate more chaos. If you act up again, I’ll call the guards. Remember that.”

“Hmph. Fine! I said I’d act like a gentleman! But you just love getting on my nerves!”

I stared at Egbert with a cold look.
He was still the same—always blaming others for his problems.
How could someone believe the whole world revolved around him?

“Explain what you said earlier. What did you mean? Did our old man really leave you something else?”

I smirked.

“Do I have to answer that?”

“What?! You—damn—!”

“The late Lord Graham was worried about the future of the bank, so he gave me full control. Don’t you think he might have been concerned about the Graham family too?”

Egbert’s eyes trembled wildly at my words.

This wasn’t something he could verify easily.

I just needed to plant the doubt.

If you get burned once, it’s normal to flinch just from seeing fire again.
Egbert’s expression changed—I could see it. He clearly thought my grandfather had left me even more than he expected.
How can someone be so predictable?

“You knew my grandfather well too, didn’t you, Marquis?”

Lord Graham was colder and more rational than anyone else.
He was logical enough to leave the bank not to his own grandson, but to me.

Egbert stepped back, hesitating.

“So I hope you think more carefully next time you act, Marquis.
Because next time, it might not be the bank you lose.”

“…Do you think I’ll just let you win quietly?”

“Then I’ll do the same to you.
Did you really think I’d let this continue forever?”

I let out a short laugh and added:

“We’re not even married anymore. You have no right to tell me what to do.”

Egbert stepped back again.
I once loved a man like this. I must have been completely blind.

“If you have business with the bank, make an appointment and visit properly.
You understand, don’t you?”

Egbert bit his lip hard, clearly frustrated.
Then he suddenly turned around and pushed through the crowd to storm off.

I stared coldly at his back.
It was a truly pitiful exit.

I let out a long sigh.
Just thinking about what happened today at the banquet made my head hurt.

There was a dark bruise left on my wrist where Egbert had grabbed me.

“So annoying.”

I rubbed it slowly.
I hated that Egbert had left any kind of mark on my life—or on me.

The emotional scars were already more than enough.
I bit my lip hard.

Even though I kept rubbing it, the bruise wouldn’t go away.
I stared at it, then sat down on a chair.

Aside from that, the banquet itself was actually a success.
Surprisingly, people seemed to accept the fact that I was now the owner of the bank without too much fuss.

Everyone at that event was either a current or future client.
Thankfully, I seemed to make a good first impression.

There was only one thing today that I hadn’t expected:

[You’re inviting danger.]

Baldwin Constantine, who looked at me with such cold eyes.

[You may have thrown yourself to the wolves.]

He was a completely unexpected variable—and a savior.

I acted like I wasn’t afraid, but who wouldn’t be scared in a moment like that?

Out of all the people there today, he was the only one…

He helped me.
Just like a prince on a white horse.

“I heard you got involved in something interesting today.”

Baldwin didn’t show any expression.
It seemed like only his friends were excited about what happened today.

After the banquet ended, they all followed Baldwin to the Constantine townhouse, their faces full of excitement.
But the owner of the house didn’t look pleased at all.

Baldwin pressed his fingers against his eyes.

“Really, Baldwin. I never imagined you’d get involved in something like that.”

“Well, it was hard to just sit and watch. Egbert was acting like he had the right to take something he didn’t even own.”

Gwendolyn spoke softly, sitting close beside Baldwin.
Her lipstick shone prettily on her lips. Gwendolyn knew exactly when she looked her best.

That’s why she always wore that deep pink lipstick when meeting Baldwin—because he read lips to understand speech.

“Do you think people came to that banquet just to have fun today? No way. They came to see Egbert Graham and Anais Barnaby. So why did you step into all that?”

Gwendolyn asked in a gentle voice.
Baldwin turned his head away to avoid their eyes.

He was tired.

Why did he help?

The truth was… it was because of the look on her face.
That woman, standing tall with her back straight even though she looked cornered—it reminded him of someone familiar.

Baldwin narrowed his eyes.

Anais was trying to look strong, but her eyes were quietly scanning the room.
She knew no one was going to help her. There was resignation in her gaze.

In Anais, Baldwin saw a glimpse of his past.

“He’s just a useless idiot who can’t hear! Throw him anywhere, I don’t care!”
“Is that how you talk to your own child?! Who have you been sleeping around with?! Tell me now!”
“So what if you know? Don’t worry. That brat is definitely yours!”

He had to sit straight as a child and listen to his parents throw cruel, filthy words at each other—at him.
That was young Baldwin.

So helping Anais wasn’t a plan. It was just a sudden impulse.

While Baldwin was lost in thought, Gwendolyn gently placed her hand on his arm.
She tilted her head at just the right angle to look pretty and batted her eyelashes.

“You’re not even going to tell me? Hmm?”

Baldwin casually pushed her hand away.
When he stood up to leave, his friends tried to stop him, but he roughly handed them a note.

[I’m tired.]

After reading it, his friends stepped back and watched Baldwin walk out of the room.

Gwendolyn pouted.

“Honestly. So cold.”