A Way to Confirm Your Husband’s True Feelings - Chapter 75

“I… I couldn’t tell the other sisters everything…”

“Yes, I imagine what happened wasn’t shared exactly as it was.”

“But their advice… in their own way, I think they meant well. It just didn’t solve the core issue…”

“No matter how wise someone is, there’s no person who can solve marital problems perfectly. I’m no exception. But from what I can tell, you already know the answer, don’t you, Beatrice?”

Beatrice looked down at her tightly clasped hands through reddened eyes. As Freya said, she had realized something as she talked through the events. Perhaps a truth she had known all along but had chosen to ignore.

“I was foolish. I should’ve spoken with my husband from the beginning, but I… I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I acted childishly. As you said, it was something I needed to work through with him as his wife…”

“I’m not trying to blame you, Bee. There are times when it’s far better to ask for help than to carry the burden alone. And besides, no one is born knowing how to navigate marriage. Well… unless you plan to do it two or three more times in the future.”

Beatrice glanced at Freya’s captivating face framed by dark hair and blue eyes. The lack of a smile made it hard to tell whether her sister was joking, but the words themselves were oddly comforting.

“You’re right… Maybe I was afraid of the outcome if I were honest with him. And that fear probably means I still love him, right?”

“That’s right.”

“But… that’s what makes it all so strange. Even after hearing such things, I couldn’t stop loving him… It was painful knowing the person I love finds me annoying and bothersome. I was terrified that if I brought it up, we’d end up… separating. I felt like I had to fix it somehow, no matter what…”

“Yes, that happens. Sometimes what seems like the best action at the time turns out to be a terrible mistake in hindsight. But blaming yourself won’t solve anything. What matters now is how you set it right. So, how about it? Do you feel ready now?”

Beatrice slowly nodded. She had come full circle to finally understand.

There’s no such thing as resolving a problem without facing it. And no one else could solve it for her. The issues between a married couple had to be addressed by the two people involved. She felt deeply ashamed of her past behavior.

“Yes. I think I can do it now. Even if Caesar’s feelings have changed, or if he never loved me to begin with… that’s not something I can control. What we need now is a real conversation about what to do next. If it comes to it, even… divorce should be considered—”

“Well, that’s something you should talk about with him.”

Cutting her off, Freya made a gesture, and a maid slowly opened the door to the drawing room.

“I told him to wait until we were finished, but I suppose our talk took a bit long,” Freya said gracefully, as if chiding him gently.

The man standing there was none other than—

“Caesar…?”

It was Beatrice’s husband.

Freya, noting how pale and frozen Caesar looked—much like the night before—turned to Beatrice and said,

“He’s been at the manor since early this morning. Now, have a good talk, the two of you.”

***

The night before, after watching the carriage carrying Beatrice disappear into the distance, Caesar had been unable to contain the rage that surged within him. He kicked the ground in frustration—though that fury was directed entirely at himself, the fool.

Staring at the deep divot his boot had left in the lawn, he suddenly remembered—this was Camilla Estern’s mansion.

‘……’

Moments later, Caesar bent down and began smoothing the dirt back into place with his hands. He could hardly bear how pathetic he felt.

“We both need some time to cool our heads.”

Even now, Beatrice’s cold voice echoed in his mind, tormenting him.

Ever since he had seen his beloved wife dressed like a fallen angel, immersed in that hedonistic crowd, he hadn’t been in his right mind.

He had subdued his roiling emotions with superhuman restraint. Part of him had wanted to cut down every man who dared glance at her or lay a filthy hand on her.

Even during their conversation, he had done nothing but hold back. She said that married couples should be able to argue, but Caesar couldn’t even imagine raising his voice at her—let alone getting angry or contradicting her words. If his subordinates, especially Dillon, had witnessed it, they would’ve been horrified.