Following her instincts, Chleo opened the drawer shelf of her husband's desk to find a suspicious memo. She opened it and was very surprised at what she saw.
There were so many notes about her favorite food, favorite snacks, and shows that could enliven her mood. Everything about her and what activities make her comfortable the most was listed in such detail. It was as if someone had interviewed her and made neat notes.
Where did all these records come from?
Chleo read the writing about her dimples that always appeared every time she laughs. Or when she was always jumped in surprise when a puppy suddenly approaches her.
She doesn't even know that she has dimples or that she always jumps in surprise when a puppy approaches her to play. Chleo felt that whoever took this note understood her better than she knew herself.
Then she continued reading until she spotted her favorite foods and traditional events that she had admired since she arrived in England. Chleo remembered her conversation with the servant who faithfully accompanied her. It seemed all their talks were summarized in this memo.
Not only that, in the memo, she also got strange comments on several pages.
'January 18, I just found out she has sweet teeth, especially toward ice cream. I had my assistant bought all of her favorite ice creams and stocked them in the fridge.'
'On February 14, I bought her tickets for the Swan Princess show. I wanted to buy her a VIP ticket so she could see clearly and comfortably. But she will be suspicious and throw the ticket the minute she knew I bought it. That's why I decided to buy her the standard one.'
'On March 20, I went on a business trip to Russia. Just being apart from her for two days made me miss her half to death, let alone the whole week.'
'March 25, I just realized... she had fun during my absence. She looked happier when I was away. I came home earlier than expected and saw it myself. Her smile was so dazzling, like the blossom flowers. I wish I could show up and say 'I'm home' to her. But, it would ruin her mood, so I extended my trip for more few days.
If she could live freely without me, I'm willing to give her alone time even though I was lonely and wifeless every night.'
'May 30, I spied on her play by the swan pool. She fed the geese and looks adorable when she was overwhelmed by the excited white birds surrounding her.'
'June 7, she looked even more radiant when she smiled at the blooming flowers. I hope someday she could smile like that for me.'
'August 25, for the first time, I saw her grin broadly showing her beautiful teeth. She looks gorgeous when she was in a merry mood. Unfortunately, she smiled for someone else. She offered her smile when a kind-hearted neighbor greeted her.
'On October 10, I learned how to make her favorite strawberry cake. I want to surprise her on his birthday. Regrettably, she doesn't like it and stated it clear that she would never open her heart for me. I knew right away that this... is my death penalty.
My heart is yearning for her, but she looked miserable when she saw my face. I decided to avoid her.'
Chleo's hands tremble as she read the last words but kept reading the content to the end.
***
Chleora, when will you look at my way? When are you going to give me a chance? I love you. Love you so much. But I can't express it because you won't believe me.
I'm sorry I force you and steal you away from your family. I regretted it, but if only I could revert the time, I would do it again. Only, this time I wouldn't force you and approached you as any gentleman would.
I wouldn't invite your lover to the city, but instead, I would woo you and win your heart. I would propose to you nicely and give you the marriage life you deserved.
But I couldn't. I didn't have the power to revert the time nor go to the past. I could only accept this fate and received your burning hatred eyes aiming at me.
I ensured myself that it is okay that you hate me. It is alright if that dazzling smile of yours was not for me, but... I can't bear it.
I no longer had the courage to see you unhappily lived in my place, while the only thing I wanted for you is your smile.
I will let you go... I promise.
I wish someday, you would truly believe that I...
I love you.
***
Chleo's feelings shook even as she hadn't finished reading all the notes. Without realizing it, tears flowed out of her eyes when she read the last words.
Axel loves her? Is that true? So when the man confessed to her, was he not lying?
Chleo squeezed her chest, which was now aching, thinking about the many things she had done to resist her husband's approach.
How could she miss the hurt eyes in her husband? How could she not notice the sad smile that always adorned the man's face when he smiled at her?
Why did she think the man's smile was only to mock her or make fun of her?
She felt her heart twisted around every time she remembered how her husband's facial expression looked like when she said those hurtful things.
Why is it had to be now? Why did she sneak into her husband's room now and covered this hidden unconditional love from the man?
Chleora put the memo back in its original place, then realized she had turned on the laptop when a notification sounded. There was an email that came in. It startled her when she saw who sent the email.
Vincentius Regnz.
Her father sent the email!?
With trembling hands, Chleo opened the email and read the email from her father. She scrolled up to see the previous exchange mails between her father and Axelard.
All this time, Axel had been giving news about her condition to her father without her knowledge. Axel assured her father that she is safe in this place.
She gasped in shock when she read those emails. It was the first time she understood why her father against her relationship with Alexis. It was because the young man was Alexsei Peskhov's biological son.
Alexsei kidnapped her once and hung her over the river before letting her drown in a hefty river current. The source of her nightmare and trauma was Alexis's father?