What Remains at the End of Regret - Chapter 37

“I never thought I’d find you here.”

A dark shadow approached Vivian at a slow pace, with the sea at its back. To escape the shadow that was coming towards her like the sea swallowing the waves, with the bright sun behind it, Vivian took a step back.

“D-don’t come any closer!”

But Edmund closed the distance as much as she retreated.

“Please!”

Vivian was now staggering, screaming in terror.

Her back hit the bookshelf hard as she backed away until there was nowhere left to retreat. Thick books collided and fell to the floor. With a dull thud, Edmund was right in front of her.

Terror.

He seemed to faintly understand the emotion that stained Vivian’s eyes.

In the end, those beautiful eyes that made him so uncomfortable.

“I was wrong.”

About Vivian Mabel, who defied everything he stood for, and the feelings he had for this woman.

That day, the day he finally spewed out the desire he had suppressed in the greenhouse onto the woman.

He had to constantly come up with reasons to justify his uncharacteristic behavior.

To deny the nameless feelings he had for this innocent and insignificant woman who acted so proud and arrogant just for taking good care of flowers.

He thought he could forget her if he didn’t see her.

“You’re still useful.”

But he couldn’t stop.

“Summer’s not over yet.”

Clearly, the end of this summer was the expiration date he had set for this woman, and this dazzling season was still at its peak. That time hadn’t ended yet, so,

Should he just let go of a woman who dared to make such a ridiculous excuse as love?

You can only discard what you possess.

Then, in order to possess you.

“Isn’t that right?”

Should he just destroy that damn love?

Her terrified eyes were now filled with tears. The clear tears stained her pale cheeks with anxiety, as if anticipating something terrible.

“P-please, don’t do this.”

Following those clear tears, when he saw the woman’s turquoise eyes again, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

Edmund grabbed Vivian’s cheeks roughly and bit her lips, which instantly turned red. Not missing the gap where she let out a small gasp of pain, Edmund’s tongue quickly invaded deep into the moist interior.

It was a kiss with a faint taste of blood.

Hot breaths went back and forth between their locked mouths without a break. Only the burning heat dominated his mind. At this moment, everything he felt touching the woman was just hot.

Excessively sweet. The breath you give is like poison.

“Ugh, ugh!”

The watery sound was completely swallowed by the sea. Edmund relentlessly plundered the woman, who had lost her will to resist to the point of not even resisting, trying to somehow keep her standing. He rummaged through every corner of her depths as if he would chew her up and swallow her whole.

As Vivian’s body, which had been leaning against the wall, slumped, he put his leg between her slender thighs to support her and wrapped his hand around her waist. As the hand gripping her chin gradually tightened, the squelching sound grew louder.

“Hngh, ugh!”

“Open wider.”

Edmund’s Adam’s apple moved roughly. His breath was rough as he buried his face and inhaled as if he would swallow the tip of his tongue.

He had to try not to lose his mind to the distant sensation in the face of the overwhelming pleasure filling his mouth. Just as her slender moans gradually turned into sobs, Edmund, who had taken his lips away, looked at the woman who was a mess.

Possessiveness.

The woman, who was nothing more than an interest at first, had now become something he wanted to have, even if he had to break her.

He had to admit it.

In the end, these were things that would only be resolved by having this woman in his hands.

Your wounds will only be traces of my base desires.

A thin strand of saliva stretched out from the corner of her glistening lips. Edmund, who wiped away the traces of ecstasy flowing under her chin with the back of his hand, gently stroked her cheek.

“Go and tell your beloved fiancé.”

He finally made a decision.

“Will Hayden Harper still love you after what you’ve done with another man?”

The choice he had to make to have you.

He would gladly destroy everything you love.

Only then, when he had you completely, would he finally know.

What this impulsive feeling is.

＊ ＊ ＊

Betty returned a long time after the Duke had left.

“Vivian!”

With Hayden.

Hayden smiled playfully and approached Vivian, who looked at them with a questioning expression, her eyes wide as if asking what was going on.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Betty told me. She told me you were here, so I rushed over.”

Vivian turned her head towards Betty. Betty wore a sly expression, trying to hold back the smile that was leaking out, and covered her mouth. Betty pointed at Hayden with her eyes and turned to leave the bookstore.

Now that Master Hayden had arrived, she was thinking of returning to the mansion. No matter how much she made excuses for the young lady, she felt a little guilty for ignoring all the busy work.

Betty cheerfully moved her steps, feeling excited at the thought of becoming a matchmaker for a young couple who were in a good mood.

With a confident stride, she had no idea that a fierce battle was taking place.

“If you were going out, you should have told me too.”

“If I had told you, would you have tried to follow me like this?”

Vivian, who raised her eyebrows at Hayden and gave him a sharp retort, primly opened a book and lowered her gaze.

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Forget it. I came out today because I didn’t want to do anything related to you.”

“Anything? Like, marriage?”

“I’m not telling you.”

Vivian, who needlessly turned the pages roughly, raised the book to a height that would cover her face. Hayden, who was quietly watching her, took steps and approached Vivian.

Hayden, who chuckled as he watched Vivian turn the pages roughly again, sat down on the desk. He pressed down on the book with his straight fingers, and slowly approached her with a mischievous face that gradually appeared.

“I’m also incredibly busy, you know?”

Vivian’s face, which suddenly had Hayden’s face right in front of her instead of the book, turned as red as the sun.

“But I like it. Even when I’m busy, even when I’m tired.”

“Get away from me!”

Vivian turned her head and stepped back, shouting loudly. Hayden, who shrugged his shoulders, sat down on the chair he had pulled next to Vivian.

“Just bear with it for a month. Everything will be over in a month.”

Vivian hurriedly added, afraid that Hayden, who was speaking in a lowered voice, would misunderstand.

“I-it’s not that I don’t like it. It’s just.”

“……”

“I just keep getting nagged.”

“I know.”

“Know what?”

“That you wouldn’t have married me if you really didn’t like me. Why are you so worried about what others think?”

Hayden hid a secret that only he knew and smiled faintly. Hayden leaned back in his chair, sprawling out, watching Vivian smile with relief at his familiar smile. The wind that came in through the open window gently shook Vivian’s snow-white hair.

Vivian frowned slightly, as if it was bothering her. Then, the bridge of her nose twitched slightly. Eventually, Vivian carefully swept her hair behind her ears after it tickled her cheeks several times.

Hayden, who captured the sight in his eyes, smiled gently and quietly closed his eyes.

It seemed like a peaceful and beautiful afternoon.

Vivian, who was quietly watching Hayden with his eyes closed, quickly covered her mouth with both hands to swallow the sorrow that was welling up inside her.

I’m sorry, Hayden.

She couldn’t bring herself to tell Hayden, who had said he loved her, the truth that would hurt him.

It was okay to be abandoned.

I don’t want you to get hurt.

No one will know if only I keep it a secret.

Nevertheless, tears continued to flow from the guilt that was gripping her heart.

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