One sentence that made Jane keep Cain alive.

Come see me.

Cain exerted all his abilities to go to her side.

To meet Jane who had left the capital, he had to lift the confinement order imposed on him as soon as possible.

Cain spent two years meeting all kinds of people, taking care of Hays, and lobbying and serving as if it were a daily meal.

He could confidently say that the past 2 years were the years he lived most diligently in his life.

“Was it hard?”

Jane asked Cain, who was reminiscing about the past. Cain shook his head.

“It wasn’t hard at all.”

“Liar.”

Cain smiled as he kissed Jane’s smooth forehead.

“I thought it was a lie, too.”

Looking back, it was happiness.

Because Jane was waiting for him, because he was getting closer to her little by little every day.

Jane wanted to know all about Cain’s past, but she didn’t ask further. There was plenty of time to talk, if not today.

“Jane, I’d like to hear your story too.”

“My story?”

Cain moved Jane in front of him and hugged her tightly. He could feel her heartbeat on her back against his chest.

He buried his nose in Jane’s shoulder and took a deep breath.

The longed-for scent seeped deeply into his lungs. He was so happy that the tip of his nose tingled.

“Yes, your story.”

“It’s nothing special. But you want to hear it, right?”

As Cain nodded, Jane explained the past 3 years in a soft voice.

The first story she brought up was her hardships in the reconstruction committee.

Those hardships became her achievements and laid the foundation for women’s, children’s, and educational projects that became the pride of the country.

“Joseph became Joseph van Hastings.”

Cain’s heart swelled greatly upon hearing the full story of Joseph’s long name.

He was simply amazed at the child’s great capacity to embrace his inadequate father.

Jane also told him why she settled on the island among many other places.

Cain smiled bitterly when he newly learned that this was where she had fled from Hastings.

“It’s a good place.”

Cain’s face darkened as he recalled the terrible times, and Jane quickly added, noticing his sunken mood.

She was worried that he might develop prejudice against this place.

Jane now hoped that Cain would enjoy what she liked together.

Even if it’s greed, so what?

Jane was planning to be greedy for Cain to her heart’s content from now on.

“And?”

“Joseph quit the academy on his own. These days he’s studying at home, but…”

“But?”

“I have nothing more to teach him.”

He was so brilliant that if taught one thing, he understood ten, and if given one book, he mastered the principles in less than a day, so he needed a new teacher.

That means expert-level teachers for each subject.

“He’s grown a lot too.”

“Yes. He eats well.”

“And protects his mom well.”

“Pardon?”

Jane tilted her head.

“The man who came earlier today.”

“Ah, Mr. Stuart.”

When an unfamiliar man’s name came out of Jane’s mouth, Cain’s eyes narrowed. Jane raised both eyebrows.

“Are you jealous?”

“No.”

The immediate answer was a lie, judging by the crooked raised eyebrow.

“It’s not jealousy. Just continue with Joseph’s story.”

“Shall I?”

Jane pretended not to notice. Instead, she brought up a story that completely upset Cain.

“Joseph protected me very well. Without him, I don’t know how I would have rejected all those date requests from men… Just thinking about it gives me a headache.”

“What? Many men?”

Cain flared up. Jane burst into laughter.

“Wait, Jane. Are there many men on this island who would be interested in you? Didn’t you say it was a small island with only old people?”

It used to be like that.

However, two years ago, when the tourism industry was revitalized, young people flocked to the island.

Then public institutions were created, administrators were dispatched, and a virtuous cycle of population influx occurred.

Jane closed her mouth, unable to explain this process in detail, and Cain’s face darkened even more.

“Jane, I’m serious. Were there many people hitting on you? How? Wasn’t it troublesome? Among them, perhaps… someone you liked…”

Jane, who had been quietly listening because Cain’s jealousy was cute, frowned at his last words.

“Cain!”

Is this something to say when they’re hugging each other in an almost naked state?

Cain, coming to his senses at Jane’s shout, covered his eyes with his large hand.

“I’m sorry, Jane. I… You’re right, I was out of my mind, blinded by jealousy.”

Cain honestly admitted his feelings. Jane took Cain’s hand and lowered it. Then, looking into his eyes, she spoke softly.

“I only waited for you.”

Cain’s pupils dilated slightly.

“There was no one as wonderful as you. And.”

Jane snuggled into Cain’s arms.

“There’s no one who knows me as well as you do, or who can understand everything about me.”

Cain smiled softly and wrapped his arms around Jane’s waist.

She made room for Cain. Cain liked this peaceful and perfect space very much. So much that he never wanted to leave.

So now is the timing for greetings.

“I’m back, Jane.”

“Welcome back, Cain.”

At last, the two stood side by side at the starting line.

* * *

Jane, Cain, and Joseph, the three of them quickly became accustomed to living together.

A bread basket for three was placed on the dining table, and while Jane was out working during the day, Cain tidied up the work she had left behind like a shed skin.

Joseph followed Cain around, explaining in detail the rules he and Jane had.

“He’s become more nagging.”

When Jane returned from work, Cain would report what had happened with Joseph that day and complain.

“Joseph is the boss of our house. Please serve him well.”

“How could I not?”

Jane burst into laughter at Cain’s glib response.

“Hug me.”

Jane demanded Cain without hesitation. Cain did everything Jane wanted.

This time too, he lightly hugged her and sat her comfortably on the sofa. Then he sat beside her, placed her calf on his thigh, and gently massaged it.

“Where did Joseph go?”

Hmm, Jane let out a satisfied nasal sound.

“Joseph went to Lucio’s house.”

Lucio was the son of an administrator who had recently moved to the island. He was the same age as Joseph, and she remembered the child being very happy about having a friend after a long time.

“It’s quite late, isn’t it? I hope we’re not causing trouble…”

Jane glanced at the clock.

“I treated them to lunch earlier. Then Kate said she’d treat them to dinner.”

Kate, Lucio’s mother.

“You met Kate?”

“We briefly crossed paths when I dropped off the child. It sounds weird to say we met.”

Jane’s mood plummeted as she imagined Cain standing face to face, talking with another woman in her house while she was away.

She lowered her calf and sat up straight. Cain’s hands, suddenly losing their place, helplessly grasped the air before falling.

“Shouldn’t you start working soon?”

Cain narrowed his eyes and examined Jane.

“You want me to work? Then who will do the laundry for you and Joseph, and clean the house?”

“We lived well without you before.”

“It sounds like you’re saying I’m useless. That’s upsetting.”

“Cain, I’m not joking.”

Jane put her hands on her hips and made a rather solemn expression.

Cain chuckled and then brushed Jane’s disheveled hair.

It was such a gentle touch that even Jane felt embarrassed about her sharp retort.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about.”

“…”

“You don’t think I’d even glance at another woman with you by my side, do you?”

When Jane didn’t answer, Cain’s eyebrows rose. He looked at Jane for a moment, then exhaled dejectedly and slumped his shoulders.

“Jane, I’m not that kind of person. Don’t you trust me?”

I do trust you. But…

Seeing Jane chewing her lips, Cain was greatly shocked.

She doesn’t trust him.

Why?

The answer came quickly.

“You were quite a famous playboy in the past, weren’t you?”

The rumors that he had left alone in the past for mere convenience now grabbed Cain by the collar.

“Jane, that’s…”

“Forget it. Let’s stop talking about this.”

Although there was still so much to say, Jane went into the room and closed the door.

“Jane!”

Cain called out to her desperately, almost clinging to the door, but the closed door didn’t open until Joseph returned.