“Get lost, you little brats!”

As soon as Cain and Jane parted their lips, Yona came running out to the yard, raising her cane.

“Showing off in front of lonely old folks, are you? Huh? Just try fighting after causing all this commotion.”

Yona, who had been yelling, glared fiercely at Cain. In her eyes, Cain still didn’t look appealing.

That’s because the image of Jane when she first arrived on the island was firmly etched in her mind.

At that time, Jane looked just like an orphaned kitten.

“You.”

Yona pointed at Cain with the tip of her cane. Cain looked at her with a polite demeanor.

Yona disliked Cain’s calm expression.

If only he were a little less perfect, she would have persuaded Jane to break up with him, but his face was handsome, he was said to be wealthy, he was capable, and today she saw that his character wasn’t bad either.

Still, compared to the angelic Jane he fell short, but Yona had to admit there was no man she’d seen who could match Cain.

“You must treat Jane well. If that child sheds even a single tear.”

“I know you won’t let me off easy.”

As if you could do anything about it.

Yona pursed her lips and shook her cane threateningly.

“Get lost.”

Cain and Jane left Yona’s house as if they were being chased out.

“Hmph, go have a good time together or whatever.”

As Yona slammed the gate shut, the bustling sounds of people could be heard from beyond the wall. Yet it felt as if only the two of them were left on this vast island.

“Jane.”

“Cain.”

Jane and Cain, who called each other simultaneously, looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“Was it uncomfortable for you?”

Jane took the first step. Cain naturally walked beside her, guarding her side.

“It was fun.”

“Thank you for seeing it in a good light. They’re all good people.”

“They seemed so.”

“Did you eat properly? You were just drinking without touching the side dishes.”

Cain paused for a moment.

“Were you watching?”

Jane belatedly realized what she had said.

Though it was a trivial action and words, Jane felt embarrassed as she found it awkward to honestly express affection towards Cain.

“A little.”

“It’s okay even if you watch a lot.”

Thanks to Cain, the atmosphere lightened. The two walked silently for a while along the quiet night path of the island.

The stars embedded in the night sky like jewels were beautiful. The warm night breeze blowing in from the sea seemed to gently soothe their sharpened nerves.

Having had some drinks, with the nice weather, it was a night when the curtain of the heart peeled away a layer. It was also a good time to muster courage.

“Cain, this morning…”

“Jane, in the past, I…”

The two who spoke simultaneously immediately closed their mouths. Eyes resembling emerald and ruby reflected each other.

Jane carefully opened her mouth first.

“I know without you saying it.”

Jane also knew that the numerous rumors associated with Cain were false. Because someone close to Cain had told her the truth at some point.

Knowing, but still feeling bad.

After all, it was true that Cain had met many women and given them sweet words and gifts.

He hadn’t done so since marrying her, but before that, he had quite frequently enjoyed dating, they say.

And women gave their hearts to his looks and measured manners.

Petty as it was, Jane was jealous even of that.

Even though it was all in the past.

“I’ll apologize properly. Back then, I didn’t know I would meet you.”

He thought he had forgotten it all. No, he tried not to think of Jane consciously, thinking he should forget.

If he had known he would meet her again and fall in love, he would have approached things differently, even if it took time.

“I’m sorry.”

As Cain sincerely apologized, Jane felt rather sheepish.

It was just an emotional fluctuation. Still, since the topic had come up, it would be good to make things clear.

“Don’t do that from now on.”

“Okay.”

“And don’t smile at just anyone.”

“I’m originally not a person who smiles much.”

Jane pouted her lips.

That might have been true in the past, but not these days.

Cain’s smile had become looser. He smiled while watching Joseph do homework, smiled when seeing Jane off to and from work, and even laughed out loud while talking to the grandmothers and grandfathers earlier.

If women had seen that sight…

Jane recognized her inner thoughts becoming petty again and moved to restrain herself.

‘Jane, get a hold of yourself.’

She secretly pinched her thigh hard. The pain quieted her jealousy.

“Is all your anger gone now?”

Cain brought his face close to Jane’s nose.

Jane gazed as if entranced at his eyebrows that looked drawn, the eyes shining like stars below them, his straight nose bridge, and lips forming a splendid arc.

Only now, nearly a month since he returned to her side, did it feel real that the man before her eyes was hers.

Not an illusion, but a reality that would not disappear.

Jane reached out and cupped Cain’s cheek. Though it was a sudden action that could have startled him, Cain naturally leaned his cheek into Jane’s palm.

Now it was Jane’s turn to apologize.

“Cain, I’m sorry for getting angry over nothing.”

“It’s okay to get angry as much as you want, as long as you promise to forgive me.”

Cain meant it sincerely. Though he was very surprised and anxious when she was upset, he also realized something because of it.

He knew less about Jane than he thought.

And if it hadn’t been for this incident, Cain wouldn’t have thought to visit Jane’s workplace.

Cain thought Jane might be uncomfortable due to the subtle curiosity and hostility the islanders showed towards him.

So since coming to the island, he had lived almost in seclusion. But that turned out to be more poisonous. Rumors spread that he was hiding because he had done something wrong.

Only after talking with the elders today did he realize. Their hostility and curiosity wouldn’t disappear just by leaving them alone.

He needed to mingle with them like today.

For Jane’s sake.

‘And to satisfy my own desires as well.’

Cain smiled, recalling the examples he had heard from the elders about how Jane had settled in and lived here, how warm a person she was.

Lovely person.

Cain pulled Jane close and pressed his lips to her forehead.

“I want to appease your anger, but I don’t know how.”

“An apology is enough.”

“Don’t let me off too easily, Jane. I’ll get used to it.”

“Alright. Then I’ll make it difficult for you. What were you going to do?”

Jane looked up at Cain while tightly hugging his waist.

“Delicious cooking.”

“You do that for me every day.”

“But it’s not fancy.”

“I love all the soup and toast you make for me. It’s delicious too.”

To begin with, few people ate lavish feasts like at a duke’s mansion.

Jane and Cain’s dining table was modest but full of affection, like a normal family’s meal.

“Decorating the house for you.”

“There’s no room left to plant flowers in the garden.”

Cain wanted Jane to see only beautiful things from the moment she opened her eyes until she closed them. So he kept every corner of the house clean and tidy and diligently tended the garden.

The garden, filled with plants timed to bloom together, was in full bloom even though it wasn’t spring, and when the windows were left open, the fragrant flower scent filled the room.

“What else should I do for you, Jane.”

Cain hugged Jane tightly.

He wanted to do more for Jane. Though she said it was enough, it felt lacking to Cain.

His feelings for her were bigger and deeper than she could imagine.

If his heart were a well, it would never run dry even after thousands of years.

If his feelings were to be compared to something, a cornucopia would be appropriate.

“This is good as it is now.”

Each day spent without doubting his heart felt like a gift to Jane.

“You have too little desire, even for having none.”

Jane laughed with her face buried in his broad chest.

Cain didn’t know. That Jane was an incredibly greedy person. That’s why she had managed to stay by his side.

If she weren’t a greedy person, she wouldn’t have returned to the capital, nor would she have remained by Cain’s side.

Others might say otherwise, but Jane was extremely selfish.

She was selfish in choosing Cain.

That’s why Jane was satisfied with things as they were now, even if Cain didn’t do anything more for her.

Still, if she had to say just one thing.

“Hold me more often. Kiss me.”

“As much as you want.”

Cain immediately captured Jane’s lips. Their breaths and affection intermingled.

* * *

When their life on the island entered its third month, they received a message from Lloyd.

“Cain, did you see the letter?”

Jane, who hadn’t been able to check the contents of the letter because she left early in the morning, asked as soon as she entered the front door after work.

“It’s nothing.”

Cain kissed both of Jane’s cheeks and took the bag from her hands.

While Cain was organizing the bag and outer clothes, she tightly hugged Joseph and spun around in circles.

Only after this series of actions, almost like a return-from-work ritual, was over could Jane drink the cool lemon water Cain offered.

“It came by express mail, didn’t it?”

So Jane’s suspicion that it wasn’t a trivial matter was reasonable. It was also true.

“Tonight’s dinner is confit. I tried making it with the recipe Anna taught me.”

As Cain intentionally changed the subject and tried to enter the kitchen, Jane quickly blocked his way.

Tilting her chin up and narrowing her eyes, Jane glared at Cain.

“Tell me. What are you trying to hide from me again?”

“I’m not hiding anything, Jane. It’s just a friendly check-in.”

Cain’s pupils trembled slightly. Jane looked at Joseph. The child came running over and grabbed Cain’s hand, shaking it.

Cain, meeting Joseph’s eyes, let out a sigh.

He didn’t have the ability to withstand the eye attacks of the mother and son.

“It seems something has come up at the company.”

Cain’s face darkened rapidly.