Jeffrey further elaborated on his boss’s greatness to Mrs. Allen, who had to live with such an employer.

“Well, the boss keeps saying such flattering things, but I think that’s natural since he’s the boss. In fact, just thinking about Winston is enough income.”

Louisa nodded and said,

“I understand that family is researching submarines along with ships.”

“That’s right. Among them, we’re putting a bit more possibility on the submarine side. The chronic problem that made utilization difficult was fuel.”

“Fuel?”

Louisa questioned. Then, as she soon understood the situation, she clapped her hands together and exclaimed, “Ah!”

“Yes, that’s right. For a submarine to be meaningful, it needs to be concealed first, right? But with existing fuels, that’s not possible due to steam.”

“That’s certainly true. But if it’s a technology so faithful to military purposes, I wonder if it might receive unnecessary royal sanctions…”

Louisa brought up concerns about the royal family, seemingly worried. However, Edward cut off even her worries in one stroke.

“There’s nothing to worry about on that front. They won’t do that, even if only because they’re afraid I might flee to a foreign country.”

He boasted. As a result, Louisa, who was about to continue saying something, just moved her lips a few times before stopping her words.

But Jeffrey didn’t stop.

“Huh. Someone told me not to make a fuss ahead of them. Said it’s still to be seen.”

“You—”

Edward called him, raising his eyes.

“What? Did I say something wrong?”

At his retort, Edward covered his forehead with one hand.

Louisa, watching her husband’s reaction, opened her mouth.

“…If sanctions do come, it would be good to have Winston as an ally. Since I have quite a friendship with Winston, let me know if you need help.”

“Oh, if that’s true, it would be a really big help then—”

Jeffrey rushed in with a pleased expression. But Edward quickly intervened and cut off his words.

“No. We’ve considered Winston too, but we’re contemplating expanding into ships as well this time, which isn’t a bad option.”

“I see. But will it be okay? The company…”

Louisa trailed off worriedly.

Edward immediately guessed what was implied in her unfinished words. She must have recalled his lie about the company’s situation not being good.

He quickly spoke before Jeffrey could interject with nonsense.

“Where is there any endeavor without risk? But you have to challenge to gain something.”

However, such a general statement was not enough to convince Louisa.

“I think that’s true. But expanding the business too aggressively is a bit—”

“It’s my company to begin with. I’m the one to judge that, and I’ll handle it, so you just keep quiet and leave it alone, please.”

He finally took a strong stance.

Although he knew his wife wouldn’t like it, although he knew it would only be a repetition of their usual conversations, nonetheless.

And as he expected, Louisa realized, as she always had, that this was the limit her husband allowed.

“…You’re right. You are the president of Allen Company.”

Still, because he showed the research facility he had never properly shown before.

Because he was doing things he hadn’t done in recent times, wondering if this time might be different.

So she had harbored a small hope, but for him, she was only this much in the end.

For her husband, she could never be a lifelong partner to love and depend on.

She was foolish to have hoped even for a moment.

She had only wished for her husband’s efforts to bear sufficient fruit. She sincerely wished for her husband’s happiness, and for that, she could have done everything possible.

However, he did not allow her any action that invaded his domain. She had no right to know about him outside the home, regardless of whom he met or what he did.

‘I thought… he had changed.’

But his methods remained unchanged. Her expectation of perhaps finding love from him again, of seeing hope, was shattered into even smaller pieces.

Even with the talk of further expanding the business.

The small lapis lazuli box she had carefully placed in the drawer came to mind.

She thought it was just the tip of the iceberg. So she expected that if she fumbled along, she might gradually discover something larger.

But it was just a lucky catch of a single floating piece.

It hurts. She thought there was nothing left to break, but it hurts so much.

Louisa’s face darkened as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

Seeing this, Jeffrey looked back and forth between the boss and his wife, not knowing what to do.

‘What should I do? This is bad.’

This stubborn fool of a boss has finally done it.

In that suffocating moment, having finished his deliberation, he took a drastic measure.

“Um… Boss!”

“What.”

“There’s something I’d like to ask man-to-man, is it possible to have a consultation?”

“Why so suddenly.”

“It’s less embarrassing when the employees aren’t around. So, will you accept or not?”

At his urging, Edward glanced at Louisa.

Downcast eyes brimming with tears.

His wife’s expression, one he had seen before, was right there.

His heart sank. He should have refused Jeffrey’s request now, if only to soothe his wife’s mood.

“I won’t accept it, so go back to your seat now.”

“No, Boss!”

“No. It’s lunchtime now, and I don’t have time to spend with you right now—”

“It’s okay.”

Louisa interrupted him mid-sentence.

“Mr. Curtis. Is it urgent?”

“Huh? Ah… yes. It is.”

“Then I’m fine, so go ahead, Ed.”

“…Will you be okay? What if you get an upset stomach from hunger.”

“I don’t have much of an appetite right now. It might be better to eat a little later.”

“If you’re not feeling well, we can go back now.”

“It’s fine. Go ahead, I’ll be alright.”

Louisa said with a hardened face. Seeing his wife’s unusual expression, Edward stopped trying to say more.

“…Alright. Sit and rest or go out for some fresh air. I’ll be back soon. Eat first if you’re hungry.”

He left Louisa behind and moved his steps. Following Jeffrey out, he paused for a moment to look back, but then proceeded to close the door of the research facility and left.

As soon as they came out, Jeffrey grabbed his boss’s wrist and dragged him along.

“What are you doing? Let go.”

Jeffrey stopped when he was sure the sound wouldn’t reach inside, and lowered his voice to exclaim.

“Boss!”

“I told you to let go.”

Jeffrey spread his fingers wide and dropped his hand as if throwing it off.

Edward, very displeased with his behavior, furrowed his brows until they almost touched and asked.

“Tell me what this is about in 3 seconds or I’m going back in.”

“Boss. Why are you treating Mrs. Allen like that? You said you weren’t planning to divorce!”

At his question, Edward let out a deep sigh and tilted his head back.

“What. That I kept interrupting Louisa’s words?”

“That’s a problem too, but you don’t need to cut everything off saying it’s all wrong! Do you know how hurtful that is to one’s pride?”

Jeffrey said, pounding his own chest.

“I know because I’ve experienced it, it’s really not easy. Plus, ‘It’s my company’? ‘Don’t say anything’? If you say things like that, even I would throw divorce papers, really.”

At his words, Edward rubbed his face once.

He was about to reach into his jacket to pull out a cigar case, but remembering that he was out with his wife, he pushed the case back into his inner pocket.

“…This is why I didn’t want to bring her along.”

Seeing Edward speaking with a complicated expression, Jeffrey said nothing and waited for his words.

“She’s a woman who only feels satisfied when she steps in if it’s something she can do. Without thinking about why I’m working like this, unnecessarily taking on burdens that others try to avoid.”

Hearing his story, Jeffrey wrinkled his eyes and nose bridge intensely. He asked, doubting his own ears.

“So, are you saying that you did that because you don’t want your wife to overexert herself…?”

“Of course, things might go much smoother if I involve Louisa. But relying on my wife like that and putting her at the forefront, burdening her with responsibilities and obligations, is something I never want to do again.”

“Oh, good heavens. Boss.”

How can you say such things with that kind of intention!

Jeffrey felt like he was going to go crazy and jump up and down.

“I won’t say anything else. Go right now and tell her that honestly.”

However, hearing his words, Edward showed a distorted smile.

“What? That I’m reminded of the times when I couldn’t live without relying on you? That because my trashy origins and incompetence keep coming to mind, because I feel like my insides are rotting and I’m going crazy, please stop all of that?”

It was a statement dripping with self-contempt.

His tone in pouring out these things was calm, but the emotions contained within were not.

He said with slightly rough breathing and bloodshot eyes.

“I can’t utter such words even if I die. I have no intention of saying it, and even if I did, my wife would never understand.”

Because she’s always noble, unashamed of herself, and therefore a shining person.

There was no way such a wife could understand the guilt and inferiority complex of a guy like him.

Edward, who had burst out with anguish that had no outlet, fixed his somewhat dejected gaze on the empty air.

Jeffrey, who had been there during those times, knew. He remained silent for a long time without saying a word.

Lowering his gaze to the floor, just staring endlessly at Edward’s feet, he opened his mouth after a considerable amount of time had passed.

“Let’s… go back in.”

His colleague, who used to comfort him with youthful spirit and passion, was about to place his hand on his particularly lonely-looking back, but instead hid his hand in his pocket.