In the end, Edward couldn’t focus at all on the conversation with Evan Winston.

Seeing him like that, Gilford intervened and said,

“I apologize, Lord Winston. It seems our president is not in the best condition today.”

“Oh, is that so? He seemed quite fine until just now.”

Evan said with a nonchalant smile. Even Gilford felt like throwing up at the sight of his face.

It was obvious to anyone that he had deliberately brought up Mrs. Allen’s story. Yet he was acting so shamelessly.

But in the end, it was our side that was being rude by suddenly leaving the meeting. Gilford bowed his head.

“The president has been under a bit of excessive work pressure lately, so he seems to have become suddenly fatigued. I apologize, but would it be alright if we arrange another meeting in the future?”

At his request, Evan raised his eyebrows in the middle as if he had no choice.

“Well, if Lord Theodore insists so much, I suppose we must. I hope it will be in the near future. I don’t exactly have an abundance of time either, you know.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. We’ll contact you as soon as possible.”

Evan soon got up from his seat and picked up his hat and coat. He left a brief greeting and closed the office door behind him.

As soon as he left, Gilford turned to Edward and said,

“Sir. Pull yourself together.”

Edward stared at him blankly.

Yes. I need to pull myself together.

But the mind wasn’t something that could be controlled at will.

Literally feeling like he was burning up inside, no matter how much he repeated rational thoughts to himself, it was of no help in controlling his current self.

Gilford put his hand to his forehead at the sight of him looking so dazed.

Closing his eyes and heaving a deep sigh, Gilford fell into thought for a moment about what to do.

After looking back and forth between the documents on the desk and Edward several times, he approached right in front of the president, leaned on the desk, and asked,

“Please, pull yourself together. What is the meaning of this?”

In contrast to his urgent tone, Edward spoke slowly.

“…It’s exactly as you heard. Louisa is leaving.”

“I thought things wouldn’t go too smoothly after that, but was it to this extent?”

“I didn’t know she was already preparing to leave.”

Edward’s voice was already filled with resignation as he answered.

However, it was not good to lose his will at this crucial time. Gilford asked urgently,

“Are you planning to end it like this?”

“Then what else can I do? Should I lock her up somewhere? Tie her hands and feet so she can’t leave?”

Edward felt a surge of irritation.

He was the one suffering the most in this situation. If he had known the answer, he would have done anything long ago, but when his wife said anything was fine, what more could he do?

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

Gilford took a step back and spoke gently.

The man who had endured ten thousand attempts to find an answer even with slim chances now looked lifeless, as if all the strength that had sustained him had disappeared.

If this was the result of Mrs. Allen leaving, Edward Allen absolutely could not let Louisa Allen go.

Gilford bent down to meet Edward’s eyes forcibly and said,

“But shouldn’t you at least try your best one last time? Shouldn’t you do everything in your power to keep Mrs. Allen?”

“Everything?”

“Yes. Everything that makes up Edward Allen as a person.”

At Gilford’s words, Edward fell into thought.

He had tried many things.

But certainly, it couldn’t be said that he had put everything on the line yet.

He thought.

Everything of himself that he could devote to his wife.

That was his company, built up through his own research.

Recently, the mailbox at the Allen mansion was full every day.

There were three different newspapers they subscribed to, and occasionally letters came from some college or someone.

Rachel picked up the mail sticking out slightly from the slot.

She muttered, “These days, it feels nice to hold such thick bundles of mail,” as she entered the mansion.

Then she placed them on the usual spot for mail and disappeared into the kitchen.

Louisa, who had come down to the dining room, immediately approached and checked the mail on the table first.

After removing the newspapers on top, several letters were visible. As she flipped through them in order, there was an envelope with the name she was looking for.

‘Alisa… Müren.’

Louisa immediately picked it up, opened the envelope, and checked the contents.

The contents were as follows:

Daniel had found a house through someone he knew, and when she went to check it herself, the security and everything else was so good that she wanted to live there herself, so she proceeded with the contract.

She said not to worry and just come with yourself, as she had already furnished a few basic pieces of furniture with Daniel.

“…It’s done now.”

Louisa got up as soon as she received that message.

The main preparations were now complete.

‘Let’s pack today.’

It wasn’t without a sense of haste, but it wasn’t the first time she had moved so suddenly, and without any servants to help.

In fact, the circumstances were much better this time. She had an elder brother who had already settled there, family assets she could use, and neighbors to socialize with.

Louisa went upstairs and took out a flat travel trunk.

After placing it on the bed, she began packing her belongings with quick movements.

In truth, there wasn’t much to take. Taking too many things would only remind her of her husband with whom she had shared that time.

After packing only the bare minimum of luggage, she finally opened the bedside table. There was a framed family photo inside.

She picked up the frame and stopped her busy hands to look down at the photo.

Her parents’ faces were reflected through the clear glass. She stared at the photo for a long time.

Her smiling parents and herself.

She was suddenly overwhelmed with sadness.

This wasn’t the future I had imagined for myself back then.

‘Mother. Father. I’m sorry for being such a daughter…’

But I promise. I’ll definitely be happy.

Louisa forced back her tears with strength in her eyes. After carefully wrapping the frame in soft cloth so it wouldn’t break, she packed it last and closed the trunk lid.

Finally, it’s farewell.

She pulled the bell cord. After a while, Mrs. Johnson came up. She looked at Louisa’s bed and asked in surprise,

“Madam! What’s going on!”

“It seems I need to visit my elder brother in Tanassen for a while. Please tell Paul to go to Lindburum Station and get a ticket for today’s… evening train. Any class is fine as long as I can depart around 9 o’clock.”

“Oh my. I understand. Just leave the luggage as it is. I’ll take care of it for you.”

“That’s fine. Now hurry and relay the message to Paul first. Oh, and after he gets the ticket, tell him to send a telegram to 499 Knox Street, Tanassen, saying that I plan to take that train.”

“Oh my… 499 Knox Street, Tanassen, you say? I understand, Madam.”

Even as she left despite Louisa’s refusal, Mrs. Johnson kept glancing back at the luggage on the bed, clearly bothered by it.

If it’s in the direction of Tanassen, there should be seats available in first or second class, if not in the luxury compartment.

Louisa plopped down on the bed.

All preparations were complete. The only thing left was to wait for her husband.

Time always seemed to pass more slowly than usual when waiting.

The sun passed higher than the window, filling the house with bright light, then gradually changed to an orange glow, and finally twilight began to fall.

Louisa sat in her usual chair in the reception room, waiting for her husband to return, just as she had done before.

Whether by fate or coincidence, her husband, who had been leaving at dawn and returning at dawn every day recently, hadn’t sent any message about being late today.

Thanks to that, she would fortunately be able to say her final goodbye quietly at the mansion.

Just past 7 PM, when the sun had completely set.

A pair of bright headlights could be seen approaching the mansion beyond the main gate.

A black vehicle, its shape only discernible by reflected light in the darkness, passed through the main gate and headed towards the mansion’s garage.

Her husband would enter in a few minutes.

Louisa swallowed once and clenched her hands tightly.

From behind, she could hear Rachel hurrying over to greet the returning master of the mansion.

“Rachel. I’ll greet him, so you can go back.”

Having a child around would only be a hindrance. Louisa gestured for her to go back.

Rachel looked at her with questioning eyes for a moment.

But at Louisa’s repeated gesture, she just bowed her head once and returned to the kitchen.

The sound of shoes stepping on the floor in front of the entrance could be heard.

Louisa took a deep breath.

Clunk.

The front door opened.

In front of the open door stood her husband, about two spans taller than her.

“You’ve worked hard. Today too.”

Louisa greeted him demurely with her hands folded in front.

Edward looked down, seeming a bit surprised by her appearance as soon as he opened the door.

He soon spoke while taking off his coat,

“Why did you come all the way out here?”

“I have something to tell you.”

Louisa took his coat.

She intended to speak as calmly as possible. With that effort, her touch was gentle and affectionate.

However, Edward felt differently. At his wife’s meaningful words, he felt as if all the blood in his body had turned cold.

He stopped in the middle of unwrapping his muffler and asked,

“What… kind of talk?”

“Let’s finish tidying up first and then come in.”

Louisa avoided answering and entered the reception room first.

Edward finished unwrapping his muffler with a completely stiff face.

He couldn’t have a conversation with his wife with such an expression. He deliberately moved his mouth to loosen the surrounding muscles, then roughly hung his clothes on the coat rack next to the entrance before following his wife into the reception room.

Louisa stood with her back to the window in the reception room. She intended to face him and talk when Edward entered.

And Edward, who followed her in, immediately noticed the large luggage bag placed next to the entrance as soon as he entered.

The smile he had been trying to maintain crumbled like ground cracking in a drought.

‘A travel trunk.’

Only then did he raise his head and look over his wife’s attire.

She was dressed neatly as if she had an outing scheduled right away.

His breath caught in his throat.

Belatedly, he noticed a thick coat and gloves prepared on a chair at one end of the table where his wife was standing.

Today, now.

His wife had come to bid him farewell now.

Edward felt his heart sink as if it had been thrown to the ground. His breathing became rapid at the sudden tightness in his chest.

“Loui…sa.”

He stammered.

What is this? Where are you trying to go?

But before he could continue speaking, Louisa opened her lips first.

She pronounced the sentence he didn’t want to hear, and perhaps the cruelest one in his life.

“It’s a bit earlier than promised… but I think it’s enough now.”

She looked up at Edward calmly and said,

“Let’s… part ways now.”