Chapter 76: End this marriage
They stepped into the room, and Augustine settled onto the bed, reclining against the headboard. Anne sat beside him, quietly peeling an apple. She neither spoke nor smiled, her focus entirely on the task at hand.
Watching her in silence, Augustine felt a growing unease. It seemed she still hadn’t forgiven him. But this was not the only thing—there were still many things he had kept from her. If she were to discover the truth about his real identity from someone else, the pain and disappointment would cut even deeper. Keeping secrets from her was no longer an option.
"You are still upset with me," Augustine murmured cautiously.
Anne slowly shook her head. "I was, but you already apologized. How could I stay mad at you?"
A quiet sigh of relief escaped Augustine. "Then why are you so quiet? What’s on your mind? Are you still thinking about Gustave’s harsh words? Don’t worry—I’ll make sure he learns his lesson for being rude to you."
"No... I’m not upset with him." Anne placed the peeled apple on a plate and handed it to him. Although Gustave’s words had stung, she chose to overlook them, knowing they stemmed from his devotion to Augustine.
"He genuinely cares about you," she continued. "He was angry with me, blaming me for your condition, worried that I’d only bring more trouble your way. I could see how much he is devoted to you."
Her expression grew even more solemn as she added, "He mentioned your struggles abroad, how you always stayed focused on your goal. But now, with me in your life, he thinks you’ve become distracted. He is afraid that being with me will only lead you into more danger."
Augustine gripped the plate tightly, his expression darkening. He was taken aback that Gustave had spoken such demeaning words to Anne.