IATAOTHKG | CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 23

Two weeks later.

Spring had ended, and early summer was approaching.

Meyna looked out the window after taking her eyes off Khalif, who had just finished breakfast.

The greenery was already thick, and everything outside was green.

The morning sunlight filtering through the leaves cast scattered shadows over the white bedding.

“How about dinner tonight?”

At Khalif’s casual question, Meyna turned her head.

Since that night when he came home with two women, he had been inviting new women into his bedroom every night.

He’d been living recklessly, even skipping breakfast, yet today, for some reason, he had eaten quietly and even finished his health juice.

“Why?” Meyna asked.

“Why?”

Caught off guard by her answer, Khalif frowned slightly and hesitated.

Then, with some effort, he spoke.

“I’ve been thinking. I might’ve treated you too harshly lately.”

“……”

“Let’s just have a meal together.”

After a moment of silence, Meyna said quietly.

“May 22nd, huh.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

She lowered her gaze briefly before speaking again.

“Sure. Let’s have dinner together.”

She smiled gently as she agreed to his suggestion.

Seeing Meyna smile like she used to, Khalif nodded, feeling lighter.

At a restaurant on the main street of Gillingham Square.

The place had become popular among young couples for its stylish interior and excellent food.

Khalif, who had arrived first, was waiting for Meyna.

“Sir, your companion hasn’t arrived yet…”

“Yes.”

Cutting the waiter off, he replied curtly. He looked neat and refreshed, having bathed after returning from a hunt.

He had taken off his blood-stained uniform and was now dressed in a crisp white shirt and tailored dress pants.

Since the moment he entered the restaurant, nearly every patron had sneaked glances his way.

Especially two women at the next table who had long finished eating but couldn’t bring themselves to leave.

“Go on, ask him for an autograph!”

“No way…! Sir Lennox hates having his private time disturbed!”

The two women fell silent, sneaking another look at Khalif.

It wasn’t just his handsome face — his fine clothes, relaxed posture, and composed expression all drew attention.

His face looked slightly tired and sensitive, which only made him seem more languid and attractive.

He gazed out the window with bored eyes, occasionally tapping the table with his long fingers or brushing back his hair.

Each small gesture made the two women — and several others in the restaurant — quietly gasp.

Ting!

A clear bell chimed.

Khalif turned toward the door — and froze.

“……”

Dressed in a white velvet gown, Meyna Winslet walked in, her fine emerald hair elegantly pinned up.

She wore no makeup and still had her glasses, but simply exchanging her dull clothes for a noblewoman’s dress made her shine.

For some reason, she had replaced her usual flats with silver high heels that glittered under the restaurant lights.

With a distinct clicking sound, she walked toward him.

“What’s this?”

Khalif asked casually, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Even her glasses seemed like part of her charm tonight.

“Where have you been?”

“I had an appointment with Duchess Motenson. Also stopped by the bank.”

She sat down gracefully.

“What, Motenson?”

“Yes.”

“What are you up to?”

Khalif narrowed his eyes at her.

“What’s your game?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve already met her twice. Alone.”

“Let’s eat first. I’m hungry.”

Meyna’s calm, gentle tone softened the mood.

Still suspicious, Khalif called for the waiter.

A moment later, the tense atmosphere faded, and dinner went smoothly.

The food was exquisite, and their conversation flowed easily.

Under warm lights and over delicious food, their seven years of familiarity melted back into place.

The bitterness between them seemed to dissolve like smoke.

“Want to take a walk?”

After paying the bill, Khalif suggested.

“Sure.”

Meyna smiled and nodded.

The night streets of Gillingham Square were full of charm.

Buildings and sculptures of every style created a beautiful scene, and the streetlights glowed softly.

Couples sat on benches, chatting happily, while shopkeepers worked quietly into the night.

Everything came together like a painting, stirring something tender inside.

“I realized something tonight,” Khalif said suddenly as they walked side by side.

“What is it?” Meyna asked, still lost in thought.

“That we should do this more often.”

“……”

“We’ve both been working too much.”

“……”

“What, why aren’t you saying anything?”

When Meyna didn’t answer, his tone sharpened.

But instead of replying, she lowered her eyes and smiled faintly.

“Why won’t you answer?”

“……”

“Do you not want to?”

Still no answer.

Khalif stopped walking.

They were standing in the middle of the brightly lit main street.

“Hey, Mey—”

“Sir Lennox.”

Before he could raise his voice, Meyna spoke first.

“Say it,” Khalif muttered, frowning.

From her small handbag, Meyna pulled out a handful of bankbooks.

“?”

Khalif narrowed his eyes. She was holding exactly four bankbooks.

“This one is savings for buying a house in the future.”

She handed him the first.

“This one’s for emergencies — surgery or hospital stays, just in case.”

The second landed in his palm.

“What are you doing?”

Khalif asked, still confused.

But Meyna didn’t explain. She continued in the same calm tone.

“This one’s your advertising revenue from the past ten years.”

“Hey.”

“Even during the three years I was gone, you made quite a bit. But it got lost because no one managed it.”

“Meyna Winslet.”

Sensing something terrible, Khalif called her name in a low voice.

“And finally…”

She held the fourth, the oldest and most worn bankbook.

“This one’s the allowance you used to give me.”

“What?”

Khalif’s hands trembled as he took it.

Now her hands were empty.

She looked him in the eyes, her expression light but steady.

“Sir Lennox.”

Through silver-rimmed glasses, her coffee-colored eyes were calm and clear.

Meyna Winslet — strong and steady like the earth itself.

Even when trampled, she never broke. So constant that one could forget her strength.

“Meyna Winslet.”

“Let’s stop seeing each other.”

Her neat lips moved quietly.

Khalif stood frozen.

“What do you mean?”

He asked dumbly after a long pause.

The words reached his ears, but his mind refused to understand.

Let’s stop seeing each other.

Stop. Seeing. Each other.

Simple words — but he couldn’t grasp their meaning.

“I don’t want to work as your aide anymore.”

“What?”

It hit him like an axe splitting his skull.

Holding the bundle of bankbooks like a clueless bank clerk, he stammered.

“Let’s talk at home.”

“No.”

Meyna shook her head firmly.

“I’ve already found a place to stay.”

“What the hell are you talking about!”

Khalif shouted.

Meyna stared into space, expressionless.

“Ha. Ha ha. Hahaha…”

Khalif began to laugh, hollow and unhinged.

Why? Since when?

He didn’t know how long she’d been planning this, but one thing was certain.

He had no intention of letting her go.

Not ever.