I’ll Become the Heroine’s Capable Divorce Partner - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 37

“You’re doing truly wonderful work.”

I started by praising the shop owner.

“So I was wondering, do you accept donations?”

The owner’s eyes wavered slightly for a moment.

“Donations… you mean?”

“Yes. Don’t good deeds usually require a lot of money?”

I gave him a gentle smile.

“If possible, I’d like to take a look at the poorhouse and make a donation. What do you think?”

“That’s not necessary.”

The shop owner flatly rejected my proposal.

My eyes sharpened.

‘Strange. Why is he refusing?’

Indeed, running welfare facilities requires a great deal of money.

There’s a reason everyone desperately seeks donations.

There’s no reason to refuse an offer to help.

“We can manage well enough on our own.”

“Still, I really want to help.”

“No. Even if it’s a bit difficult, we’d rather live by our own strength than depend on others.”

The shop owner continued with emphasis.

“That would be the path for us to become stronger in the future.”

…I just said I wanted to make a donation.

Is it really necessary to refuse so grandly?

‘That just makes it even more suspicious.’

I narrowed my eyes.

After thoroughly examining the hat shop,

I purchased a few hats and stepped outside.

While loading the hat boxes into the carriage,

‘Huh?’

My eyes widened slightly.

In a corner where people wouldn’t easily notice,

A gaunt-faced woman was holding onto a man, desperately pleading.

“I’m truly sorry, but could you advance me just a little money?”

The woman begged again.

“Mary has a cough. I need to buy cough medicine…”

“What cough medicine for just a cold?”

The man, who had been picking his ear dismissively, replied indifferently.

“She’ll get better if she covers herself with a blanket and sleeps well. Don’t think about wasting money and go back quietly.”

“But…!”

“Ah, didn’t I say no!”

The man suddenly shouted.

“Do you know how much it costs to house and feed you women?!”

At that moment, anger flashed in the woman’s eyes.

“Why did you come here to disturb my business? What if customers see!”

The man waved his hands dismissively as if shooing away an annoying insect.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and leave!”

Unable to contain her anger, the woman’s shoulders trembled.

But that was only for a moment.

“……”

The woman bit her lip and dropped her head weakly.

Then she turned around abruptly and fled the scene.

I watched her retreating figure carefully.

‘That person is…?’

* * *

The woman, Abigail, clenched her fists tightly and walked quickly.

‘This is the worst, really.’

Honestly, she hadn’t expected him to advance her money.

The poorhouse director and her husband were always cruel to them.

Still, seeing little Mary constantly coughing, she couldn’t just sit still.

She had gone to the hat shop grasping at straws, but…

‘Do you know how much it costs to house and feed you women?!’

‘Why did you come here to disturb my business? What if customers see!’

The man had only glared at her.

She had already known that would be his reaction.

Still, she couldn’t help feeling her vision go dark.

‘What should I do.’

Abigail’s steps gradually slowed.

Standing as if glued to the ground, Abigail stared blankly at the pharmacy ahead.

She already owed a lot of debt to the pharmacy.

The meager amount occasionally thrown to them like charity by the poorhouse wasn’t enough to buy medicine, let alone groceries.

Why did she need to buy groceries?

Because the food provided by the poorhouse wasn’t enough to satisfy their hunger.

‘Well, let me at least try asking.’

Taking a deep breath, Abigail carefully stepped into the pharmacy.

“Hello, pharmacist.”

At her greeting, the pharmacist turned to look at Abigail with an indifferent expression.

Abigail smiled cautiously.

“I need cough medicine. Could you let me have it on credit just this once?”

“Just this once, what do you mean. How much medicine have you already taken on credit?”

The pharmacist shook his head vigorously.

“No way. I’m not some volunteer, and haven’t I been considerate enough already?”

“Pharmacist, please.”

Abigail pleaded desperately, but the pharmacist didn’t budge.

“Before asking for medicine, pay back at least part of what you owe.”

From the pharmacist’s perspective, it was natural.

He couldn’t keep giving medicine on credit forever.

But.

‘Then Mary…’

Did she have to helplessly watch that sweet child cough until her throat bled?

Just as Abigail, looking hopeless, staggered backward,

“How much is that debt?”

Suddenly, a clear question was heard.

Abigail turned around in surprise.

Pink hair reminiscent of spring flowers.

And eyes that shone bright blue, as if they had captured the clearest summer sky.

A radiant beauty stood there, as if spring itself had manifested in human form.

“I’ll pay for everything.”

The lady smiled with her eyes.

Then, as if just remembering something, she added.

“Oh right, that’s it. Please give her all the medicine this woman needs too.”

“…….”

Abigail stared at the lady with trembling eyes.

‘Why is she showing me such kindness?’

But… she simply couldn’t refuse that offer.

The situation was too desperate for that.

“If you need other medicine besides cough medicine, please feel free to tell me.”

Just then, the lady added kindly.

Abigail, who had been gripping her worn skirt tightly, quickly spoke up.

“I need fever reducer and digestive medicine. Pain reliever and ointment for swollen hands too. And…….”

A little while later.

Abigail came out of the pharmacy, carefully holding a paper bag full of medicine in her arms.

‘With this much, I won’t have to worry about medicine for a while.’

She could apply ointment to her sisters whose fingertips were swollen from doing laundry, cleaning, and sewing day and night.

She could also give medicine to Mary, who couldn’t sleep at night due to coughing.

A pleased smile spread across Abigail’s lips.

But that was only momentary.

‘……Is it really okay for me to accept this?’

Abigail looked at the spring flower-like lady walking ahead with eyes full of wariness.

She clearly looked like a young lady from a noble family.

“I’m truly sorry to ask this when I’m already indebted to you.”

The lady, who had been walking gracefully, stopped in place.

Abigail continued with a trembling voice.

“Excuse me, but who are you? Why did you…….”

Strength entered both arms of Abigail as she hugged the paper bag.

“Buy me so much medicine?”

At the same time, the lady smiled with her eyes.

That smile was so bright that Abigail lost herself for a moment despite being very tense.

The lady suggested to Abigail in a cheerful voice.

“Could we talk for a moment?”

* * *

I led the woman to a nearby coffeehouse.

The woman, who had been contemplating the menu for a while, asked for a cup of hot chocolate.

Then she drank it all as soon as the drink arrived.

‘……Has she been starving?’

While I was observing her closely.

The woman, who noticed my gaze, stiffened her shoulders.

She looked like a herbivore that had been frightened out of its wits.

‘Oh dear.’

I reflexively softened my eyes.

“What’s your name?”

The woman looked quite suspicious but still answered obediently.

“……It’s Abigail.”

“Good, Abigail. My name is Elodie.”

After revealing my name, I carefully continued.

“I’m sorry if this is a rude question. I actually saw you in front of the store earlier.”

At those words, Abigail flinched and stiffened her shoulders.

“It seemed like you were in a difficult situation in many ways.”

“That’s…….”

“Are you perhaps not receiving proper wages?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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