My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Scheit, look at this. It’s Lapis Lazuli Blue Ink and a metal nib specially crafted by an artisan. I went to the shop because I heard they had good items in stock, and I just couldn’t help but think of you. You love keeping records, don’t you?”
Nobody dislikes receiving gifts.
Especially when it perfectly matches the person’s taste and comes at a reasonable price, it naturally melts the defenses of their heart.
Scheit would likely be no exception.
I needed to soften the atmosphere and slowly figure out the reason he was tormenting me.
Hurry up and be touched. Hurry!
Scheit examined the gift, his expression shifting into mock surprise before a smile tugged at his lips.
“Dear me. I have been taking a break from keeping records lately, but it seems you didn’t know. To think you have so little interest in me. As expected, a divorce is—”
“No! If you have it, you’ll use it eventually. That’s why I bought it. Of course I knew you were taking a break from recording.”
I had absolutely no idea.
“If you insist, then I suppose I will accept it.”
How infuriating.
Even so, I couldn’t just give up on the inheritance.
There was nothing in this world that money couldn’t solve. If such a thing existed, it was only because one hadn’t spent enough.
‘So you won’t open your mouth for a mere bottle of ink and a pen, is that it?’
Then I would just have to prepare something he couldn’t possibly refuse.
“Scheit. You seemed completely unable to focus on your research lately, so I purchased a building nearby for you to use as a Laboratory.”
A building. An actual, entire building.
Moreover, it was located in a secluded area so that he could conduct his research in peace.
Could anyone in the world refuse a wife who offers a whole house as a gift?
No. Absolutely not.
“Take it quickly. My arm is about to fall off.”
While he was at it, I hoped he would spend less time at home. Instead of lingering around for no reason and turning my stomach inside out with his constant talk of divorce!
I extended the key with absolute confidence, but Scheit merely stared down at it.
“No, thank you. Traveling back and forth to a laboratory every single time would be quite a hassle.”
Is this his way of telling me to buy him a carriage too?
Anticipating exactly that, I had already prepared everything in advance.
I led Scheit toward the Stable to show him the luxury carriage I had painstakingly purchased.
Now should be about the right time for him to be deeply moved.
I turned to Scheit with high expectations.
Yet, for some reason, his expression remained entirely ambiguous. He looked as though he were suppressing a laugh, or perhaps thoroughly enjoying himself.
Did he finally like my present?
“I am rather disappointed.”
“Pardon? By what?”
“I had no idea you wanted to kick me out this badly, my lady. To go so far as buying me a house just to tell me to leave.”
“No, this is for you to use as a laboratory…!”
The sheer absurdity left me utterly breathless.
Perhaps my voice had risen too much, for the stablehands and servants began stealing glances in our direction.
Ultimately, I was forced to shut my mouth.
While I clenched my fists and trembled with rage, Scheit approached me as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
“Since you are throwing me out anyway, you might as well finalize the paperwork, my lady.”
Agh! He was so incredibly infuriating!
“You…!”
Barely suppressing my rising voice, I hissed in a whisper.
“What on earth is your problem!”
“The problem is that you refuse to grant me a divorce.”
“…Let’s not be like this. Look here. These are all gifts filled with my heart and sincerity. Why don’t you accept them first, and then we can slowly reconsider our relationship?”
“A gift filled with heart and sincerity… You mean a bribe driven by intent and purpose.”
This wouldn’t do.
If I stayed here any longer, I felt like I would grab Scheit by the collar and shake him violently!
I spun around aggressively.
I needed to cool my head first and think of another gift. What else could possibly entice him?
As I agonized over the thought, the sound of footsteps followed behind me.
“If you intend to win my favor with material things, it would be best to give up.”
Pausing for a moment, I looked back at him.
The look in Scheit’s eyes was still thoroughly unpleasant.
He clearly viewed me as nothing more than a spoiled, superficial young lady trying to solve everything with money.
Though my insides boiled, I forced my lips into a smile.
“We shall see about that.”
My words weren’t wrong.
As more time passed, I came to realize something.
Scheit was a truly dreadful human being!
I showered him with all kinds of gifts, but he didn’t even bat an eye.
On the contrary, every time I offered a present, he used it as an excuse to scratch at my temper by demanding a divorce.
In the end, I was the one who grew exhausted and gave up first.
‘I’d rather just not run into him at all.’
To avoid him from early morning, I slipped away into the Greenhouse.
I had intended to enjoy a peaceful meal all by myself…
But through the glass panes of the greenhouse, a familiar silhouette came into view.
‘Why is that man loitering around here at this hour?’
Even from afar, Scheit’s silhouette was unmistakable.
Having been tormented by him for so long, I recognized him instantly despite the immense distance.
As I stared with a weary expression, the silhouette somehow seemed to be drawing closer and closer.
I realized a beat too late.
If I got caught, there would be no such thing as a peaceful breakfast!
‘Time to hide.’
The moment the decision was made, I bolted upright from my seat.
I was still holding a cup of hot tea in my hand, but there was no time to set it down or clear it away.
Right now, at this very second, Scheit was approaching the greenhouse!
As I hurriedly scrambled away from the table, Sindy rushed after me and asked in a worried tone.
“My lady, what is the matter?”
In my desperation, I issued an order to the maids without offering any explanation.
“Everyone, grab something and hide!”
Though they all looked utterly bewildered, they quickly concealed themselves behind tablecloths, utensils, and plates.
The exact moment I crouched down behind a thick tree trunk, the greenhouse door creaked open.
Thud, thud.
Leisurely yet heavy footsteps wandered through the greenhouse for what felt like an eternity.
If you see that nobody is here, you should just leave. Why are you walking around?
Terrified of being discovered, I curled myself into a tighter ball.
Just then, a short muffled sound echoed from somewhere.
“Mmph!”
A gasp?
Inadvertently, I almost poked my head out to check the situation. I barely managed to restrain myself and strained my ears instead.
Did someone get caught?
My body iched with the desire to check. While I merely wiggled my toes in frustration, another small sound echoed.
Snap.
It sounded like a stem being broken.
Shortly after, the heels of his shoes clicked against the floor again as he moved around. This time, occasional muffled chuckles were mixed into the sound.
‘What on earth is going on out there!’
Should I check or not?
While I debated, I lost track of the footsteps. By the time I snapped out of it, the sound had already vanished.
Did he leave? Or did he settle in?
I couldn’t get a grasp on the situation at all.
Unable to suppress my curiosity any longer, I stealthily stood up and turned around to check on Scheit’s movements myself, when—
“Boo.”
“Eek!”
I jumped out of my skin in sheer terror.
Simultaneously, the teacup I was holding flew into the air, slipping from my grasp.
Before it could crash to the floor, Scheit swiftly extended his hand.
The teacup landed squarely in his palm, causing the hot tea to overflow violently.
His pale hand turned crimson in an instant.
“Good heavens, are you alright? Drop the cup this instant!”
The moment Scheit set the teacup down, I pulled out my handkerchief and wiped his hand.
“What should I do? It’s not a severe burn, is it? Someone go fetch some clean, cold water immediately! Honestly, why must you go around startling people like that?”
Pouring out a continuous stream of worry and reprimands, I moved him over to the table.
Soon, a maid brought over a bowl filled to the brim with cold water. Without a moment’s delay, I plunged his hand into the water.
“I had no choice. If I had avoided it, you would have been hurt, my lady.”
He did that for me?
Really?
Startled, I looked up at Scheit.
His gaze was devoid of any actual concern. At the same time, a maid beside us let out a soft exclamation of admiration.
“Oh my!”
Ah, he only said that because he was conscious of the onlookers.
I almost felt genuinely touched for a second.
Then again, even if he hadn’t caught the teacup, I would have been perfectly fine.
My dress had plenty of petticoats beneath it, and the skirt itself consisted of multiple layers.
Of course, it was a sudden situation, and if it were someone who truly cherished me, their hand would have moved before they could even think.
But my opponent was Scheit.
There was no way a man completely obsessed with divorce would act out of affection for me.
“It’s a relief the tea had cooled down a bit, but what were you thinking if it had been boiling hot?”
He merely shrugged his shoulders, completely indifferent to my scolding.
He was utterly exasperating, but seeing his hand swollen red made my heart soften once again.
“Keep it like this for an hour.”
“That long? It seems you desperately want to keep me at arm’s length.”
“You need to submerge it for that long so the heat can fully dissipate.”
In truth, twenty minutes would have been more than enough, but if I wanted to escape from Scheit and enjoy my breakfast in peace, I needed about an hour.
Paying little attention to my words, Scheit idly swirled his hand, creating small ripples in the water.
“My lady. Haven’t you forgotten something?”
“Forgotten something? Like what?”
“A word of thanks, perhaps?”
“I’m the one treating you, aren’t I? Shouldn’t I be the one receiving a thank you?”
I answered curtly without realizing it, before catching myself under the surrounding gazes and clearing my throat.
“One hour. Stay here quietly.”
I needed to run away quickly.
Just as I turned to leave, a firm grip caught my wrist.
“Hold on a moment, my lady.”
The instant I looked back, Scheit pulled me toward him. The distance between us closed in a flash.
So close that our knees were practically touching.

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