My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 12

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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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My blood pressure spiked, and I massaged the back of my neck.
Suppressing the rising fury, I forced a smile.
“My low blood pressure has completely cleared up since you started prattling on about divorce.”
“What wonderful news. Then how about trying to live a healthy life all by yourself?”
“Now that my low blood pressure is gone, I’ve developed high blood pressure, so living a healthy life alone seems out of the question.”
“Oh dear. It seems I’ve caused your chronic illness. Allow me to apologize by giving you a divorce.”
“And who exactly is that apology for?”
Dumbfounded, I glared at Scheit. He was smiling with his head slightly bowed.
At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder if he simply enjoyed arguing.
Either way, it was infuriating all the same!
Arriving at the lake, I gestured to the servants and took the picnic basket.
It was heavier than expected, and the moment my body tilted, the weight lifted from my hands.
“I’ll carry this.”
Taking the picnic basket, Scheit stepped onto the boat first. Reflexively, I went to thank him but clamped my mouth shut.
Even if I expressed my gratitude, he would probably just bring up divorce again.
I erased my petulant expression and put on a fresh smile.
It wasn’t a smile meant for Scheit.
Turning around, I requested understanding from the servants who had followed us, speaking in a sweet voice.
“We have something to discuss in private, so could you wait here instead of coming aboard?”
“Of course, my lady!”
“Don’t mind us, please take your time and have fun!”
Their pleased smiles and twinkling eyes were incredibly bothersome, but that wasn’t what mattered right now.
The moment I turned back and let my expression drop, Scheit offered me his hand.
When I folded my parasol and pressed it into his palm, a soft chuckle escaped him. Setting the parasol aside, he extended his hand once more.
What kind of trick was this? He probably just wanted to say we should divorce the moment I grabbed his hand.
Did he think I couldn’t even climb into a boat by myself?
“Hmph.”
Grasping the hem of my dress with both hands, I took a step into the boat.
The vessel rocked violently as it absorbed my weight. Startled, I quickly pulled my foot back, only to find that Scheit had already withdrawn his hand.
I really couldn’t get on by myself.
“Lend me a hand.”
Surprisingly, Scheit offered his hand without any witty remarks.
Seeing how cooperative he was being, did he finally intend to have a serious conversation?
Just as I stepped forward to overlap my hand with his, he blindsided me.
“If you hold it, we’re divorcing.”
“Yikes!”
Holding hands wouldn’t miraculously trigger an immediate divorce, but because he had hounded me so mercilessly for days, I reflexively yanked my hand back.
As my body lurched forward, I instinctively reached out to grab onto anything that could support me.
“Ugh!”
Of all things, my fingers clenched tightly around Scheit’s collar.
I ended up collapsing awkwardly right into his chest. The boat rocked dangerously, but fortunately, it didn’t capsize.
“Phew.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, I lifted my head.
Scheit’s face was right in front of mine.
We were close enough that our noses almost brushed.
Flustered and embarrassed, I quickly let go, regained my balance, and beamed at him.
“I grabbed your collar, not your hand, so it doesn’t count as a divorce, right?”
Scheit stared at me in silence for a moment before countering in his usual manner.
“…I believe a collar is actually closer to a divorce than a hand.”
“Then who told you to play such a prank? The two of us almost fell into the water.”
Grumbling, I spread out a handkerchief on a seat a reasonable distance away and sat down.
I pushed the oars beside me over to Scheit.
“Let’s get a bit further from the shore. Of course, rowing the boat won’t grant you a divorce.”
“You really are unyielding.”
He began to row slowly.
The servants grew smaller in the distance. The moment we were out of earshot, I went straight to the point.
“So, what is it that you want?”
“Divorce.”
Scheit replied instantly, without a second of hesitation.
“I’ve heard that so many times my ears are ringing. What I want to know is *why* you want a divorce.”
Scheit lowered his gaze, lost in thought.
Then, letting out a heavy sigh, he spoke in a voice heavy with sorrow.
“To tell you the truth….”
He hesitated.
Seriously, the man possessed a remarkable talent for keeping people on tenterhooks.
Fidgeting with my fingers as I waited for him to continue, I finally lost my patience and demanded,
“To tell me the truth, what?”
“I’ve fallen in love with you.”
…This man.
How could he lie so smoothly without blinking an eye?
A scoff escaped my lips.
I crossed my arms and glared at him in displeasure. Naturally, Scheit’s shameless face remained entirely unfazed.
Right, I never expected him to answer honestly anyway.
“Then isn’t that a good thing? You get to live the rest of your life with the woman you love, who happens to be wealthy, young, and beautiful like me. It makes no sense that you want a divorce.”
“Watching a wife who doesn’t love me back… is agonizing.”
“Then should I just love you? If love is what you want, I’ll make an effort.”
When I matched his shamelessness, Scheit abruptly shifted gears.
“Actually, I have a bit of a kleptomania problem.”
“Even if it’s a lie, shouldn’t you show some sincerity by finishing what you started? You just said you loved me a moment ago.”
“I also gamble.”
“I can handle both gambling and kleptomania. If you have such expensive hobbies, you should cling to me even more. Why demand a divorce?”
“I simply couldn’t bear to put you through such hardship….”
Scheit knit his brows again.
Looking at his sorrowful expression, I genuinely regretted my choices.
I should have brought a truth serum.
“I think we’ve played around enough, Scheit. Now, tell me the real reason you want a divorce.”
When I spoke in a firm, serious tone, the shameless facade vanished from Scheit’s face.
The mask slipped away, leaving a troubled smile on his pale countenance.
“You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Hmm. Is it absolutely necessary for you to know?”
“I need to know your objective so I can either make you withdraw your claims or completely ignore your divorce prattle.”
“Is cooperating not an option?”
“If cooperation means divorce, then that option doesn’t exist.”
“…….”
“But if it’s anything else, I’m willing to compromise to some extent. As long as you promise not to drag me into anything complicated or dangerous, I can grant what you want.”
Despite my exceptional offer, Scheit kept his mouth shut.
He glanced briefly toward the shore where the servants were, then ran a hand through his bangs, letting out a long sigh.
“Then why does my lady refuse the divorce so vehemently?”
“I asked first.”
“It will be difficult to seize control of the conversation with petty power struggles. I’m not the type to be swayed by such tactics.”
The trace of amusement vanished from Scheit’s face.
Resting the oars, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. It was a relaxed posture, yet it exuded an oppressive aura that seemed to weigh down on the surroundings.
I decided to concede a step.
Having endured his relentless divorce attacks, I had experienced firsthand just how tenacious and stubborn he could be.
“You would know if you read the prenuptial agreement. Naturally, it’s because of the inheritance.”
“There are plenty of ways to maintain your inheritance without marriage. You could have a child, or take over the family business. Doesn’t the Rutshield Bank have branches all over the world? There should be no shortage of places to work.”
His words weren’t entirely wrong.
However, the condition to ‘take over the family business’ required for succession was not that simple.
One had to occupy a position significant enough to run an entire business entity.
In the case of the Rootsild Family, it meant one had to become at least a branch manager of a major city for the inheritance to be recognized.
In other words, it was synonymous with saying I had to oust another relative who already occupied that position.
And that wasn’t all.
If the conditions of succession changed, the inheritance would first have to be returned before being reclaimed through a lawsuit.
Besides, isn’t the workload of a branch manager immense?
I knew this because my father had once served as the branch manager of the Melbern Capital.
Being a branch manager was the perfect position to die from overwork.
Why would I willingly subject myself to such misery? All I had to do was avoid a divorce.
“There are plenty. There are plenty, but I don’t want to.”
“…May I ask what it is that you dislike?”
“It means I don’t want to have children, and I don’t want to work.”
Scheit looked utterly speechless. Soon after, a short, cynical laugh escaped him.

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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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