My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 30
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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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‘Did he clear it out in advance?’
Otherwise, there was no reason for it to be this empty.
After wandering around and finishing a decent amount of exploring, I rummaged through the drawers.
Inside the nightstand lay a few letters. They were sealed with wax that bore no crest.
I had seen something like this once before.
‘Why didn’t he clean these up?’
Since it looked like they had already been opened once, I would just check the contents and put them back. And I should call it a night.
With that thought, I was about to open a letter when a click echoed from the door.
Reflexively, I slipped the letter into my bodice.
With the soft creak of the door opening, a long stretch of light spilled into the dark room. Soon, a familiar voice drifted over.
“What are you doing in a room whose owner isn’t even here?”
“That’s…”
Flustered, I hid the dagger. His gaze tracked my hand. His expression shifted subtly, as if he had caught a glimpse of the blade.
“An assassination attempt?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
“Then do you have another reason for slipping in secretly at this hour of the night with a blade in hand?”
Hiding my panic, I brought out the excuse I had prepared in advance.
“I came because I have something to say.”
“At this hour of the morning? Armed with a knife?”
“Yes. I couldn’t sleep at all. And I brought the knife for self-defense because I thought I heard a strange noise. But since no one was here, I was just about to head back. What about you? Where have you been?”
“I took a short stroll. Because I couldn’t sleep.”
“At this hour of the morning?”
Having his own words thrown right back at him, Scheit fell silent for a moment.
Then he spoke again.
“What brought you here?”
“A divorce lawsuit is currently underway in my name, but I never filed a divorce petition. This is your doing, isn’t it?”
Scheit’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Then, he smoothly tried to shift the subject.
“How did you find out that a divorce lawsuit was underway?”
He bypassed giving an answer while pretending to keep the conversation going.
I let it slide last time, but not a chance tonight.
“Answer me properly. Is this your doing?”
Not knowing how he might react, I gripped the dagger tightly.
Scheit’s gaze lingered on the blade for a brief second.
“So it wasn’t for assassination, but for blackmail.”
He brushed past me, walking further into the room toward the sofa.
His demeanor was entirely relaxed, without a single trace of tension.
“Let’s sit down and talk.”
I remained standing near the doorway, watching him take a seat on the sofa.
I had to stay close to the door so I could make a quick escape if anything went wrong!
When I didn’t reply and merely stared at him, he finally opened his mouth reluctantly.
“You seem quite certain already.”
It was practically an admission that he was indeed the one who had pursued the divorce lawsuit behind my back.
“To meanly cause my injury, and then use an accomplice to plot a divorce scheme?”
A slight frown creased the space between Scheit’s brows.
“Causing an injury to my wife? What on earth do you mean by that?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? You’re the one who had someone throw rocks at the horse.”
“That was not my doing.”
“But plotting a divorce scheme using an accomplice *is* your doing?”
Scheit’s mouth snapped shut for a moment before he spoke again.
“An accomplice? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I kept my eyes pinned to his face.
Every time the word ‘accomplice’ left my lips, his expression stiffened minutely or his lips twitched.
Though his face appeared as casually composed as ever, he was undoubtedly shaken.
“Fine. Let’s pretend there was no accomplice. Then you’re admitting to engineering the divorce scheme from the shadows, correct?”
“…As expected, you are sharper than I thought.”
The usual easygoing look faded from Scheit’s face, replaced by a shadow of exhaustion.
He let out a sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose as if a headache were coming on.
“Do you have no intention of just letting yourself fall for it?”
“I already had Sindy withdraw the lawsuit.”
“…You are quick.”
“Of course. Why would I leave it alone when I have no idea what other tricks you might pull?”
Our eyes locked, and he spoke.
“I think we should clear one thing up first…”
“What is it?”
“Having rocks thrown at the horse was truly not my doing.”
I knew.
I had already looked into the rumors and circumstances to form my own conclusion.
His only meddling was training the horse to head straight for the Palace whenever someone rode it, inviting a divorce lawyer to the house to spread rumors that I wanted a divorce, and utilizing Beldamin Pollen.
That previous question was merely slipped in to find out whether he actually had an accomplice or not.
When confronting someone simultaneously about a deed they definitely didn’t commit and a deed they might have, you can discern the truth by seeing which one they defend.
He had inadvertently denied only the act he hadn’t done.
If he hadn’t instigated the stoning or pushed forward with the divorce lawsuit, he would have denied both at the exact same time.
However, there was no need to enlighten him on that fact, so I simply nodded with indifference.
“Let’s just say it’s like that.”
Silence stretched over him once more. He crossed his legs and slowly tapped the tip of his foot.
He appeared to be locked in deep thought.
Though I had rejected countless divorce requests until now, this was the first time he had openly displayed such deliberation.
I weighed my options for a moment before making a decision.
“If you need a divorce that badly, let’s do it.”
Scheit, who had been casting his gaze downward, snapped his head up.
His expression crumbled in a rare display of genuine shock.
“…What did you just say?”
“I said let’s get a divorce.”
His gaze scanned my face intently, as if trying to dissect my innermost thoughts.
Without avoiding his eyes, I spoke.
“In exchange, I have a condition.”
A look that said *I knew it* crossed Scheit’s face. Still, his expression was better than when I had offered to divorce him without any conditions at all.
“What is that condition?”
“I want you to wait just three months.”
It wasn’t anything difficult; surely he could grant this much?
“I cannot.”
I was rejected.
A surge of anger flared up, and I almost raised my voice, but I managed to control my emotions by taking a slow breath. Forcing a smile, I coaxed him in a gentle tone.
“It’s not like I’m asking you to handle the return of inheritance for me. I’m doing what you want, so I’m just asking for a bit of time. Can’t you make at least that much of a concession?”
With a face still heavily marked by exhaustion, Scheit offered a bright smile.
“I cannot do that. Hmm… I suppose I could wait about a week for you.”
Negotiating with this man was utterly impossible.
If I had stepped back this much, shouldn’t he have taken a step back too?
Huffing with irritation, I rose from my seat.
“Fine. I’ll endure those three months somehow, so you go right ahead and try your best too, Scheit.”
As I strode toward the door, Scheit’s voice caught me from behind.
“Isn’t it a matter of simply protecting the inheritance?”
Did he finally feel like negotiating? I turned around with anticipation.
“That’s right.”
Scheit slowly stepped closer until he stood facing me. His hazel eyes seemed to drink in the surrounding gloom, darkening to a pitch-black hue.
“Isn’t there one more way?”
“What do you mean…”
“Surely my wife knows as well.”
He leaned down, bringing his face level with mine.
“Conceiving a child.”
* * *
“So you were caught?”
Papilion’s eyes instantly filled with disbelief.
The furrow between his brows made his temperament appear far more volatile.
Tristan, who was sitting beside him, slung an arm over Papilion’s shoulder and patted his arm soothingly.
“Don’t be so harsh, Phil. How could he have known that the Rutshield family head would suddenly liquidate the southern villa?”
“That is precisely why it is more suspicious. Why liquidate a villa he never cared about at this exact moment, of all times?”
Suspicion still swirled heavily in Papilion’s eyes.
In Melbern, once a divorce lawsuit begins, it can only be withdrawn if both parties consent.
And whether they consented or not was verified through an anonymous vote.
In short, as long as the rumors were crafted well and the lawsuit proceeded, it was a flawless plan that would force Amarynthis into a divorce without any escape.
Yet, that very plan had crumbled right before their eyes.
“Unless someone leaked it, the timing could not possibly be this perfect…”
“It was likely just bad luck.”
Even at Tristan’s words, the look in Papilion’s eyes did not waver.
A gaze that doubted, pried, and analyzed.
When a guy who was naturally suspicious to begin with harbored ill will, building trust became incredibly difficult.
All Yulisian could do was offer a helpless smile, looking wrongfully accused.
As the atmosphere turned icy, Tristan tapped Papilion’s shoulder once more.
“Still, we have a backup plan, don’t we? Isn’t that right, Baron?”
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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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