🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 19
“I just… the bouquet happened to fly toward me and I caught it on impulse… I swear, if I had known you would hate it, I would never have taken it.”
“Uh, sis.”
The atmosphere instantly turned cold. In that moment, Melvin and Kaiden approached Chloe, surrounded by the well-wishers of the guests.
Stop.
The two pairs of feet came to a halt in front of the well-dressed groom.
And at the same time, silence fell. The meeting between an ex-husband and an ex-wife—an unusual situation.
“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your wedding,” Chloe said.
Melvin stared at her, having forgotten even her tears. But Chloe gave her no space to respond gently.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t take the bouquet. So let’s throw it again. Okay?”
Chloe held out the bouquet she had received. Naturally, Melvin did not take it.
“No, it’s fine. You can keep it, sis.”
“No, I’m really fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“I said it’s fine!”
Melvin roughly pushed Chloe’s hand away. The bouquet fell to the floor.
“Ah….”
Chloe let out a soft sigh. The hall had become so quiet that her faint voice rang out even clearer.
“……”
Melvin clenched her fists tightly but could not say anything more. She realized she had been completely cornered by Chloe.
So I wasn’t unable to do it… I just didn’t do it all along.
It felt like Chloe’s eyes were saying exactly that.
The suffocating silence was broken by Kaiden.
“Seems we’re unwanted guests.”
Kaiden stepped forward with a faint, bitter smile. Holding Chloe’s hand with his left, he picked up the fallen bouquet with his right.
“On a day of celebration, it’s best for unwanted guests to leave, wouldn’t you agree?”
The target was the legitimate heir of the Verder Duchy. How dare he call himself an unwanted guest!
“A-ah, that’s not what I meant, Sir Verder… How could you say such a thing….”
Dür, who had grasped the situation, tried to step in, but it was already too late.
“I cannot stand seeing my person get hurt.”
“……”
“It’s become a bit awkward, but I hope you all still have a pleasant ending to your day.”
“Yes. I sincerely hope both of you find happiness.”
With Chloe’s quiet farewell, the two of them turned away. Their receding figures somehow looked sad, and the guests watched with sympathy.
But that was not the reality.
Thud.
The moment the door closed with a heavy sound, Kaiden asked in a playful tone,
“How do you feel?”
“I’m a little worried it might’ve escalated more than expected… but,”
Chloe’s face, as she left the church, wore a bright smile she had never shown before.
“It feels amazing.”
If she had known revenge would feel this refreshing, if she had known it could take so many forms, she would have done it much earlier.
Chloe stretched as if shedding a heavy burden.
“What about the bouquet? Are you keeping it as a souvenir?”
“No way.”
Just like Melvin had earlier, Chloe tossed the bouquet behind her head. There wasn’t the slightest trace of attachment.
* * *
The social world was turned upside down.
Not because Melvin had cried at her wedding. In truth, Melvin and Dür did not have enough influence for that to matter.
The nobles’ attention was focused on Kaiden, who had suddenly appeared in society after maintaining a reclusive image, and Chloe, who had caught the bridal bouquet.
They were shocked that Kaiden’s fiancée was a divorced woman, but those who attended the wedding quickly began praising Chloe, saying she was not unworthy of him.
To them, Chloe—who had calmly comforted her crying stepsister—had looked almost angelic.
Those who knew the situation understood how difficult it was to host a wedding for an ex-husband and stepsister.
As witness accounts spread, Chloe’s reputation rose rapidly. Even her once “stiff and dull” profession began to be seen in a more favorable light.
From a tragic divorced woman who lost her husband to her stepsister, she had become a capable, intelligent, and beautiful career woman.
Chloe herself, however, did not welcome the change. She felt nothing but disgust at the nobles who changed their attitude so easily. Kaiden felt the same.
“If you stay by my side, things like this will happen often. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not exactly pleasant either.”
“I know.”
If you choose something, you must be prepared to bear its consequences.
Under the gaze of everyone, Kaiden and Chloe boarded a carriage bound for the Garett Count’s estate.
“I’m nervous.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“I’m serious.”
Beside Kaiden were stacks of gift boxes—presents for Count and Countess Garett.
Today, they were going to formally discuss marriage with Chloe’s parents. It was only natural for him to feel nervous.
“I hope they like me.”
“They’ll like the gifts.”
“Not the gifts.”
Kaiden pointed at himself.
“Me.”
“……”
“I want them to see me favorably.”
“……”
“Chloe, help me get into your parents’ good graces.”
“Ha….”
Chloe let out a dry laugh, exasperated. How could he already be calling them father and mother-in-law when they had barely met?
“To anyone watching, it would look like you’re here to sincerely ask for permission.”
“I am always sincere.”
Kaiden looked at her seriously.
“I sincerely want Chloe.”
“……”
There was no affection explicitly stated in his words.
Their marriage was nothing more than a contract for mutual goals. Chloe knew that well.
And yet, strangely, her heart raced. Whenever Kaiden spoke like that out of nowhere, it felt as if a weight tied to her heart was suddenly dropping.
I guess I really haven’t dated before.
That must be why she reacted so sensitively to meaningless words.
Kaiden studied Chloe, who was shaking her head unconsciously.
“Are you not nervous, Chloe?”
“Of course I am.”
Even having been through it once didn’t make it easier. In fact, she might have been even more nervous than when she first met her parents after her first marriage.
Back then, it had been excitement. Now, it was mixed with fear.
“To be honest… I’m not sure if my parents will accept my remarriage.”
She had already failed once, so she had to be careful this time. She could not repeat the same mistake.
But there was nothing cautious about what Chloe and Kaiden were about to say to her parents.
“We’ve only known each other for less than a month, and we’re already talking about marriage. What parent would accept that?”
On top of that, the wedding was in just one month.
“Don’t worry, Chloe. Trust me.”
“I’m more worried about you.”
She had no idea what kind of absurd thing Kaiden Verder might do in front of her parents.
“Please, if you want this marriage to happen, just act like a normal person.”
“When have I ever been abnormal?”
“Don’t nitpick my words.”
“Understood.”
Surprisingly, Kaiden yielded easily. He looked at Chloe for a moment and placed his hand over hers.
“I understand what you’re worried about. But you don’t need to be so anxious.”
His large, steady hand gently patted hers.
“Didn’t I tell you before?”
“That you’re young, handsome, and capable?”
“Correct.”
Even now, his shamelessness made her scoff. And yet, for some reason, it eased her tension.
“Alright then.”
Kaiden adjusted his grip, now holding her hand properly to escort her. The Count’s estate was now visible through the window.
“Shall we get off?”
“Alright.”
Now it was time to act.
Chloe straightened her posture, smoothing away her anxious expression and replacing it with that of a woman in love. Soon, the carriage stopped and the door opened.
As soon as Chloe stepped out, Kaiden rejoined their hands, interlacing his fingers with hers. The servants standing by pretended not to stare, but their flushed faces betrayed their thoughts.
Soon, the two of them were guided by a butler into the estate.
