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chapter 80
“What did you say?”
Yuan’s words about divorce rang sharply in Cerellette’s ears. She could not immediately grasp what he meant; it was something she had never imagined hearing.
“…….”
Yuan quietly observed Cerellette’s furrowed face and, without a word, turned his back to her.
The woman always messed up his mind. Because of her, his once-clear and flawless life had become uncertain and full of gaps. Yuan discovered unfamiliar sides of himself every day, leaving him in constant confusion.
I did all sorts of petty schemes to make you mine, yet why are you still so aloof on your own?
Will the day ever come when I can hold you completely in my hand? And how much more madness must I commit to do so?
Am I really Yuan Fractuster right now? Am I sane, behaving like this over a woman?
Yuan let out a hollow laugh and left Cerellette’s bedroom.
Cerellette hurried after him. Was that it? Just dropping the word “divorce” and leaving? What was she supposed to do now?
“Yuan, where are you going! We haven’t finished talking.”
“…….”
“How can you just go like this?”
Cerellette stubbornly followed Yuan. Even though she had longed for a divorce, hearing the words out of the blue left her stunned.
The man who had previously refused even a broken engagement had suddenly brought up divorce. Just days ago, he had kissed her sweetly in the rain.
Cerellette, bewildered by Yuan’s sudden change, temporarily forgot her desire for a divorce. It felt as though she were living a moment from a past life rather than the present, clinging to him without realizing it.
“If you truly want a divorce, sit down and talk properly. Don’t run away.”
Yuan ignored Cerellette’s voice from behind as he descended the stairs quickly. Cerellette watched his broad back with frustration, chasing him to the very end.
At the bottom of the stairs, Yuan avoided the gazes of Regan and the servants, passing them to head toward the entrance.
Just then, Lydia caught up and grabbed his arm.
“Yuan!”
Lydia, who had followed him from the theater, had witnessed everything. She had never seen Yuan so furious, and it shocked her.
No man would tolerate an unfaithful wife, yet she had never expected him to be so enraged. Yuan’s almost irrational anger made Lydia uncomfortable.
He didn’t look like a husband scolding an unfaithful wife, but like a man wounded by the woman he loved. The pain Cerellette caused him seemed unbearable, leaving Lydia anxious and upset.
Yuan had no mind to care about Lydia trailing beside him. All he felt was the desire to escape far from Cerellette.
Still, he didn’t push Lydia away and exited the lobby with her.
Cerellette paused in the lobby, watching Yuan and Lydia leave, understanding the bitter truth behind his sudden mention of divorce.
To Cerellette’s eyes, it appeared as though Yuan and Lydia were leaving the house together. In fact, everyone present saw it the same way.
“Milady.”
“Cerellette.”
Hannah and Eve hurried over, worried.
Hannah, choking back tears, checked Cerellette’s body and noticed the bruises on her arm, letting out a sob. For the first time, Hannah disliked the duke.
He had treated their mistress carelessly in front of the servants and the grand duke. This was disrespectful, and he even left her injured.
“Cerellette, let’s go upstairs.”
Eve helped Cerellette, who was standing dazed. Seeing Yuan forcibly escort her to the bedroom had shocked Eve as well.
The gentlemanly Duke Fractuster treating his wife like this was unimaginable. Eve could hardly believe it.
Hannah and Eve led Cerellette back to her bedroom, while Regan hesitated, torn between following Yuan or staying with Cerellette. Eventually, his heart leaned toward Cerellette, and he went upstairs.
While Hannah and Eve fussed, Cerellette sat dazedly on the bed.
Divorce…
The words and the image of Yuan leaving the Fractuster estate with Lydia kept replaying in her mind.
She wasn’t sure what emotion this was, but she knew it was eating away at her.
“Why did His Grace do that? Why to our mistress?”
“Today didn’t feel like the Duke at all.”
Hannah huffed, and Eve’s voice trembled.
Cerellette looked at Eve. Today, Yuan’s behavior had indeed been unusual.
His way of expressing anger was violently strange. Even in their previous life, he had never behaved this way, verbally hurting her but never physically.
Was it because of Lydia? Had he realized his love for her? Was he regretting marrying Cerellette and taking it out on her this way?
Cerellette sighed, looking at her bruised arm against the railing. The bruise looked terrible. In this heat, she would have to wear long sleeves for a while.
“I need to put some medicine on it.”
Following her gaze, Eve noticed the bruise and frowned.
“I’ll bring it.”
“I’ll get warm water.”
Eve and Hannah left the room, leaving Cerellette alone. She stared at her feet, thinking that Yuan and Lydia were probably together now. Although it was inevitable that Yuan would realize his love for Lydia, it was hard for her to shake the bitterness.
Memories of trips to Nunuuki’s pharmacy flashed: Yuan holding her protectively in the swaying carriage, walking hand in hand across the meadow, the sudden rain, and their kisses. Those moments, more like a dream than reality, felt faint now.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Cerellette looked up, her bitterness lingering. Regan stood there, unsure of what to do.
“Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”
Cerellette rose from the bed.
Regan hesitated before approaching, frowning at her bruised arm.
“Are you okay?”
Sighing, Regan looked at her worriedly.
Cerellette silently nodded. He didn’t know what to say, staring at her pale face and feeling an overwhelming mix of anger, worry, and confusion.
“Has Yuan ever treated you like this before? Careless like this…?”
Regan’s rising anger prevented him from finishing the sentence. Even as a friend, he couldn’t forgive Yuan if he continued behaving like this.
“…It’s the first time. That’s why I’m so bewildered. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
“Why are you apologizing? Don’t say that just because you’re upset.”
Regan suppressed his anger.
“….”
Cerellette, still confused by Yuan, hadn’t picked up on Regan’s concern.
“I’ll call the physician.”
“Medicine will be enough.”
Cerellette forced a smile to reassure him.
Seeing her sad smile, Regan clenched his fists. Today, he decided, he would stay by her side, as a friend, to prevent her from feeling sorrow.
Hannah entered, eyeing Regan before approaching Cerellette. Applying medicine while a male noble was present was awkward.
Hannah’s hesitation made Regan realize he wasn’t exactly a comfortable presence for Cerellette—a bitter realization.
“I shouldn’t stay here and disturb her. I’ll leave for today.”
“I don’t think I can go far,” Cerellette said apologetically.
Regan nodded and left, carrying a sense of helplessness.
At an upscale bar, Yuan sat alone drinking. Only nobles with membership could enter, and the patrons recognized him.
They glanced at him, but Yuan didn’t have the leisure to care.
He set down his empty glass, drinking continuously, his mind in chaos. He had hurt Cerellette and proposed divorce.
“Divorce…”
Though spoken impulsively, he already regretted it deeply. He feared his lack of restraint, his descent into irrationality. Afraid he would lose himself completely, he feared his own actions.
He had spoken the words, but what scared him most now was that Cerellette might actually agree.
I’ll never let her go. No matter how I change, I can’t let go. Yuan gave a bitter smile.
Reaching for the bottle again, someone snatched it first.
Yuan looked up to see Lydia sitting beside him, her face blurred but visible.
Only then did he remember she had been with him all along, following him from the estate.
“Yuan, stop drinking.”
Lydia’s voice quivered.
Yuan sighed.
The alcohol spread through his body, clouding his mind. He reached for the bottle Lydia had taken, but she held it close and shook her head.
“No. You’ve had too much.”
“Give it.”
“Yuan, are you upset?”
“…….”
Yuan found Lydia’s presence annoying—the bottle she took, her words.
“When you’re upset, my heart hurts.”
“Why does Lady Elliot’s heart hurt?”
Yuan chuckled wryly.
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
Tears welled in Lydia’s eyes. How could he not understand? Yuan, you have to know. Her tears fell freely.
Her tears made Yuan’s brows twitch. Do I need to know?
“Because I love you, Yuan.”
Yuan tightened his grip on the glass. Love? Love.
“Because I love you, it hurts my heart when you’re upset, and I worry.”
“……”
“When I see you with another woman, I feel sad. When you’re upset because of another woman, I get angry. I want you to smile only beside me.”
Lydia wiped her tears and confessed her heart.
“I love you, Yuan. Truly.”
Tears fell from her eyes again.
Love. So that was it. Yuan’s lips curved slightly.
He looked at Lydia for a moment, then gently reached out to wipe her tears. Slowly, he leaned in as if to kiss her.
