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chapter 6
Meldenique said that and left.
Lenox frowned as he watched her departing figure.
Something felt off. To him, Meldenique Babeloa looked like a completely different person.
He recalled Sheria, Meldenique’s younger sister—his business partner by contract, and someone who kept drawing his attention.
Not long ago, while at a resort, Sheria had sent him a letter filled with charm.
At the end of that affectionate letter, she subtly suggested that since Meldenique had left the family, perhaps it would be best to reconsider his engagement with her.
“Sheria is a beautiful woman. But…”
He bit the inside of his cheek to steady himself.
“I can’t give up on Meldenique Babeloa.”
His eyes gleamed sharply.
He remembered his father’s dying wish:
“You must marry Meldenique Babeloa.”
Along with it came an additional explanation so shocking it could make one’s eyes widen.
“If you marry that woman…”
He smirked, imagining how perfect his future would become.
His previously conflicted mind soon settled.
“I must make Meldenique Babeloa mine. Then everything will be perfect.”
Of course, he had no real interest in Meldenique.
To him, she was merely a bothersome woman. It was obvious he favored Sheria—after all, she was his ideal type: beautiful and pure.
Lenox curled his lips into a sly smile.
Recently, rumors had begun spreading subtly through high society, almost like a romantic poem, about his relationship with Sheria. That, too, pleased him.
No one knew they were actually involved, but everyone thought they looked good together and quietly rooted for them.
It was a satisfying life.
If only Meldenique hadn’t suddenly demanded a broken engagement, everything would have gone smoothly.
He hadn’t expected her—who had noticed his feelings shifting toward Sheria—to respond in such an outrageous way.
“A broken engagement…”
Still, his relationship with Sheria and his marriage to Meldenique were separate matters.
He fully intended to proceed with marrying Meldenique.
“She’s just trying to get my attention, Meldenique.”
If that were the case, then she was foolish. He was not someone easily swayed.
As he watched Meldenique’s lively retreating figure, the duke narrowed his eyes.
“Using jealousy tactics this time… how unusual. But I won’t fall for it.”
He tried to look away from her.
But he couldn’t.
Meldenique had turned back to look at him again.
He sneered inwardly.
He knew it.
Meldenique Babeloa could never abandon him.
She was a woman who had written him obsessive love letters, sent flowers, and caused all kinds of commotion—even in business—for his sake. There was no way she could suddenly change.
“I’ve trained her well enough to listen only to me. She could never betray me.”
He gazed cynically at Meldenique as she walked back toward him.
He intended to forgive his fiancée for daring to deceive him—of course, only this once.
As she approached, Meldenique spoke.
“I realized there’s something I forgot to tell you.”
At her gentle tone, Lenox responded coldly.
“An apology is unnecessary.”
Meldenique broke into a bright smile.
“An apology?”
The duke hesitated for a moment as he looked at her smile.
Had she ever made that kind of expression while apologizing before?
Usually, he had only seen her look depressed, discouraged, or hysterical.
Still, she would act within his expectations in the end.
He stared at her, calmly waiting for what she would say next.
An apology, my foot!
Looking at the male lead—who also happened to be my soon-to-be ex-fiancé—acting as if I owed him one, I frowned deeply.
“That’s the male lead? This novel is already doomed. I’ll just live my own life.”
I stepped closer to him.
Now the distance between us was less than 30 centimeters. It must have been the first time I’d ever gotten this close to him, so he was probably startled.
Yet his face still held that lazy smile. A perfect poker face.
But would he still be able to keep that expression after hearing what I was about to say?
“I think you should understand this clearly.”
I looked up at him.
Though honestly, this would feel worse than looking down—being perfectly dumped by a pathetic fiancée he had always ignored.
Sure enough, he seemed offended that I wasn’t apologizing.
His elegant forehead creased in irritation.
But I had no interest in his expression.
“Just in case you thought my actions were ‘an attempt to get your attention’ or something like that…”
“…?”
His brows furrowed even more.
I let out a small laugh and continued.
“Or that ‘since she’s a pushover, she’ll come back if I try—after all, she used to be obsessed with me.’”
“What?”
Had his thoughts been exposed?
He asked back, sounding dumbfounded.
Watching him react as if his mind had been read, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Male leads might not understand readers—but readers understand them perfectly.
In romance fantasy novels, it’s common for the protagonist or their family—who once ignored a woman—to suddenly cry and beg for forgiveness only after she calls off the engagement.
Or worse, they snap and start saying things like, “I won’t let you go!” even though they don’t love her.
That’s why I intended to prevent that kind of situation from happening in the first place.
Of course, I’m not the female lead, so it probably won’t happen.
“But you never know.”
I absolutely refuse to let Lenox take an interest in me.
Whether it’s belated regret or pointless obsession, I have no intention of accepting it!
I curled one corner of my lips and drove the point home.
“That’s a delusion.”
He glared at me, his face trembling.
“…Did you find another man? Don’t tell me you’re cheating without knowing your place.”
Ah, are all cheating men like this?
He’s the one who cheated, yet he’s acting like some paranoid husband.
I picked at my ear.
“You think someone other than me would like someone like you?”
Ah, here comes the usual gaslighting again.
Of course, I had no intention of answering him properly.
“To be honest—”
I lazily raised a finger and pointed somewhere behind him, into the distance.
At someone’s passing silhouette.
“I’d rather marry that random person over there than you.”
He knew very well that I had pointed at just anyone.
Veins bulged on Lenox’s face.
“How dare you…!”
The man who had just been struck down by the very axe he had ignored clenched his teeth.
But this wasn’t nearly enough to make him truly angry. I wasn’t done yet.
I needed a stronger finishing line.
“I believe you understand by now.”
Finally, I smiled at him brightly, like radiant sunlight.
“So could you get out of my life now?”
You cheating bastard—stay away from me from now on.
“You’re disgusting.”
