TWDHK~05

Chapter 05

‘…Yeah. If your wife—who used to be obsessed enough to stalk you—suddenly asks for a divorce, it might be hard to believe.’

It would probably feel like a joke.

Thinking Ash’s sharp reaction came from suspicion, Nina spoke in a calm voice to ease his guard.

“If you can’t believe it, I can write an oath here and now—”

“I thought I made time to hear what nonsense you’d say, but now you’ve actually started using your head.”

“Using my head? What are you—”

Ash cut her off, his voice tightly restrained as he clenched his knee.

“Madam, I’ve recently been busy looking into adoption procedures.”

“…Adoption?”

“To adopt my nephew as my heir, the marriage must be maintained for at least three years. If I suddenly agree to divorce at this timing, what do you think I would look like?”

“…But isn’t it possible to adopt a relative regardless of marriage duration?”

“If that were possible, I wouldn’t have married you.”

He wouldn’t have needed to fight a legal battle for guardianship—he could have just adopted the child directly.

“…Ah.”

So that was it?

Was that why he had endured three years in her previous life?

All for the sake of adopting his nephew?

Nina hurriedly tried to explain.

“I know it’s hard to believe, but I really don’t have any other intentions. After what happened a few days ago—!”

“Enough.”

His brows furrowed deeply. His gray eyes turned even more menacing.

A large hand rested over his knee, veins twitching sharply under the skin as he fought to restrain his anger.

“This was a waste of time.”

He stood up as if there was nothing more to discuss.

“W-wait!”

Frozen by the cold contempt and anger in his gaze, Nina scrambled to her feet.

“Honey, just listen to me for a—”

I only thought a divorce would benefit both of us.

I never intended to interfere with your plans.

But the moment his disgusted gaze pierced through her like a blade, her outstretched hand curled back like a startled animal.

“…Ah.”

Unable to continue under his pressure, Nina fell silent.

Ash turned away without hesitation, as though the conversation was already over, and left the office.

By the time she snapped back to her senses and ran after him, he was already too far away to catch.

The reason Ash had recently begun investigating adoption procedures was because of a damn relative.

He had learned that his uncle was preparing to file for a guardianship change lawsuit, using his newly married eldest son as the new petitioner.

The case would likely be dismissed for lack of legal merit—but Nina’s grandfather was a Supreme Court justice. No one could predict what unexpected variables might arise.

So, after enduring two years of this hellish marriage, he decided to endure just one more year and adopt his nephew instead.

He had only recently consulted a lawyer specializing in family law.

He didn’t want to take both the ducal title and his father’s place away from his half-brother, who had died because of their mother…

But protecting Ian was the only form of atonement he had left.

‘…Still, this is unfolding exactly as I expected.’

A thin, mocking smile curved his lips.

That woman had always been suspicious of his actions. It was nothing new.

He had expected she would try to use divorce as leverage once she learned his plans—but to actually do it so quickly…

That meant the timing of the leak was earlier than expected.

Was there a rat he had missed?

He recalled the people working under Nina.

‘Time to start trimming the list.’

He had tolerated her network until now because it was more efficient to control the information flow from this side.

It was humiliating, having to engage in information warfare with his own wife—but that woman was not normal.

Who would have expected a proud Taylor ducal daughter to resort to lowly loan-sharking schemes to control servants as pawns?

It was only unfortunate that such a deranged obsessive woman had a grandfather who was a Supreme Court justice.

If it weren’t for his nephew’s guardianship issue, he would have divorced her without hesitation.

He had allowed her misdeeds to continue only to build grounds for divorce while quietly preparing to remove the justice from power.

And yet this was what she was doing.

She claimed she had “no other intention.”

He didn’t believe a single word.

If seduction didn’t work, she was now trying to use divorce as leverage instead.

Ash boarded his carriage and issued an order to Jeffrey.

“It seems information about my recent movements has reached my wife. Find out where the leak came from.”

“Yes, understood.”

His gray eyes sank into something like a dark abyss as he stared forward.

Nina returned from her disastrous divorce negotiation and spent two sleepless nights. By morning, she was suffering from a splitting headache.

“Mistress… what do we do now?” Masha asked worriedly.

Nina sipped her lightly brewed early-morning tea before answering.

“What else? We try the negotiation again.”

Was it because inheritance passed through blood that family law was so strict?

Or was this world’s legal system just backwards?

Whatever the reason—it was ridiculous.

Requiring three years of marriage just to adopt a relative? Insane!

If not for that, she could have divorced immediately!

‘But why does he insist on adoption anyway?’

Guardianship alone should be enough to protect the child.

“…Well, he must have his reasons.”

Someone who wanted a divorce more than anyone else wouldn’t insist otherwise without necessity.

‘Now how do I even arrange another meeting…’

To negotiate with the “Nina the Non-believer,” she first needed to secure an audience. Yet living in the same house, meeting her husband was as difficult as arranging a summit between two hostile nations.

In truth, she hadn’t even shared a meal or tea with him in two years.

At first, she had tried—but what was she supposed to do when a full-grown man stood up and left the moment she appeared?

‘This time I even begged and got five minutes…’

But that only reinforced his distrust. Securing another meeting would be even harder.

‘Should I start with clearing the debts…?’

Originally, she had planned to settle the divorce first. But now, perhaps it was better to deal with the indebted servants trapped under predatory interest rates first.

Then she could write letters to her husband. Beg if she had to. Anything.

‘If only I had returned before the marriage… why did it have to be this timing…’

There was a legal principle—double jeopardy, meaning one cannot be punished twice for the same crime.

She had already paid for her sins in her previous life.

And yet she had been thrown back here, right before the consequences of her karma struck.

‘This reincarnation is basically human rights violation… no, wait.’

Nina quickly poured cold water over her rising indignation.

‘…Hey, me. Where exactly did you dump your conscience?’

Let’s assume she had already paid for what she did to her husband.

But what about the people who suffered because of her actions—her family, Masha?

Her death couldn’t possibly be compensation for them.

Maybe this reincarnation really was karma itself.

It was despairing that everyone knew her past disgrace…

But—

‘Well. Nothing I can do about it.’

It’s her burden to carry.

“…Masha, tell the chef that from today, we’ll be having meals in the dining room.”

“Really?! I’ll go right now!”

Overjoyed, Masha rushed out before Nina could change her mind.

“Seriously… she’s that happy?”

Nina smiled faintly at the sight of the maid who still cared for her despite everything.

But then—

The memory of her husband’s contemptuous gaze as she stood waiting outside his office flashed in her mind.

His cold eyes.

His sneering expression.

Honestly, she didn’t even want to leave her room again…

But—

‘This is exactly when I need to eat well and stay strong.’

So she could do something—anything.

‘We’re not staying in each other’s lives anyway. Why should I care how they see me?’

Her new life motto was simple: live comfortably and decisively, Nina style.

She steadied herself.

“Madam, everything is ready. You can come down now!”

“Alright.”

With a self-suggested boost of courage, Nina headed toward the dining room.

“I didn’t tell you earlier, but since you kept eating in your room, I was worried. I’m really glad…”

“I wasn’t starving or anything.”

“But you still need proper meals or you’ll get sick. The only person I can rely on here is you, Madam—you have to stay healthy.”

Nina smiled softly.

“That sounds like something I should be saying to you—”

And then—

A voice came from the bottom of the central staircase.

Both Nina and Masha froze.