‘When will your older brother stop relying on Richt?’

‘With such thoughts of using his own sister ingrained, he has no intention of quitting gambling, when he knows Richt is going to pay it all off.’

‘How did the late Count Blanchette had such a debauched son.’

Diana’s words were entirely accurate. Timogere was indeed a parasite. Her brother was largely to blame for the fact that she’d spent her life looking down on herself.

A tear trickled down her thigh. She clutched her skirt, which was stained with round marks. She ducked her head down as if someone might see her, and suddenly a long shadow fell on the ground.

Could it be Richt? It was almost time for him to return.

Richt hated seeing Isabelle cry. What excuse could she give this time? Perhaps she should persuade him not to lend money to Timogere again.

Hastily wiping away her tears, Isabelle looked up, and a calm black pupil was staring directly at her. It wasn’t Richt. It was Eden, looking down at Isabelle with a pensive expression.

“Eden?”

“Is this about the Duke of Calitheon?”

“No! It’s not like that!”

Isabelle shook her head nervously. She didn’t want Eden to dislike Richt as well. But if Eden disliked Richt already, it was a surefire way to make things worse between them. She didn’t want that.

“Then, is it because of Timogere?”

Eden, like a ghost, seemed to penetrate her inner thoughts. When Isabelle remained silent, he sighed in understanding and sat down beside her. A lukewarm breeze blew. After a moment of silence, Eden spoke.

“I heard. Timogere borrowed money from the Duke of Calitheon again.”

“So you knew about it, Eden. I guess I’m the only one in this house who didn’t know about it. I’m embarrassed for him, even the servants talk about him behind his back. I mean, he’s my biological brother, but he’s pathetic. Everything he does is so…….”

She couldn’t finish her sentence because of her anger. Eden listened in silence, allowing Isabelle to get the words out in peace.

“The way I feel right now, I wish my brother were dead. He’s just asking for money, like the man who sold me to the Calitheons. Is money really that important?”

Isabelle recalled Timogere’s unkind words in his study. Her chest heaved again. The tip of her nose turned sour and she sobbed.

“I know. I know how Timogere treats you. I can’t understand how he could treat his beautiful sister like this.”

Eden had told Isabelle she was pretty as much as Mia had. She knew it was an envious compliment, but it made her feel good and she had always responded warmly. Tears welled up in her eyes at the warmth of the words.

“Letting go of Timogere’s reckless lifestyle would bring peace of mind. It might not be comforting, but it’s better to think of him as nonexistent.”

“…”

“It’ll be better for you, too. I want you to be happy, Isabelle. If you want, I can arrange a house in another area for you.”

Eden would have done enough for her. Isabelle knew better than anyone that these were not empty words.

“Somewhere where there’s no Timogere or the Duke of Calitheon.”

The idea of going somewhere had always lurked in the back of her mind, but she hadn’t really thought about it. Until recently, being by Richt’s side was happiness enough.

“That’s nice of you to say, but I don’t know… I mean, I left Calitheon, and of course I came back to my family, but I feel like I’d die of boredom if I stayed here, and it’s not like I have anywhere in particular I want to go, or anything I want to do…….”

“…”

“I guess I’ve lived like a fool.”

Eden raised his large hand and gently stroked Isabelle’s head. As the warmth enveloped the back of her head, her tense heart gradually relaxed.

It was times like these that she wished Eden were her real older brother, not Timogere. She pulled Eden’s hand from her hair and leaned on his shoulder.

It was the same on the day of her wedding to Richt.

Before the ceremony, Diana had called Isabelle in and unleashed a barrage of unkindness, and Isabelle had been left alone to steal tears when no one was looking.

Even then, he didn’t know what happened, but he quietly pulled her aside and hugged her. Without asking for reasons, he didn’t offer stilted words of comfort. He just held her. Tenderly and warmly.

Just like that day, Isabelle relaxed in Eden’s arms, unaware that someone was watching.

***

When she returned to her room, having composed her emotions, she found Richt sitting on the bed, waiting for her. His face was unreadable, but it had a chilly expression.

He had his head lowered, lifting only his gaze to look at Isabelle. It was a look that made her uncomfortable, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. Isabelle took a step closer.

“When did you arrive?”

“Where were you?”

“Just for a moment, I took a walk in the garden.”

Richt’s eyebrows rose at an angle. His tightly pressed lips seemed to be holding back emotion.

“What’s wrong with your eyes?”

“It’s nothing.”

“I suppose it’s something you can’t confide in me.”

His voice was cold.

“Yes, conversation is a luxury between us, for we speak better with our bodies than with our words.”

Richt strode forward and pulled Isabelle to him. Her slender body was pulled without resistance.

“If you don’t want to talk, should we get straight to it?”

Isabelle turned her face. She wasn’t the mood for that.

“If you don’t want to, tell me why you cried.”

Richt grabbed Isabelle’s face with both hands and growled. His face, devoid of expression, was filled with anger.

“Have you forgotten how to speak?”

“How long are you going to do that?”

“Tell me so I can understand.”

“I heard you lent my brother money again.”

“So?”

“Do you think my brother will ever be able to pay it back?”

“He won’t be able to pay it back even if he dies.”

“Then why do you keep… I don’t want to cause you trouble anymore.”

Isabelle hoped Richt would firmly refuse and draw a line.

“I hope that’s not all.”

Richt’s face remained cold and emotionless. His dagger-like gaze pierced straight into her face.

“What do you mean?”

“Who were you with just now?”

Isabelle made a startled expression. He saw her leaning into Eden’s arms. But Richt had misunderstood the situation. On the first day she had asked for a divorce, he had asked if she had found another man.

To Isabelle, Eden was someone she could confide in more than Timogere. They had known each other since childhood, and even after a long time apart, he was someone she could comfortably lean on.

“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that. I was a little upset about Timogere earlier, and then I bumped into Eden.”

“That’s a lame excuse.”

“It’s the truth. Eden is like family to me.”

“Do you think the Viscount Ross feels the same way?”

“Of course, Eden sees me as his own sister.”

“Eden! Eden! You call him so affectionately. Didn’t you promised me you wouldn’t be near him?”

“How can we not meet in the same house?”

“You were in the arms of Viscount Ross.”

“You’re mistaken! He was only comforting me.”

Richt chuckled dryly. He was particularly sensitive to anything involving Eden.

“Why are you so angry?”

“You deceived me.”

“Don’t be overdramatic.”

“Overdramatic?”

“You’re being too sensitive right now. Maybe you’re tired. I’ll go to the other room and you can rest.”

Isabelle stood up, fearing that continuing the conversation would lead to a fight. As she started to leave the room, Richt pulled her back with great force. His grip tightened on her arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

His voice was low and chilling, like a beast growling.

“I suggest you go to bed early and calm down.”

“That’s not how you calm me down.”

Sharp eyes bore into her skin, a dark glow of desire. Even if she tried to escape, his persistent gaze explored every inch of her. He had thoughts of devouring Isabelle again tonight.

“Surely you’re not suggesting doing it in this situation?”

“There’s nothing I can’t do.”

Isabelle was horrified. He seemed truly obsessed with s*x. He never gets tired of asking for it.

“Do you know how many days it’s been?”

“Is that important?”

“You’re insane.”

His true colors are coming out.