After Declaring Divorce, My Husband Became Lewd - CHAPTER 7_ Regrets Are Always Too Late (Part 5)

‘Then don’t do anything.’

Isabelle’s words felt like a giant boulder pressing on Richt’s heart. He didn’t know how to cherish her when he had her, and when he wanted her so badly, so desperately, she pulled away.

A damn fool.

He told himself that at least a dozen times a day.

Richt, who was walking from the garden to the mansion, stopped in his tracks. A scene unfolded before his eyes. Isabelle, joyfully chatting with Mrs. Mason. Taking a bite of a plum, she laughed heartily when Mrs. Mason said something, raising her eyebrows.

As he entered the mansion from the garden, Richt stopped in his tracks. A scene came into view. It was Isabelle, chatting happily with Mrs. Mason. Taking a bite of a plum, she laughed heartily when Mrs. Mason said something.

What’s so funny? Why is she laughing so affectionately when it hasn’t been that long since they met?

At a glance, it seemed like they were close and intimate.

Even when Mrs. Mason wiped the juice off Isabelle’s hands, Isabelle remained still. She had forbidden him to touch her, even self-harming. Yet, she readily accepted Mrs. Mason’s touch with a smile.

Come to think of it, both Mia and Mrs. Mason, that Isabelle was comfortable with. Except for Richt. He felt excluded in his own house. An irritable feeling rose in his stomach, along with a harsh thought.

Although Isabelle didn’t acknowledge him, he felt a twinge of jealousy. It seemed like the affection he should receive was being stolen by mere maids.

He should be the one sitting with her, laughing and chatting. He had hoped she would have a good time here, but now that she was being treated so warmly by Mrs. Mason, he felt repulsed.

She smiles at others without hesitation, a smile she never shows to him. It was truly despicable. If Mrs. Mason were a man, he might have been blinded by jealousy and twisted her neck.

Richt closely observed every aspect of his wife. Every expression, gesture, and action. Isabelle used many gestures when she smiled, and her expressions frequently changed in response to Mrs. Mason’s words.

Has she always had such a changeable face?

His wife laughed again. Her smiling face was unexpectedly beautiful. He wanted to see it up close, but he couldn’t approach her. If she noticed him nearby, Isabelle would surely erase that smile.

He had to settle for watching from a distance. Isabelle’s happiness couldn’t coexist with his presence. Richt was no part of the carefree and joyful routine of Isabelle’s life.

Isabelle was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn’t even feel Richt’s gaze. Only when Mia approached did she finally stand up. Moving her body, Isabelle noticed Richt and her smile vanished instantly. The inside of her mouth turned bitter.

Richt didn’t enter the mansion until long after the two had left together. The first person he encountered was Mrs. Mason, who seemed to be coming down from the second floor.

“Isabelle seems to have lost weight. Is she eating well?”

“She seemed a bit picky about the food. I’ll pay more attention.”

“Isabelle brought a maid with her, but since this place is still unfamiliar to her, look after her well.”

“Yes.”

“What were you talking about earlier?”

Lightly bowing her head, Mrs. Mason, thinking it was the end of their conversation and was about to go towards the kitchen, was stopped by Richt. He couldn’t help but ask after recalling Isabelle, who had been laughing so joyfully a moment ago.

“It was just trivial talk.”

Mrs. Mason recounted the details of their conversation. Listening, Richt realized they were indeed mundane topics.

Was Isabelle amused by such conversations?

Does she like children? Or does she like plums?

Or perhaps, does she like Tanya Mason?

No.

The thought quickly changed.

She likes everything and just dislikes Richt. When his thoughts led to that conclusion, a painful feeling sank into his chest.

“Oh, and Madam seemed so interested in exploring Vechilin that she asked me to show her around.”

“Is that so?”

If Mrs. Mason hadn’t mentioned it, he might not have noticed. Isabelle must have been frustrated, too, and a good look around and some new experiences might ease her mind a bit.

Come to think of it, Richt and Isabelle had never done anything together. They hadn’t traveled or done anything memorable. It would be nice to schedule some time together soon. He just didn’t know if she’d want that.

Richt’s questions were done, but Mrs. Mason didn’t leave her seat and cautiously asked.

“Is there anything in particular I should be concerned about?”

“What do you mean, anything in particular?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

“Tell me. Is something wrong?”

“Oh, nothing’s wrong. It’s just that I wondered if Madam might be pregnant. and since you said no, I understand.”

“What do you mean?”

Mrs. Mason hesitated before speaking.

“Actually, she barely ate any of her food at lunch, because she looked like she had morning sickness, and I happened to overhear a conversation between Mia and her on the second floor just now.”

“What were they talking about?”

“It seemed like they were secretly looking into a doctor for Madam.”

Richt stiffened as if hit on the head with a hammer.

She was pregnant!

In all the years they had been having s*x, the thought of her being pregnant had never crossed his mind.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m not a doctor, so I can’t be sure, but based on the circumstances, I have my suspicions.”

The two of them had had steamy nights every day while they were in Blanchette Estate. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary if she was pregnant.

“I’ll find out. You can go.”

Once Mrs. Mason was gone, Richt instructed the butler, Herta, to take Mia aside. The brief wait for Mia felt unusually long.

Pregnant? Could it be true? Was that why she had been so eager to get out of town, to find a house as soon as she arrived in Vechilin?

Leaning back on the chair’s armrest, Richt tried to calm his restless heart. He absentmindedly tapped the armrest with his fingertips, when there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

“You called for me?”

“Yes. Have a seat.”

As Mia sat cautiously, she carefully observed her master’s complexion. Being summoned by the Duke of Calitheon likely meant that the matter was related to Madam.

“From now on, you must answer my questions properly.”

His eyes, with a dark intensity at the edges, became razor-sharp. The man always had an air of intimidation about him, but today was especially so.

“What is it, sir?”

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Mia’s tense expression grew more nervous.

“Is Isabelle pregnant?”

Richt didn’t beat around the bush. Mia’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit. Her neatly placed hands on her knees betrayed her effort to conceal any trembling.

“…Why are you suddenly saying such things?”

Mia tried to read his expression.

“Answer me straight.”

Not wanting to give her time to make up words, Richt cut her off.

“I’ve been with her for a while now, and I don’t see anything different about Lady Isabelle. I haven’t heard her say anything, and if she is pregnant, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.”

She continued with her seemingly plausible explanation, but it was a bold-faced lie. Her reactions were like someone caught stealing – fidgety and avoiding eye contact. Though she appeared quick-witted and perceptive, she was not good at hiding her true feelings. Richt saw right through her.

“This is your last chance. If another lie comes out of your mouth…”

Mia swallowed dryly and hesitated.

“I don’t know if I can continue treating you with respect.”

The Duke of Calitheon’s dark eyes were as intent and cold as ever. Mia’s breath caught in her throat and her chest tightened.

Mia trembled as she forced herself to look away, avoiding eye contact. Minutes passed in silence, and when Richt couldn’t bear it any longer, he questioned again.

“Should we waste more time?”

Mia’s inner turmoil deepened. What was the point in continuing to lie when the Duke of Calitheon already knew everything and was asking questions that he was going to find out anyway? She felt sorry for Isabelle, but it seemed like the right time to confess. She thought that revealing the truth might offer relief from this suffocating situation.

“…Yes.”

Mia’s voice crawled with remorse and guilt for Isabelle.

“Lady Isabelle is expecting a child.”

“Say it again.”

“She is pregnant—with your child.”

“…!”

The two words, ‘expecting a child’, made Richt’s heart sink like a stone.

Why did he always learn things about Isabelle a step too late? Whether it was about Diana, something related to Eden, and now about a child.

“Why didn’t you say anything!”

A curse he had held burst out. Mia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Lady Isabelle didn’t want you to know.”

Didn’t want you to know. Ha. Was she intending to deceive me for a lifetime?

Richt’s brow furrowed deeply.

“So that’s why Isabelle was so eager to get out of this house. Is she planning to give birth secretly?”

“I’m not entirely sure of her intentions, but I doubt she intends to keep it a secret. It’s presumptuous, but I think it will take time for things to go back to the way they were with you, My Lord.”

“…”

“My Lord, you may not realize it, but Lady Isabelle had loved you sincerely. She always waited for you…”

“…Isabelle waited for me?”

“Yes. All the time. And she was always lonely. She didn’t show it, but I could see it in her eyes.”

The paintings he saw in her studio that day when he went to Barsk to meet Diana flashed through Richt’s mind. Isabelle, waiting for her absent husband, creating art. Her figure, drawing and waiting, lingered like a haunting ghost.

After sending Mia away, Richt immersed himself in his thoughts.

He hadn’t intended to send Isabelle away, as she wished, but after hearing that she was expecting a child, he couldn’t let her live alone. He wanted to protect her, their child, but he didn’t have a good excuse to keep her.

He had never thought about a child, but perhaps this was a blessing. Maybe the child would be the link that would bring them back together.

That night, as Richt left his study and headed towards the bedroom, he crossed paths with Isabelle returning from a walk in the garden.

“The night air is cold after summer.”

“It’s not so cold. More importantly, when will you fulfill your promise?”

It was the same conversation again. Isabelle repeated the same demand like a parrot. She was determined to get out of this house and out of Richt’s life. The more she tried, the more he strengthened his resolve against her. He would never let her go.

“I didn’t have time.”

He wanted to ask her why she hadn’t told him she was pregnant, but he couldn’t pretend to know unless she told him first.

During their time in the Blanchette mansion, he had treated her carelessly, without cherishing her. Unless he dug up those memories and cut them out, Isabelle would never forget. And now, there was an unborn child in the equation.

She probably didn’t want to acknowledge him as the child’s father, and that realization pained him deeply.

“It’s not like you’re going to find out for yourself anyway.”

“If I’m busy, Fabian is busy.”

Richt discreetly observed Isabelle’s belly. Covered by clothes, it appeared flat, especially considering her naturally slim figure.

“Does anything bother you?”

“I’m just uncomfortable being in this house, and you said you’d do anything I wanted.”

“…Yes.”

“…”

“I will.”

“All I want is to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“Is there anything you want to say to me?”

He asked, clinging to a glimmer of hope.

“What do you mean?”

“Just anything.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

There was no sign of hesitation or reluctance on her. He had hoped she could confess first, but the answer that came back was cruel. Richt wondered if she had decided never to reveal it to him. With her refusing to open up, there was no room for him to intervene. It pained his chest.

“…Think about it again.”

I wanted a chance to be a good husband and a good father.

This time, he wanted her to tell him. That he was the father of her child. For the sake of the child.

“I won’t.”

Her voice became firmer. Not a shred of warmth remained in the blue eyes that met Richt’s.

“Is that so?”

The hope that, perhaps because of the child, she would accept him shattered into pieces. The woman who always accepted him was now unwilling to give him even the smallest opening. She hated him so much, the emotional mistakes he’d made hurt so much.

“All right.”

Richt muttered bitterly.