After Declaring Divorce, My Husband Became Lewd - CHAPTER 7_ Regrets Are Always Too Late (Part 6)

Time passed quickly. As the morning sickness from the pregnancy subsided, her belly grew round. However, there was no significant change in her relationship with Richt.

Occasionally, when they bumped into each other in the house, they exchanged trivial daily life conversations. Mostly, Richt was the one asking questions, and Isabelle responded briefly. Even if she reacted dismissively to end the conversation, he persistently changed the topic and led the conversation.

Mia diligently massaged Isabelle’s swollen legs and heavy shoulders every night, and Mrs. Mason showed remarkable culinary skills, preparing various dishes that catered to Isabelle’s taste. Isabelle ate well, slept comfortably, and went about her day without much worry, while the child grew safely in her belly.

That was the problem. The once slender belly had become unrecognizably round. Although she tried to wear loose-fitting clothes, whenever people’s gazes shifted toward her belly, her heart would pound anxiously.

Contrary to his promise to find her a home quickly, Richt kept delaying.

‘I’ve been too busy at work lately. I’ll look into it next week.’

‘There seems to be a problem with the funds. It might be difficult for a while.’

‘There’s a house I’ve been looking at about five kilometers away, but now that I think about it, it’s too close to me and I don’t think you’d like it. I’ll look again.’

‘I found a mansion with a garden you’d like, but unfortunately, a heinous crime occurred nearby. I guess we’ll have to look again.’

‘I saw a recently completed mansion near the Beltran Station, but there’s an issue with the plumbing. It might be difficult to move in right away.’

One after another, each excuse was ridiculous. Each time he was pressed, Richt would slip away like a mirage, never letting Isabelle go. She was a fool for believing him when he promised to give her a place of her own and help her become independent.

She gritted her teeth and waited, once, twice, to see what would happen, watched him avoid the issue repeatedly, and before she knew it, months had passed. She couldn’t believe how much time had passed. It was now the winter season.

If it continued like this, she wouldn’t be able to escape from Richt until the time of childbirth. Isabelle was going to make a decision today. She went to his bedroom, dreading Richt’s return.

The servant, who was tending to the fireplace in time with the master’s return, hastily retreated upon seeing Isabelle.

Isabelle was going to make a decision today. She went to his bedroom, dreading Richt’s return.

“What about your promise?”

Despite facing her sharp remark, Richt spoke with a composed face. He didn’t even bother trying to make his lie sound plausible anymore. His face remained unchanged.

“Was this your plan all along?”

“Just give up and stay here.”

Only now did he reveal his true intentions. His nonchalant expression was infuriating Isabelle, and her fist shook at the fact that she had been deceived.

“This is a favor, Isabelle.”

Isabelle picked up a pillow from the bed and threw it at Richt, who was still undressing. The fluffy bundle hit him square in the face and landed at his feet. His gaze darted to the floor and then stopped on Isabelle.

“With something like this, you can’t cause any wounds.”

He picked up the pillow from the floor, set it back in place, and approached Isabelle. Grabbing her shoulders and slightly lowering his gaze, he looked straight into her face.

“I’ve told you before. I’d rather you hit me.”

Isabelle suppressed a smile.

“No, not now, but later. Can’t afford you to have any injuries right now.”

Isabelle slapped Richt’s hand away from her body. He withdrew without much resistance.

“You think I can’t go if you don’t let me?”

“You can’t go.”

She hated the coercive tone of his voice. Yes, this was the kind of man he was. The kind of man who needed everything to be done according to his will. She’d forgotten for a moment that he was a master at pretending to care, at pretending to help, at changing his face while harboring other ulterior motives.

“Who says?”

She responded challengingly. Richt seemed to have expected this level of defiance as he firmly stated.

“I won’t let you go.”

“Don’t treat me like I’m your possession. I’m leaving.”

“I can’t allow that. Please, Isabelle.”

Isabelle turned on her heel and walked out. Richt followed right behind her.

He was worried that she would grab her luggage and runoff in the middle of the night. He was nervous because she had acted rashly when she went to Blanchette’s. It was winter outside.

Richt caught Isabelle’s arm as she ascended the stairs.

“Isabelle.”

“Let go of me!”

“Let’s talk.”

“I have nothing more to say to you.”

Isabelle, angered, tried to shake off Richt’s grip.

“I’m going to fall. Stop it.”

“I don’t care. Leave me alone.”

In her anger, Isabelle stretched out her arm to shove Richt away. For a moment, she forgot how heavy her body had become, and instead of pushing him, she swayed. Richt quickly caught her back. Thankfully, she didn’t fall, but they were too close, and her protruding belly might have been exposed.

“Damn it, that could have been dangerous.”

“I told you not to touch me!”

Isabelle shouted loudly, creating distance between them.

“I didn’t touch you, I saved you from a bad fall.”

“Falling doesn’t mean I’ll die.”

“What if you get hurt?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It was dangerous.”

Isabelle wondered why he was being so overprotective when it wasn’t a big deal, and his gaze briefly landed on her stomach. A shiver of foreboding ran down her spine.

“You, don’t tell me…”

Isabelle took a step back. Only Mia knew about her pregnancy. She had secretly arranged for a doctor, and she had hidden any visible physical signs as much as possible. It felt strange that Richt sensed something.

“…Did you know?”

“Know what?”

The look on his face made Isabelle realize that he already knew everything.

All that talk about helping her get on her feet was hypocrisy, a ploy to use the child in her belly as an excuse to hold on to her.

How long had he known?

Anger surged through her as she thought about the idea of him knowing everything, playing with her in the palm of his hand.

“Since when? No, how?”

“So what?”

All her anxious thoughts from before made her legs weakened.