After Declaring Divorce, My Husband Became Lewd

Mia and Isabelle’s relationship was not like any other maid and lady, Mia indeed knew a lot about Isabelle. Sometimes, she’d be the first to recognize a mood or emotion that Isabelle didn’t even know she had, and she’d do things to make Isabelle realize it.

However, this time, Mia was wrong. This time, Mia had made a mistake. Isabelle felt an oddly unjustified emotion.

“Are you sure you want to get a divorce?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re determined, you could have moved out of this house anytime. Is it really because the Duke didn’t find you a house yet?”

It was indeed because of Richt.

“If we find a way, you can leave this place whenever you want. It may be difficult to live luxuriously, but with determination, you can live on your own.”

“I’m waiting for his help for the sake of the child.”

“So, would you be okay with the Duke seeing another woman afterward, treating it like it was no big deal?”

Today, Mia was truly strange.

Why is she saying such things? No, it’s not true.

Words of denial rose in her throat, but Isabelle couldn’t utter a single word. She hadn’t lost her ability to speak, so why couldn’t she refute Mia’s words? A barrage of questions assaulted her mind, each one unsettling her heart. Mia, whom she had been with for so long, was, for the first time, cruel.

“When the Duke returns home, you act as if you don’t care and look out over the garden.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“If he doesn’t come in, you ask the housekeeper for news about the Duke.”

“That’s…”

“You sometimes linger around the Duke’s bedroom until late at night.”

Before Isabelle could explain anything, Mia continued her words.

“When you talk to me about this and that, among them, about half of it is about the Duke. Even if it’s not good news.”

“…….”

“You were on your way down to check on the Duke’s room earlier, weren’t you?”

The color drained from Isabelle’s face in an instant. It was as if she’d been hit in the head. The shock of the blow to the crown of her head radiates down her spine, making her body tingle. Her neck and shoulders stiffened, the corners of her mouth froze, and it took her a moment before she could speak.

“Stop it!”

Isabelle managed to utter the words. Her voice trembled slightly, even though she hadn’t meant to.

“This behavior is out of line.”

“I didn’t bring up the topic to make you uncomfortable. I just want you to be happy. That’s all.”

“Enough.”

While she understood that Mia’s words were sincere, Isabelle didn’t want to hear more. She passed by Mia and went outside. Her chest felt heavy.

She crossed the garden and left the mansion, starting to walk aimlessly. The wind penetrated through her nose and into her lungs. Whether it was because of the cold air or the pent-up emotions, breathing became difficult.

Wanting to calm the noisy thoughts inside, Isabelle increased her pace. Her movement across the blackness quickened. After what seemed like an eternity, she came to a halt, clutching the hem of her robe close to her chest, and took a deep breath.

It couldn’t be true. Mia’s words couldn’t be true. It was absurd. How could I still love him? That was irrational.

Unless she wasn’t a fool. The way he treated Isabelle was ridiculous. Shaking her head in denial, a bitter laughter escaped her lips.

Isabelle mentally listed Richt’s shortcomings. He was always indifferent, never showed affection, suspicious without reason, and never trusted her as a wife.

He had deceived her, left her with scars that would never heal, and destroyed her love for him. Selfish, arrogant, narrow-minded, controlling, obsessed……. The reasons seemed endless.

Love him? Still? That’s impossible.

Mia’s words were wrong. It didn’t make sense that she could still feel the same way about a man like that. It’s stupid to even think about it.

I can’t love him. I can’t. Never.

I don’t love him.

Isabelle repeated these words like a prayer, pushing away the thoughts that gnawed at her heart and shook her head.

Lost in her thoughts, Isabelle realized she had wandered too far. She turned around, and a gust of wind hit her face, blowing the hem of her dress and her hair back.

As she craned her neck against the bitter winter wind, something white flew into her face. A snowflake landed on her cheek and quickly melted away. She looked up. Snow was falling from the sky. Suddenly, a memory rushed back.

‘If there’s anything you want, let me know.’

‘No, I don’t. I’d rather…….’

‘What is it?’

‘Will you be busy this month too?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Will you be free in the winter?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘I see, I understand.’

‘Tell me, what is it?’

‘I just want to be with you around the time of the first snowfall. Is that too romantic?’

‘It sounds sentimental.’

‘You don’t like that?’

‘When the time comes, we can enjoy the first snow together.’

‘Really? That’s a promise.’

‘But when do you think the first snowfall will be?’

‘I don’t know.’

These memories came back to Isabelle like a flood, memories of a time when things were different.

Because they don’t know when it will be. Since they didn’t know, she repeatedly told him to come back often. It wasn’t about the first snow itself.

Another reason why she couldn’t love Richt anymore came to mind. He never kept his promises.

‘I love you.’

And then he casually confesses his love.

…Such a man.

But then, a tear slid down her cheek.

Isabelle hastily wiped them away with the back of her hand. There was no reason to cry. She shouldn’t have cried. She shouldn’t show any sign of being affected. Her heart shouldn’t feel squeezed.

I don’t love him.

Repeating these words like a mantra, Isabelle retraced her steps. Each step felt heavy. It was as if the ground crumbled beneath her feet, and her knees began to tremble. The snowfall intensified, and countless snowflakes settled on the tips of her shoes.

It was the first snow of this winter.