Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 3

It seems like the veil covering Berenice’s eyes has been lifted.

Far off, the mansion where Berenice was staying came into view. It was a temporary refuge, but coming back to a place like this still lifted her spirits.

“We’ve arrived, madam.”

“Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”

With a suitable greeting, the coachman showed a little kindness by charging less than the usual fare for her.

“Your complexion doesn’t look good. If you need to be taken to the hospital…”

“No, I’m fine.”

Berenice quickly declined, bid the coachman farewell, and entered through the front door.

As she sighed and took off her hat, Selphine approached with a solicitous air and helped her remove her coat.

“The matter that just happened…”

Berenice glanced at Selphine and shook her head. It had been a month and a half since she had separated from Livio, and Selphine was the only one she had brought out from Count Cornell’s estate.

They were now living alone in a nearby mansion owned by the Dante family.

“I need someone I can communicate with to have a conversation.”

Berenice said as if in exasperation. For a month and a half since Berenice informed Livio of the divorce, he had been summoning her with all sorts of excuses. And every time they met, he presented a new repertoire, and in the end…

“Our relationship is only bound by marriage? What about the promises between our families or the money? Berenice, think carefully. We were happy, weren’t we? It was just a little bump in the road.”

He repeated the same words like a parrot.

Trying to maintain a more dignified and solemn appearance, Berenice touched her carefully arranged hair and then sat down.

“Untie my hair from the top. It feels like my head is throbbing after meeting Cornell.”

“That’s because he’s someone who’s pointless to talk to. Madam, just a moment.”

Selphine gently removed the pins from Berenice’s hair so as not to startle her. Berenice began to speak slowly.

“Today he was applying a new theory. That all men are animals, and he succumbed to momentary desires. It was those women who tempted him.”

“Miss…”

Now Berenice had gone from being ‘madam’ back to ‘miss.’ Divorce may be rampant in the empire, but she had never dreamed it would become her story.

Berenice bit her lip and then let go.

“That’s called the fallacy of hasty generalization. Not every man succumbs to instinct and behaves like an animal. It was despicable of him to shift the blame onto others. It was hard to have to keep seeing that behavior.”

Berenice’s sigh grew deeper. Livio was dragging out their divorce. When she asked what he wanted…

‘Love!’

Berenice’s composure shattered at the excuse that all the disgusting and slimy behavior he had done stemmed from love.

‘Berenice, I love you. Those women, they were all… yeah, they tempted me, so I couldn’t help it! That’s why I did it; my love is only for you.’

Berenice realized how repulsive the word ‘love’ could be. She shuddered at the words he whispered with disgusting tears. And at the same time, she felt sad.

It felt like her love was being sold off cheaply by Livio.

“How long do I have to endure before we can settle this dispute…….”

“What does your lawyer say?”

“I’d like to get this over with, but they’re not giving me what I want, and I’m not willing to give them what they want. I thought we’d settle quickly since the blame lies with Cornell; he’d be at a disadvantage if it went to trial.”

Berenice tightly closed her eyes.

How can you be so pathetic until the end, you.

If it weren’t for the eyes of others, she would have torn Livio’s cheek and left.

How did she end up falling for such a man?

‘You need to have better judgment, Berenice. If you don’t want to do such stupid things again.’

Berenice pressed her throbbing temples.

***

But Berenice, who thought it would end there, had underestimated Livio too much. Livio was much more despicable and vile than she had thought. He always presented new unreasonable excuses whenever they met, and sometimes he even brought someone else along. One day, he went out, saying he would sign the divorce papers, and ended up meeting his parents and getting a verbal lashing.

“Are you trying to ruin my son’s life?”

Of course, Berenice immediately got up and poured water over Livio’s head. If she hadn’t done that, she wouldn’t have been able to sleep because of a fever.

Livio acted as if he had dedicated his life to tormenting Berenice.

Just like now.

Ding-dong–

Even before breakfast, the ringing doorbell began.

“Berenice.”

Behind Selphine, Bilter Dante appeared. He was her father.

“Father.”

Bilter spat out the cigar that had been in his mouth and greeted Berenice.

“How have you been, Berenice? Your father didn’t even know you had moved.”

Berenice greeted Bilter with a choked throat.

“By chance… How did you know about this place…?”

Awkwardly laughing, Bilter brushed off his coat and entered the foyer. His sharp eyes suggested he didn’t quite like the place.

In truth, it was modest compared to the grand mansions of the Dante or Cornell families.

“I’m staying here just for a while. I hastily found it, so I couldn’t prepare properly. Father, please come in.”

Bilter touched the cigar he had been fiddling with and wet his lips again. His troubled state was evident even from the way he was puffing on a cigar he had never smoked in front of Berenice.

Bilter and Berenice sat facing each other at the breakfast table. Selphine clumsily brought out Bilter’s share of dishes. Amidst heavy silence, Bilter spoke up.

“Livio suddenly came home last night. He says he doesn’t want a divorce. Is that true?”

Berenice gritted her teeth.

She hadn’t planned to inform her family until she had achieved a peaceful divorce, but it seemed Cornell had gone to her father and made a fuss.

“According to Livio, he doesn’t want a divorce. He says he loves you and asks for your help.”

“Father…”

Berenice’s lips trembled as she noticed Bilter’s wrinkled eyes, worn by time.

‘That despicable bastard!’

Dragging her father into this! Livio Cornel’s despicable acts were pushing her to the edge.

‘It seems I’ve been too kind all this time.’

It seemed ridiculous to have responded to Livio’s calls for a mutual divorce. Or perhaps he saw an opportunity to dig back into her.

“Father, I…”

“Just a moment.”

Bilter interrupted Berenice and picked up the cigar again.

“Whatever Livio said or whatever his position is, I am on your side, Berenice. I came here to tell you that.”

“…….”

“Berenice, on the day your mother died, I held her hand and promised. I promised to make you happy. But… it seems I fell short.”

Berenice bit her lip.

‘Livio Cornell, you son of a…’

Even if their fight turned into a mud fight, her father shouldn’t have been involved. Berenice shook her head with a bitter smile.

“No, Father. It was my lack of discernment. I’ll handle things with Cornell on my own. You don’t need to worry, Father.”

Bilter lightly smiled at Berenice’s words.

“Since you’re here, have breakfast with me, Father.”

While smiling gently on the surface, Berenice was forming a new plan. Regardless of what rumors spread in high society, she would quickly conclude this divorce and silence those who dared to speak ill of her!

***

Livio Cornell behaved even more despicably when Berenice showed no reaction.

As expected, he began spreading rumors about Berenice refusing to meet him, or that she was having an affair.

Even though she had been prepared for this, it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

How could I have ever loved such a person?

Seeing him made Berenice feel as though even her own worth was being belittled. Despite this, she continued with the divorce proceedings without flinching. Livio Cornell did everything in his power to find fault with Berenice and avoid paying compensation for the divorce.

“Berenice, do we really have to do this?”

Even at the brink of the courtroom, he still referred to them as ‘we.’

She wondered if he could be so confident in front of the judge. Berenice straightened her white coat. The elegant and extravagant hat she had carefully chosen added nobility to her today. Her snugly fitting blue sapphire earrings sparkled.

It was a graceful and glamorous appearance, as though she were attending a social gathering rather than a divorce court.

Livio glanced at Berenice discreetly.

Not only him, but everyone who had come to the courtroom for various reasons was looking at Berenice.