Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 5

Serena replied that she would come to the restaurant at the time Berenice had set. Berenice had her hair done up and wore a veiled hat.

People’s gazes were tiring.

But Berenice’s innate elegance and beauty, as she stepped out of the carriage, could not be hidden, and people’s gazes were drawn to her.

“Lady Dante.”

“How could you look even more beautiful? You must be going through a tough time.”

“That’s right. It’s not a tough time for Lady Dante, after all, is it?”

Berenice bit her lip.

She had grown hateful of the name Livio Cornell by now. To think that Livio had trampled on Berenice’s honor. If only she could undo her marriage with Livio, she would be willing to spend any amount of gold coins.

Berenice walked into the restaurant with elegant but quick steps.

“Lady Dante.”

“I made a reservation under my name.”

“Please wait a moment.”

While the waiter who came to greet her was looking for the key, another guest arrived.

“Roberto Cyrilov. There should be a reserved room.”

His voice was so low that it sent shivers down one’s spine. Berenice slowly turned her head. Cyrilov was a name she had heard of before. They were a family that had been prominent in the capital’s social circles for a while.

Sensing Berenice’s gaze, Roberto glanced at her.

With a puzzled look, he looked at her for a moment before nodding in greeting.

‘Ah…’

Realizing that she had stared too obviously, Berenice quickly averted her gaze.

But compared to the rumors, how should I put it.

‘He looks like a gentleman.’

The Cyrilov family, which had always been shrouded in secrecy, had gained attention due to a series of tragedies that had befallen their family. The head of the family, his wife, and even their daughter had all died. Except for one person, Roberto.

“They say he’s cursed. That man devoured the whole family.”

“Unbelievable. Who would want to marry into that house?”

“Let me tell you. That grand duchy seems like it’s about to collapse, it seems.”

Berenice also heard various rumors as she passed by. That man is the main character of the rumor that people are whispering about. It was contradictory to think of him as the victim of a curse, with his smooth face and fierce edge hiding gentle eyes.

“Let me guide you first, my lady.”

Berenice took a step, following the waiter. The moment she brushed past him, a strong fragrance pierced her nostrils.

Berenice unconsciously turned her head. Roberto and Berenice’s eyes met again. It was a deep and delicate gaze.

Berenice naturally turned her head forward again.

It wasn’t perfume.

It was a heavy yet comforting scent. Somehow, it made her feel excited.

That feeling remained with Berenice until she entered the room she had reserved.

“No one has arrived yet.”

“I see.”

Berenice opened the door and stepped into the room.

At that moment, she felt strangely ominous. Had she come to the wrong place?

She had only come to talk to Serena. Her heart was pounding anxiously, and her head was throbbing.

‘Maybe it’s because of the hat.’

Berenice took off her hat and placed it on the table.

The fragrance from the flowers adorning the table filled the room. It even irritated her nerves.

“That’s strange.”

Berenice awkwardly smiled and took a sip of water. Even the taste of water seemed odd.

Thump, thump—

She heard the footsteps following the waiter. Berenice tensed up all over.

‘Would Serena’s footsteps be that heavy?’

That couldn’t be.

It was the moment Berenice’s anxiety was about to become reality.

Berenice stood up abruptly and grabbed her belongings. Her stiff expression reflected her feelings.

She should have been suspicious from the beginning when Serena requested advice on her worries.

The proud Serena wouldn’t even confide in Berenice!

It was clear that she must’ve thought she was in a vulnerable state considering her situation. Berenice put her hat back on and hurried out from in front of the table.

‘Livio Cornell!’

As Berenice turned the handle to open the door, the other person opened it first.

As expected, Livio’s smooth face appeared. She could see every detail, like the gentle smile he gave to the waiter as he thanked and tipped him.

Livio remained the same.

No matter how tough things got, even if his family was in financial trouble, he was a man who would still offer a tip with a smile.

She used to think that was a sign of grace and generosity.

But seeing it from the sidelines, she realized it was just a vain and empty facade.

Livio closed the door with a thud.

There was a victorious smile on his face as she looked back at Berenice.

“So this is how I could meet you, Berenice.”

“…… What are you doing, Mr. Cornell? This is incredibly rude.”

“Rude? I just wanted to see my wife. No one will think that’s strange.”

Talking face-to-face in front of a truly daunting wall probably wouldn’t be this frustrating.

Berenice slammed the table with her gloved hands.

Bang!

The tableware trembled.

“Berenice, stop this and let’s talk…”

“I have nothing more to discuss with Mr. Cornell. And who is your wife? I have no connection with Mr. Cornell anymore.”

Berenice glared at Livio with a cold gaze.

“Don’t ever summon me like this again, Mr. Cornell. I won’t go along with it next time.”

Just as Berenice was about to open the door and leave, Livio forcefully grabbed her wrist.

“Eek!”

“Can’t we have a talk?”

Berenice’s lips trembled with anger.

Does Livio not realize that his approach to conversation is inappropriate from the start?

Berenice forcefully pulled her wrist away. With a pale face, she spoke in a cold voice as she brushed her wrist.

“What exactly do you want to talk about, Mr. Cornell?”

Berenice’s hand trembled.

It seemed like she would come across as overbearing if she tried to leave the room, so Berenice sat across from Livio. He smirked as if he had expected that.

‘Ugh. I don’t want to see you.’

The sight of him eating, or rather, just sitting there, seemed unpleasant. 

“Well, our relationship isn’t over yet. It’s not really going to end like this. We lived together for three years, after all.”

“That’s enough time to get to know each other. I’ve seen Mr. Cornel’s worst, and Mr. Cornel has seen mine. I think there’s nothing more to talk about. Especially not in such a petty and coercive way.”

“Since you won’t hear from me, I have no other choice.”

“Why are you really doing this?”

Livio smirked, as if to ask how could she still not understand.

“Because I love you. I still love you.”

Ha. 

The word ‘love’ made her gag. Berenice drank water noisily. This was a sight of her throwing away all the noble demeanor of a noble maiden.

Thud!

The remaining water in the glass Berenice put down made a sound.

“Mr. Cornell’s emotions are Mr. Cornell’s responsibility. I have no remaining emotions. If that’s the case, we have no reason to continue this conversation, right?”

“Why are you being so difficult? We once had a connection; shouldn’t that be enough reason not to let it happen again? Think positively, Berenice. It’ll even help your reputation.”

“I think for yourself. Why would Mr. Cornell bother thinking about me? We have no connection whatsoever.”

“Why are you so mean? Were you always this kind of woman?”

Why does she make it so frustrating?

Berenice couldn’t understand Livio’s nonsense. It wasn’t that she had been this kind of woman; it was Livio who had made her like this.

Berenice was still Berenice.

“Why can’t you understand that I hate you, Mr. Cornell?”

“You don’t mean to say such hurtful things. Or else I’ll get angry, understand?”

“Have you not realized that I’ve been angry for a long time? I don’t like you, I don’t want to see you, and yet you keep doing this!”

Berenice shouted in frustration.

It was a wonder that the normally calm woman was pushed this far. Berenice was experiencing how petty a person could become because of Cornel.

“I’m sorry. It was really a mistake. The one I love is only you. Please believe me just one more time.”

“People don’t usually call that a mistake. They call it cheating. Mr. Cornell destroyed the trust between you and me. It was none other than you, yourself, Mr. Cornell.”

“I’m sorry. It was a one-time thing. Can’t you forgive me at least once?”

“Once? Was it really just once? The countless women Mr. Cornell has met will probably scoff at that.”

Berenice had also become the subject of their laughter due to her ignorance. It was Livio, nothing less, who had made the brilliant lady of House Dante, Berenice, like this.

Still shaking with the feeling of betrayal.

Livio had destroyed everything that Berenice had built up. So how could she forgive him so easily?   

It’s really annoying, but even if Livio’s love wasn’t real, Berenice’s was. She fell for Livio at first sight and even begged for marriage. And he’s been acting like an asshole, taking advantage of his beloved’s emotional dominance.

Until now.

What Berenice had been suppressing and enduring was her lingering love.

“I’ll do better from now on, Berenice.”

Do that again?

She would rather drink poison and die than do that. Berenice said with a bitter smile.   

“From now on, Mr. Cornell doesn’t get second chances.”