Chapter 14

Catherine couldn’t easily answer Countess Bedwig’s question.

Her mind was in turmoil from Hugo’s sudden appearance and his subsequent statements.

Why had he appeared here, and why had he chosen to participate in my lie?

Her head was spinning. Hugo gently shook Catherine’s shoulder.

Catherine’s eyes became clear as if waking from sleep.

“What?”

“I asked if you are really dating Viscount Edward.”

Catherine looked at Hugo.

‘If I say no here…’

Countess Bedwig would laugh at her, saying she expected as much.

Then she would drag Catherine back to the ballroom, announcing that she would marry Rael.

No matter how much Catherine insisted she had another man, Countess Bedwig wouldn’t believe her.

‘And then what about Hugo?’

Countess Bedwig would gossip, saying Hugo was harassing Catherine.

There was no chance Countess Bedwig would think well of Hugo.

‘Unless Rael were out of the picture.’

Countess Bedwig had found a better target than Hugo.

‘So should I say I’m dating Hugo?’

That didn’t sit well with her either. She didn’t mind if it ruined her own marriage prospects.

But Hugo…

“Catherine, it’s okay.”

He gently wrapped his arm around Catherine’s shoulder and whispered softly.

Hugo knew exactly what Catherine was worried about.

He hoped Catherine would quickly confirm that he was the man she had mentioned, but the name ‘Hugo’ didn’t come out of her mouth easily.

“Catherine.”

Countess Bedwig’s lips twisted into a smirk. She correctly interpreted Catherine’s hesitation.

“You’re a terrible actress. Viscount Edward, I don’t know why you’re interfering between mother and daughter, but your actions are not helping Catherine. Are you going to ruin her future?”

‘You’re the one ruining my future! No, you’re dumping crap all over it.’

Catherine worried that the crap Countess Bedwig was dumping on her would splash onto Hugo.

‘No matter how desperate, I shouldn’t drag Hugo into this.’

Catherine decided to tell the truth.

She was the one who had to endure Countess Bedwig.

She had planned to get Hugo out of this and then deal with Countess Bedwig calmly, but clearly, that wasn’t going to happen.

“In the past and even now, you’re so useless.”

At Countess Bedwig’s final words, Catherine’s reason snapped.

Who had taken advantage of that ‘useless’ person?

Catherine couldn’t hold back and was about to retort, but Countess Bedwig was quicker.

“Catherine, stop pretending. You and Viscount Edward? With your proper education and upbringing, would you really be satisfied with Viscount Edward? You need someone on your level. Isn’t that why you divorced after just a few days?”

First, she belittled her as a bastard, now she’s treating her like a noble lady raised with the best education.

Catherine couldn’t stand Countess Bedwig’s disdain for Hugo.

She clenched her hand. Hugo also tightened his grip on her hand in response.

‘Finally, we’re on the same page.’

Hugo laughed inwardly.

The common enemy was right in front of them.

Catherine found the courage to fight.

Barely managing to control her trembling emotions, Catherine focused solely on getting back at Countess Bedwig.

‘Did you think I would live as you wished?’

Never.

“Hugo.”

Catherine pulled Hugo’s hand. He obediently followed like a puppy on a leash.

Facing him, Catherine placed her hand on Hugo’s cheek.

‘Hugo isn’t good enough for me?’

That’s impossible.

This incredibly handsome man had sacrificed his entire life for her.

“I told you to wait inside. Why did you come out in the cold?”

It was a face she had longed to see.

She had avoided him until now, but finally, she faced him.

And she removed the indifferent veil from her eyes.

Hugo’s eyes, receiving her warm gaze, filled with excitement and trembled.

‘Her acting is top-notch.’

If she hadn’t known that it was Countess Bedwig who had driven him to the battlefield for ten years, if she had forgotten that he had rejected her final plea, Catherine would have believed Hugo had just fallen in love with her.

“What are you doing!”

Countess Bedwig shouted sharply.

She reached out her hand irritably, trying to pull Catherine’s hand away.

But Countess Bedwig’s hand never touched Catherine.

Without even looking at her, Hugo extended his large hand and swatted away Countess Bedwig’s hand.

“Ouch!”

Countess Bedwig clutched her wrist and fell to the ground.

Regardless, Catherine and Hugo only looked at each other as if they were the only two people in the world.

Countess Bedwig’s insides boiled like lava.

‘Them getting back together? That can’t happen!’

Hugo might have been a suitable match for Catherine four years ago, but not now.

Back then, he was poor but naive and easy to exploit. Now, even his gaze was different from four years ago.

When Hugo smiled and greeted her earlier, Countess Bedwig sensed something unusual.

He was no longer the man who laughed foolishly while handing over his meager dowry.

Countess Bedwig’s intuition was usually spot on.

Moreover, there was now a much better match than Hugo.

From Countess Bedwig’s perspective, at least.

‘Rael, how grateful he was to take that deficient child.’

The money promised by Rael’s family made the monthly allowance Hugo had sent look like a scrap of paper.

‘And it’s not just a one-time payment.’

Since Rael was a lacking child, she could use that to extort more money.

‘Giving up such a good match for Hugo? Absolutely not!’

Countess Bedwig’s eyes turned red with anger.

“Catherine, come here at once! Don’t forget why you divorced Viscount Edward. Divorce is not child’s play, and getting back together is out of the question. Don’t say such ridiculous things!”

“Why is it out of the question?”

Catherine looked away from Hugo and down at Countess Bedwig.

“A broken vessel remains broken even if you try to mend it. You seem to be under some delusion, Catherine. Think about why you divorced Hugo.”

Remembering the reason would only make it harder to let him go.

Because it was a divorce out of love.

Countess Bedwig, unaware of this, kept urging Catherine to think about the reason for the divorce, which reflexively brought back memories, leading Catherine to hug Hugo tightly.

There was no need to waste time with a pointless argument.

She needed to settle the situation quickly and talk to Hugo.

Countess Bedwig was so shocked she fell on her backside.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t see this!”

She covered her eyes as if she had seen something disgusting. Then she hurriedly got up and disappeared.

Finally, it was quiet.

But Catherine’s mind was in turmoil.

She felt good having dealt with Countess Bedwig, but her head throbbed thinking about how to handle the aftermath.

Catherine stepped back, trying to distance herself from Hugo.

But Hugo didn’t let her go.

“Hugo…”

The more she tried to pull away, the tighter his arm around her back became.

Was he still acting?

“Hugo, Countess Bedwig is gone.”

She told him to let go, as there was no one left to see.

“Oh? Really?”

Hugo acted as if he genuinely didn’t know, only releasing his grip after she repeatedly asked him to let go.

“Were you surprised when I suddenly hugged you?”

Catherine thought Hugo was so surprised by her actions that he hadn’t noticed Countess Bedwig leaving.

As she stepped back, Catherine apologized.

“I’m sorry, Hugo. I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”

“No, I was the one who stepped in.”

Hugo said he should be the one to apologize instead.

“You don’t have someone you’re seeing, do you?”

Hugo asked cautiously.

“No.”

Catherine answered with a faint smile. 

Should I have made up a fake lover for situations like this?

“That’s a relief.”

Hugo visibly relaxed.

A relief? That I didn’t have a lover? Why?

Unable to understand Hugo’s feelings, Catherine remained silent for a moment before speaking.

“I’ll visit Countess Bedwig tomorrow and set things right, Hugo.”

It would be best to clear up the misunderstanding immediately, but doing so would mean she would be introduced to Rael without a doubt.

Catherine didn’t like Countess Bedwig, but she acknowledged her determination.

‘I’ll go and explain tomorrow.’

Would I be doused with tea?

As she was thinking this.

“There’s no need for that.”

Hugo grabbed Catherine’s elbow.