My Ex-Husband is My Neighbor - Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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โHugo.โ
Since their eyes met, Catherine had no choice but to acknowledge him.
At her softly spoken call, Hugoโs lips parted. His eyelids blinked rapidly.
His eyes, revealed in the process, were dazed and then became clear.
Only after seeing him did Catherine realize.
โI really missed him.โ
She thought she had forgotten everything, but that wasnโt the case. She had merely buried her feelings for a while.
However, Catherine wasnโt someone who would shamelessly reveal such immature emotions on her face.
She approached Hugo, putting on a composed expression.
Hugoโs face, which she saw for the first time in years, was gaunt. His jawline was sharper, making him look more sensitive.
โHe must have had a hard time on the battlefield.โ
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Hugo left for the battlefield immediately after their divorce.
Catherine knew how he had struggled and endured on the battlefield.
And wanting to help him even a little, she had pretended to be an unknown benefactor through letters.
Thanks to her, a war that would have lasted eight years was reduced to four, and Hugo achieved great feats.
Ironically, the reason Catherine could help Hugo was because she had been lonely in her past life.
Hugo had entrusted none of the estateโs affairs to Catherine, and with plenty of time on her hands, she had immersed herself in all sorts of books, newspapers, and information sheets from various places.
She learned a lot about the war from newspapers that detailed it quite thoroughly and from books published by scholars after the war ended.
It was one of the things Catherine was most proud of after her return in time.
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โItโs been a while, Catherine.โ
His hoarse voice was dripping with fatigue. The awkwardness of not seeing each other for four years dissipated surprisingly quickly.
โItโs been a while, Hugo.โ
โYou seem to have been doing well.โ
Hugo said, sweeping his hair back. His tone, dripping with resentment, startled Catherine.
Before her return in time, Hugo was a man who didnโt know how to express his emotions. He always hid his true feelings and showed Catherine only the minimum.
Catherine was a bit confused by the unexpected display of his emotions.
Hugo took a step closer to her. A dark shadow fell over her head.
When he stood before her, Catherineโs eyes were filled with him. It wasnโt just because of his large frame.
To Catherine, his presence was simply that overwhelming.
โIโm glad to see youโre doing well.โ
His tone genuinely sounded relieved, yet the lingering resentment confused Catherine about his true feelings.
Anyway, it was now her turn to speak.
โI heard you had a hard time in the war. Iโm glad you returned safely.โ
โAre you really glad?โ
โYes. Truly.โ
She had spent several sleepless nights worrying after hearing he went to the battlefield.
She spared no expense to get war news faster than the military officials.
But Hugo wouldnโt know that.
โYouโre glad I returned?โ
Hugo murmured to himself. His lips twitched. Catherine, thinking she might have misspoken, changed the subject.
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Talking about the four years they had been apart might spill out her feelings of missing him.
โMore importantly, what brings you to the capital? You didnโt like living here.โ
She recalled the day she first met Hugo.
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Hugo had stepped into the capitalโs social scene to find a marriage partner.
Unlike other noblemen who started looking for brides as soon as they came of age, he entered the social scene at twenty-two, a bit late.
It was because of money. Hugo didnโt have the funds to cover the living expenses of the capitalโs social season.
When he finally managed to gather enough for one season, he was twenty-two and thus was able to witness Catherineโs debutante.
Catherine remembered the first time she saw Hugo.
He was wandering around, unable to blend in with the people dancing.
His outdated, rustic attire contrasted with his excessively handsome face, and his stiff but polite demeanor caught Catherineโs eye.
โThatโs why I approached him first.โ
He seemed like he would just stand there all night, blending in with the pillar, so Catherine approached him out of curiosity.
At first, it was curiosity.
Even though she hovered around, he didnโt speak, so Catherine made a clumsy attempt.
The second time, it was out of stubbornness.
- Is the lemonade good?
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Catherine chuckled.
โCatherine?โ
Hugo called her, pulling her out of her reverie. Catherine looked at him, snapping out of her thoughts.
โSorry, I was lost in thought for a moment.โ
โAh, Iโm not good at conversations, am I?โ
Hugo blamed himself for something odd.
โAbout living in the capital, I donโt dislike it.โ
He continued.
โReally?โ
It was unexpected. But Catherine quickly accepted it.
Four years was enough time to change a personโs preferences.
After wandering through desolate battlefields, one might long for the glittering social scene of the capital.
โWait, does that mean Hugo will participate in social events?โ
Catherineโs heart sank.
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The primary purpose of the capitalโs social events at this time was one.
Finding a partner.
Noblewomen attended parties to find matches for their children, and young men and women attended to find their own matches.
For an unmarried man to get a house in the capital during the social season meant he intended to attend social events, which implied he was looking for a partner.
Especially for someone like Hugo, who had no interest in central politics, staying in the capital during the social season could mean only one thing.
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Catherineโs heart pounded. She couldnโt calm down.
Even though she had resolved to let Hugo go, thinking of him standing next to another woman made her heart ache.
โSince weโre neighbors now, I look forward to your kind cooperation, Catherine.โ
Hugo extended his hand, oblivious to Catherineโs feelings.
His low but soft voice was the same as ever. It was a captivating voice that grabbed her attention even from afar, making Catherine lift her head.
To hide her agitation, Catherine clenched her fists tightly.
She barely suppressed the question of why he had moved next door.
โIโve taken too much of your time when you need to move in. Iโll be going now.โ
Catherine hurriedly greeted him and started to pass by, ignoring his outstretched hand.
โYou left something at the estate.โ
Hugo stopped her.
Her wrist, briefly caught and released, felt hot. Catherine held her hot wrist and asked.
โSomething?โ
She had hurriedly married and then divorced, so there shouldnโt have been anything left behind.
Hugo searched through his coat.
He took out a small teaspoon, which seemed out of place in his large hand.
Hugo held out a gold teaspoon with a rose-shaped handle to Catherine.
โThis is something you left behind. It wasnโt mine, so I couldnโt just throw it away.โ
He had kept a trivial teaspoon for four years?
And didnโt that teaspoon just come out of his jacket pocket?
Though she couldnโt pinpoint it, his actions felt suspicious.
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When Catherine hesitated, Hugo took her hand.
The natural touch made Catherine look up at him.
He spread her hand open and placed the teaspoon on it.
โSee you next time, Catherine.โ
Hugo smiled. It was a bittersweet smile that pricked Catherineโs heart.
โHughโฆโฆโ
Hugo turned around, leaving Catherine, who was about to ask about his well-being.
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Hugo walked towards his house, Catherineโs next-door neighbor, without any hesitation, as if he had only intended to return the item from the beginning.
Catherine alternated between looking at his broad back and the teaspoon, then closed her mouth.
The teaspoon was warm.
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***
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Hugo entered his still-unorganized study. He slumped into a high-backed chair and leaned his head back.
โIโm coming in.โ
Despite wanting to rest, an uninvited guest appeared. It was John, his aide who had grown up with him since childhood.
โDid you meet her?โ
John asked, observing Hugoโs darkened face.
โYes. I met Catherine.โ
โWhat did you think of seeing her again?โ
Hugo opened his eyes and turned his head back to its original position. He looked directly at John.
โIt was nice.โ
Seeing his softened expression, John clicked his tongue.
โWhat good is liking her? Sheโs the ex-wife who demanded a divorce right after marriage!โ
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John didnโt like Catherine.
He had witnessed Hugoโs determination and struggles because of her.
Even putting aside his attachment to Hugo and their friendship, Catherine was a bad person.
She seduced Hugo into marriage and demanded a divorce after their first night together.
There was no justifiable reason or cause.
And she had the audacity to ask for her dowry back.
At that time, the dowry from the Bedwig family was meager, but Catherine acted as if it was a substantial amount.
Hugo had given her more money than the dowry he received.
It wouldnโt be an exaggeration to say he gave away the entire wealth of a viscountโs family. He even incurred debts on top of that.
โYou still donโt know? The dowryโฆโฆโ
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