My Ex-Husband is My Neighbor - Chapter 8
Chapter 8
ย
โLillie, wait a moment.โ
Catherine detached herself from Lillie, who was clinging to her.
โCatherine! I really missed you. We debuted in society together. Iโve spent several social seasons without you, and it was so boring. Weโre going to parties together this year, right?โ
Lillie acted as if she and Catherine were the best of friends.
โLillie, there are other people around.โ
When Catherine forcibly pushed Lillie away, a fine crack appeared on Lillieโs face.
โ…Catherine, whatโs wrong?โ
When Catherine drew a line, Lillie hesitated and asked cautiously. Her dejected appearance, like a rabbit caught in the rain, made the people around them flinch.
โAm I becoming the villain?โ
Lillie grabbed Catherineโs hand. Her soft hand patted the back of Catherineโs hand.
A similar thing had happened in the past.
Even without doing anything special, Lillie would become the victim, and Catherine the perpetrator.
โIs it because I didnโt come to see you when you were having a hard time? Iโm sorry. I wanted to meet you, but my father kept preventing me…โ
If they were true friends, Lillie should have come to see Catherine when she was struggling after settling in the capital post-divorce.
Even if Lillie had come, Catherine wouldnโt have welcomed her.
Anyway, given Lillieโs current attitude, she should have come. But Lillie didnโt.
She missed the timing.
Still, Catherine didnโt feel any resentment. She had forgotten about her. Looking back, she felt happier not having met her.
โWhy are you coming now to stir up my emotions?โ
ย
Catherine felt uncomfortable with the situation flowing against her will. Especially with so many eyes watching.
Catherine forced a smile.
She didnโt want to unintentionally become the perpetrator or the villain.
โLillie, Iโm glad to see you too. Itโs nice to chat as friends, but there are guests here. Letโs talk later.โ
Catherine turned her body before Lillie could respond.
She felt Lillieโs glances but ignored them.
Catherine looked at Riena and Brooke, and the two, who made eye contact with her, smiled brightly.
โIt is an honor to move into the Catherine House, Lady Catherine.โ
Seeing the many pairs of eyes filled with infinite trust, Catherine felt much more at ease.
โThis is business. Donโt be swayed by Lillie. Treat her as a business partner.โ
Catherine was confident in maintaining distance as a business partner.
ย
***
ย
Catherine sat in the study, pressing her temples to overcome a heavy headache.
Ever since finishing the explanation of the house rules and guiding the new residents to their rooms, Lillieโs persistent gaze had constantly followed Catherine.
Whenever there was a brief moment, Lillie would fidget and try to talk.
Naturally, Catherine pretended to respect her but ignored her.
The phrase โlaterโ was a magical word that made Lillie quiet.
ย
After forcibly detaching herself from Lillie and coming to the study, Catherine still didnโt feel at ease.
โWas I being narrow-minded?โ
Lillie would only have good memories with Catherine this time, so it seemed like she was at fault.
However, it was hard to be comfortable with Lillie, who came and said she would marry โEdwardโ right away.
โI need some time.โ
ย
Catherine recalled the time she decided to let Lillie move in.
โI decided to complete the pendant by matching difficult loves.โ
She intended to find a match for Lillie other than Hugo.
โBut itโs Hugo again.โ
Moreover, Hugo had even moved next door.
Catherineโs mind was complicated.
At times like this, the best thing to do was to think quietly while walking.
Catherine stood up and grabbed her coat.
โWhere are you going, Madam?โ
โJust for a walk.โ
โWait a moment, Iโll prepare quickly.โ
Catherine stopped Yuri, who was hastily preparing for an outing.
โItโs fine. Iโll just go out for a moment.โ
โBut you shouldnโt go alone, itโs dangerous.โ
โThe world is safe for a divorcee like me.โ
Yuri made a sad face.
โIโm joking, Yuri. Iโm really just going out for a moment. I have something to think about.โ
Catherine comforted Yuri and went for a walk alone. Or rather, she tried to.
โTrying to clear my head and then the real thing appears.โ
If only that man hadnโt been in front of the door.
The man who still unsettled her, the one she was trying to clear from her mind, had come to find her.
What kind of trick is this?
ย
โWhere are you going, Catherine?โ
Hugo, dressed handsomely, was at the front door.
โWhat brings you here?โ
Having met Lillie and feeling sensitive, Catherine retorted sharply.
Her insides were in turmoil, and Hugo, with his carefree face, seemed annoying.
Despite Catherineโs prickly attitude, Hugo, with a gentle smile, handed her a bouquet he had tucked under his arm.
Yellow freesia.
The lovely scent wafted from the lush flower buds.
It was the same size and type of flower as the bouquet she had received from the unknown person last time.
โWhat is this?โ
โItโs flowers.โ
โWhy are you giving this to me?โ
โYouโve become quite inquisitive since I last saw you, Catherine.โ
โIs that a compliment?โ
Of course, Hugo replied softly and extended the bouquet once more.
Catherine looked around her.
โMaybe he brought it to give to someone else.โ
But her thoughts were just a misunderstanding.
Hugoโs gaze was fixed on Catherine, and there was only Elbert around her.
In the old-fashioned society, it was rare for a man to give flowers to another man.
If a man had given flowers to another man during the courtship season, it would have caused a huge stir.
So, it was safe to say it wasnโt for him.
โIf itโs not for Elbert, then itโs only me around here. Did he bring that bouquet for me?โ
ย
During their ten-year marriage in the past life, Hugo hadnโt even picked a single wildflower for her on special days.
โMy arm is getting tired, Catherine.โ
When she didnโt accept the flowers and just stood there, Hugo exaggeratedly complained.
Honestly speaking, the exaggerated complaints of the big man were… cute.
Catherine cleared her throat and looked away.
โHave you been neglecting your exercise?โ
โIf youโre worried about me, Iโd like to say Iโm fine. I exercise diligently every day. Please accept it.โ
Hugo gently shook the bouquet. The scent of flowers spread around where he stood.
One by one, she felt the gazes of the attendants. Catherine reluctantly accepted the flowers.
What should I say after receiving the flowers?
ย
Whenever she stood in front of Hugo, Catherine felt like a broken wooden doll. Every move felt awkward and clumsy.
She didnโt intend to be friendly with him, but Hugo kept showing kindness, making things awkward.
While thinking about this, Catherine felt embarrassed that she was blaming Hugo for her own feelings and actions.
โIs this something I left behind?โ
So her voice came out harshly.
โCatherine, Iโm not a magician who can make flowers bloom again after four years.โ
Yet Hugo responded kindly, as if they were having an amusing conversation. Although he didnโt smile, his voice was warm.
โThen why the flowers? Itโs not something I left behind. Especially in this season.โ
โWhat season is this?โ
โHow can someone who wants to marry off his brother not know? Itโs the courting season.โ
โAh.โ
Hugo nodded as if he really didnโt know and didnโt care.
โDonโt misunderstand, Catherine. I gave you the flowers because I heard thatโs what neighbors do.โ
โWho said that?โ
โItโs in the etiquette book.โ
Catherine, who had never seen such content in an etiquette book, looked at Elbert and Joanna for help.
โWhen someone moves in, itโs polite to greet each other and exchange small gifts.โ
Joanna explained.
โSo these flowers are meaningless gifts given to a neighbor.โ
She almost misunderstood.
ย
Catherineโs eyes slowly cooled as she looked at the bouquet.
โThank you. Since weโre exchanging gifts, Iโll have to prepare one soon.โ
โIโll look forward to it.โ
Catherine stuttered, taken aback by his immediate response to her polite remark.
โI thought youโd refuse.โ
โWho dislikes receiving gifts?โ
Catherine regretted her words about keeping up appearances.
โIf Iโm going to give a gift, Iโll have to meet him again.โ
It was uncomfortable to keep making promises with him.
โIโll contact you when itโs ready.โ
Still, she couldnโt take back her words, so Catherine reluctantly responded.
โIf possible, give me something I want.โ
Catherineโs eyes widened slightly.
ย
A gift is something the giver decides. After receiving it, itโs up to the recipient, but before that, itโs the giverโs choice.
Hugo had just made a request that could be considered rude.
โDid he experience something significant during the war?โ
The Hugo she met again felt very unfamiliar.
ย