My Ex-Husband is My Neighbor - Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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โWerenโt you on your way out?โ
โOh! Right. Yuri, could you place the flowers somewhere?โ
Hugo flinched.
โMaid Yuri, please place them in Catherineโs room.โ
โBut there are already flowers in my room.โ
โThe more, the better.โ
Catherine almost added that it’s not true for flowers, but she refrained.
Yuri had already taken the bouquet of freesias and was going up the stairs.
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Catherine looked up at Hugo.
โWhat? Is there something on my face?โ
Hugo touched his face with his large hand.
โYouโre blocking the door.โ
His broad shoulders flinched once more. Hugo stepped aside politely.
Catherine passed by him. From Hugoโs body came a scent that Catherine liked.
The woody scent she knew well was from the perfume she had given him before they got married.
โIs he still using that?โ
The bottle was small, and it must have deteriorated over time. Yet, the scent was as fresh as if it had just been made by the perfumer.
โCould Hugo have bought it?โ
While she was thinking this.
โDonโt I smell good?โ
As Catherine passed by, Hugo followed and asked.
โPardon?โ
โI put on perfume.โ
โOh…โ
Catherine, unable to say she had just been thinking about it, put on the bonnet Joanna had prepared for her.
โDonโt you smell it?โ
Hugo brought his wrist under Catherineโs nose. Catherine stepped back and replied.
โI do smell it.โ
โHow is it?โ
Hugo seemed like someone who had already decided on the answer he wanted to hear.
Catherine felt like she knew what he wanted to hear, yet wasnโt sure.
โWell, it’s perfume. A scent is a scent.โ
Catherine responded bluntly. The door closed behind Yuriโs farewell. Hugo followed Catherine closely.
โIs that all you have to say?โ
โWhat more do you need?โ
โDonโt you really know?โ
โWhat should I know?โ
Hugo stopped abruptly. Noticing he wasnโt following, Catherine also stopped.
โCatherine, this perfume… itโs the scent you liked.โ
Hugo took off his jacket and waved it.
The scent wafted over on the breeze.
Catherineโs heart fluttered.
Yes, it was the perfume she liked.
But her heart fluttered not because of the perfume.
โHe remembers.โ
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It felt like the joy of a child who always scored zero finally getting ten on a test.
She was proud of Hugo, who finally showed interest in her.
But Catherine, who didnโt want to ruin things over such trivial matters, snorted.
โI donโt like it anymore.โ
And she walked briskly.
โI invested in the perfume company, I guess I should withdraw.โ
Oh dear, even boasting.
Catherine let Hugoโs words pass by.
โCatherine, are you going out alone?โ
It was a very late question, but Catherine answered sincerely.
โYes.โ
โWhere to?โ
Catherine shrugged. She had no particular destination.
โSurely you donโt mean to walk the streets alone?โ
โI do.โ
Hugoโs brows furrowed.
โI thought your mansion was splendid, but it seems the attendants are not.โ
Catherineโs mood plummeted. He insulted the people she trusted and relied on!
โHugo, you have no right to insult my people.โ
โBut I canโt help but criticize attendants who let a lady walk alone.โ
โA lady?โ
It was such an amusing remark that it calmed her excitement.
Catherine chuckled. Hugo squinted and waited for her laughter to subside.
โHugo, I am not a โladyโ.โ
โWhat do you mean?โ
Since the topic came up, Catherine thought she should make things clear.
โHugo, you seem to have forgotten. I am the one who married you and then divorced.โ
At the word divorce, Hugoโs eyebrows twitched.
โPeople usually donโt call a divorced woman a โladyโ. โLadyโ is a term for pure, cute, and lovely young women.โ
Though not legally defined, society didnโt consider a woman who returned after marriage a โladyโ. Even though she might be called a lady.
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Hugo, looking troubled, bit his lower lip gently.
Seeing his thick lip being pulled between his upper teeth made Catherineโs eyelashes tremble slightly.
โCatherine.โ
Hugoโs voice lowered endlessly. Catherineโs clear eyes turned to Hugo.
He furrowed and then relaxed his brow as if enduring something.
โI donโt know much, but you are the most lady-like woman I know-โ
โCatherine!โ
As Catherine listened to Hugo, someone interrupted his words and greeted her.
At the familiar voice, Catherine turned around quickly. A handsome blond man was approaching them.
โCatherine, did you come out to greet me knowing Iโd come?โ
It was Paul, the first friend Catherine made after moving to the capital post-divorce.
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Paul Enderick.
The handsome man from the Earl Endereickโs family was known for his free spirit and curiosity.
Because of his unique nature, he became friends with Catherine, who had stepped into the capitalโs social scene after her divorce.
Paul was the first friend Catherine made.
Paul tried to help Catherine in many ways, but she rarely accepted his help.
Partly because Catherine wasnโt used to receiving help from others, and partly because Paul stayed in the kingdom only briefly.
This man, full of curiosity, would leave for foreign lands whenever he had the chance.
Of course, it wasnโt just because of his curiosity and strong desire to explore.
Paulโs father, Earl Enderick, wanted his only son to marry quickly and settle down.
If it were mere encouragement, Paul wouldnโt have run away, but Earl Enderick was also very proactive.
Earl Enderick constantly introduced women to Paul.
The young heir of the Earlโs family, who thought the world was vast with much to see and enjoy, eventually kept running away and returning.
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โWhen did you come back, Paul?โ
Catherine greeted Paul warmly, meeting him again after three months.
โI came back yesterday. I wanted to see you as soon as I arrived in the capital, but I got caught by my father.โ
โAnd, did you escort the lady you met yesterday well?โ
Much was omitted in the conversation between Catherine and Paul.
For example, it was obvious that Earl Enderick wouldnโt let his son, who had returned from abroad, be idle.
So, he must have hurriedly brought a woman of marriageable age.
After dinner, Paul would have escorted her and told her he had no intention of marrying.
โCatherine, I feel like Iโm dying.โ
Paul whined with a grim face.
The sight of the big man with drooping eyebrows could have been annoying, but his bright blond hair and cheerful impression made him look rather cute.
โYouโve had a hard time. If you hate marriage so much, why do you keep coming back during the social season?โ
โWell, because of you…,โ
โCatherine.โ
Hugo, who had been quietly watching their reunion, stepped forward.
Only then did Paul, who had been focusing solely on Catherine, notice Hugo.
The smile on Paulโs face slowly faded.
โCatherine, arenโt you going to introduce us?โ
Hugo stepped slightly in front of Catherine, partially blocking her view.
Catherine briefly wondered if there was any need to introduce the two.
Because how often would Paul and Hugo meet in the future.
โCatherine, the introduction.โ
But Hugo requested once more, as if he really wanted to greet Paul.
โIs he trying to expand his connections now that Brian is debuting in society?โ
Catherine tilted her head and moved to Hugoโs side. Her view was blocked, making her feel stuffy.
But each time, Hugo blocked half her view again.
As if there was something she absolutely shouldnโt see in front of her.
โHugo.โ
Catherine tugged at his arm.
Unconsciously, she showed an intimate touch. She didnโt realize it herself.
Paul alternated his gaze between Hugo and Catherine and then chuckled.
โNo need for an introduction, Catherine.โ
Paul extended his hand to Hugo.
โYou must be Sir Hugo Edward, Catherineโs ex-husband. Iโm Paul Enderick, Catherineโs friend. A very close friend, her only friend.โ
Each time Paul emphasized โvery closeโ and โonlyโ, Hugoโs slightly raised left eyebrow arched higher.
Hugo stared at Paulโs hand for a moment before shaking it.
โFriends are good. Friends. No further explanation needed. Since youโre friends with Catherine, Iโll address you respectfully, Sir Paul, though I could speak casually.โ
Hugo emphasized the word โfriendโ deliberately.
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