The reason for his visit was obvious.

Before her heat cycle started, Violet had gone to families who were considering investing in Leon’s business venture and pointed out problems with the effectiveness of his business plan, proposing an alternative business plan with improvements.

As a result, investors showed interest in Violet’s business rather than Leon’s, and consequently, it seemed his funding had been cut off as no one was willing to invest in him.

When she entered the reception room, she saw Leon waiting for her.

“Violet?”

Surprised by Violet’s transformed appearance, Leon wore an expression of disbelief. At the same time, his previously angry, rigid expression softened.

Pretending not to know why he had come, Violet asked:

“What brings you here?”

“You’ve changed a lot. You’ve become beautiful.”

She could feel Leon’s gaze examining her carefully. It felt strange to have him look at her with such deep eyes, something he had never done before.

“You’re still the same.”

Violet ignored his gaze and deliberately responded curtly.

“Why are you acting so cold? It’s just the two of us.”

Leon looked disappointed.

“Isn’t it natural to keep my distance from a married man? Why did you come looking for me?”

When she spoke in a voice so cold it could freeze the surrounding air, Leon finally remembered his purpose for coming and frowned deeply.

“You did this, didn’t you? Did you think no one would know?”

“What are you talking about?”

Violet feigned ignorance.

“The investors suddenly pulling out, that was your doing, wasn’t it?”

“Ah, so that’s what this is about.”

“Stop pretending and tell me. Did you think I wouldn’t know that you suddenly proposed a business similar to mine, and that their investment funds went to you?”

“I didn’t say anything special. I just proposed another good business opportunity. They invest to make money, after all.”

“Are you saying my business proposal was terrible?”

Leon snapped, his pride apparently hurt.

“Think about it. Did you really believe your business would succeed? Doesn’t it seem strange to anyone looking at it? I simply pointed out what was wrong with your business.”

The reason Violet went so far to interfere with Leon’s business was because she knew he had personal circumstances requiring business success.

Leon, who had grown up without receiving love from Duke Evercorn due to his incompetence, burned with jealousy toward his older brother and tried to surpass him, but he kept failing at every business he touched.

So Violet, knowing his weaknesses as his former lover, dug into them to ruin his business and prevent him from achieving what he wanted.

The business plan was such a mess that it would have failed eventually anyway, but Violet had merely hastened that failure.

Duke Evercorn was so cold-hearted that he wasn’t the type to help Leon even if he struggled financially due to his lack of ability. His older brother also had a poor relationship with Leon, so he wouldn’t help either.

Having already spent most of the fortune he received from the Duke, Leon’s last chance for recovery had been cut off by Violet, but it wasn’t completely hopeless.

He could still make a comeback. Of course, he would have to struggle tremendously in the process, but that was none of Violet’s concern.

“No, my business was perfect. You must have done something to interfere.”

It was natural for Leon to blame Violet for ruining his plans, but his circumstances were none of her concern.

“Do I need to point out every single flaw in your business before you’ll accept it?”

Seeing her firm attitude, Leon’s expression suddenly changed. The tense atmosphere between them immediately relaxed.

“Please talk to the Count and ask him to help me.”

She had expected him to get angry because his pride was hurt, but he suddenly changed his approach. He boldly requested Count Mori’s help.

Violet had done this to see Leon begging her, but she hadn’t expected such a shameless attitude.

When he should have been groveling, his shameless attitude made her blood boil. Violet hardened her expression, crossed her arms, and shouted:

“Are you serious? If he knew what you did to me, he would crush you rather than help you. I deliberately chose not to tell my father out of consideration for you, but if you want, I can tell him.”

The Count had treated Leon so well when he was Violet’s lover that Leon was under a misapprehension. He would be in serious trouble if the Count found out.

She hadn’t been able to tell the Count and Countess that Leon had actually been two-timing her. If they had known, Leon wouldn’t have gotten away with just having his funding cut off.

Though they appeared very gentle on the surface, they occasionally transformed when it came to matters concerning Violet.

So if they learned that Leon and his wife had tarnished Violet’s reputation, it wouldn’t end with just cutting off his funds. They would completely block his financial resources and crush him.

The reason she hadn’t revealed this, despite having the opportunity for thorough revenge, was because she didn’t want the two of them to be heartbroken again over Leon’s actions when they were already upset about the broken engagement with the Snake Duke.

“No, don’t tell him. Then, for old times’ sake, you help me, Violet.”

Finally understanding the situation, Leon gave up on getting the Count’s help and calmly asked Violet for assistance instead.

His behavior was so outrageous that Violet spoke with a sharp voice:

“Do we have anything left that could be called ‘old times’ sake’? If you and your wife kneel before me and beg for forgiveness, I’ll consider it. The deadline is until the knot in my heart unties.”

“Were you always this kind of woman?”

Thinking her demand was ridiculous, Leon was angry.

“I don’t think I need to hear that from a philanderer.”

Violet matched his provocation, looking him in the eye as she retorted.

“You couldn’t marry me anyway because your heat cycle hadn’t come, isn’t that too harsh? It wasn’t my fault.”

Leon wore an expression of disbelief. Having cheated first, yet shifting all blame to Violet, his behavior seemed incredibly shameless.

“Fine. Let’s say our inability to marry wasn’t your fault, but what about tarnishing my reputation?”

“What are you talking about? We officially broke up because of your engagement. What reputation was there to lose?”

“That’s right. If the rumors had only gone that far, I wouldn’t have acted like this.”

“Then what exactly is the problem?”

Recalling what Lady Evercorn had said, Violet sighed deeply. It was unpleasant no matter how many times she thought about it.

“Your wife went around proudly boasting about winning you and sullied my reputation.”

“…”

At that moment, Leon’s gaze trembled anxiously, suggesting he was aware that his wife had been speaking carelessly about Violet.

Violet continued regardless:

“She said you two had even completed imprinting before marriage? And that we broke up because I got engaged to Duke Queensberry? That we loved each other but had to break up? No, you were probably dancing with joy the moment you learned I had received a proposal from Duke Queensberry.”

“…”

It must have been true, because Leon, who had been arguing, lost his words. After looking flustered for a moment, he nodded, understanding something.

“Is that why you’re angry? Are you going to dwell on something that’s already in the past? Or perhaps you still have lingering feelings for me? If you do, I could reconsider our relationship.”

What is he saying? This trash.

“Am I crazy? To get back with someone like you?”

“Were you always like this? This must be why your engagement with Duke Queensberry was broken off.”

“Stay out of my life. Your wife doesn’t seem to know anything about your situation. You’d better worry about not getting divorced yourself!”

“How vicious! No man in this world would ever love such a detestable woman like you!”

Feeling offended, Leon didn’t even consider his own wrongdoing and went as far as to curse her.

“Men might approach you for your looks but will run away once they know your personality. That a woman who seemed so pure actually has such dark emotions filling her heart. Now that I know your true nature, I chose not to pick you, understand?”

“Are you done talking?”

“I’m just stating facts.”

“Get out now!”

Violet gestured toward the door.

“You’ll live your whole life being ridiculed, never chosen by men!”

He left the mansion, cursing Violet until the very end.

“I’ll see if you two can live a happy life even without financial comfort!”

Violet also hurled harsh words at the back of his head.

She thought it would feel satisfying, but instead, her heart felt heavy. She knew that putting economic pressure on him as punishment for his infidelity was a cruel measure.

But who was it that tarnished her reputation? He should have kept his wife in check!

Fuming as she entered her room, Violet collapsed on the floor as soon as she closed the door.

Leon’s final words kept echoing in her mind.

Although she was glad that at least one revenge had succeeded, her heart wasn’t at peace. Rather, she felt only wounded in the end.

“Fine. I’m a vicious woman. So I’m not attractive, what can I do about it? My engagement was broken off too, did you contribute anything to that?”

She would have considered stopping the financial pressure if he had begged sincerely, but to hurt her with curses…

She was so angry that she almost ran to her father’s office to tell him about Leon but stopped herself.

Now that her relationship with that terrible man was over, there was no need to say anything. It would be better to end it with this solo revenge and let everything go.

Although her revenge against the Snake Duke had failed, she was fortunate that her revenge against Leon had succeeded.

Even though the wounds he inflicted kept stabbing at her heart, Violet decided to be satisfied with this outcome since she would no longer have to deal with him.