My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 20

Most of the dresses were designed to highlight the figure in bold styles. If a dress seemed a bit modest, it compensated with eye-catching colors or was adorned with enough jewels to blind anyone.

Of course, no matter how extravagant, Camille could pull it off effortlessly. They say the finishing touch of fashion is the face, and Camille possessed a stunning beauty. After I took over her body, I found myself never growing tired of looking in the mirror. Moreover, as I discovered during a bath, her body was equally impressive.

It was almost enough to make me wonder if Ethan secretly preferred men, given how he consistently ignored such a woman. Camille’s obsession with glamorous and daring dresses made sense; not only did they suit her well, but the root cause was likely her husband’s constant neglect. That kind of neglect naturally leads to a desire for attention.

However, Camille was not just Ethan’s wife. She was the Duchess of Dumont, a title that came with expectations of elegance and authority. Given the premise that Camille’s previous behavior was an act, it was crucial to show a different side for consistency. Canceling the tailor’s appointment that Marie had arranged was part of this strategy. I had to maintain the image of a duchess willing to sacrifice her pride for the sake of the Dumont family. If I attended the ball in a brand-new, extravagant dress, it would contradict this image.

‘Ethan still has doubts about me, so I need to avoid giving him any reason to be suspicious.’

Lola returned after a while, carrying a pile of dresses. She positioned me in front of the mirror and held each dress against me one by one. However, most of them were too flamboyant by my standards.

‘Even with four full wardrobes, there should be at least one or two modest dresses…’

After shaking my head more than ten times, Lola looked slightly discouraged.

“Is that the last one?”

“Yes.”

I wondered if I should have kept the tailor’s appointment or just chosen one from these. Some of the dresses could potentially look fine with some alterations. In such a large estate, there were surely maids skilled in sewing and tailoring.

‘However, if word gets out that the Duchess of Dumont wore an old dress, that could cause more rumors… This is tiring.’

Just then, Lola held up the last dress.

“Oh? This one looks good.”

“Do you like it?” Lola said, her face lighting up.

“Yes, let me try it on.”

This dress was unlike any of the others. Its subtle silver color reminded me of starlight, and its simple design with understated jewel accents was exactly my style. It was elegant, yet its tailored lines accentuated a slim figure, making it both sophisticated and attention-grabbing.

“Oh my, you look amazing in this style, Madam,” Lola said, genuinely impressed. It didn’t seem like mere flattery.

“Thank you. I like it too. Do you know when I got this dress?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t. I found it in a box while searching the wardrobe, so I’m not sure.”

‘Maybe it was an impulse purchase that ended up being neglected?’

The dress didn’t look brand new, but it wasn’t worn out either. It seemed to have been worn a few times.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter. At least one problem solved.’

I felt satisfied as I turned to Marie. “Now, we just need to choose the jewelry. Marie, could you bring my jewelry box?”

“Yes, Madam.”

***

It was the day of the ball at the Rochefort Mansion. Ethan, who preferred simplicity and detested anything overly complicated, had always favored a clean and understated style, even for formal events. Even his evening attire was not much different from his usual outfits, save for a different tie or a subtle embellishment.

Despite his simple choices, Ethan’s inherent elegance always drew the attention of the ladies. Today, he chose a black formal suit with silver embroidery around the collar, a simple yet elegant choice.

As he descended the stairs, he was surprised to see Camille already waiting for him. It had been a long time since they had attended an event together, and he remembered how she usually took an interminable amount of time to get ready.

“Ah, Ethan,” Camille called out, turning to face him. Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Today, Camille looked markedly different. The first thing he noticed was her hairstyle. She typically let her luxurious blonde hair flow down, sometimes adorning it with extravagant accessories. Today, however, her hair was neatly pinned up, with only two thin silver bands as decoration.

Her dress was also a significant departure from her usual style. Gone were the bold, vibrant colors and opulent designs. Instead, she wore a serene and dignified gown that exuded elegance and refinement. Ethan had never imagined that such a demure dress would suit her so well.

She looked unfamiliar. Despite the dramatic change in style, Camille’s entire demeanor seemed like that of another person. If he had seen her at the ball for the first time, he might not have recognized her.

For the first time in a while, Ethan realized just how stunningly beautiful his wife was.

“Ethan?” Camille called again, bringing him out of his reverie.

“Ah,” Ethan cleared his throat lightly. “It’s unusual to see you ready so early.”

“I started getting ready early.”

“…I see,” Ethan muttered, inwardly cursing his lame response. He was sure this had to be one of the top three most idiotic replies he could have given in this situation.

Camille then naturally linked her arm through his. Ethan hesitated for a moment, causing Camille to tilt her head in question.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing,” Ethan said, starting to walk with a complex expression.

At the entrance, the butler Victor and a number of staff members were gathered to see the couple off. Victor’s usually calm eyes showed a flicker of surprise when he saw Camille.

‘That dress…’

It was the dress Ethan had picked out for her shortly after their wedding. He had almost thought he was mistaken, but there was no doubt. Camille’s evening dresses were always extravagantly styled, and it seemed unlikely she had another dress like this.

Victor had assumed the dress had been discarded long ago, as he hadn’t seen Camille wear it since the early days of their marriage.

It was on a day like today, when they were attending a ball together as a couple.

“How do I look? Does it suit me?”

“Yes.”

“What? You didn’t even look. Take a proper look. You picked this dress out for me yourself.”

“You’re the one wearing it, not me. It would have been better if you chose something you liked.”

Camille pouted at Ethan’s indifferent response. “I want to wear a dress that you like. Why don’t you understand that?”

Victor didn’t claim to understand women well, but he thought Ethan was being too insensitive, especially since they were newlyweds. Camille wore the dress a few more times after that, always when she went out with Ethan. However, Ethan never said anything like “You look beautiful” or “The dress suits you well,” not even out of courtesy.

At some point, Camille stopped wearing that dress. Her attire grew increasingly elaborate and flamboyant as time went on. Perhaps it was an attempt to catch the eye of a husband whose gaze never seemed to linger on her.

One thing was certain: Camille wearing that dress again after so many years surely had some significant meaning.