My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 25

Contrary to my inner thoughts, I accepted the glass with a bright smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Clovis naturally positioned himself beside me. “I heard you were quite ill. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, as you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

“That’s good to hear. I was so worried that I could hardly eat.”

“You seem quite healthy despite that.”

“If I appear so, it’s probably because I’m overjoyed to see you again,” Clovis replied smoothly.

‘He certainly has a way with words,’ I thought. According to Audrey, Clovis was still unmarried. Considering that Ethan had been married for five years, it was unusual for someone of Clovis’s status and looks to still be single.

‘With his title and appearance, it’s unlikely he couldn’t find a wife. He’s probably just enjoying his freedom to the fullest.’

I didn’t know how far Clovis intended to take his flirting, but I had no intention of playing along.

‘Especially now that I’ve managed to dispel the rumors about an affair with Liam, I can’t afford to give anyone more ammunition.’

“The song is almost over,” Clovis remarked, his gaze fixed on the couples dancing in the center of the hall.

As I pondered how to extricate myself from this situation, Clovis spoke up. “If you have no other commitments, may I have the honor of the next dance?” he asked, bowing slightly and extending his hand.

“Count Brunkel, actually—”

“She came here with her husband.”

The cold, firm voice made both Clovis and I turn our heads simultaneously.

“Isn’t that right, Camille?” Ethan said, walking up to us.

“Yes, that’s correct,” I replied.

Ethan stepped in beside me. “I haven’t had the chance to dance with my wife yet. If you don’t mind, I’d like to claim the next dance.”

Though his words were polite, his tone and expression clearly conveyed, ‘Not that it matters if you mind.’

“Of course. I almost intruded on your private time,” Clovis said, masking his discomfort with a pleasant facade. “Well then, I’ll take my leave. Duke, Duchess,” he said, retreating much faster than he had approached.

“You’re back sooner than expected. Did your conversation go well?” I asked.

“Were you hoping I’d be longer?” Ethan’s voice was gruff.

“No, not at all. I was just getting bored by myself.”

“Seems like you were quite bored, considering you were entertaining that shallow fellow,” he remarked.

“I wasn’t entertaining him. He just approached me. Are you perhaps… jealous?” I teased.

Ethan snorted. “Jealous? Hardly. Jealousy is for things that aren’t already yours. You’re my wife, so there’s no reason for jealousy.”

‘Well, that’s true,’ I thought. I didn’t actually believe he was jealous. If he had any attachment to me, he wouldn’t have ignored me for five years.

“That makes me feel like an object, which isn’t very pleasant.”

“……”

Ethan paused at my words, then continued with an awkward expression. “That’s not exactly what I meant. But we did exchange vows, so saying we belong to each other isn’t entirely wrong.”

‘Wait, is he apologizing?’

That in itself was surprising, but what he said next was even more unexpected.

“So, does that mean you also belong to me?” I asked.

“Of course, it should be mutual for fairness,” Ethan agreed readily.

‘I don’t need that,’ I thought. To be honest, I just wanted to become a stranger to him as soon as possible.

But saying that out loud in a public setting wasn’t appropriate, so I remained silent, eyeing the hand he offered me.

“What is it?” I asked.

“You just told that guy you’d dance the next song with me. We should keep our word,” he reminded me.

I hadn’t noticed that the orchestra had already paused.

“Do we have to? No one’s watching us that closely,” I argued.

“Have you forgotten the purpose of attending this ball? We’re here to show everyone that our relationship is still strong,” Ethan reminded me.

“……”

I sighed quietly. For me, there was no need for this charade. My goal was simply to secure a safe divorce from Ethan.

“Do you want to make me look like a rejected husband in front of everyone?” he pressed.

With a resigned sigh, I took his hand. “It’s been a while. I might make mistakes.”

“You won’t forget a week’s worth of practice that easily,” he said.

I raised an eyebrow. As Ethan said, I had spent quite a bit of time practicing dance over the past week. In my previous life, I had never danced socially, and I worried about embarrassing myself at the ball. But it turned out fine. They say muscle memory stays even if your brain doesn’t remember, and my body naturally followed the melody.

Still, I was surprised Ethan knew about it since I mostly practiced when he was out during the day.

“Since when have you been so interested in me?” I asked.

“Is that a hint of accusation I hear?” he replied.

“If you feel that way, then maybe there’s something to feel guilty about,” I teased.

“I won’t deny it.”

We stood in the middle of the hall, facing each other, our hands clasped. Ethan placed his other hand on my waist.

“So, I’ve decided to pay more attention from now on,” he said, looking straight at me.

Feeling a strange emotion, I averted my gaze. “You really don’t need to.”

“I’m the type who seizes opportunities. Especially if it’s the last one.”

“Excuse me? What do you mean by that—”

Just then, the music started. Reflexively, I began to follow Ethan’s lead, stepping in time with the rhythm.

***

“Indeed, the Duke of Dumont is exceptional. His dancing skills are impeccable,” one observer commented.

“That’s right. He rarely attends such events, so you’d think his skills might have gotten rusty. But he’s still amazing,” added another.

“In contrast, doesn’t the Duchess’s step look a bit awkward?” one of the women remarked.

“Yes, it’s quite embarrassing to watch,” the other agreed.

Berenice and Marianne exchanged these comments while keeping an eye on Nadia. Since her confrontation with Camille, Nadia had remained silent. Her complexion, which had been pale, seemed to recover slightly, only to turn pale again when the Duke and Duchess of Dumont took to the dance floor hand in hand.

Their remarks about Camille’s dancing were intended to cater to Nadia’s mood. In reality, there was nothing wrong with the Duchess’s dancing. Despite their efforts, their conversation didn’t seem to reach Nadia.

“…Could it be?” Nadia murmured almost inaudibly.

“Excuse me, Marchioness Leroy, what did you say?” Berenice leaned closer to ask.

“Does the Duke know about the Duchess and Baron Bernard?” Nadia repeated.

Berenice and Marianne exchanged glances. Not long ago, rumors had been rampant about an affair between Camille and Baron Liam Bernard. Then, both had suddenly vanished from society. The Dumont estate had announced that the Duchess was recovering from an illness, but Liam’s whereabouts remained unknown.

Nadia had been the first to voice the suspicion.

“It’s clear their affair was discovered by the Duke. The illness is just a cover; in reality, the Duchess is under house arrest while the Duke decides what to do with her.”

“Really? Then what about Baron Bernard?”

“He must be imprisoned in the Duke’s estate. He might have already been banished from the capital, or worse…”

“Worse?”

Nadia had paused dramatically, then whispered something into Berenice’s ear, hidden behind her fan.

“My goodness! Really?” Berenice exclaimed, eyes wide with shock.