My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 50

The reason I spoke in that manner was to remind Ethan of how he had treated Camille up until that point. The meaning behind it was clear: “Don’t start doing things you’ve never done before now.”

“Anyway, that’s separate from the talk of our divorce. What happened earlier was just a simple misunderstanding. So could you please let go of my hand now?”

“……”

Ethan released the hand that had been gripping my wrist. As he stepped away from me, the tension that had gripped my body began to release all at once. I turned my back on him and, without him noticing, pressed my hand against my chest. My heart was still beating rapidly.

I spoke in a voice that I tried to make sound calm, “When I saw my brother the other day, his face looked even paler than before. As you know, his illness can’t be cured. And now that he’s getting older, it will only get worse. So, from now on, I want to be by his side.”

It was an excuse I had come up with after my first visit to Olivier. The reason I hadn’t thought of it earlier was because it was hard to imagine choosing to live with my family until Olivier’s final days. But after meeting him in person, I realized he was a good person who cared deeply for his younger sister. The servants, too, seemed to be on my side, referring to me as ‘our lady.’

That’s why I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to divorce Ethan and live there.

‘At least I wouldn’t be chased out after having an affair like in the original story, and Olivier wouldn’t be so shocked that he collapses. Of course, there will still be some worries, but living together should ease that a little.’

I turned to Ethan again and continued, “Please. My brother is my only family. I don’t want to leave him alone while he’s sick anymore. Let’s get a divorce.”

Ethan stared at me for a long time, his expression unreadable, before he suddenly spoke as if throwing out the words. “Why does it have to end in divorce?”

“What?”

“What you mean is that you want to live with Count Chevillotte. Does it really require us to divorce?”

I furrowed my brow and asked, “What do you mean?”

Although Olivier’s health wasn’t good, it wasn’t as though he was on the verge of death. As long as he managed his health properly, he could live another ten years or more. It was unheard of for a wife to leave her husband alone and be away from home for such a long time, especially not a duchess like me.

“Are you suggesting I visit him every weekend or stay for a week each month? That wouldn’t be enough. It’s not a short distance from here, and what if my brother has a seizure when I’m not around—”

“That’s not what I meant.” Ethan cut me off.

“Then what? Are you saying it’s fine for me to be away from the duchy for an extended period, without knowing exactly how long?”

“No. What I’m saying is that if we bring Count Chevillotte here, there’s no need for you to leave, and no reason for us to divorce.”

“…What?”

“Let’s bring your brother to the duchy. That way, you won’t have to leave, and we won’t have to divorce,” Ethan said with a blank expression.

“……”

I stared at Ethan with my mouth slightly open. I had never imagined he would say something like this. Given the societal structure and customs of this world, it was almost unheard of for a woman to bring her family into her husband’s household. Maybe it would be possible if it were an elderly mother, but Olivier is Camille’s brother, and he is still only in his forties.

“He could stay in the vacant southern annex. It’s separate from the main house, so he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, and it’s much bigger and better than his current residence. It would be fine if he brought all his servants too.”

I listened to Ethan in a daze before quickly shaking my head. “That’s impossible.”

“Why not?”

“Because my brother would definitely refuse. He wouldn’t want to cause trouble for the duchy. As the head of the Chevillotte family, he wouldn’t think it proper to leave his estate.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll meet him personally and convince him.”

I asked in surprise, “What? You will?”

“Why not? Is there a problem with that?”

“No, not exactly, but…”

“Then it’s settled. This conversation is over. Don’t bring up divorce again,” Ethan said coldly.

“What? Wait a moment…”

Without listening to my words, he opened the door and left. I was left dumbfounded, standing alone in his room.

***

Ethan walked aimlessly down the corridor. Every maid he passed quickly lowered their heads, unable to greet him properly. His aura was menacing. Even Ethan himself couldn’t fully grasp why he was so irritable.

Was it the embarrassment of making such a foolish assumption? Or was it because Camille had changed her attitude overnight, pretending as if nothing had happened? Maybe it was simply because she brought up the topic of divorce again, relentlessly.

As each thought crossed his mind, his anger surged. It seemed that all of these reasons were the cause. Although inviting Count Chevillotte to the duke’s residence had been a suggestion made in the heat of the moment, upon reflection, there really wasn’t any reason it couldn’t work. The Duchy of Dumont certainly had the capacity to take care of one more person, and Olivier wasn’t the type to overstep his bounds.

If this would prevent Camille from ever bringing up divorce again, then he would allow Olivier to stay for as long as needed—decades, if necessary.

‘Divorce, divorce, at every turn. Does she think I’m refusing a divorce because I’m desperate?’

Until the connection between Camille and Girard became clear, Ethan couldn’t let her go. That was his only reason from the start.

It was also obvious that the talk about Olivier was just an excuse. He had already eliminated any room for Camille to argue. Now, he just had to wait and see what she’d do next.

“Please. My brother is my only family. I don’t want to leave him alone while he’s sick anymore.”

Camille’s pleading voice echoed in his mind.

‘So, only your brother is family, and I’m not?’

Ethan twisted his lips into a bitter smile. This awful mood showed no signs of dissipating, and he still had no idea why he felt this way.

***

The banquet had already passed midnight and was nearing its end. Nadia sat alone at a table, sipping wine. Berenice and Marianne had already left—Berenice because of her husband, and Marianne because she had apparently drunk too much.

‘Perhaps they were just excuses,’ Nadia thought, fully aware that she had become irritable and short-tempered recently. The reason was clear: Ethan’s visit to the Leroy estate had shocked her.

She had always thought of Ethan as a cold man, detached from everyone, even his wife. She had accepted that he didn’t care about her because he seemed to treat everyone the same. But now, she couldn’t deny the truth anymore.

Nadia bit her lower lip.

“If the rumors were true, do you think I’d still have my wife by my side?”

Ethan’s words echoed in her mind, yet she was convinced that Camille had an affair with Liam Bernard. She was so sure that she would even bet on it.

Thus, she discreetly began searching for Liam’s whereabouts. If she could just find him, she’d have the proof she needed to be right. Ethan wouldn’t be able to protect Camille anymore, not once the truth was exposed. He was a man who showed no mercy to those who betrayed him.

The problem was that Liam had vanished, and Nadia hadn’t found a single clue about his location. But she was spending money in every direction, confident that eventually, she’d track him down.

‘…Maybe I should leave now.’

Perhaps it was her foul mood, but despite drinking quite a bit, she didn’t feel the slightest bit intoxicated. Just as she was about to stand, a voice spoke from behind her.

“No matter how late it is, it seems only gentlemen who lack etiquette remain. Leaving a lady to drink alone—what a shame.”