Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 164

Looking at Brianna’s now pale face, he said mockingly, “That’s exactly the most important part of life, what a pity. When making a contract, you’re supposed to be most wary of the person you trust. Even smart people let their guard down in front of someone they trust. That’s why swindlers always make sure their target trusts them first.”

As he said, Brianna had trusted him. He was Florian’s best friend, and she had thought he had a more noble character than anyone else.

She never imagined he would use the contract as leverage like this.

“…Did you really have to go this far? It doesn’t have to be me, does it?”

Even so, she couldn’t understand why Lucius insisted on continuing such a meaningless marriage. Instead of clinging to such a slim chance, it would be far easier to have a child with a physically healthy woman.

“There are plenty of women on the street who would marry you the moment you reached out. So why me…”

“As you said, passion may not be everything, but it’s still a pretty important factor.”

He traced her face with the tip of his finger. It wasn’t a gesture of affection, but more like someone assessing the value of a product. It felt oddly unpleasant.

“You’re beautiful, and I quite enjoy sleeping with you. Why would I send someone like you away now? I can always have a child later. Might as well enjoy you while I can and send you away once your value drops. That’s much more reasonable for me, don’t you think?”

He laughed as he looked at Brianna’s face, flushed with humiliation.

“So, Brianna, use that smart head of yours and think hard about what you should be doing right now. I told you, if you want a divorce, you need to show some sincerity first. How about this kind of sincerity? Like the things you did for me on our last night before you left. I really enjoyed it back then. Who knows? If you serve me as hard as you did that day, maybe I’ll shorten the duration.”

Brianna sharply slapped his hand away. Tears welled up in her eyes. “You weren’t like this before. What happened to you? Why are you acting like this now?”

He muttered coldly, “It’s clear now that I’m not the good person you believed I was. Unfortunately, this is who I’ve always been. You just didn’t know it.”

Brianna sobbed softly. “Don’t you even feel sorry for Florian? If he knew how cruel you’re being to me…”

Before she could finish her sentence, his lips crushed hers. Forcing her mouth open, his tongue pushed in. Brianna winced and tried to turn her head again, but the grip on her face didn’t let her go.

“Let me go!”

Brianna pounded on him with her fists. When that didn’t budge him, she kicked at him fiercely in protest. Then suddenly, her body was lifted upward, and her head hung down. Lucius slung Brianna over his shoulder and walked to the bed.

“Luce!”

He paid no attention to her hitting his back in resistance and tossed her onto the bed. Then he climbed on top of her and looked down with a sneer.

“You know, you have a real knack for saying things that piss me off. It’s like you do it on purpose.”

“What? Did mentioning Florian prick your conscience? Well, even if no one else, you did really like Florian. He was your precious friend. At least you were a good person to him, right?”

As she sneered wildly, he ground his teeth. “Shut your mouth, Brianna.”

“Then you shouldn’t have bothered me from the beginning. Why did you chase after me and propose this ridiculous marriage? I could’ve lived perfectly fine without you…”

His lips crashed down on hers again. The thin garment she wore was torn in an instant by his hand.

And then came a night that could only be described as madness.

***

When Brianna opened her eyes again, it was well past noon.

Her eyes stung, and her throat was parched. As she swept back her disheveled hair and tried to sit up, she immediately collapsed back down with a groan.

“Ah…”

The deep area between her legs ached so much it felt numb. Even after her wedding night, her body hadn’t hurt this much. Back then, she had been able to walk just fine the next day, unlike now, when she couldn’t even think of moving.

Not only that, but her entire body, from her limbs to every joint, ached as if it had been broken. As memories of last night slowly came back, Brianna buried her face into the pillow with a sigh.

What on earth did we do last night…

That wasn’t the kind of intercourse they usually had. Brianna had scratched and bitten him like a wild beast, and Lucius, just as he had warned, didn’t go easy on her for a second, relentlessly pushing her to the end. It was impossible to count how many times he had penetrated her throughout the night. Her last memory was of collapsing into his arms, nearly unconscious, just as the room began to brighten.

Brianna turned her head slightly to glance beside the bed. The place where Lucius had been was now completely empty.

The sheets that had been in utter disarray were now neatly arranged. As she looked over her body, the spots that had been sticky with bodily fluids were all clean. He must have tidied everything while she was unconscious. Even at the mansion, he didn’t like servants entering the room when they were in bed together, so he must have handled it himself this time as well.

Still, she had to get up. It was already so late…

Groaning, she tried to sit up again when a knock sounded. She thought it might be Lucius, but the person who entered was an unfamiliar maid.

Realizing she wasn’t at the mansion, Brianna quickly wrapped the sheet around herself. She was embarrassed to show her bruised, battered body to a stranger.

“Hello, madam. I’m Mary. I’ve been assigned to serve you while you’re staying here.”

With a soft greeting, the maid offered her a cup filled with lukewarm water. Brianna, already parched, quickly gulped it down.

As her thirst was quenched, her mind cleared a little. Brianna handed back the cup and asked, “Lu… no, where is the Duke?”

A hoarse, cracked voice escaped her lips, so strained it startled even herself. Her face flushed red in an instant. Last night, even as she scratched and bit him like mad, she had moaned and called out for him again and again. That was how her voice had ended up in this ruined state.

Come to think of it, she had never wanted him as fiercely as she had last night. In the past, she had always followed his lead, opening herself to him. But last night, it had been pure, primal instinct.

In a way, it felt cathartic. And thinking about the marks she had left on that perfect man’s body made her feel a bit satisfied. He wouldn’t be able to hide all of them with clothes. How would he explain them to others?

Fortunately, the maid showed no reaction to Brianna’s condition and simply answered her question.

“The Duke left for the ducal residence early this morning.”

At that answer, Brianna stared blankly at her.

“He went back to the ducal residence alone? Then, when is he coming back?”

The maid gave a troubled smile. “I’m afraid I don’t know… I was only ordered to attend to your needs while you stay here.”

“Did he leave any message for me?”

“I’m sorry, but…”

As the maid’s voice grew smaller, Brianna bit her lip tightly.

“…Then I’ll get ready and go to the ducal residence right away.”

If he planned to avoid her like this, then she wasn’t going to sit still. And she wasn’t afraid of him anymore. Clutching the sheet wrapped around her, she moved to lower her feet to the floor.

“Madam.”

At that moment, the maid gently placed a hand on Brianna’s shoulder. She spoke in a polite but firm tone.

“The Duke also ordered that you must not take a single step outside this room until he returns.”

Brianna opened her mouth in disbelief. Not the building, but the room?

“What are you…”

“First, I’ll prepare a warm bath. After that, I’ll bring your meal. If there’s anything else you need, please let me know.”

With those words, the maid left the room. The sound of the door being locked followed soon after. Only then did Brianna realize she hadn’t been lied to.

Still, he’ll come back tonight.

Thinking so, Brianna waited for Lucius.

But one day, two days, then three and four passed, and he did not return.