After I Died, My Husband Went Mad

The day before, when she had heard that Gwen was back, Sebelia felt as if her heart had frozen.

“Gwen Inverness…….”

It was a bittersweet name. Gwen has darker red hair than Flora and green-colored eyes. On the first day Sebelia arrived to the north, she welcomed her like a mother would have.

[It’s going to be hard to adjust. But don’t worry, this place is just like any other place where people live.]

She embraced Sebelia, pretending to understand how challenging it was for her to adjust to the cold attitude of the northerners as a fellow outsider.

[Why wouldn’t I know your pain?] Gwen had said.

So, in this way, little by little, Sebelia had opened her heart to her. And then came the incident with Dehart. Her father and the servants blamed her. Everything was such a mess, and she couldn’t even think properly she felt like a child caught in a river’s violent current.

In that moment, Gwen approached her like a saint extending a helping hand to rescue her from the abyss.

“That’s what I thought at the time.”

Sebelia, unable to wipe away her bitter smile, covered her face with her hands.

Gwen’s second betrayal damaged her soul even more profoundly than her father’s first betrayal.

“If you handle this well, Dehart will pay attention to you. Besides, that child likes compassionate people.]

However, this was a blatant lie.

Sebelia only fell deeper into despair.

Her shattered mind struggled to form coherent thoughts.

In the end, she could only conclude that everything was her fault.

With no room or energy to blame others.

“Sigh….”

Having given her complete trust made Sebelia’s wounds even more significant.

After that second incident, Sebelia couldn’t step outside of her room for a while. It took Denisa’s devoted care to mend her broken heart, and when she finally met Gwen again……

[Oh, Sebelia. Sweetheart, why are you so thin? People will talk if they see you looking like this.]

[I, I’m . . .]

[Are you still thinking about what happened? You shouldn’t let it affect you so much. Living like this will only make you miserable.]

Sebelia was caught off guard by Gwen’s nonchalant then belittling attitude over what had happened, and she collapsed as her weakened body and mind could no longer endure the overwhelming stress.

Now, as Sebelia reminisced about the past, an empty laugh escaped her lips.

“I never thought I’d have to see that face again before leaving….” Sebelia said out loud, slowly closing her eyes.

* * *

Finally, Gwen came to her, her red hair fluttering with each step. Her confident and seductive demeanor was like that of a goddess.

If it had been before, Sebelia would have felt intimidated by her presence. But things were different now.

I’ll be leaving soon, after all.

Even this breathing and moving body was something that would soon disappear without a trace.

So, to someone like her, Gwen was no longer a source of fear. The assurance of a predetermined future brought peace and tranquility to Sebelia.

“Come. Have a seat,” Sebelia said.

“…Alright, if you insist.”

Maybe Sebelia indifferent attitude displease her because Gwen sat down with an uncomfortable expression.

“For someone who claimed to have a ghost, you seem surprisingly composed.”

As soon as she sat down, Gwen made some sarcastic comments, and Sebelia raised her head to stare at Gwen without lifting her teacup.

“My daughter was so frightened, she couldn’t even get out of bed, but you seem completely fine.”

“…….”

“Is it because you have a strong body, or because you have thick nerves? I’m curious to know,”

Gwen, with her neatly arranged dark red hair, grinned as if she discovered a secret.

“Oh, by the way, none of the servants fainted either,” she added.

Her red lips drew enchanting curves.

“With such a clear contrast, I’m even more curious. Don’t you also think it’s interesting, darling?”

As she stared into the green eyes relentlessly watching her reaction, Sebelia realized one thing: That question had a definite answer.

I didn’t notice it before.

Looking into Gwen’s mysterious dark green eyes, Sebelia recalled being asked similar questions in the past before she and Dehart had fallen apart.

She didn’t know back then, but Gwen’s eyes had always allowed her only one answer.

It’s all because you’re a bastard. You still don’t understand that? Sebelia chastised herself.

Ahh!

In that moment, she also realized something else.

She didn’t lure me into a trap simply for the sake of power. She hated her for being an bastard child. 

Sebelia looked at her reflection in the murky green pupils and exhaled slowly.

If that’s how you see me, then so be it.

It’s better this way.

Now, I’ll do as I please.

Since I have nothing more to wish for from you anyway.

“Maybe it’s because I’m an illegitimate child,” Sebelia replied nonchalantly, before lifting her teacup, and taking a sip of her tea.

“In that regard, I suppose I’m fortunate. Unlike Miss Flora, no matter how rough things get, I won’t faint.”

Her voice, speaking of her humble origin, was surprisingly soft and calm. There was no trace of shame or embarrassment in her clean and composed demeanor. And Gwen’s eyes, sitting across from Sebelia, widened to the size of a lamp.

“You…….”

Gwen tried to pretend to not be offended, but her lips still quivered slightly.

Sebelia’s words when reversed were as follows: I’m glad I’m an illegitimate child who doesn’t faint for the smallest things like Flora.

And Gwen, who has never heard her daughter being compared to bastard child before, felt a fire ignite withing her.

“Sebelia, I didn’t know you had such a twisted heart. How can you act like that in front of someone who worried about you……”

“Thank you so much, dear mother.” Sebelia admitted, cutting off the increasingly loud voice.

“…What?”

“I know how hard you’ve been working to manage the family in place of the incompetent and uneducated person that I am.”

At this point, Gwen couldn’t help but feel that the current situation was strange.

What on earth is she up to now? she thought, tightening her grip on the fan, suppressing her bewilderment.

On the surface, the situation seemed entirely in her favor.

Sevelia bowed her head first, acknowledging her authority.

But…….

“I understand that you dared to take over the management of the mansion in my place because I betrayed the family. I trust you’ll continue to do well in the future.”

For some reason, it didn’t feel like she really acknowledged Gwen and trusted her with the job.

But before Gwen could sort out her inner turmoil, Sebelia took the lead.

“So, what brings you to this shabby place today?”

The control of the situation had shifted to the other side without notice. Realizing this, strengthened her gaze with determination.

I might have been fooled once, but there won’t be a second time.

Her unfamiliar might have caught her off guard in the beginning but Sebelia was not her opponent in the first place.

Lifting her chin gracefully, Gwen said as if commanding,

“Go to the annex.”

This was Gwen’s purpose in seeking her out today. To kick her out of the main house and leave her secluded in the distant annex.

This will naturally keep the servants away from that illegitimate child’s influence.

Smiling at the perfectly devised plan, she tapped the fan on her palm before gazing imperiously at Sebelia.

“Do you know how much trouble it would cause if this ghost were to drive you crazy? If you truly care about Dehart. . .”

“I’ll do it,” Sebelia caught her off before standing up to reach for the suitcase she had prepared in advance. “Can I move there right now?”

“What?”

Looking at Gwen’s round eyes, Sebelia continued,

“Oh, and Denisa alone would suffice. Also, if you don’t mind, can I get some sleeping pills?”

“You…what in the world….”

“I can’t sleep well at night because Belita’s ghost keeps haunting me.”

Facing the utterly bewildered Gwen, Sebelia could finally smile in front of her for the first time in a year.

* *

As soon as Dehart arrived at Rash’s residence, he began to act like a typical uncle.

“How can you come back with just Ryan?” He said in a reprimanding voice.

He walked back and forth in the living room as he lectured Dehart, resembling a father chastising an unruly son.

“What the hell were you thinking, acting so recklessly……!” Rash said.

“Uncle.”

But Dehart was not a child who would weep at his father’s reprimands. So, instead of bowing his head, he sat in a chair and crossed his legs; and instead of trembling in fear, he casually examined the wines displayed on the shelf.

“That’s enough of that.”

“What the hell do you mean?” Rash exclaimed in an exasperated voice.

Unbothered, Dehart opened the display cabinet, and took out a rather expensive-looking bottle of wine.

“You’ve shown your affection enough.”

“…….”

“But, Uncle, what brings you here? I heard you’re heading towards the center,” Dehart stared at him as he pulled the cork out of the bottle with force.

Pop!

A crisp sound pierced the air and Rash’s expression stiffened.

“There’s a reason for that. It’s just grown-up matters.” He replied.

” I see.”

“It wasn’t something important enough for you to worry about,” Rash explained; the once heated voice had quickly subsided, and he no longer wanted to continue this conversation.

What should I do? Rash asked himself, anxious.

Dehart squinted his eyes, staring at the man who had raised him in his parents’ place.

“Hmm…….”

After a moment of contemplation, he took his glass and poured himself some wine.

It was quite fragrant.

Then, he took a sip of his drink as he watched Rash’s nervous reflection in the window.

What are you hiding?

His golden eyes flashed sharply.

* * *

Meanwhile, Sebelia was expressing admiration for the detached building that matched the main house.

“I should have stayed here from the beginning,” she exclaimed.

Denisa felt the same way too.

Worried that Sebelia had suddenly die, Denisa had rushed to the mansion upon hearing from the servant that she had been urgently summoned.

“Why stay in that cramped room when such a nice annex exists… Ugh.”

At her sigh, Sebelia smiled faintly before sitting down.

“Well, it can’t be helped. It was your choice.” Denisa pounded her chest in annoyance. “And at that time, there were guests staying in the annex as well.”

Originally, her room was attached to Dehart’s room. In other words, she would have had to endure the servants’ disapproving gaze every time she went in and out of that room. So, she needed to get out of there.

Retrieving the dowry she had put in her bag, Sebelia spoke in a languid voice, “If I had stayed there any longer, I would have gone crazy and hanged myself.”

“Miss……!”

“Enough of that. Come over here and help me pick out some jewels. I need something I can quickly cash out. I have no talent for these kinds of things.”

Denisa’s shoulders slumped down as if there was nothing she could do about Sebelia’s foolishness.