I Became the Mother-in-law of the Regretful Female Lead

“Breaking up? What do you mean…?”

Jeremyon could only respond like a fool, not knowing how to answer.

Lilliana briefly met his gaze before continuing.

“Isn’t it a relief? You’ve been forcing yourself to maintain this relationship, just to help me reconnect with my mother.”

“……”

Jeremyon was at a loss for words, unsure where to begin explaining this misunderstanding. There had never been any coercion in his relationship with Lilliana. Everything he had done was by his own choice.

“Forcing myself? I never thought of it that way…”

“You don’t need to say that for my sake. I know everything. You’ve continued this contract relationship just to help me, even though there’s nothing in it for you. In fact, you might have even lost more than you gained.”

“……”

“That’s why, even though you’ve been helping me, I’ve always felt guilty. Now that the original goal has been achieved, I want to give you your freedom back as soon as possible.”

“Freedom… you say.”

“Our relationship as lovers might end here, but… if it’s alright with you, Jeremyon.”

Lilliana nervously fidgeted with her coffee cup.

“I actually like you, Jeremyon. Even though it started in a strange way, I’ve come to realize how kind you are. So, if you’re okay with it… can we stay good friends from now on?”

“Haha…”

Jeremyon, too bewildered to say anything, remained silent, prompting her to ramble on.

“Of course, if you don’t want to, that’s fine! I just feel like we’ve grown closer, and… I don’t want us to drift apart forever.”

“Lilliana, I—”

Jeremyon tried to correct her, but Lilliana, with a fearful look, interrupted him hastily. It was rare for her to cut him off, as she was usually a good listener.

“Oh, but you need to find a marriage partner, right? You proposed this contract relationship to me for that reason, didn’t you? If that’s the case, then maybe my presence is just a hindrance… After all, if we’re too close, your future fiancée might not like it. If it’s uncomfortable, just pretend you didn’t hear—”

Jeremyon shook his head. His face looked more conflicted than ever.

“Alright, let’s do it your way.”

At his short reply, Lilliana’s face brightened. Her previously hunched shoulders relaxed visibly.

“Really? That’s a relief! I was actually worried you’d reject me!”

Seeing her innocent smile, Jeremyon could only feel more and more unsettled.

“I was afraid you’d tell me to keep my distance. I know ending the contract is what’s best for you, but… I really enjoyed talking with you, Jeremyon. The thought of losing this connection we’ve built… it makes me sad.”

“Yeah, I… I don’t want that either.”

With his throat tightening, Jeremyon forced out a reply. He found it hard to meet Lilliana’s eyes as he lowered his head slightly.

“Thank you, Jeremyon. Let’s make sure we stay good friends in the future!”

He caught sight of her lips, curved into a lovely smile of excitement.

A bright, beautiful smile. Yet, in this moment, it felt like nothing more than a dagger piercing his heart.

Why is he back so early?

As I passed through the front hall, I halted, surprised by Jeremyon’s early return.

It had barely been two hours since he left, saying he was going on a date with Lilliana.

For a date between two young people to end so quickly… And it wasn’t even dinner time yet.

“Did something go wrong on their date?”

I had dressed him up so handsomely with all my effort—did something go wrong?

I called his name several times, but he didn’t notice me. I had to grab his arm before he flinched and looked at me.

“Oh, Mother…”

Worried, I slowly approached him.

“Jeremyon.”

“……”

“Jeremyon!”

When he still didn’t respond, I hurriedly asked him.

“So, son. How was your date?”

“Oh, the date… Ah…”

What on earth could have happened to leave him in such a dazed state?

…Could he have been dumped?

That possibility crossed my mind, but I shook my head.

‘No way. The last time I saw them, they seemed to be getting along pretty well.’

In truth, I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of relationship they had.

Back when Lilliana was pushing him away, I only knew that the two of them had been dating regularly.

I was aware that the contractual relationship they once had, based on the premise of marriage, had ended for sure… But whether they continued to date as a real couple afterward or were just flirting, I didn’t know.

‘Well, if I was really curious, it wouldn’t be hard to find out… But since they seem to be enjoying each other’s company, there’s no need for me to butt in.’

So, I simply assumed they were in the early stages of dating. After all, both Liliana and Jeremion were looking at each other quite differently than before.

‘I doubt Lilliana would’ve suddenly dumped Jeremyon in such a situation.’

I called out Jeremyon’s name several times, even poking his arm a bit.

But he showed no sign of snapping out of it. Frustrated, I playfully addressed him on purpose.

“What’s with that expression, Jeremyon?”

“…”

“Huh? My son. Why are you so out of it?”

“…”

“If someone saw you, they’d think you’d been dumped. Come on, smile. Unless… you really were dumped? Hm?”

At that, Jeremyon, who had been staring off into space like a lifeless fish, flinched.

With a bitter expression, he finally spoke a proper sentence.

“Yeah… I was dumped.”

“…What?”

I usually pride myself on keeping a good poker face, but this time, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“I said… I was dumped.”

With that, Jeremyon trudged past me, heading towards his room.

Watching his lonely figure, I instinctively covered my mouth with my hand.

I was just joking! But… was it true?

“Haa…”

Once inside his room, Jeremyon roughly tousled the hair he had neatly arranged. His silver strands splayed out messily.

Seeing that only made him more irritated.

Why did he feel so awful?

The question tormented him, without an answer in sight.

His relationship with Lilliana had always been bound to end.

It hadn’t started out of genuine affection for each other but was just a means to achieve a certain goal.

And that goal was for Lilliana and Vanessa to reconcile and grow closer.

Now that this goal had been achieved, ending their relationship was the logical thing to do.

He had understood that perfectly when they started.

He really had…

“We should break up.”

But the moment he heard those words, it felt like his heart had dropped.

Meanwhile, Lilliana simply smiled sweetly, oblivious to his turmoil.

‘Pathetic.’

Jeremyon lowered his head in frustration.

He couldn’t understand why he had been the only one deluding himself into thinking this relationship would continue forever.

‘It was just a contractual relationship from the start… and yet, I stupidly got my hopes up.’

The fact that he had been excited was laughable.

He wasn’t some child looking forward to a field trip, so why had he been filled with anticipation before every date with Lilliana?

All the swirling thoughts in his mind pointed to one undeniable truth.

It was time to admit it.

The feelings he had been denying all along.

‘I… I love Lilliana…’

Muttering to himself, Jeremyon couldn’t bring himself to utter the final word.

The relationship was already over.

If he spoke aloud the truth of his feelings now, it felt like he would crumble helplessly.