“…I uncovered decisive evidence of the affair, and in the already determined divorce suit, we agreed to end things without tarnishing each other’s reputations.”
“……”
“Natasha… she’s also a witness who saw the scene with me.”
When Mikhail turned to look at Natasha, she faced him without any expression.
She silently gazed at Mikhail, whose face was deeply shocked.
“Father…”
“Yes, I was just as shocked. He said the same thing as you—that it was a momentary mistake.”
His tone was as if he were chewing something bitter.
“That’s why I can’t forgive you, Mikhail.”
Olga’s words sounded kind, but the content was anything but.
“They say even a seed thief can’t escape.”
A self-deprecating smile slashed across Mikhail’s heart. It was only then that he realized what he had truly lost.
It wasn’t just his wife. With this “momentary mistake,” he had lost his mother’s trust and his faith in his father.
He also came to realize that his arrogance had hurt Natasha.
‘What have I done?’
For a moment, his head spun. Mikhail staggered, reaching for the wall to steady himself.
Yet neither Natasha nor Olga offered him any support.
***
“Upon reviewing the witness’s diary, it is difficult to consider it fabricated due to the detailed content and close correlation between events. Additionally, the witness’s testimony aligns significantly with the plaintiff’s claims. Even if the defendant’s words were true, it is generally unacceptable to spend the night alone with another woman at a hotel on one’s wedding anniversary.”
The solemn ruling of the judge echoed through the courtroom.
“Furthermore, the wife is suffering extreme emotional distress, which is unreasonable treatment for someone who should spend her remaining days without regret….”
Mikhail appeared too stunned to even mask his vacant expression. He looked as though someone had slapped him across the face.
True, but still.
“The court hereby grants a divorce to the Petrov couple.”
Bang, bang, bang!
The sound of the gavel signaled Natasha’s victory, while Noel silently ground his teeth in frustration.
Natasha smiled softly and scanned the courtroom, her gaze meeting with a man who looked as rigid as Mikhail.
He was someone she knew well—Jerome Petrov. It was the first time she’d seen him since their previous confrontation.
When their eyes met, Jerome flinched and quickly looked away, glancing back at Natasha nervously.
‘What’s with him?’
That was the only impression she had.
More important than that, she needed to share the good news with Chloe, who was lying in a hospital bed.
Natasha hurried toward the medical office in the courthouse.
Swoosh.
The door opened silently, revealing a woman lying on a white bed, her back propped up. Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight.
It was a surreal sight, almost enough to make one forget reality for a moment.
“…Has the trial ended?”
“Yes.”
“The result?”
“Congratulations. You’re a free woman now.”
Though indirect, the meaning was clear. Chloe stared out the window with a face that seemed somehow dry and worn.
“So, we’re really divorced.”
“You’re Chloe Richard again.”
“It’s funny. I wanted so badly to escape from the name Richard, but now I feel almost glad to have it back.”
Though Natasha didn’t know all the details, Chloe seemed to hold little affection for the Richard family either.
Just as Natasha had felt before, the Duke of Richard’s household wasn’t a very pleasant place to live. The bleak atmosphere had always suffocated Chloe.
“…But now that my brother is the head, things might be different.”
“If you’re afraid of going back, you could always find a house in the capital.”
“Even those of us who are left alone should try to get along.”
She seemed to be worried about Claude, who had shown up looking broken after the divorce.
Well, Estelle seemed to be doing fine, at least.
“If you’re interested in the social gathering I mentioned before, let me know. We always welcome new members.”
The so-called “Divorcées’ Social Club,” led by Madame Olga, had been running for several years.
Bang!
Just then, the door to the medical office swung open.
A man, as flamboyant as ever, strode in. His golden hair gleamed beautifully in the sunlight.
A man whose face looked like a sculpture crafted by the gods—Claude Richard.
“Chloe, you collapsed again.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? I told you there was no need for you to attend the trial in person…”
“Who else would go to my divorce trial if not me?”
“That’s what lawyers are for.”
Natasha, who had been listening, nodded her head in agreement.
Absolutely. That’s what they’re paid for.
“…Come back to Richard immediately. We’ll summon wizards and priests to…”
“No need for conservative treatment. I’ve already told you. I don’t want to prolong my life painfully.”
Chloe responded firmly.
“Neither a wizard nor a priest can heal me. You know that.”
“…Still…”
“No. I can’t waste what little time I have left like that.”
As Chloe stood her ground, Claude reluctantly nodded.
Only after the situation had somewhat settled did Claude notice Natasha. With a somewhat awkward expression, he spoke up.
“Ahem. Lawyer Natasha. I was impressed by your skills.”
“Thank you.”
“I owe you for this one.”
“Owe? Wealthy clients are always welcome.”
She swallowed back the suggestion that she’d also handle his next divorce case if he ever remarried. A wise choice.
“If it had been another lawyer, we would’ve been utterly defeated. The husband was shameless.”
“He is, indeed.”
“If you wish, you’re always welcome at the Richard estate.”
The atmosphere was much softer than when they’d faced each other in court.
The conversation turned to polite thanks, until Claude subtly asked about Estelle.
“By the way, are you still in contact with Estelle? She hasn’t replied to any of my letters…”
“Client information is confidential.”
“Couldn’t you do something? I’ll pay as much as you want.”
“This is one of a lawyer’s basic ethics.”
It was one of the rare moments Natasha lived up to the true spirit of being a lawyer.
“Brother, stop. You’re being rude to your ex-wife.”
“Ahem.”
When Chloe chided him, Claude reluctantly backed down, looking disappointed.
“Thank you, lawyer.”
Chloe smiled faintly, her face pale.
“I think I can spend the rest of my life a little happier now.”
She looked quite relieved as she said it.
***
The final day of the three meetings Natasha had promised Madame Olga had finally arrived.
Natasha glanced at the awkward-looking Jerome with a blank expression and then spoke bluntly.
“Your buttons are mismatched.”
“What? Where?”
He hastily scanned his clothes, but the buttons were perfectly fine.
“Do you really believe that?”
“…”
Normally, he would have shouted in anger, but this time he remained silent for a long while. Something was definitely wrong.
To make things even stranger, Jerome pulled out a chair for Natasha as she was about to sit!
“What’s wrong with you? Did you eat something bad?”
Natasha scratched her goosebumps-covered arm with a look of disbelief.
“Even when I’m nice, it causes a fuss.”
Jerome grumbled but still escorted Natasha to sit comfortably.
“Be honest with me.”
Natasha started speaking with a serious expression.
“Did you mess up? Were you sued for defamation somewhere? I told you to watch your mouth. I knew that reckless tongue of yours would get you into trouble someday.”
“What? Hey! That’s not it!”
“Then what’s going on?”
At her question, Jerome clammed up again. It was clear something was off, but she had no way of knowing why, and it frustrated her.
“…Aren’t you bothered at all?”
“About what?”
“The last time we met! I got really mad at you… remember?”
-You were the one at fault first. Shouldn’t you have been the one to back down and make peace?
If that even counted as anger. Natasha recalled Jerome tearing up by himself and felt her expression grow a little awkward.
“Let it go. It’s in the past now. There’s nothing good that comes from staying upset.”
When she casually brushed it off, Jerome frowned slightly as if something was still bothering him.
“I heard everything. From my mother. About why you couldn’t say anything.”
Now it made sense.
‘So that’s why he’s been so down. Did Madame Olga tell him to come make up?’
Anyway, the three Petrov brothers couldn’t defy their mother. They were quite the peculiar lot.
“It’s fine to be mad. It was my fault… I’m sorry.”
The fact that he could properly apologize for his mistake touched Natasha. It was heartwarming to see Jerome’s tearful growth.
While she calmly cut into her steak, she nonchalantly replied.
“I told you, it’s fine. It wasn’t a big deal.”
“It may not have been a big deal to you, but it was important to me.”
His response was quite serious.
“I’ve already forgotten about it. Are you still hung up on that?”
Her light-hearted tone only seemed to hit a sore spot for Jerome, causing his expression to harden.
“I… don’t like that about you.”
“Why are you picking a fight?”
“It’s not that! You’re always like this. No matter what we do, even when we’re the ones at fault, you always act indifferent. Like nothing matters…!”
Natasha put down her knife.
“That attitude of yours makes me feel… like a fool. I’m the only one always worrying. Even back when I opposed you becoming a foster daughter, you were the same.”
You immature brat.
Natasha revised her earlier assessment of Jerome’s personal growth. It seemed there were some things that were hard to change.
“So?”
“What?”
“So, what should I have done instead?”
Jerome was momentarily at a loss for words at her cold response.
“Should I have thrown a tantrum, rolling on the floor, begging to be taken in as a foster daughter? What if I did that, and they turned their continued kindness into a sense of entitlement, kicked me out, and said a commoner’s child was daring to think they could be equal to a duchess’ family?”
“…”
“Then I’d lose my chance of becoming a lawyer and everything else would have gone up in smoke. So what else should I have done besides smiling and saying, ‘It can’t be helped’? I’m genuinely curious. Tell me.”
“I… I just…”
He mumbled, seemingly realizing he hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“Jerome. Don’t get it twisted. Just because you and I are sitting here eating together doesn’t mean we’re on equal footing.”
Scrrrape.
The knife made a sharp sound as it scratched the plate.
“Just because we were in the same place doesn’t mean our circumstances were the same.”
“…”
Jerome had nothing to say.
“So, once again, I’m fine. Whatever misunderstanding you had about me doesn’t change that.”
Natasha’s table manners were eerily perfect as she spoke.
“It’s really not that big of a deal, right?”
Jerome could read nothing from her perfectly composed smile.
Just like always.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
