Chapter 15
“But… but… if the restitution lawsuit goes ahead like this… everyone will know! That I slept with that old man! I can’t… I won’t allow it!”
“Why not? The great love you trusted so much isn’t going to protect you?”
And this is what I did next.
“Protect you? He’s already seeing another woman!”
Belian’s tears vanished instantly, replaced by a furious, bitter expression. Anyone could see how wronged she felt.
Surely, she never imagined he would meet another woman right after the divorce without even returning her money. The Marquis clearly underestimated her. But there was no need for me to waver—I was here to break her.
“So?”
“Do you think this makes sense? He said I was the only one, that he would give me all his wealth… and in that short time, he was seeing another woman. Someone younger than me!”
“Eh. Surely not… it hasn’t been that long since the divorce.”
“I didn’t believe it either… but it’s true. That man is garbage! I couldn’t stand it, so I went to see them, and he shamelessly said… ‘A man can do that!’”
A small smile spread across the Marchioness’s face.
“Finally realizing he’s garbage… you’re slow, Belian. Do you think he’s been like this only once or twice?”
“…He said he loved only me… and entrusted all his wealth to me. I thought it was real…”
The fortune he had never given to anyone else, the wealth he claimed to trust her with for ten years—that had seemed like a garden of flowers. But it wasn’t flowers—it was filth. She realized that now.
“So?”
“……”
“You said it was love. But now you call it trash so easily? Guard that love. You’ve hammered nails into someone else’s heart—face the punishment.”
I handed her the documents I had brought.
“Take your complaints to that great Marquis himself.”
No one else would help her. The betrayal from the one she believed in, the one she trusted to perform the greatest love in the world, hit her harder than anything else.
‘And she had known only him since she was fifteen…’
I clicked my tongue and smiled.
“That’s it then.”
“W-wait! I don’t want my family to find out about this…”
“So?”
“‘So?’ As a woman, don’t you pity me? I’ve already been abandoned by him. I’m no Marchioness. Soon, I’ll be replaced. What will I have left? Nothing…”
“What are you trying to say?”
Seeing her desperate, I spoke in an increasingly detached tone.
“Do you want me to comfort you? Tell you it’ll be okay? That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”
“No… I just…”
“Just what?”
“Just… can’t I live quietly? I won’t take the Marquis’s desire… just don’t file the lawsuit and let me live quietly?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Even if you didn’t desire it, you already can’t. And whether you desire the Marquis or not doesn’t matter to my client, the divorced Marchioness. Accept it. After ten years of shedding others’ tears, this is fair.”
“Ah…”
“Well, see you in court.”
I turned sharply. In that instant, Belian rushed to Lily, dropping to her knees.
“Ma’am, please… please don’t sue me! If my parents, who have devoted their lives to me, knew, they’d collapse!”
I stepped between them, clearly irritated by the scene.
“Don’t burden my client. Take responsibility for your own actions. You’re not a child.”
“Please, Ma’am. Isn’t there any way…?”
Belian clutched Lily’s hands, kneeling helplessly. Lily’s gaze met mine, signaling: now is the time.
“Lawyer, a word, please.”
“Of course.”
I approached Lily, adopting a serious expression, pretending to listen closely to her counsel.
I already knew Belian would crumble in front of us today. The plan to break her faster had been mine.
After a long pause, Lily stepped back.
“Belian.”
“Yes…”
“Ma’am is giving you a special chance.”
“A chance…?”
She slowly rose.
“You may speak, Lily.”
“Belian.”
“…Yes, Ma’am.”
“I won’t tell you to apologize or beg for forgiveness. That’s useless now.”
“…Then this chance is…?”
“Listen carefully, Belian. If I filed the lawsuit, you’d be miserable. The rumor would spread; no one would marry you, not even your family might accept you. Would love remain? No. That man is already with another woman. Nothing would be left for you. But there’s one thing you can have: money.”
Belian, still failing to grasp the meaning, stared at Lily and me with wide eyes.
“I want him to despair.”
“How… does this relate to money?”
“He’s very generous with alimony because all the wealth went to you. Naturally, he thinks he’ll get back what he once gave. If that money disappears… imagine how he’ll feel.”
“I…?”
“All the wealth of the Azbeck family is with you. What if you ran away with it? If the fortune isn’t returned… wouldn’t that be revenge for both you and me?”
Belian’s eyes widened further, her smile awkward.
“Do you… really mean that?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re saying… I should just take the fortune and run?”
Lily nodded gracefully.
“Ma’am… if you truly don’t sue me… I can stay here, right? That’s better…”
“No, Belian. I haven’t forgiven you. I only want to create a more interesting situation for my husband. Wanting to stay here? Then I cannot extend further mercy. I want him to despair. That’s all this plan means.”
Lily turned.
“Lawyer, proceed with the lawsuit as planned.”
“Yes.”
“Oh no, Ma’am! That’s brilliant. So I just leave with the money?”
“Yes.”
Finally, she seemed to grasp the situation, nodding in a daze.
“Honestly, isn’t this the best for you? With that much money, you can live comfortably for life.”
The once lifeless Belian now wore a carefree smile.
“Really… it’s allowed?”
“Yes. But if you think otherwise, you’ll lose money, love, honor, and family. Disregard my mercy and you’ll pay a heavy price.”
When someone usually calm becomes angry, they are the most frightening. The Marchioness was no different. Her deadly gaze drilled into Belian. Belian finally nodded, aware of the gravity.
“I understand. Since you’ve been so generous… I have no reason to stay here.”
She straightened, gathering her resolve.
“I hope you don’t change your mind, Belian.”
Only then did I retrieve the lawsuit documents.
“Let’s go, Lawyer. Anz.”
“Yes.”
We returned to the carriage. Anz looked worried.
“Won’t she eventually realize her father and the woman he’s with now were just using her?”
