Life After Divorce - Chapter 43

Ugh, a chill ran down my spine and nausea welled up. In the blink of an eye, Devon climbed on top of me, baring his white teeth in a fierce grin.

This bastard…! Clang- I shouted and struggled violently.

I tried to kick Devon’s abdomen and face with both feet, or press down on his thighs with my shoe heels, delivering the maximum counterattack I could.

“Get off, move! I said move!”

But with my arms and legs bound, it was of little use. Devon chuckled and opened the cap of a brown bottle, uttering lewd words about how excited he was.

Devon gripped my cheeks so hard they caved in and forced my mouth open. I clenched my teeth and resisted, but the drug flowed in through the gap created by his rough hands.

I shook my head and struggled, but I had already swallowed a small amount of the drug.

Thump! Instantly, a heavy pounding echoed in my chest.

The surrounding noise buzzed and my rough breathing loudly struck my ears. A burning heat like flames spread from my chest, enveloping my throat and reaching to the tips of my hair.

Haa, haa, my insides tickled and I couldn’t keep still. As I tossed and turned, kicking my feet as if swimming, I could see Devon observing me with pleasure from above.

At some point, Devon looked me over intently and exhaled a languid sigh. His eyes, which had been filled with anger, were now clouded with lust. Even his breathing was so creepy and disgusting that it made me want to vomit.

I glared at Devon through my disheveled hair.

A fear that something terrible might really happen rose fiercely like a wave. My mind went blank and I gradually couldn’t think of anything.

“You… crazy… bastard.”

“That look in your eyes is quite sexy, my lady.”

I bit my lip hard, trying somehow to maintain my sanity. The taste of blood brought a little clarity to my mind.

My eyes burned hot with fear and anger. But I didn’t want to show him my crying face again. For whose benefit?

“You, absolutely, can’t do this.”

As I gasped out the words, Devon took off his shirt and burst into laughter as if I were ridiculous.

“Still putting up a fight? Give it up already. While I’m being generous enough to forgive you so nicely…”

That’s when it happened. Bang-! An unidentified explosive sound erupted from downstairs.

Startled, Devon quickly jumped off the bed and stared at the closed door. He ran to the window with a pale face and stamped his foot.

“Damn it, those useless vermin!”

Devon quickly drew a dagger from beside the bed. Then he climbed on top of me and covered my mouth.

“Mmph!”

“You! What did you do!”

The sound of footsteps climbing the stairs could be clearly heard. With each step closer, the tension mounted, but I couldn’t help but snicker.

I took advantage of Devon’s momentary distraction to bite his hand hard.

“Aaargh!”

Devon tumbled off the bed. Ptui ptui. I spat out the salty saliva and looked down at the rolling Devon with triumphant eyes.

“I didn’t do anything. I just forgot because it’s so familiar.”

‘That I’m always being watched by Edmond Mifidian.’

Crash-!

At that moment, the door violently burst open.

Wood splinters fell, and there stood a person like a giant tree in front of the door.

‘Edmond…’

I smiled in relief, breathing heavily.

Edmond stood still, scanning the interior with bored eyes. His gaze swept over the scattered brown glass bottle and shirt before landing on the bed where I lay.

When our eyes met, his golden eyes widened like lanterns.

My bound arms, the dress hiked up to my thighs, my disheveled appearance. Only then did I shed tears of relief. But even in that state, I couldn’t control the heat that kept trying to erupt, twisting my body and letting out moans that didn’t seem like my own.

The relief was short-lived as I imagined how I must look in his eyes, my face burning with shame.

‘Why does he always see me in scenes like this?’

Getting slapped by Devon, pouring out my resentment about Antra, and now this near-rape situation. Not to mention he’s already seen me cry twice.

‘How many times…’

I tightly closed my eyes in shame and turned my head away, but I heard approaching footsteps.

As tension built from Edmond’s presence, Devon came into view. He was trembling, holding the dagger, pale and frozen in place.

I almost laughed at his clearly different attitude compared to when he was dealing with me. Just then, I felt something heavy cover my body.

As the clothing fell, Edmond’s scent wafted strongly, gradually calming my anxiously pounding heart.

Slowly turning my head, through my hazy vision I saw Edmond kneeling on one knee by the bedside. He picked up the fallen brown bottle, slightly sniffed it, and furrowed his brow.

“You drank this?”

“So… it’s hard… to breathe… hot and dizzy…”

“I see.”

His voice, usually somewhat sharp, softened. He reached out and covered my eyes like a curtain.

“Sleep. It will be over when you wake up.”

“Don’t… report this, me, in this state…”

“Don’t worry.”

“There’s… an artifact… in the dress… the will, the certificate…”

“I understand, now sleep.”

Edmond made a small whistling sound through his teeth. Though his hand was cold, it was a hand that brought great comfort. So I inappropriately recalled the saying that people with cold hands have warm hearts.

My labored breathing gradually eased.

Under his hand blocking the light, my body grew heavy and my head sank as if being engulfed. Eventually, I fell into a deep sleep as if fainting.

Edmond removed his hand, confirming that Etricia had fallen into a deep sleep as if unconscious.

Thud.

Edmond placed the brown bottle he was holding on the table with a threatening sound, his hand marked with blue veins. Even this small action was filled with ominous emotion.

After suppressing his emotions with a deep breath, he raised his sharp gaze, surrounded by a calm chill.

“What were you trying to do to this woman?”

His low, murky voice was suppressing anger.

There was no response. Edmond slowly turned his body and stared at Devon standing in the corner with cold eyes. He was radiating intense killing intent.

Devon was in a state of panic. While his body trembled violently, his mind was racing to find excuses. As Edmond approached, he hastily opened his mouth.

“S-stop, Duke! This is between a married couple! Anything more would be presumptuous-!”

Ha, Edmond twisted his lips into a fierce sneer.

“Between a married couple?”

“I-I’m her husband…”

“Ah, I overlooked that.”

Edmond slowly closed his eyes, and soon veins popped up on his forehead as his face turned vicious.

His eyes flashed open again, gleaming ferociously.

“I shouldn’t be wasting words on a dog.”

He knew this type of human better than anyone.

Those whose very existence is unforgivable, whose every breath pollutes society, whose shared species is a burden, such insidious and filthy humans.

Like the collateral relatives who tried to label him insane to take over the duchy.

Was it because he had stayed in the forest too long? Or had he let his guard down due to recent circumstances? He had momentarily forgotten that such humans exist everywhere.

For a moment, he recalled suggesting to Etricia that she could file for divorce.

A divorce lawsuit with this kind of scum? It was clear without seeing how dirty and filthy methods he would use. He felt ashamed for having given such advice without knowing better.

“D-don’t come closer!”

As Edmond approached with the sound of footsteps, Devon hastily drew his dagger.

It was a defensive instinct to protect himself, even though he knew he was no match in terms of strength.

Devon, his hand holding the dagger trembling, looked up when Edmond stopped in front of him.

The man, a head taller than himself, exuded an overwhelming presence just by standing there. As Devon felt his breath catch, he saw an opening to the side. The door was straight ahead. It was the moment Devon ran with all his might to survive.

Thwack.

Edmond reached out and grabbed Devon by the collar while still facing forward.

Ugh…! Devon struggled and tried to free himself, but the more he struggled, the tighter his windpipe constricted. Soon after, a sharp voice like metal scraping descended from above.

“I had expectations, but is this all? How boring.”

Edmond turned his head languidly to look at Devon. Meeting his gaze, Devon sensed an impending crisis in the other’s wavering eyes.

“W-wait, let’s talk-”

Bang-! Edmond lifted Devon slightly and slammed him down.

Argh! Feeling pain as if his vision was flickering, Devon clutched his waist with both hands. Ugh, ugh. Trembling and twisting his body, Devon gasped for breath as if an iron pipe had been thrust into his lungs. Every breath was painful.

“My, my waist… My wai…”

“What’s the use of having unnecessary parts intact?”