The Ex-Husband Demands Reunion (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
After sending a great many candles to the mansion, I spoke further with Mrs. Hade and gathered a few more pieces of information.
From what I heard, it seemed highly likely that the upcoming candle business would be launched by the Renoir Trading Company.
My older brother appeared to be reaping substantial profits from the trade routes he’d secured by arranging his younger sister’s political marriage.
Then what about the other candle companies?
They reportedly operated only at a cottage-industry level.
They seemed too busy just scraping by day to day to have the capacity to start any new ventures.
Once I’d confirmed that much, I felt reassured.
Even in a world that permitted villainous behavior, I couldn’t bring myself to steal a major success someone powerless had worked hard to build.
Having figured this out, I resolved to start a candle business myself first and foremost.
‘In this storybook world, candle quality is far too low, and they’re relatively easy to make.’
Candle production itself required little investment. Besides, the Renoir Trading Company had more than just one or two thriving businesses—surely taking a few wouldn’t be unfair.
.
.
.
When I returned home after finishing all my errands, boxes packed with the goods I’d ordered and the candles were piled like a mountain in the mansion’s lobby.
The maids, who had been standing helplessly before them, quickly bowed their heads upon seeing me.
“Why are you just standing there?”
“My lady, the shipment from Mrs. Hade’s boutique arrived in such large quantity that we were debating where to place it.”
“Unpack all of it into the room next to mine.”
“What? All of this?”
“My lady, we simply don’t have enough space to display such a large amount.”
“That’s right. It’s too much. We should keep only what we can display and store the rest in the warehouse.”
Though I’d given them instructions, the maids began eagerly listing reasons why it couldn’t be done.
“…….”
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been treating them too casually lately.
‘It’s tiresome to explain everything step by step… and I can’t afford to seem too easygoing.’
I lowered my eyes and crossed my arms, then pressured the maids with Ellen’s naturally haughty tone.
“What did I instruct you to do?”
“Ah!”
The startled maids finally seemed to snap to their senses and bowed deeply.
“We’re terribly sorry, my lady! We’ll handle it immediately—please forgive our insolence!”
.
.
.
I had a single-seat sofa and a tea table placed in the lobby and sat watching the maids at work.
They tore open the large boxes and carefully carried the smaller ones upstairs, moving with military precision.
Just then, Philip appeared, and they hurriedly bowed their heads.
With a gesture telling them to continue their work, Philip stared incredulously at the stacked goods before turning to me.
“My lady, what exactly is all this?”
“They’re candles. I bought them today from Mrs. Hade’s boutique.”
“All of this is candles?”
Astonished, Philip asked a maid to bring another sofa and plopped down beside me.
“What kind of candles did you buy so many of?”
“I’m planning to start a business.”
“A business? What kind of business with candles?”
“It’s confidential. In any case, I will be starting a candle business.”
“…….”
Philip gazed blankly at the goods for a moment, then shrugged.
“Shall I assign someone to help manage it?”
“I’ll hire the staff myself.”
“But you’ve never officially run a business before, have you? Finding someone suitable for management might be difficult…”
“Don’t judge me by your own assumptions.”
Taken aback by my blunt reply, Philip looked embarrassed.
“I only meant it for your sake. Besides, wouldn’t the business funds ultimately come from this household?”
“I intend to use only the money I already have.”
Philip frowned slightly—not out of displeasure, but seemingly doubting whether what I’d said was true.
“Will that really be enough? Of course, candle production itself isn’t very costly, but…”
“Yes, I’ll manage. Anyway, I’ll be living on my own soon, so I must do it regardless of experience.”
Since I’ll be divorced soon, I’ll gain experience and become self-reliant through my own efforts, with or without prior experience.
After all, I can’t end up as a villainous side character living in a two-story house in some back alley, selling my few clothes and scheming all day.
Philip slowly stroked his chin.
“In that case, you might be better off exploring another field.”
“Why?”
“Because the candle industry lacks profitability for new entrants. The raw materials are cheap, making it hard to charge high prices. Moreover, hasn’t Lord Renoir practically monopolized it already? Other businesses are extremely small-scale.”
“I’ll handle that myself as well.”
“Just so you know, out of concern—the alimony agreement doesn’t include any provision for business capital.”
“I know that—why are you so talkative all of a sudden?”
I’d expected him to drop it, but he kept pressing me with questions, which was annoying.
Drink this and keep quiet.
I picked up the teapot and poured Philip a cup of tea.
“Hmm,” he softly exhaled, looking slightly flustered.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’ve changed a great deal since signing the divorce papers.”
“Have I?”
“Even the way you mention money now…”
His eyes drifted toward his teacup.
“You’ve never poured tea for me like this before.”
I’d assumed he was surprised I hadn’t asked for business funds—but instead, he brought up something entirely different.
Then I realized what I’d just done.
I was comfortably leaning back on the single-seat sofa, legs crossed at ease, one hand propping up my chin.
In that very posture, I’d used my other hand to pour tea into a fresh cup and smoothly slid the saucer holding it toward him.
Ellen had certainly clung to Philip—but had she really poured tea for him herself?
‘Ah—usually the butler would do that, wouldn’t he?’
But the butler is currently injured.
“I was being too kind. I’ll have a maid do it.”
“What?”
Philip looked genuinely bewildered by my words.
I couldn’t count how many times I’d seen that expression now. Despite my efforts, I kept causing character inconsistencies.
“…….”
Pretending ignorance, I finished the tea left in my cup—but Philip’s puzzled gaze wouldn’t leave me.
That made me wonder how Ellen would have behaved in this situation.
After a brief thought, I pushed my teacup toward Philip.
“What’s this?”
“Perhaps due to the shock of receiving the divorce papers, I don’t clearly remember the details.”
“…What?”
“You’ve never poured tea for me before, have you?”
Flustered, Philip rubbed his temple.
“My lady… might you need a physician?”
“What?”
“I understand the divorce was quite a shock, but…”
“Yes, it was a shock—but I don’t need a doctor. I just can’t recall certain things. Just tell me how we used to drink tea together.”
Philip cleared his throat a few times.
“When we drank tea together, you always filled my cup.”
Now I was the one confused.
‘So she poured tea well—what’s the problem?’
After a moment’s thought, I gestured toward him. Better to see than hear.
“Then please show me exactly how I used to do it.”
Philip’s brow furrowed.
“…What?”
“Is pouring tea that difficult?”
He fell silent. Seeing that only made me more curious about why he reacted that way.
“You can just describe it.”
His cheeks flushed slightly, as if embarrassed.
Philip placed his hand on the right armrest of the sofa.
“You’d lower your body below my eye level right here, lift the teapot with both hands, and fill my cup.”
I understood the part about respectfully pouring tea with both hands.
But…
“You lowered your body?”
“Don’t you remember, my lady?”
I stood up and lowered myself beside him—almost kneeling.
“Like this?”
Philip stared at me blankly for a moment, then shook his head once.
“…No. It’s similar, yet different.”
“How is it different?”
“In that position, you’d slightly twist your waist.”
To demonstrate, Philip twisted his waist slightly, causing one shoulder to naturally jut forward.
‘Whoa!’
The pose he showed me was one fashion models often strike during photo shoots—briefly mesmerizing.
But it was utterly unnecessary while pouring tea, making me unbearably embarrassed. If it had ended there, it might have been tolerable, but—
“After pouring, you’d look up at me with your fingertip pressed to your lips.”
“Whaaat?!”
I was utterly dumbfounded. What kind of character was Ellen?!
The shame Ellen had supposedly worn like armor now belonged to me.
“Really? When—when exactly did I do that?”
“Well… whenever we drank tea together…”
“Only when we were alone?”
Philip stared at me with a puzzled look, as if wondering how I could possibly not remember.
“The shock must have been overwhelming. A duke’s daughter getting divorced, after all…”
“Oh, no matter what, I won’t retract the divorce.”
Suspicion flickered again in his eyes—he must have thought I was putting on an act to cancel the divorce.
“I’m not going to reverse the divorce, so just answer me: was it only when we were alone?”
“You always did it whenever we drank tea together, regardless of who was around…”
“Seriously?! Was she insane?!”
“…What?”
I couldn’t believe what Philip was saying.
“What about dignity? Why didn’t you stop her?”
“I tried at first. But you wouldn’t listen—you said it brought you joy and happiness.”
“She was crazy.”
“…….”
“She must have lost her mind.”
“…What?”
“I don’t remember that part at all.”
“…….”
“How could I pour tea like that? I’m not even a maid—no, even a maid wouldn’t do that!”
Philip looked even more bewildered.
“For years… you did it yourself, and now you’re asking me about it…”
I slammed the teapot down hard enough to make a sharp clatter. Philip flinched.
“Why—why are you doing that?”
Now I understood why Philip’s cheeks were flushed with embarrassment.
Though Ellen’s actions were meant as deference, anyone in their right mind on the receiving end would have felt mortified.
“This is unpleasant.”
“What? Are you saying that to me?”
“Yes—to you, and to my past self as well. Did I go mad after coming to this foreign land?”
“What?”
“And you weren’t in your right mind either. How could you allow such disgraceful behavior to continue?”
Apparently, no matter how much of a villainess Ellen was, she’d completely fawned over Philip.
Of course, there were scenes where she acted sweet toward him—but those were only after tormenting Marlboro or Laila and then making excuses.
‘Wait—was she even sane?’
I never imagined such a side existed behind the villainess persona.
‘Or… was the author who wrote her this way the one who was insane?’
For a moment, I wondered if I should act according to the character’s established personality—but no matter how I thought about it, that seemed impossible.
After a brief pause, I decided to simply follow my own path.
‘A villainess flipping her attitude is practically standard—so it shouldn’t matter.’
I declared firmly to Philip, who sat there gaping like a fish.
“Philip, forget the Ellen of the past.”
“What?”
“It will never happen again.”
“What?”
“Understood.”
I returned to my seat.
Philip, who had been dazedly repeating “what?” like a fool, picked up the teacup before him.
“W-well, you may do as you please, my lady. I prefer normalcy too. I was just surprised by your sudden change in behavior.”
He nodded obediently and set aside the cup I’d poured for him.
“Just… please don’t pour tea for me as if I were a servant.”
He meant he wouldn’t drink tea poured carelessly with one hand.
“Don’t worry.”
I wouldn’t be pouring tea for Philip again anyway.
I called a maid and instructed her to serve Philip tea. The maid standing beside the table respectfully filled his cup.
As Philip sipped his tea, he alternated his gaze between the goods I’d bought and me.
It was odd—he must be busy, yet he lingered here.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I asked first, and Philip answered as if he’d been waiting.
“You’ve been acting unlike yourself these past few days. I wondered if something specific had happened.”
I felt a twinge of unease inwardly.
“Everything’s settled now—does it matter how I choose to act?”
He slowly nodded in agreement.
“You surely don’t enjoy sitting here drinking tea with me… Do you have some business with me?”
Philip didn’t seem pleased with my question. He dismissed the maid and spoke calmly.
“I’ve been thinking, my lady…”
He said he’d wanted to purchase the building I’d mentioned, but my spending habits were so extravagant that he couldn’t afford it.
“What if you combined all the houses you intended to give me?”
“Yes. It’s impossible. Besides, I only planned to give you one from the list.”
“The two-story house in the slum alley—that’s the one, isn’t it?”
“Ahem!”
He cleared his throat loudly.
Since he couldn’t meet my eyes directly, he clearly knew there was something wrong with that list.
“My lady… you surely wouldn’t actually go there, would you?”
Where does he get off acting so smug—when I already know the original story by heart?
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
Chapter Comments (3)
Inline Comments (27)
A gust of wind rustled black hair. And a pair of very startled purple eyes met m
A gust of wind rustled black hair. And a pair of very startled purple eyes met mine directly.
But Philip wasn’t foolish enough to believe that lie.
Unfortunately, Philip is foolish enough to believe that the truth is a lie.
Philip’s fists had already struck Alexandre’s face and abdomen in rapid successi
Ha! Instead of covering up Eileen’s actions, Philip added firewood to the fire. But the prince really deserves to be beaten. ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧
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This is a repeat of an earlier chapter, not actually chapter 91 – please fix
This is a repeated chapter.
Repeat chapter