The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 144
“…If you don’t like it, should I try to gain weight?”
“…Hah.”
Victoria had told Johanna that while her weight was slightly below average, there were no health concerns. She had even suggested increasing her food intake, so Johanna had been making an effort to eat more lately. …Though there were still times she skipped dinner when she had no appetite, she made sure to eat a hearty breakfast, which, at least in Johanna’s mind, meant she wasn’t starving herself.
“You skipped dinner yesterday too, didn’t you?”
“But I made up for it with a big breakfast today.”
“Meals are meant to be eaten three times a day.”
“It’s not like I skip dinner every day… it’s just once in a while.”
“That’s exactly the kind of bad habit I’m talking about.”
He ordered Johanna to put her clothes back on. She wondered if he had made her undress just to see how thin she was, feeling awkward as she gathered her clothes and dressed again.
She wanted nothing more than to lie back down in bed, but Leonid wouldn’t allow it. Instead, he insisted on taking her to the dining room, seating her there and giving various instructions to the footman.
Not long after, the kitchen maids brought out plates of food.
“Eat.”
“…”
It was 4 PM. Far too early for dinner. A snack might have made sense, but a full meal—soup, bread, meat, roasted vegetables, and more—seemed excessive.
“It’s not mealtime yet…”
“Eat when I tell you to eat. I need to see with my own eyes how much you’re eating.”
Had Nella tattled on her, mentioning that she might have skipped lunch today? It seemed like a reasonable suspicion, given how overzealous Nella had been lately.
Johanna thought this all boiled down to a difference in lifestyle. She only ate when she felt like it—when her stomach could tolerate it. Otherwise, she’d end up vomiting whatever she tried to eat.
It hadn’t always been this way.
It had only been about three weeks since she’d developed these habits.
With a heavy sigh, Johanna picked up her fork. She speared a piece of roasted vegetable and put it in her mouth, casting a sidelong glance at Leonid. Despite the place setting in front of him, he didn’t seem to have any intention of eating, just crossing his arms and staring intently at her. Johanna set down her fork, picked up her spoon, and asked hesitantly,
“Am I supposed to eat alone…?”
“…”
Leonid shot her a look, as if finding the question absurd, before irritably picking up his fork. He then took a bite from the food on his plate, chewing with a pointed determination, as if to set an example.
“…”
Johanna hesitated for a moment, then took a small spoonful of soup. She couldn’t really taste it.
She continued eating like this for about 30 minutes. When she felt she couldn’t take another bite, she set down her utensils, only to feel the sting of Leonid’s sharp gaze on her. She took a sip of water and mumbled uncertainly.
“If I eat more, I think I’ll get sick…”
“That’s all you ate?”
“For me, that’s quite a lot.”
“Are you kidding? You didn’t even finish one portion.”
“Everyone has different appetites…”
Her stomach churned, and she felt a bit dizzy. A hint of panic crossed Johanna’s face, making her wonder if she might have already upset her stomach. Leonid, quick to notice the change, asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“My… My stomach… ugh.”
She clamped her hand over her mouth as a sour taste rose up her throat.
When it happened, it was always sudden—the way her stomach convulsed, sending pain twisting through her upper abdomen. Johanna rushed to the nearby bathroom.
Kneeling over the toilet, she heaved, expelling bile and the little food she had eaten. Her throat burned with each painful retch. Her breath came in rough gasps, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
“Marchioness!”
Nella, who had followed behind, hurried to help Johanna, but she brushed off the assistance and moved toward the sink.
She turned on the water, rinsed her mouth thoroughly, and splashed water on her face. As she finished, she saw Leonid standing in the doorway through the reflection in the mirror.
Johanna dried her hands and face with a towel, then, feeling unsteady, walked slowly toward him. Her strength was drained. This was precisely why she had wanted to stay lying down.
Once she reached him, she clasped her hands together and spoke.
“I… I told you, I’m not sick.”
“…”
“I’m just a bit underweight compared to the average… and I can’t eat as much as others, that’s all…”
What if he thought she had an illness and decided to break off their agreement?
A surge of anxiety gripped Johanna, making her bite her lip. Suddenly, a large hand shot out and gently but firmly caught her chin, stopping her from hurting herself further.
He brushed his thumb over her lower lip, where a hint of blood had seeped, before pulling his hand away.
When she looked up, Leonid’s expression was inscrutable as he gazed down at her.
