The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 197
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Across from him sat an Alpha exuding the satisfaction and ease of a predator fresh from a meal.
It was blatantly obvious what had delayed him, and Karl’s face flushed in embarrassment. Though he was a Beta and couldn’t sense it himself, it was clear the two of them were steeped in pheromones.
Karl cleared his throat softly, glancing at the two of them. There was an even stranger tension between them than when he had seen them before.
Especially Johanna—despite her perfectly crafted smile, there was an inexplicable stiffness about her.
Leonid’s gaze, on the other hand, was even more intense than before, as if he were staring at her with the intent to devour her. That look stirred something uncomfortable within Karl, making it hard to breathe.
The possessiveness an Alpha felt toward an Omega they claimed as their mate often took abnormal forms. Some Omegas accepted it willingly, while others didn’t, and there were even extreme cases where an Omega, unable to withstand the Alpha’s obsession, attempted suicide.
From a Beta’s perspective, Alpha-Omega relationships often seemed romantic, but the reality was frequently dark and oppressive. When one partner couldn’t fully accept the other’s possessiveness, it often ended in disaster.
Perhaps due to the memories that kept resurfacing, Karl’s throat felt dry. He quickly drained the glass of water in front of him.
Still, they could at least offer some tea…
Though he was here for a less-than-dignified matter as Josephine’s brother, Leonid’s silent pressure to get straight to the point and leave felt excessive.
Watching Karl, Johanna’s eyes were filled with constant apologies. Karl offered her a brief, reassuring smile, only to catch Leonid’s lethal gaze. He looked as though he could kill him on the spot—perhaps even shoot him if he exchanged too many kind words with Johanna.
‘Right, let’s just get to the point. I didn’t come here for small talk.’
Taking a deep breath, Karl gathered his thoughts and spoke calmly.
“The reason I’m here today is, well…”
After hearing everything Karl had to say, Johanna froze as if turned to ice.
Even sitting still, she felt as if the world were spinning. Victoria… had been kidnapped? And the medical report had been falsified?
And the culprit was said to be Josephine. It was an unbelievable story. If it weren’t Karl—Josephine’s own brother—telling her this, she might have dismissed it as a fabricated tale.
Everything felt confusing. Why would Josephine… commit such a foolish act? What could a noble lady possibly lack? Johanna simply couldn’t understand her.
“Is Victoria all right? Being imprisoned underground for over two weeks… how could something like that…”
Johanna’s voice trembled with shock and concern as she questioned Karl. Surely Victoria’s health had deteriorated after being held captive for over two weeks. Johanna felt an endless sense of guilt at the thought that her own involvement might have indirectly caused Victoria’s suffering.
Sensing Johanna’s distress, Karl spoke gently, trying to reassure her.
“There’s no need to worry too much. She returned home safely and seemed to be in fair condition. But mentally… it may leave a lasting trauma.”
“…….”
Feeling helpless, Johanna pressed a clenched fist against her chest. She desperately wanted to see Victoria—to confirm with her own eyes that she was truly all right and to apologize personally.
But she knew Leonid would never permit her to go out. The thought of asking him crossed her mind, but she feared he would impose yet another condition, so she kept silent. In the end, all she could do was wait for Victoria to return to the Weimar estate.
“Do the Marquis Babenhausen and Ernst know about this? Are they aware?”
“…Not yet. If they found out, there’d be chaos. Especially Father.”
“Of course.”
His tone conveyed utter indifference. As Karl had expected, Leonid showed no concern whatsoever for what might happen to Josephine. Even if she lost her status and fell into ruin, Leonid wouldn’t bat an eye. He might even relish it, given how deeply he loathed her.
“I’ll fully support Dr. Oder’s decision.”
Leonid spoke in his characteristically arrogant tone, chin lifted high.
“If she wants punishment, I’ll help her. And if she wishes for an agreement with reparations and an apology, I’m also willing to help with that.”
“…….”
“You understand what to do, Karl? Go and bring your sister here. I want to see that shameless face of hers. If she sets aside her pride and grovels for forgiveness from Dr. Oder and Johanna… well, maybe they’ll consider leniency. That is, if the victims are inclined.”
* * *
Today’s social gathering was a resounding success.
Josephine had managed to grow even closer to Countess Ador, her latest strategic target, and had fostered a friendly relationship with the countess’s daughters as well.
Countess Ador was a rare female Alpha, and a dominant one at that. She possessed remarkable business acumen and had successfully overseen foreign trade across the seas for several months now.
With a connection like hers, no one would dare overlook Josephine. Humming pleasantly, she stepped out of her carriage with a sense of satisfaction.
Mary should be handling things well… Perhaps tonight or tomorrow morning, she should check in to make sure.
‘I thought I’d be able to eliminate Johanna Lucerne within a week… if only Leonid’s rut hadn’t interfered.’
