The Contract Wife Tries to Leave - Chapter 42
“I can’t fully trust you, Miss Lucerne. My investigation showed that you’re clean when it comes to men… but you never know, there might be someone you have a private relationship with.”
For a moment, forgetting the pressure she felt, Johanna looked up sharply and denied it firmly.
“There is no such person.”
“Well, even if there is, it’s not a big problem. As long as you pretend to be my wife and bear a dominant alpha child, that’s enough. But if rumors start spreading, it’ll be my job to clean up the mess, which is annoying just to think about. Do you understand? Whoever it is you’re seeing, clean it up quickly. Preferably without drawing the press’s attention.”
“…I understand.”
It seemed pointless to say again that she didn’t have such a person. Giving up on persuading him, Johanna swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape.
“And quit the illustration work.”
“I have until the end of this week…”
“I’ll inform the newspaper where you work, so you don’t need to take any more assignments starting tomorrow.”
“…”
Having nothing to say, she just nodded. It seemed her opinions didn’t matter to him at all. He’s much more dictatorial than she thought. When they met long ago… he seemed to have a kinder side.
Maybe it was because she was a beta and a young girl back then. Perhaps he was just being condescendingly kind.
“Also…”
Suddenly, he closed the distance and grabbed her shoulder. Even with a slight squeeze, she felt intense pain in her shoulder. Johanna gasped for breath.
Leonid clicked his tongue and stepped back. He took off his gloves that had touched her and tossed them carelessly onto the seat. What he pulled out from his pocket was a small silver container.
He threw it towards Johanna in a gentle arc. She caught it reflexively and noticed the writing on the lid. It was ointment for bruises and muscle pain.
“Apply it. Your shoulder is bruised.”
“Ah…”
She couldn’t immediately express her thanks, only her lips moved silently. Was this kindness? Like giving a coin to a beggar you encounter on the street? Regardless, it seemed he did care in his own way. Johanna mumbled a hesitant thank you.
“I will apply it well. Thank you.”
After that, no further conversation took place. The silence remained uncomfortable, but Johanna felt a slight lift in her spirits. It must have been because of the ointment in her hand. Just for receiving this… Why did it matter so much?
The carriage arrived smoothly at their destination, stopping in front of Johanna’s house. She had expected to be dropped off somewhere along the main road. Johanna felt grateful and bowed to Leonid.
“Thank you for bringing me home.”
“Tomorrow.”
He was already putting on a new pair of gloves. An extremely fastidious man. Even though their skin hadn’t touched, did he find it that distasteful?
“I’ll send a carriage at nine in the morning. Be ready on time.”
“What…?”
“We need to go on a date. You and I need to convincingly act like we’re in love to avoid any suspicion from my grandfather.”
“Ah…”
Her heart had fluttered foolishly at the mention of a date. This is just… business. Yes, it’s just fulfilling the contract.
“And from today, people will start talking about you and wondering who you are, so we need to cast the bait first.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Good, if you understand, you may go now.”
He dismissed her with a casual wave, clearly wanting her out of his sight. Johanna hurriedly thanked him and stepped out of the carriage.
As she was about to pass through the gate, she hesitated and turned to look at the departing carriage. She imagined that by now, he was leaning deeply into the seatback, eyes closed with an irritated expression. For some reason, she couldn’t shake that image.
The carriage soon became a small dot and disappeared. A lonely, chilly wind blew.
* * *
The next morning, as Leonid had foretold, the Marquis of Neubitz’s carriage arrived and stopped in front of her house.
Looking out the window, Johanna quickly grabbed her bag and stepped outside. As she approached the carriage, a middle-aged man descended from the driver’s seat and bowed politely to her.
“Good morning, Miss Lucerne. The Marquis of Neubitz has sent me to escort you safely to the Weimar estate.”
“Ah, thank you.”
The situation was somewhat unfamiliar, making her voice tremble. The driver opened the door for her, and Johanna awkwardly climbed into the carriage.
Just as the door was about to close, her neighbor Nadia, who lived on the third floor, opened her window and made eye contact with Johanna. Nadia’s eyes widened like full moons. The door shut with a click, completely isolating the interior of the carriage from the outside world. Johanna sat down and tried to calm her pounding heart.
Rumors will spread through the neighborhood now…
Come to think of it, she was worried about Daniel. She hoped Nadia wouldn’t say anything unnecessary to him before she had a chance to explain.
