The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 37
“Excuse me for a moment, wife.”
Ash, standing outside the carriage, lifted Nina like a princess.
“Ah…!”
Startled, she clung to his shoulder.
His thick, solid arm wrapped around her thigh, and her hand brushed against his broad, sturdy shoulder.
She was momentarily flustered by the warm body heat she felt through his clothes.
“P-Please put me down.”
Nina pushed against his shoulder, flustered.
She had expected him to escort her, but this was beyond expectations.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s only until your injury heals.”
He walked with a stern expression, as if he disapproved of the situation.
A romantic gesture with a not-so-romantic face and words.
If this was the case, he should have just let her walk on her own!
“Who asked you to carry me? Why are you doing something I didn’t ask for?”
Nina retorted, looking bewildered.
“Did I ask you to save me?”
“No, that’s…!”
How could he compare this to that?
“I don’t want to feel indebted to you.”
That was exactly her intention, but did he think this would settle the score?
Upon reflection, it wasn’t a bad thing.
His words implied that he felt indebted to her now.
‘He used to hate even brushing past me.’
Even if this consideration would vanish once her leg healed, the fact that he cared now suggested that their relationship might not be entirely hopeless.
‘Maybe I should use this excuse to build some emotional connection?’
People often say that familiarity breeds attachment, even in dislike.
Nina ran various simulations in her head.
‘If I do that, he might misunderstand and think I’m being clingy because I saved him.’
No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like a bad ending, so she decided to give up.
***
Count Azelot’s mansion, office.
Count Azelot was pacing around his office with a serious expression.
Something unthinkable had happened.
When his niece-in-law rejected the deal he proposed, he was certain she would soon regret it.
Her tenacious obsession was known throughout high society.
Everyone knew about the two-year-long conflict as well.
But now, there were signs that their relationship was changing.
His niece-in-law had thrown herself to save Ash.
She had attended Duke Granvil’s birthday celebration to approach the Duke and Duchess of Taylor, but who could have predicted such a scene?
“Should have just let him die, damn it.”
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.
If Ash had died on the spot, the estate would have passed to Ian, and he would have become the guardian, wielding control over the Bayern family.
He had missed out on the opportunity to gain both Ian’s inheritance and control over the Bayern family.
He had planned to persuade the Duke and Duchess of Taylor to write an opinion letter for Nina, but if their daughter and her husband’s relationship improved, that would be impossible.
His contingency plan was no longer viable.
What should he do now?
The key figure in his plan was his niece-in-law.
‘What’s the best approach…?’
As Count Azelot stroked his chin, an idea flashed through his mind.
Wasn’t that child around the same age as Ian?
‘I heard that child’s attending the academy as well…’
Count Azelot quickly pulled out some paper and began to write.
“Charles, send this to Marquis Ulverni.”
If he couldn’t shake the guardian, he would shake the ward.
He had no intention of giving up the diamond mine and vast lands that child would inherit.
With that wealth, the dream of ascending from Count to Marquis wouldn’t be just a fantasy.
Count Azelot’s eyes glistened with greedy ambition.
***
Since Nina was carried into the mansion like a princess, the servants’ attitudes toward her had noticeably improved.
In addition to improving their working conditions and providing uniforms, the rumor that she had thrown herself to save Ash at Duke Granvil’s birthday celebration had spread.
‘Actually, it turns out the Madam isn’t such a bad person.’
Thanks to this, stories with such a nuance began to circulate.
It was fortunate that her reputation had improved, but hearing people gossip about her heroics made her blush.
Per the doctor’s orders to avoid walking for a while, Nina was having breakfast in bed and reading the morning paper when,
“Madam, these letters have arrived for you.”
Early in the morning, Marsha brought in a silver tray piled with letters.
