Chapter 1

Ines looked at the scene in front of her with a blank face.

‘Lie.’

A studio that Ines obtained by selling her own works to help her husband with his work. In the studio, her husband, whom she loved deeply, was standing with a woman other than her. To be more precise, he was holding her crushedly and kissing her passionately.

Was that all?

The woman who smiled sweetly as she kissed her husband was Ines’ close friend, Charlotte. The crater lying nearby fell down by the two’s fierce movements.

But the two didn’t care.

On the contrary, their breath only grew hotter.

“Ha, ha…… … ”

“Ah… Wait, there…”

Her husband’s hand stroking Charlotte’s curvaceous body was lewd.

“My love is only you.”

At Ryan’s affirmation, Charlotte whispered in a sweet voice.

“Oh, Ryan. Me too.”

The air heated up.

Ryan left a deep kiss on Charlotte’s neck.

“Ugh, I want to get a divorce right away….”

With his lips pressed against her neck, Ryan muttered with an excited sigh.

“It’s just that Ines cries and cries so much that she can’t do it.”

“Really?”

Charlotte rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around Ryan’s neck. Ryan smiled and hugged Charlotte’s waist.

“Yes.”

The hem of the dress tumbled down, revealing her white, smooth legs.

Ryan’s hand groped her leg and climbed up like a spider.

At the same time, the power drained from Ines’ hands.

The basket she was holding in her hand fell to the floor.

Clink!!

A sharp crack sounded.

The items in the basket were scattered all over the floor. Red wine spread from the broken wine bottle. The two people, startled by the sound, turned around.

These were the snacks that Ines prepared and brought with her for her husband, who was struggling with his work.

“Ines?”

“Hey, Ryan.”

Her voice trembled uncomfortably.

Even after calling Ryan like that, Ines remained silent for a long time.

It was difficult for her to accept this situation now.

The husband she loved with all her heart, Ryan.

And Charlotte, a friend she had been close with since childhood.

‘How, how could they do this to me…… ‘ Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Ines bit her lip until it bled.

“… … What the hell are you doing here?” Ryan asked, displeased.

In spite of that, Ines prayed for a miracle to happen.

‘It’s nothing, you misunderstood.’

‘Please tell me so.’

But.

“Why are you here?” (Ryan)

Rather, Ryan shamelessly asked with his eyes wide open.

“Did you follow me?” (Ryan)

“Ryan!” (

“This is my space, my studio!” (Ryan)

Ines’ eyes trembled violently.

Ryan nervously swept his hair up.

“Were you always such an obsessive woman? That’s why I go out!” (Ryan)

Her heart was beating like crazy.

Numerous protests lingered in her mouth, but none of them could be brought out.

After licking her lips over and over again, the words she finally came up with were….

“… … … You said it was a slump.” (Ines)

It was an excuse for why she had come to the studio.

” … … That’s why I came. Because the job isn’t going well, you can’t even get a proper meal.… … I’m afraid it will harm your health.”  (Ines)

Ines clenched her fists tightly.

She didn’t understand why she was making excuses. Wasn’t Ryan who’s at fault?

But.

“Then you should have called in advance!” (Ryan)

Ryan yelled at Ines. Frightened, Ines reflexively lowered her eyes.

“The reason I didn’t say I was visiting was because I wanted to surprise you.” (Ines)

Ryan and Charlotte’s eyes were stinging as they looked at her.

“We’ve been somewhat estranged….” (Ines)

As she spoke those words, Ines felt a pain in her heart as if it were being ripped apart. It felt like even the minimum pride that made up her existence was being shattered.

‘It’s miserable.’

Come to think of it, Ryan has been getting annoyed lately.

“Ha, inspiration doesn’t come, inspiration!”

To the extent that Ines noticed every time.

“Honey, if you put your mind at ease…”

“Noisy, stop nagging! You think I’m a kid?!”

The back of him leaving the room in great anger kept getting caught in her eyes.

“Madam, are you going to bring your own snack basket? We can do it.”

“No, I want to.”

Carefully packing snacks and wine in baskets, Ines hoped her husband would relieve the burden of his heart even a little.

Even the smallest smile was fine, so she hoped he would smile for her today.

Because today…

“Ryan, please.”

Ines said with tears in her eyes.

“It’s our wedding anniversary today, huh.”

For a moment, Ryan flinched. He had completely forgotten that fact until now.

Ines faced Ryan with a shocked face.

“…Did you forget that?”

“If a person is so busy, they can forget about it. Stop being crazy.”

Shameless Ryan hugged Charlotte’s waist.

“Let’s go, Charlotte.”

Charlotte burst out laughing, grabbed Ryan’s arm and walked outside. Alone, Ines stared blankly at the snack basket scattered on the floor. Cheese shards trampled by the shoes, sandwiches spread out, and red wine flowing and messing the floor.

She thought that that sloppy appearance was just like her.

***

When she was still an immature girl.

Ines thought she was the happiest person in the world.

That was, until her parents passed away one day due to an unexpected accident.

“Did you hear about Count Brierton and his wife?”

“Yes, there was a big carriage accident…… ”

Thus Ines became the only heiress to the Brierton. A great legacy, and the successor of a renowned Count. Ines immediately emerged as the kingdom’s best bride. Who she would marry was a matter of utmost concern in the social circle.

And when her chosen groom was revealed, the socialites were once again buzzing.

“Is he the second son of Viscount Gott?”

“He was lucky. If it were the second son, it would be difficult to inherit even a penny of fortune, let alone a title.”

“To seize the title of Count of Brierton and a fortune in one fell swoop, the marriage alone is astounding.”

Losing her parents when she was young, Ines was vulnerable to loneliness. The person who dug into that loneliness was Ryan Gott.

He was the second son of Viscount Gott.

“I want to be with you for the rest of my life. Lady Brierton.” (Ryan)

Ines foolishly believed that.

So Ines took Ryan’s hand and Ryan became the Count of Brierton.

But Ryan kept complaining she wasn’t good enough.

“What do you do with the title of Count of Brierton? It’s just an illusion.” (Ryan)

“Honey, that’s … ” (Ines)

“If I’m a man, I should make a name for myself in the world. Don’t you think so?” (Ryan)

Ines wanted to see her husband happy.

She wanted to give her husband anything he wanted.

So, Ines made use of the hobby of her unmarried days, and submitted a few paintings in her husband’s name to an art exhibition. She was just trying to lift her husband’s spirit a little.

“Rising up-and-coming painter, Ryan Brierton!”

“The gorgeous yet delicate style of painting is absolutely perfect…”

Numerous acclaim and praise.

Before she knew it, Ryan was praised by everyone as a painter with the hands of God.

Though, Ines thought it was okay.

The Empire was a conservative country, and it was almost impossible for a woman to do art under her own name.

She was happy to see her talents shine under her husband’s name, and to see his happy face.

There was definitely a time when that was the case.

Ironically, the Briertons’ relationship first turned on red flags when Ryan was gradually settling down as a painter.

‘Is Ryan staying outside today…?’

Ines could not hide her complicated expression and stood in front of the front door.

Not surprisingly, Ryan hasn’t returned to the townhouse for three days. He said there was a meeting between artists.

She heard that it was a meeting for a profound discussion about art in general.

But the problem was that the meeting was held almost every day.

Due to attending that meeting, Ryan’s time at the townhouse has been drastically reduced recently.

Ines wanted Ryan to be by her side today.

“Ryan, do you have to go today?”

So, while helping Ryan get ready to go out, Ines gathered up all her courage and asked that question. Ryan’s face contorted.

“Do you have some kind of dependent issue?” (Ryan)

“What?” (Ines)

At that ferocious voice, Ines froze on the spot without realizing it.

“Otherwise, how can you interrupt a man’s social life like that?”  (Ryan)

Ryan shot at Ines with disgust.

“Are you telling me to become a foolish man who lives by his wife? So what about my network management? Social Reputation!”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that…”

“So what if it’s not what you meant!”

Ryan almost had a seizure.

“Because you’re too obsessed with me, I’m starting to hate coming back to this house more and more!” (Ryan)