We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 128

“Haa, haa.”

Catching my breath, I moved a little closer. The banquet hall was packed with people. I clutched my robe and kept my distance as I searched for Ian.

I cautiously treaded the distinct line where light met darkness.

“Ah…”

Ian, standing a head taller than others, was noticeable in the crowd. His expression was cool as he conversed with those around him, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

It was almost like looking at the Ian of the past, before our contract marriage. The cold, detached version of him felt strangely unfamiliar now.

No, it was a familiar scene. Realizing that I had spent more time watching him from afar than being close to him, the two years we had spent together felt like a lie.

Little by little, the memories of happiness seemed like a dream. The distance between us now felt like a creeping reality.

I could step into the light with just one step forward, but I couldn’t bring myself to move, and instead, I buried myself deeper into the shadows.

While everyone was celebrating him, a nanny brought over Diers. The child was dressed in a cute little outfit and was smiling adorably.

“Aahh.”

It was only after seeing this scene that I realized the harsh truth. The Duchy wouldn’t miss me at all even if I’m not there.

Without me, Ian would remain unchanged. Without me, Diers would continue to smile brightly. No one would ask about me, and perhaps it would soon be considered normal for me to be absent.

My voice was choked, and only a soft moan escaped. I silently watched the two men I loved most.

Then, a very familiar woman approached Ian and Diers. She casually placed her hand on Ian’s arm as she engaged with the guests, acting as if she was the Duchess herself.

Ian’s typically stoic expression softened momentarily, and I felt my breath catch.

It felt like someone was strangling me. No matter how many times I experienced it, being completely ostracized from the world never got easier.

Watching them alone, I suddenly realized my face was wet. I hadn’t noticed the tears streaming down.

I roughly wiped my tear-streaked face with my robe.

“Huh…”

Yet, the tears didn’t stop and kept blurring my vision. I wanted to see Ian and Diers, but it hurt too much that I couldn’t.

Like a rat hiding in the shadows, secretly watching them made me feel pathetic and miserable, and the tears kept coming.

It felt like my insides were tearing apart, and my heart was being wrenched. An indescribable sense of loss and emptiness filled me. At the same time, a fierce jealousy turned my vision red.

I hated that Monica was by his side. I wanted to scream for her to go away, but I was an outsider who couldn’t step into that shining place.

It became too painful to stay, so I turned away. I was just walking, not knowing where I was going. I walked in the direction that would take me as far away from that place as possible.

* * *

Ian felt relieved to finally have inherited the Dukedom. It was a long-awaited day, but a strange emptiness followed.

He looked around slowly at the crowd that filled his surroundings. Everyone seemed eager to get a word in with him.

“Congratulations, Duke!”

“You gave birth to an extreme dominant alpha, no less.”

“Well, of course. He comes from a distinguished lineage.”

“Haha, indeed, the Duke is an extreme dominant alpha. I said the obvious.”

“The future of Duchy Bryant looks very bright. It is as much the future of our empire, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely, you speak the truth.”

Despite the celebratory words, they strangely felt unpleasant.

No, to be precise, they were uncomfortable. Their words seemed to evaluate the worth of an alpha, and no one mentioned Melissa at all.

As if Ian had created Diers on his own, the people easily erased one person’s existence.

Of course, the one working hardest to erase her traces was Ian himself.

Despite it being a festive day, he exuded a cold aura, and people around him subtly took notice. Then, the banquet hall became noisy.

“Oh, how adorable!”

“He’s already showing distinct features, he might even surpass the Duke in looks as he grows.”

“My, such a well-behaved child.”

The nanny confidently approached Ian, holding Diers. Catching sight of Diers’s violet eyes, Ian couldn’t help but smile warmly.

“Abu.”

“Did you make sure he ate before bringing him here?”

“Of course, Duke.”

“There’s no need to stay long. If Diers seems tired, take him in immediately. No need for further greetings.”

“Understood.”

Ian gently squeezed Diers’s cheeks that had grown a bit chubbier before letting go. He hadn’t imagined that he could feel such fatherly affection, which seemed to flow effortlessly.

“Ian, oh my God.”

At that moment, Monica approached him and expressed friendliness.

“My goodness. He’s the spitting image of the Duke when you were young.”

Alex joined them, flaunting his close relationship with Ian. The atmosphere briefly turned tense, but Ian showed no reaction.

It was then that people realized that County Rosewood was no longer ostracized by Duchy Bryant.

Contrary to what people thought, Ian observed them with a steely gaze. Given it was his succession ceremony, he couldn’t dismiss the Rosewood family, but he initially had no intention of inviting them.

He still hadn’t found who sent Melissa the bouquet laced with poison. While he strongly suspected Monica, he lacked conclusive evidence.

This irritated him and made him angry, but knowing it was disadvantageous to act without certainty, he held back.

However, that didn’t mean he had forgotten about that day.

He recalled when Monica visited him a week ago.