We're in a Contract Marriage, But I've Imprinted - Chapter 134
She had spent an amount equivalent to the annual budget of the Ducal estate on luxury goods.
Though her expenses had decreased since her pregnancy, the amount already spent was staggering. The list of expenditures was diverse, but jewelry topped the list.
Such items could be liquidated for cash. Despite a significant alimony stipulated in the contract, was there really a need for such extravagance?
No, it was all just excuses. What disappointed him the most was not her excessive spending, but the fact that the woman who had passionately professed her love to him had been preparing for divorce behind his back.
There was another reason for his disappointment.
“I thought you were different from other women, but it seems I was mistaken.”
“….I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
“Marchioness Ovando mentioned it. That you acted as if you were the Duchess.”
“I’ve only met her once.”
“Does the frequency matter? What matters is that even in that one meeting, you tried to use our family.”
“…Me?”
“Yes.”
As the conversation progressed, something felt off. Melissa couldn’t quite grasp what Ian was getting at. His golden eyes, which had looked at her with concern just moments ago, now shone with a steely coldness.
“I understand that you hate Monica. I have my suspicions about her too.”
“…”
“But that doesn’t mean you can use our family to harass Monica under the guise of a contract marriage.”
“I’ve never done that.”
“Really? Not even once?”
“…”
Melissa thought back to her visit to Marquisate Ovando. While she had indeed taken a firm stand against the Marchioness and Monica, feeling sympathy for the suffering Omega, it wasn’t for her own revenge.
It was simply out of a sense of injustice.
“The stature of the Bryant family wasn’t built overnight. It was established through the sacrifices of many, including not just our servants but also our family heads, my ancestors.”
‘My ancestors,’ ‘my mother,’ ‘my family.’ Within the boundaries Ian spoke of, Melissa is still not included.
“This family isn’t just a tool to be used for your personal vendetta.”
Melissa was overwhelmed by everything. From the sudden distance he put between them to the incomprehensible things he said.
She clutched the bedding tightly and struggled to speak.
“….I never thought of taking revenge on Monica. It’s true I have bad feelings toward County Rosewood, but I was happy just being with you.”
“How amusing. You talk about love while padding your back pocket.”
“….You never even responded! Does it mean only I should love you?”
Melissa’s voice rose in frustration as she gasped for breath. She was mortified. How heartfelt was her confession!
“Did you expect a response?”
“Do, don’t.”
“Why not? You wanted my response just moments ago.”
Melissa wanted to silence him. Her confession wasn’t meant to give such a messy, humiliating response.
But betraying her thoughts, Ian’s mouth curled up on one side as he said.
“Were we ever in a relationship founded on love?”
“…”
“Do you think a word as beautiful and warm as ‘love’ suits us? You had your own agenda from the start. Wrapping it up in love now changes nothing.”
“…”
Her heart felt like it was being ripped apart, no as if someone was splitting her head open. Her body felt as if it was being shredded, her eyes wide open in pain.
No tears came anymore. The words defined by her imprinted alpha were absolute to her. All she could do was groan in agony.
“It’s up to me whether or not to call Monica. I decide as the head of this family. You have no say.”
“Hah.”
She could hardly breathe at the mention of another woman. Her body reacted as if she was having a respiratory attack, while Ian’s face showed annoyance and contempt.
That face was all too familiar. He used to look at Nicola with the same expression.
Even as he looked at her pale, lifeless appearance, he was not concerned as he used to be. How could he know whether she was putting on a show like his mother?
And what puzzled him the most was something else entirely.
Melissa had not once brought up anything about Diers. He had heard everything about how she interacted with the child and what she did with him from Diers’s nanny.
Perhaps it was only natural. Having been abused by his own mother in the past, he couldn’t fully trust Melissa. Given that she was an Omega, he found it impossible to believe her completely.
Omegas, after all, often put Alphas before their own children.
“The doctor will prepare some medicine for you. If you have any discomfort, tell him.”
Melissa couldn’t respond. It felt as if an invisible hand was muffling her mouth.
“Still, considering our past relationship, I hope you’ll keep things quiet until the contract expires. If you do that, I’ll show you my goodwill.”
She wanted to hold him back, but it wasn’t just her lips that were immobilized—her entire body was too. Even if she had managed to speak, an apology would have been all she could muster.
An Omega rejected by an Alpha had nothing left but to plead submissively. Even then, her body greedily inhaled his pheromones as they began to fade away.
This moment, when her heart and body were completely disjointed, was utterly horrifying.
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