We’re in a Contract Marriage, But I’ve Imprinted - Chapter 138

Strangely, he couldn’t look away. He detested imprinting, yet what was this feeling he couldn’t describe?

Suddenly, his deceased mother’s face overlaid Melissa’s. It felt like cold water had been dumped over him. Snapping back to reality, he spoke coldly.

“Are you satisfied now?”

He despised himself. He was superimposing a dead person’s face over hers, just because of the imprinting.

He checked the divorce papers once more, then placed them in an envelope. He spoke very formally, as if drawing a line,

“Your alimony will be in a bank account. If you look at this document, you can confirm the amount. If you don’t think it’s not enough, tell the butler. He’ll take care of it.”

This way, she would understand. It was over.

“I hope you vacate the annex as soon as possible. Ah, the dresses and accessories you have already bought were all part of the alimony, so you can take them as they are.”

He wanted to get Melissa out of his sight. Once she was gone, it seemed like everything would be resolved. He had ensured she had a safe home to go to, so he wasn’t worried.

Someday they might meet again. Perhaps then they could interact more lightly, like friends.

“…C-Can I go see Dia?”

Ian didn’t want to accommodate any more of her requests and rejected her sharply,

“I won’t listen to you any more. Stop being so pathetic and get out of my mansion right this instant.”

With his command to leave, Melissa slowly bowed her head. Her face seemed as parched as a drought-stricken land. Though his heart felt like it dropped, he forced himself to ignore it.

Watching her stagger out of the office, he continued to watch long after she had disappeared.

“Whoo…”

He felt suffocated. As if that wasn’t enough, he hastily loosened his cravat and unbuttoned the top of his shirt.

Even with everything seemingly put back in place, an unidentifiable restlessness remained. It was similar to thirst or perhaps a craving.

His golden eyes that were usually never shaken, now churned as if caught in a storm.

His agitated mind couldn’t calm down. He stared blankly into space, unable to touch the documents spread out before him until the sunset faded to darkness.

15_The End Is a New Beginning

I felt as though I no longer had any emotions left. I felt miserable for a moment. it was as if all my feelings had vanished.

I breathed in and out and felt like sand flowing through my mouth. Even as I wiped my parched lips with the back of my hand, nothing came off.

I stared dumbly at my hand that held nothing, I was suddenly aware of the muttering servants nearby. They seemed to mock my demise. Would they shut up if I told them I knew my end was near too?

When I came down to the first floor, I saw Henry waiting. When I had called before, he hadn’t come, but now he approached with a polite expression.

“If you need anything, please let me know.”

He no longer called me ‘Madam.’ His treatment was that of a guest about to leave the Duchy. The subtle change in his attitude reminded me once again that my contract marriage had ended.

“…Are you alright?”

His question sounded strange. What could he do if I wasn’t alright?

“Please prepare the carriage.”

“Now?”

“Yes, immediately.”

“But you might need time to get ready…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

My abrupt reply seemed to startle Henry momentarily. Perhaps even to my own ears, my voice sounded bitterly cold. Or perhaps it was merely desolate.

Regardless of his hesitation, I took the first step. My heart ached, and I longed to see Diers, but strangely enough, my body obeyed my imprinted alpha’s last command.

Get out of the mansion right this instant. As if his words were the only thing left in my mind, I returned to the annex to pack.

I left behind everything he had given me and the gifts from Nicola, packing only the choker my mother had given me and the clothes I originally owned.

Honestly, I didn’t even want to move to the mansion he said he had arranged for me. But by then, my heart was no longer mine to control.

Also, in order to meet Diers again, it would be better to somehow maintain a connection with him.

I grappled with the tangled thoughts in my head. I couldn’t really think so I just stared blankly into space. Then a sudden realization hit me.

Could I really live without him? Could I truly go on living alone, leaving behind my imprinted alpha and our child here? Really….

The mere thought sent shivers down my spine, and tears that were long-held back, started to flow. I sobbed uncontrollably until my whole body trembled, clutching the small bag I had packed.

After crying for a long while, I took a deep breath to steady my breath. I felt like my body had nothing left to give. As I closed my eyes in dizziness, there was a knock at the door.

“…The carriage is ready.”

Henry’s voice came from somewhere I hadn’t noticed him arrive. Slowly, I got up and took one last look around before stepping into the dressing room.

Among the many gifts Nicola had given, I picked out a pair of baby shoes and placed them in my bag, then headed towards the carriage with Henry.

The carriage Ian had prepared looked undeniably luxurious at first glance, which ironically made me laugh. It seemed absurd that he’d arrange such a thing after so harshly telling me to leave.

The head maid stood upright in front of the carriage, with her back straight. The last time I saw her, I had just found out I was pregnant. The woman who had apologized profusely back then was now replaced by a venomous glare.

It felt petty that she’d never shown up, likely following Ian’s orders, and only appearing until it was time for me to be expelled.